About Lisa Watson, Functional Nutrition & Lifestyle Consultant.

Physicians and specialists don't have the time to navigate a patient's healthcare terrain. Nor should they, as they are busy with what they do best, especially in acute care treatment. We form a great partnership with them as we help hold people accountable for diet and lifestyle interventions which can only help in the outcome of any disease process. People must realize we have many tools right at our fingertips that we can implement to heal.

Many physicians refer patients to me who have exhausted all medical system avenues. Once your doctor rules out the nasties and an answer to the cause is not found, many patients end up on my doorstep. The answer is likely hiding in your terrain. Similarly, if your doctor provides a diagnosis, we can work on the root causes to heal the downstream condition. People may get caught up in their diagnosis's prognosis, creating fear. It is understandable, though fear is not helpful as it puts us in a fight or flight condition that affects our gut microbiome. Telling your story in Functional Nutrition is healing, and our partnership forms an empathetic and compassionate bridge. Realizing you have control over your terrain gives you hope and this moves you toward healing.

I am pursuing a Master's in Neuroscience because of the huge connection between our brain and gut. With 70% of our immune system residing in our intestinal lining and the complex bidirectional highway between our Vagus nerve (brainstem) and the gut microbes, we can no longer ignore our food choices as health medicine. Many foods at your grocery store are not your friend. Most neurotransmitters are made in our gut, not in the brain as once thought, and they communicate at the subconscious and conscious levels. Continued research in this area is fascinating and enlightening. We have only begun to uncover research in this exciting field.

I also continue to engage in continuing education in Nutritional Sciences because evidence-based research is continually changing in the Functional world as more is discovered concerning our gut microbes. From courses offered through Stanford to Australia, I like to have a cross-sectional view to avoid bias in a dynamic field.

I am also active in sports and have had my share of injuries and speedbumps. I largely had to navigate these on my own and was successful. From developing CRPS from a badly broken leg, watching the trajectory and progression of my mom's Alzheimer's, which left me heartbroken, to developing BII from an early surgical procedure (a teenage mistake), my health quest involved many treatment avenues. The diet and lifestyle changes healed me the most and made life enjoyable again.

The body has an incredible capacity to heal if given the opportunity. We can shine our brightest with the right tools. Having a goal to make positive changes in your life, whether it's to freely play with grandchildren or be your best version of yourself, your endpoint matters in your success. Erase fear with partnering the Functional way in health, which is to learn and engage in doable action items to move forward to your goals. We all deserve to feel well.

I have lectured at schools and community events and educated and helped individual clients, from everyday people to elite athletes, musicians, and Fortune 500 executives, about the importance of consuming whole foods and assembling healthy lifestyle choices. You can accomplish your goals. I am here to make that transition much more straightforward. Nothing is impossible. Have hope and let’s break life down into achievable steps. You have many tools to help yourself heal. You and your brain need to understand the physiologic reason behind the purpose for your change and believe in your body's healing. Knowledge helps reduce fear in the amygdala, the primitive brain that resists change. Once you change, you may notice that it gets easier to do new things over time. The change also helps to modify the circuitry in the brain, and when we feel the positive sensations associated with the change, it reinforces to the amygdala that this change is good.