Intro to Functional Medicine for Gut Health and Mental Health
My name is Norma Flood, and I’m an integrative and functional nutritionist. After 24 years in practice, I’ve come to realize the critical importance of sharing the knowledge and insights I’ve gained—especially how they have shaped my approach to treatment for both myself and my clients.
My journey into functional medicine was driven not only by the struggles of those I’ve worked with but also by my own personal health challenges, including ADHD, anxiety, depression, an eating disorder, and chronic pain. Through these experiences, I discovered that functional medicine was the missing link in addressing the complex health issues we face today.
Too often, we turn to treatments or medications that only address symptoms without first considering the root cause of the problem—especially when it comes to mental health. While treating symptoms can bring temporary relief, the underlying issue often creates more imbalance, leaving us feeling worse in the long run.
Through a functional medicine approach, we now understand that the gut microbiome is at the center of it all. Our gut bacteria regulate over 70% of our immune system, influence how our genes are expressed, drive metabolism, and produce and regulate many key neurotransmitters. These include dopamine, which supports focus and memory, and serotonin, which improves mood, reduces anxiety, and enhances learning. This is why gut bacteria are often referred to as our "second brain"—and why my primary focus is on mental health.
The first step in supporting mental well-being is clearing the clutter—meeting our most basic needs before immediately turning to medication. Even for those already on medication, addressing root causes can help these treatments work more effectively, with fewer side effects and often at lower doses. This is important for everyone, regardless of their mental health status.
Unfortunately, most foods consumed in the U.S. today are highly processed and stripped of essential nutrients. In fact, they contain over 200 times more chemicals than they did just 20 years ago, ultimately harming our microbiome and everything that depends on it.
I understand firsthand how challenging it can be to make better choices for ourselves and our families. Having raised teenagers, I know the struggle of balancing academics, extracurricular activities, and social pressures. It’s not easy—but small, supportive changes are possible.
If you're looking for simple, actionable steps to improve mental health through an integrative and functional approach, I invite you to check out my website and Youtube channel. I share easy, everyday strategies to help you build a stronger foundation for lasting well-being.
About the Author: Norma Flood, MS, RDN
Norma Flood is a busy mom, wife, friend, and Registered Dietician Nutritionist guiding adults and teens to better brain balance and gut health. Holding a Master of Science in Nutritional Sciences, she is recognized as one of San Diego’s top nutritionists. With a deep commitment to holistic well-being, Norma provides personalized health counseling and applies functional nutrition therapy to effectively support digestive health, mental health, and eating disorder recovery. She offers both in-person and group counseling as well as online education. Follow Norma Flood on YouTube as she shares small, easy steps that you can take each day to support better gut health and mental health using an integrative and functional approach.