There are many entry paths for practitioners interested in Functional Medicine and an ancestral diet and lifestyle in general, or the ADAPT Framework specifically.
Kresser Institute
The ADAPT Framework informs the programs at Kresser Institute, and we offer several options.
ADAPT Academy
ADAPT Academy was created specifically for people who are interested in the ADAPT Framework approach but are not yet sure they want to do a full training program or spend several thousand dollars traveling to a conference. For those who can’t immediately commit significant time, money, and professional investment, the Academy enables people to “dip their toes” into the approach. It offers the opportunity to start some training and begin meeting people who are already involved in this framework. It puts medical professionals in contact with others who share their interests and enables participants to acquire some skills, practical tools, and resources that can be put into practice right away with patients.
ADAPT Academy is offered through a monthly online membership platform. It features:
· Live seminars with guest experts on specific topics, such as “Treating Very High LDL-P” with Dr. Tom Dayspring, “Updated SIBO Guidelines” with Dr. Mark Pimentel, and “Evidence-Based Strategies for Assessing the HPA Axis” with Mark Newman. Participants can interact with the expert and ask questions, and handouts, cheat sheets, and other tools to help with implementation are provided.
· 4–12-week, in-depth courses covering key areas of interest for practitioners. Examples include In Practice, a series on treating the ten most common conditions we see in practice from a Functional Medicine perspective; a seminar on diagnosing and treating SIBO; and Busy to Balanced, a course on mastering productivity and time management.
· Quick Wins, which are short lessons that contain immediately applicable information and tools that you can start using in your practice right away. For example, we might talk about a new lab test that’s become available and how to interpret it and use it with your patients. I might tell you about an excellent form of glutathione supplement to use in your practice, how to use it, and why. We might discuss a new piece of software that’s become available to improve practice management and administration. The Quick Wins are all viewable in five to ten minutes and are highly focused on practical application.
· Research Updates with the latest research grouped according to specific topics, e.g., “Autoimmune Disease,” “Metabolic Syndrome,” and “Environmental Toxins.” These not only provide summaries of the most recent research but more importantly an analysis of how the research is relevant to clinical practice. Instead of just citing a study, we distill the most important points and translate them into practical steps that can be immediately applied in a clinical setting.
· An active forum with people from all over the world who are starting to incorporate the ADAPT Framework into their practice. Networking sessions link up coaches and other allied providers who are hoping to work with licensed clinicians, and vice versa.
The Academy is not just for licensed clinicians but is also a hub for other providers, such as nurse practitioners and physician assistants, along with anyone considering a career in this field. Medical students, or students in a chiropractic or acupuncture program, for example, may benefit from the opportunities available through the Academy. Practicing health coaches and people currently working toward their health coaching or nutrition certification would likewise be welcome and encouraged to participate at the Academy.
ADAPT Practitioner Training Program
We also offer the ADAPT Practitioner Training Program, which is designed to provide practitioners with everything they need to start a successful Functional Medicine practice, incorporating an ancestral diet and lifestyle and a collaborative practice model. Not surprisingly, the program has three tracks. One track is Functional Medicine, which is broken into three key areas: Gut, HPA Axis, and Blood Chemistry. The second track concentrates on the Exposome: an ancestral diet and lifestyle. The third track covers practice management, the specific knowledge and tools required to set up and run a successful Functional Medicine practice—information that is very different from running a conventional medicine practice.
The ADAPT Practitioner Training Program requires a more significant commitment than the Academy. It’s a twelve-month program, which requires three to six hours a week of participation. It’s been highly successful with almost 400 clinicians from around the world who have either completed the training or are currently enrolled.
ADAPT Health Coach Training Program
In the spring of 2018, we’ll launch the ADAPT Health Coach Training Program, which will train health coaches in our ADAPT model. We’ll teach them how to work with clients on the ancestral diet and lifestyle. We won’t be covering how to interpret labs or how to prescribe treatment—areas that are the province of licensed providers—but we’ll be teaching them the basic principles of Functional Medicine. We’ll also be educating them to support clients in making behavior changes. They’ll learn the fascinating research on the evidence-based principles of behavior change and will be trained in effectively supporting people using a coaching model, rather than relying exclusively on the expert model.
