Does Functional Nutrition Discriminate?
Reading Time: 6-8 minutes
BY: Andrea Nakayama
DATE: 2025-02-19
Does Functional Nutrition Discriminate?
In an ideal world, healthcare—including Functional Nutrition—would be an inherently inclusive space. It would meet each person where they are, acknowledging their unique needs, challenges, and lived experiences. Yet, as we zoom out and look at the landscape of healthcare, we see the ways in which access, bias, and systemic structures shape who gets care, who benefits from it, and who gets left behind.
Discrimination in healthcare is not always intentional. It isn’t just about who is denied care outright, but about the gaps in how care is designed, delivered, and even conceptualized. While the medical field has made strides in recognizing and addressing disparities, there are still structural and systemic issues that prevent equitable access to care for all.
Functional Medicine and Nutrition present a model that invites us to see each person as unique. We ask: What’s going on in there? instead of assuming a one-size-fits-all solution.
But does that mean Functional Nutrition is immune to bias?
Not necessarily.
Where bias can show up
Functional Nutrition practitioners often work with clients who have the means and motivation to seek deeper support—those who can afford counseling, access food of a certain quality, or invest in testing. But what about those who can’t? What about those who don’t even know this kind of care exists? The unintentional barriers in Functional Nutrition can, unfortunately, mirror broader disparities in healthcare, reinforcing patterns of exclusion.
Cost & accessibility
This is one of the most glaring issues. Functional Nutrition often requires significant investment, not just for consultations but for the additional resources many practitioners recommend—lab testing, specialized supplements, and organic or high-quality foods. For individuals or families without the financial resources to access these services, Functional Nutrition can remain out of reach.
If we only present solutions that require steep financial investment, we risk leaving out those who need support the most.
Cultural competence
A personalized approach to food must recognize cultural food traditions, preferences, and accessibility. If recommendations assume a Eurocentric, privileged, or prescription dietary standard, they may alienate rather than empower. In a world of global interconnectedness, where families and individuals have diverse food traditions, Functional Nutrition can honor these traditions instead of offering generic advice that fails to align with cultural norms.
There’s an assumption in some circles that we can simply swap traditional foods for “healthier” options, but that may not always be realistic or empowering. A culturally competent approach means recognizing food as more than just fuel—it’s tied to community, identity, and history.
Trust & representation
One of the most profound barriers to care in Functional Nutrition is trust. Many people from marginalized communities have experienced harm, dismissal, or even gaslighting in conventional medicine. This is just a fact. It’s not an opinion, nor is it a political stance—it’s a reality backed by decades of patient experiences and research.
From misdiagnosed conditions to pain being ignored, to assumptions about compliance or lifestyle, these patterns have led to a deep mistrust in the healthcare system and providers. Historically, certain groups have been subject to unethical practices, exclusion from critical research, and experiences that dehumanize rather than heal. These experiences, sometimes subtle or overlooked, have a lasting impact on trust and how people engage with healthcare. For many, the scars of past mistreatment—whether intentional or not—are carried into every medical encounter, including those in Functional Nutrition.
That mistrust doesn’t necessarily disappear when someone steps into your practice. If anything, it often follows folks as they seek care. When you’ve been dismissed before, you don’t automatically assume the next practitioner will be different. This is one of the biggest but least acknowledged barriers in our field—people don’t always arrive ready to trust, no matter how much we see ourselves as offering something better.
Functional Nutrition has the opportunity to be different. But trust isn’t automatic—it must be earned. That means acknowledging these realities rather than bypassing them. It means listening with curiosity rather than assumption. It means recognizing that when someone hesitates to embrace nutrition as a healing modality, they may not be resistant—they may be protecting themselves from yet another disappointing experience with healthcare.
Moving toward inclusivity in Functional Nutrition
Functional Nutrition can be inherently inclusive, but it requires intentional action. Practitioners must examine how they operate within a larger healthcare system fraught with inequities and work actively to counteract those patterns.
A model for belonging
At its best, Functional Nutrition doesn’t discriminate—it personalizes.
It recognizes that different people have different needs, histories, and barriers to care. This perspective is not just theoretical but woven into the very fabric of the practice. It’s about meeting each individual where they are, addressing their needs, and honoring their lived experiences.
This is the cultural consciousness embedded in my teaching—that we are not just looking at a set of symptoms, but at a person, their story, and the systems that impact them. Functional Nutrition must be able to navigate the complexities of individual health while being mindful of external forces that affect well-being—economic disparities, cultural barriers, historical mistrust.
This approach is, at the core, about people.
It’s about ensuring that Functional Nutrition remains a practice of inclusion rather than exclusion, one where every person who needs help feels seen and supported. Because true healing happens when people feel like they belong.
Practical steps to foster inclusivity
So, how do we, as Functional Nutrition Counselors, ensure we’re actively promoting inclusivity within the field. Here are a few practical steps:
Offer scalable solutions: Recognizing that not everyone can afford costly tests or specialized supplements, look for ways to offer value through accessible resources. For example, suggest simple, budget-friendly changes that still align with the principles of Functional Nutrition. There is so much we can do to make a difference in health outcomes that does not cost a thing!
Cultural sensitivity: Inquire about the food traditions and cultural factors that influence health and community in the people and populations you serve. Build cultural competence into your practice so that you’re not just providing a “one-size-fits-all” approach.
Build trust: Recognize the trauma many people bring into healthcare settings, especially those from historically marginalized groups. Take the time to build trust by listening, validating, and offering care that is both thoughtful and responsive. Acknowledge the barriers your clients may face and show empathy.
Representation matters: Consider how your practice represents the people you hope to serve in your materials, marketing, and approach.Empower all individuals to see themselves as worthy of care, respect, and healing.
The path to a more equitable future with Functional Nutrition
Functional Nutrition is a powerful tool for personalized health, and when done right, it can offer immense benefits to those who feel overlooked or misunderstood by conventional medicine. It’s not a replacement for medical care, but it can work in tandem with other modalities. That said, its potential is only realized when we acknowledge the inherent biases that exist within the system and actively work to address them.
By acknowledging the gaps in accessibility, cultural competence, and trust, we can build a Functional Nutrition practice that is inclusive, compassionate, and truly patient-centered. In a world where so many people struggle to find care that recognizes their full humanity, offering a space where everyone feels they belong is not just ethical—it’s necessary.
True healing, as we know, starts when people feel seen, heard, and supported. Functional Nutrition has the unique opportunity to be a model of belonging in the healthcare landscape, creating pathways to healing for all who seek it.
By: Andrea Nakayama, FxNA Founder & Functional Medicine Nutritionist
Functional Nutrition Alliance provides the comprehensive online Functional Nutrition training in the Science & Art of the Functional Nutrition practice. Learn to address the roots of your clients’ suffering with client education, diet & lifestyle modifications.
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