After a life-altering experience when her husband was diagnosed with glioblastoma during her pregnancy, Andrea Nakayama realized the healthcare system often treats illnesses instead of the individual. This inspired her to revolutionize the approach to chronic illness. In this episode, Dr. Jannine Krause speaks with Andrea Nakayama, founder of the Functional Nutrition Alliance, about her groundbreaking work in narrative medicine—an approach that focuses on listening to a patient’s story and addressing the nuances in the clent's story often overlooked in healthcare.

Andrea shares how integrating health stories with clinical insights can help uncover the root causes of chronic conditions and why many people don’t improve despite doing “all the right things.”

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• How the medical system’s diagnosis-first approach impacts your health journey.
• Why doctors and the healthcare system can’t always “fix” chronic illnesses.
• The dangers of treatment bias in alternative and functional medicine.
• The value of doing your own research to empower your healthcare decisions.
• Risks of following social media influencers for health advice.
• Why foundational health tests—like blood work, hydration checks, and bowel movement evaluations—are crucial.
• How combining your health story with your chemistry reveals key health insights.
• The surprising power of joy and its role in healing beyond supplements and protocols.

Key Takeaways:

• Your Story Matters: Chronic illness isn’t just about symptoms—it’s about the full context of your life and history.
• Listen to Your Body: Foundational health markers, like hydration and digestion, hold valuable clues to your health.
• Beware of Bias: Both conventional and alternative medicine can fall into one-size-fits-all treatment patterns.
• Joy Is Healing: Small, joyful activities can be as transformative as any supplement.

Resources from the Show:

• Andrea Nakayama’s Website: andreanakayama.com
• Learn more about Narrative Medicine Meets Functional Medicine: Visit Here

If you or someone you love is struggling with chronic health conditions, this episode will inspire you to uncover the clues in your own story and take a holistic approach to wellness.