In other words, instead of telling patients what to do and expecting that they’re going to do it, this coaching model uses the principles of coaching psychology and behavior change to help patients be successful. There will also be professional development training for coaches with information on how to work with licensed providers like doctors and other medical professionals; how to get a job within a Functional Medicine clinic; what it’s like working there once you’re in; and how to start your own practice.
The Health Coach Training Program will be offered in two tracks: certification, for those who want the highest level of training and recognition, and non-certification, for those who wish to learn the material but are not interested in or ready for certification.
Live Events and Advanced Modules
In addition to the programs just mentioned, in 2018, Kresser Institute will begin offering live, in-person events and advanced modules on specific topics. The live events will give practitioners, coaches, and other people training within the Kresser Institute and ADAPT Framework ecosystem a chance to meet in person, network, collaborate, and gain additional skills and tools that benefit from a physical presence.
The advanced modules will cover topics not taught in the core Practitioner and Health Coach Training Programs but that are of interest to practitioners and coaches working within the ADAPT Framework. Examples might include modules on chronic infection, detoxification, and hormones for practitioners, and modules on developing group programs and using genetic information to customize diet and lifestyle recommendations for coaches.
You can learn more about ADAPT Academy, the Practitioner and Health Coach Training, and other Kresser Institute programs at KresserInstitute.com.
Other Training
Institute for Functional Medicine (IFM)
IFM has been training practitioners in Functional Medicine for twenty-five years. They offer seminars in person in the U.S. and U.K., and via livestream format. Topics include cardiovascular health, digestive health, genetics, immune/autoimmune, detoxification, and applying functional medicine in clinical practice. Seminars can be taken on a modular basis, and IFM also offers a certification track for practitioners who want to go deeper with thetraining.
You can learn more about IFM training at FunctionalMedicine.org.
Kalish Institute
Kalish Institute was created by Dan Kalish, DC, a chiropractor who has been practicing and teaching Functional Medicine for more than twenty years. Kalish Institute training is offered online and includes programs on Functional Medicine basics, practice management, gut health, and hormones, as well as a six-month “virtual mentorship.” Like Kresser Institute programs, Kalish Institute offerings emphasize case studies and practical application, which is particularly helpful for practitioners new to Functional Medicine.
You can learn more about Kalish Institute training at KalishInstitute.com.
Masterclass with Masterjohn Pro
These series of “masterclasses” with Dr. Chris Masterjohn, a nutritional scientist, go into great depth on topics like energy metabolism—topics we all learned while studying medicine but may need a refresher on. Chris hits the science hard, but he also takes the time to explain why it’s relevant and how you can apply it in clinical practice. The classes are available online and include video, audio, slides, and transcripts in PDF format.
You can learn more about Masterclass with Masterjohn Pro at ChrisMasterjohnPhD.com/pro.
Websites, Podcasts, and Books
In addition to the more in-depth educational opportunities listed above, there are many websites, podcasts and books that cover topics related to Functional Medicine and an ancestral diet and lifestyle.
Websites
KresserInstitute.com
This is the website and blog for Kresser Institute. The blog features regular articles pertaining to all three elements of the ADAPT Framework: Functional Medicine, an ancestral diet and lifestyle, and collaborative practice model.
KresserInstitute.com is geared specifically toward healthcare practitioners. Recent articles include “Does Testosterone Therapy Increase the Risk of Heart Disease in Men?,” “Treating Methylation: Are We Over-supplementing?,” and “Research Studies: Why the Media So Often Gets Them Wrong.” The articles at KresserInstitute.com typically provide additional information of interest to providers on disease processes, mechanisms, and treatment.
ChrisKresser.com
My primary website and blog. Although not specifically geared toward practitioners, much of the content is directly relevant to that audience. Blog articles cover the ancestral diet and lifestyle, the latest research in medicine and health, Functional Medicine approaches to common conditions, and more. ChrisKresser.com also offers a variety of free eBooks and special reports on specific topics, such as gut health, thyroid disorders, and weight loss. Recent articles include “How Many Steps Should You Get in a Day?,” “Resolving the Underlying Causes of ADHD,” and “Could Type 1 Diabetes Be Reversible After All?”
