The Foundation of Health with Dr. Jeffrey Bland

In this episode, Dr. Melinda Ring talks with Dr. Jeffrey Bland, who is known as the founder of the Functional Medicine movement and who is recognized for bringing personal lifestyle medicine into mainstream medical practice. Dr. Bland discusses his career path that led him to create functional medicine and explores its intersection with integrative medicine, the origins and philosophy of Functional Medicine and how everyone can take an active role in their health, practicing good habits, and understanding their unique body functions to achieve long-term wellness. 

[00:01:43] The Shift from Chemistry and Environmental Science to Healthcare: Bland's career path to developing functional medicine as a field was not linear. He started his journey as a professor of chemistry and environmental science, and his passion for understanding the root causes of chronic disease led him to found the Institute for Functional Medicine and pursue functional medicine​. He discusses the influence of Linus Pauling, the catalytic sabbatical at the Linus Pauling Institute, and his decision to start training doctors in medical nutrition.

[00:07:23] Defining Functional Medicine: He explains that the core of functional medicine focuses on identifying root causes of chronic diseases and looking at the body as an interconnected system rather than isolated organs. He also discusses the importance of personalizing care based on systems biology​.

[00:17:20] Seven Core Physiological Processes – Bland discusses the seven fundamental physiological processes that functional medicine focuses on, including gut health, metabolic detoxification, mitochondrial bioenergetics, and immune system function. These processes aim to improve health resilience and prevent chronic diseases​.

[00:35:29] Owning Your Health: Bland shares his personal wisdom about health ownership, encouraging listeners to actively engage in their health journey through understanding their body’s functions and making proactive lifestyle choices. He emphasizes health as a practice​​

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