Experience the power of functional medicine through our comprehensive approach and experience a state of optimal wellness, naturally. Learn more about the different aspects of our programs below.
What is Functional Medicine?
Rather than a disease-centered model, functional medicine focuses on the patient, considering all aspects of an individual’s genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors to promote optimal performance of the body and its organs. Both internal (mind, body, genes and spirit) and external (physical and social environment) factors will be addressed during treatment. Instead of treating symptoms, functional medicine seeks to reveal the underlying causes of disease.
The latest laboratory testing and other diagnostic techniques will be used to identify malfunctions that require correction in order to build health and vitality. Unlike traditional treatments, functional medicine not only serves patients with current health conditions, but also yields significant benefits in optimizing one’s health. A blend of botanical medicines, supplements, therapeutic diets, detoxification programs, exercise programs, and stress-management techniques will be prescribed.
Functional medicine is an innovative and individualized approach, combining the best of both conventional and alternative medicine for assessment, treatment, and prevention of chronic disease. Dr. Raya and the team at Vitology Institute will address all aspects of your well-being, including your lifestyle, diet, stressors, and the mind body spirit connection.
Integrative Cardiology
As a board-certified cardiologist who has seen the roles poor nutrition and toxins play in creating heart health problems, I work to prevent and treat cardiovascular disease using nutrition as medicine. I am passionate about using a functional approach to diagnose and reverse the number one killer in our country, heart disease.
We use emerging biomarkers and genetic analysis to bring the latest techniques and integrative care to patients seeking ways to prevent and mitigate cardiovascular disease. I believe in treating the whole person to find the root causes of the issues, not just medicating the symptoms with pharmaceutical drugs. I will offer you practical solutions to heal from the first time we meet.
Individual Wellness
Wellness goes far beyond treating disease; our mission is to unlock our patients’ full health potential. We seek not only to treat the root causes of chronic conditions, but also to elevate client wellness with physician-directed programs that promote vibrant good health and longevity. This practice reflects Dr. Raya’s passion for bringing an integrative and functional approach to patient care. At the Vitology Institute, we merge the latest in scientifically-validated treatment protocols with the best of nutrition, fitness, health technology, and advanced bio-testing.
Through a variety of treatment protocols and modalities, our practice also focuses on ways to treat obesity, cardiometabolic disease, and overall cardiovascular health.
Our personalized approach to healthcare recognizes that every person is biochemically unique and deserves individualized treatment. Our team works with each client to implement treatment programs that work towards achieving the patient’s individual health objectives.
Functional Nutrition
Over the course of one year, 95% of your body’s cells are replaced, which means within 365 days, you can be a healthier version of yourself. Our understanding of the adage “you are what you eat” has expanded to mean that you are what you eat, what you digest, and what you absorb. When the digestive tract isn’t working as it should, the body can’t utilize all the nutrients we need for optimal function or for preventing and fighting disease. The latest research has shown how most diseases begin in the gut, which is where 70% of the immune system lies. At the Vitology Institute we believe that nutrition is one of the most powerful tools we have to combat disease. Functional nutrition is a treatment approach that combines clinical indicators from a physical exam and lab findings to develop a protocol that uses food as medicine. It emphasizes the patient’s unique bio-individual makeup, with the understanding that not everyone thrives on the same diet. Through a combination of healing foods, dietary supplements, and lifestyle changes, our patients achieve optimal gut function and whole body wellness.
At the Vitology Institute, we emphasize the importance of a balanced diet rooted in whole foods. We also believe clean eating should be fun and enjoyable. Among our services in this area, patients enjoy one-on-one nutritional consultations, cooking classes, customized nutrition and wellness lessons, guided grocery shopping, and more.
Advanced Testing and Diagnostics
We use a combination of traditional and functional testing to get the necessary information. Tests may use blood, saliva, urine, or stool. Some of the tests commonly ordered by the Vitology team are:
- Cardiovascular Evaluation to look at oxidation, inflammation, and lipoprotein function.
- Sex Hormone, Thyroid and HPA Evaluation (pituitary, thyroid, ovaries, testes, and adrenal)
- Metabolic Evaluation (insulin sensitivity, carbohydrate intolerance, satiety signaling, and fat storage)
- Markers of Congestive Heart Failure & Heart Stress
- Stool Test (digestion, microbiome, inflammation, and pathogens).
- Nutrient Evaluation (vitamins, minerals, and amino acids)
- Toxicity Screening / MTHFR Testing (liver and kidney function)
- Heavy Metals Testing
- Food Allergy and Sensitivity Testing