14Four.me
If you or your patients need help implementing the ancestral diet and lifestyle I’ve mentioned in this book but don’t have access to a health coach trained in these areas, check out 14Four. The purpose of the program is to help people make effective change in four key areas: diet, sleep, physical activity, and stress management. We help the patient reboot their diet. We help them to move more like their ancestors. We help them to manage their stress, and they get more restorative sleep. The website offers videos, audio programs, and handouts to make implementation easier. The program itself is two weeks, but it’s preceded by a two-week “on ramp” and followed by a one-weekwind-down, so it takes five weeks to complete. Thousands of people around the world have used 14Four to dramatically improve their overall health and even reverse chronic diseases.
Examine.com
Examine.com was created by a group of scientists and researchers with the mission of delivering independent and critical analysis of current research in the fields of nutrition and medicine—a service that has been sorely lacking until now. Mainstream media reporting on recent research is often incomplete or even misleading; it seems that there are few true science journalists left who can critically examine a study, evaluate its claims, and report on it in a comprehensive yet accessible way. Examine.com does this incredibly well. You can read their blog for free, or sign up for their subscription service, which provides in-depth coverage of the most recent research for a reasonablefee.
StephanGuyenet.com
Dr. Stephan Guyenet is a scientist who formerly studied the neurobiology of weight regulation at the University of Washington. He has also written a blog for many years, summarizing and analyzing the most recent research on a wide variety of topics related to obesity, diabetes, metabolism, nutrition, and optimal health. Stephan is one of the most lucid and balanced voices in the field, and his book The Hungry Brain: Outsmarting the Instincts That Make Us Overeat is a must-read for anyone wishing to truly understand the science behind fat loss and weight regulation.
ChrisMasterjohnPhD.com
I mentioned Dr. Chris Masterjohn earlier. He’s a nutritional scientist who has recently left academia to pursue his own research and develop educational programs for consumers and professionals. Chris is one of the brightest minds I’ve ever encountered in this space, and he is widely known for his deep dives into the science and his ability to translate that understanding into practical and actionable advice for both clinicians and patients. He has a blog and podcast, which can be found at his website.
RobbWolf.com
If you’ve been following the Paleo and ancestral health movement for any length of time, you’ve no doubt heard of Robb Wolf. A former research biochemist, Robb has perhaps done more than anyone to increase awareness of the importance of an ancestral perspective for both health optimization and disease prevention and reversal. Robb is known for his no-nonsense approach and his encyclopedic knowledge of a wide range of topics, including diet and nutrition, physical activity, sustainability and food systems, and nutritional science. He has a blog, wildly popular podcast, and two books, all of which can be found at his website.
MarksDailyApple.com
Mark’s Daily Apple was created by Mark Sisson, a former competitive triathlete and fitness expert. He writes and speaks about what he calls the “Primal” diet and lifestyle, which is his term for the ancestral approach we’ve discussed in this book. Mark is known for his accessible and level-headed style, and his blog is one of the most popular and highly accessed natural health websites in the world. Mark also founded a company called Primal Nutrition, which has a fantastic line of food products such as salad dressings, mayo, and bars made with “Primal-friendly” ingredients. You can find Mark’s blog, several books, podcast, and food products at his website.
DrHyman.com
Together with Dr. Jeffrey Bland, who founded IFM in the 1990s, Dr. Mark Hyman has been a prolific ambassador of Functional Medicine and has arguably done more than anyone else to advance it. Dr. Hyman, a physician, is the director of Cleveland Clinic Center for Functional Medicine, which we discussed earlier in this book. He’s also the author of ten #1 New York Times best-selling books on nutrition and health, and has a popular blog, podcast, YouTube channel, and social media presence.
SaraGottfried.com
Dr. Sara Gottfried, a Harvard-trained MD, has turned her focus to educating the public on health and wellness, with a focus on women’s health and using genetics and epigenetics to improve well-being and extend lifespan. Sara is known for both her rigorous approach to the science and her warm, accessible style—a rare combination that has earned her hundreds of thousands of loyal fans around the world. She has a blog, several books, and programs available at her website.
