Functional Nutrition is more than just eating healthy — it’s about understanding how your unique body, lifestyle, and environment affect your health and healing. Instead of applying a one-size-fits-all diet, functional nutrition looks at the root causes of issues like fatigue, high blood pressure, diabetes, weight gain, and inflammation.
We don’t just treat symptoms — we ask why they’re happening.
💡 Imagine nutrition that is:
✅ Personalized to your health history
✅ Rooted in whole, healing foods
✅ Focused on balancing your body systems
✅ Designed to support long-term wellness — not just quick fixes
Whether you're managing chronic conditions or trying to prevent them, functional nutrition gives you the tools to take control of your health — naturally and intentionally.

6 Ways Functional Nutrition Improves Your Heart Health

1) Strategically reverses your nutrient deficiencies.
Of course, everyone's body is different, therefore, it is important to know how your body absorbs nutrients and minerals. It can be hard to determine which foods to eat more of to properly nourish your body.  Getting the proper functional nutrition lab work identifies your level of nutrients in your body to determine what you may be lacking. A personalized nutrition plan helps you eat whole food sources to best absorb and assimulate those nutrients.

2) Protects your heart against oxidative damage.
A functional nutrition plan will help you fill your plate with the right foods to fight diseases.  The secret weapon is antioxidants. Functional nutrition encourages eating whole, plant-based foods. Eating whole foods naturally helps to eat more antioxidant-rich foods, especially when following the recommended meal plan.
 
3) Balances your cholesterol levels.
Believe it or not, the body needs some cholesterol to build healthy cell. The problem is...drumroll, eating too much food high in cholesterol leads to fatty deposits in the blood cells which leads to cardiovascular diseases. The fatty deposits blocks the blood flow to the arteries. A functional nutrition approach naturally balances your cholesterol.  Proper eating blocks the bad (LDL) cholesterol without reducing the good (HDL) cholesterol.

4) Promotes healthy blood sugar levels.
Let's not talk about the Standard American Diet!  I'm sorry...let's!  I have so many issues with the S.A.D. because more than likely, you are poisoning your body with so many refined sugars and refined (enriched) carbohydrates and it is okay according to S.A.D. but that will be more said on this at another time. Yes, we need carbohydrates to fuel the body but not in the amount we consume or the type we consume.  Functional nutrition swaps the refined sugar and carbs with complex carbohydrates to provide the body with the energy it needs and to protect the heart.  If you are pre-diabetic or diabetic, a functional nutrition plan can put you on a path to reverse your symptoms and protecting your heart. 
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5) Helps you avoid trigger foods.
Eating functional nutritional foods, can help suppress triggers such as sugar cravings, sodas, trans fat, highly processed foods, charred meats or meats cooked at high temperatures and of course, fast foods. When eating and following a delicious whole-food meal plan, it will help you stay on the right track and you won't miss these unhealthy foods...as much.  Meal plan and meal prep is very important when following a recommended nutrition plan.

6) Supports a heart-healthy lifestyle.
Seek education and knowledge concerning your health.  Work with a nutritionist, get a healthy food list, plan meals and develop a supportive network of family and friends to hold you accountable to making this healthy change a lifestyle change. A heart-healthy lifestyle includes proper way of eating, movement, reduced stress, a healthy sleep regimen and more.  Always seek positive recommendations regarding your wellness journey.  Healthy habits reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and improve your overall well-being.

Guard Your Heart
-Lisa

"Welcome to the Guarded Hearts Wellness Blog - The Heart Hub! I’m Lisa, your guide on this wellness journey. After years of studying health, nutrition and herbalism, I’m here to share knowledge and tools that can help you live a heart-healthy, balanced life. This blog is more than just information—it’s a place to connect, heal, and grow together. I’ll be sharing everything from practical tips on managing stress to nourishing recipes and simple movement routines. Like so many of us, I grew up in a community where heart disease, stress, and silence were too common. Over the years, I’ve learned how food, herbs, movement, and support can truly shift our health—and I created Guarded Hearts to share those tools with you. Let’s start building a future where we prioritize our health, our hearts, and our communities."

 The Heart Hub is the beginning of something healing and whole. Let’s take this journey together.
Create Balance, Become Whole. Live Well.

“Why I Started Guarded Hearts: A Journey Toward Healing Our Community”
💡 What it’s about:
As I mentioned earlier, this is my personal journey as well.  I've suffered with very high cholesterol, dangerously high blood pressure and lastly, Type II diabetes. I will explain more later.  Heart health awareness is crucial especially for black and brown communities due to the disproportionately high rates of cardiovascular disease and related conditions, leading to even poorer health outcomes. I discovered with my family's history and the increase of weight, I was heading for bigger issues of my own. Statistics show that Black Americans have higher rates of hypertension, stroke and heart disease and are LESS likely to survive sudden cardiac arrest compared to their white counterparts by 30%.  I know this can not be news to most, so just why aren't we doing more to prevent such life-threatening diseases?Social determinants like poverty, lack of access to healthy food, and limited access to quality healthcare contribute to the higher rates of cardiovascular disease in these communities. Increased awareness about heart health risk factors, preventive measures, and early detection can help improve outcomes and reduce the burden of heart disease in our communities. Addressing systemic issues like implicit bias in the healthcare system, ensuring culturally competent care, and promoting diverse representation in healthcare are crucial to improving heart health outcomes for Black and Brown communities. 

Guarded Hearts Wellness takes the more natural approach by educating individuals about functional nutrition which is food as medicine, herbal healing and the importance of good mental health practices.  You will be given examples of easy-to-implement tips that can help bring about good heart health.  Let's not make it difficult.  We can practice one tip at a time until you're comfortable to begin another.  As your coach and wellness influencer, you can expect future posts to include wellness tips, heart-healthy recipes, stress-reducing practices, mental health tools, community challanges, testimonials and more.  Please stay connected for more engaging content and feel free to join our private and secure group to comfortably share your challenges and best of all, your accomplishments!
Facebook group - Guarded Heart Wellness Circle!
Click the link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1822263181950172/

You are welcomed to schedule your FREE Discovery Call so we can start your wellness journey one step at a time to a stronger and healthier YOU! 
Click the link: https://guardedheartswellness.as.me/1FreeConsultation
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Let me know your thoughts in the comments or connect with me on Instagram @GuardedHearts2019.
Until next time, stay grounded and guard your heart. 💛
– Lisa