Conferences
In addition to the websites, books, and podcasts mentioned above, there are several conferences that cover Functional Medicine and the ancestral diet and lifestyle.
Kresser Institute
In 2018, Kresser Institute will hold its first annual conference, featuring presentations, workshops, and experiential breakout groups on a wide range of topics within the ADAPT Framework: Functional Medicine, ancestral health, and the collaborative practice model. Consistent with the mission of Kresser Institute, the training at the conference will be highly practical and “hands on,” with an emphasis on applying what is learned in a clinical setting. Networking sessions with licensed clinicians and allied providers, health coaches, and nutritionists will be offered, to facilitate the collaborative practice model endorsed by the ADAPT Framework.
Find out more at KresserInstitute.com
Ancestral Health Symposium
The Ancestral Health Symposium (AHS) is the premier academic conference covering topics related to the ancestral diet and lifestyle principles discussed in this book. It is typically held in August or September at a university in the U.S. and draws well-known speakers in the field from all over the world. The presentations are oriented toward scientists, clinicians, practitioners, and “citizen scientists,” members of the public who follow these topics closely.
Find out more AncestralHealth.org.
Paleo f(x)
Where AHS has a more academic focus, Paleo f(x) has always emphasized translating theory into practice. Since it started in 2013, it has quickly become the most popular and widely attended conference in this space. Spanning over three days (held in Austin, TX), Paleo f(x) features multiple stages and a massive vendor fair. It has an array of keynote presentations, mastermind panels, cooking demos, and workshops, all led by cutting-edge health practitioners, scientists in a variety of fields, coaches and gym owners, New York Times best-selling authors, popular bloggers, community and sustainability activists, biohackers, chefs, and more.
Visit Paleofx.com for more info.
IFM Annual Conference
IFM holds its Annual International Conference (AIC) in June each year. The AIC features presentations and other learning sessions by some of the top speakers in the field, typically organized around a theme. For example, in 2017, the theme was how neuroplasticity can be harnessed and optimized to prevent and treat neurodegenerative diseases, brain injury, stroke, and mental disorders. The IFM AIC is a great opportunity to meet and network with other clinicians and allied providers from around the world who have embraced a Functional Medicine approach.
Visit IFM.org/ifm-planning-calendar for more info.
Podcasts
Revolution Health Radio
This is my podcast. I cover a wide range of topics related to Functional Medicine and a genetically-aligned diet and lifestyle, interview guest experts, and answer listener questions. Episodes are between twenty minutes and one hour, and the show is available on iTunes (where it is consistently in the Top 5 of all podcasts in the Alternative Health category) and on my website.
You can download the podcasts and read transcripts at ChrisKresser.com/category/podcasts.
Other podcasts
Many of the experts I mentioned above also have podcasts, including Mark Sisson, Robb Wolf, and Chris Masterjohn. You can find them at their websites, or on iTunes.
Books
There are far too many good books to list here, so I’ve included a small but representative sample of titles that cover the ancestral diet and lifestyle in more depth and illustrate the Functional Medicine approach to chronic disease.
The Paleo Cure
My first book, The Paleo Cure (published in hardcover as Your Personal Paleo Code), uses the Paleo diet as a template from which you can tailor a simple yet powerful three-step program—Reset, Rebuild, Revive—to fit your lifestyle, body type, and genetic blueprint. It shows you how to eliminate the toxic foods that cause illness and weight gain, how to sleep better, exercise like our ancestors, cultivate pleasure, and vastly improve overall health. It also teaches you how to personalize your prescription by addressing specific health conditions, from heart disease to digestive problems. You can find The Paleo Cure at bookstores, on Amazon, and at PaleoCureBook.com.
The End of Alzheimer’s: The First Program to Prevent and Reverse Cognitive Decline
This seminal book by Alzheimer’s researcher and physician Dr. Dale Bredesen will forever change the way we look at this horrific disease. Dr. Bredesen describes a Functional Medicine approach to preventing and treating Alzheimer’s disease, offering hope for the first time to the millions of people around the world who’ve been diagnosed with this condition and told there is nothing they can do. His book is available in bookstores and on Amazon.
The Wahls Protocol: A Radical New Way to Treat All Chronic Autoimmune Conditions Using Paleo Principles
Dr. Wahls reversed her progressive MS—going from being wheelchair-bound to completing an eighteen-mile bicycle tour—in less than twelve months using principles of Functional Medicine and an ancestral diet and lifestyle. Her book is an inspiring and helpful guide for anyone who is suffering from autoimmune disease and looking for an alternative to conventional, symptom-based treatment.
Brain Maker: The Power of Gut Microbes to Heal and Protect Your Brain—for Life
This book, by board-certified neurologist and four-time New York Times best-selling author Dr. David Perlmutter, explains the potent interplay between intestinal microbes and the brain, describing how the microbiome develops from birth and evolves based on lifestyle choices, how it can become “sick,” and how nurturing gut health through a few easy strategies can alter your brain’s destiny for the better. It’s another fantastic example of how a Functional Medicine approach can be applied to conditions that are poorly treated by conventional medicine.
Resources for Patients
What about patients who want to pursue healing in a Functional Medicine setting? If you’re struggling with a chronic health challenge, and you want to find a clinician to work with, there are a few different options to pursue.
Finding a Functional Medicine practitioner
First, at the Kresser Institute website, we have a practitioner directory listing practitioners who have been trained in the ADAPT Framework.
You can find it at KresserInstitute.com/directory.
Second, IFM also has a practitioner directory, noting those who have done some of their trainings, along with people who have gone through their entire certification process. IFM doesn’t necessarily embrace the ancestral perspective or the collaborative practice model, so IFM-trained practitioners might offer a slightly different approach than what’s been outlined in this book. That said, IFM has trained several excellent, qualified practitioners, and is therefore a good source for people who are looking for someone trained in Functional Medicine. Lest we forget, there’s also Google. Simply performing a Google search for a Functional Medicine doctor or physician in your town is another option.
Patients play a vital role in leading this revolution toward Functional Medicine and the ancestral diet and lifestyle. The only way some doctors hear about it is from their patients. I hear this from Kresser Institute training program participants all the time. Some patients may feel hesitant to talk to their doctors about it. If a patient already has a good relationship with his or her doctor, and the doctor is open-minded and willing to hear about other approaches, then bringing it up can help pave the way toward a new model of healthcare.
Finding a Health Coach
Working with a health coach is another great option. Kresser Institute will eventually offer a low-cost clinic with sessions with students in the Kresser Institute Health Coach Training Program.
The coaches coming out of Kresser Institute will have awareness of this evolutionary perspective, which is a key criterion to look for in a health coach. Any health coach who just provides information isn’t doing enough. Patients should also look for coaches with training in psychology and behavior change. Ideally, a coach should work collaboratively with their patients; this requires a thorough understanding of how to facilitate behavior change, and training in disciplines like positive psychology, strengths-based coaching, and motivational interviewing.
Patients can find a health coach through several resources. As mentioned above, in 2018 Kresser Institute will be launching the ADAPT Health Coach Training Program. Once the first group of ADAPT Health Coaches is certified, they will be listed in a directory at KresserInstitute.com.
In the meantime, you can search for coaches by contacting coaching programs that have been approved by prominent accreditation organizations. The best known of these for health coaching programs is the International Consortium for Health and Wellness Coaching. They have robust requirements and a board exam that qualified coaches can sit for to become certified. There is also the International Coaching Federation, which has a directory of people who have been certified through them. Health coaches who possess certification from either institution will likely be trustworthy in their skill and knowledge.
As the Functional Medicine model moves more and more into the mainstream, we have an opportunity to stem the tide of chronic diseases that are shortening our lifespans and destroying our quality of life. I believe that the approach I’ve outlined in this book is the best chance we have to address the problem of chronic illness, both on an individual level and on a societal level. We need to do that for our own benefit and for the benefit of our children.