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Functional nutrition is about looking "up-stream" to determine the root cause of an individuals symptoms. I then take that information and use a systems-oriented approach, taking your specific needs and goals into account as part of the process as I develop a customized program for you. I work in therapeutic partnership with all of my clients.
My relentless search for answers as to the origin of disease, and subsequently the implementation of healing protocols, has lead me to believe that educating my clients and spending the time needed with them is vital for their success. My protocols are not just about telling my client what to do, but explaining why they're doing it and how it works in their body. I use pictures, books, graphs, anatomy texts, and easy-to-understand language to help my client understand their protocol. As a result, my clients feel both empowered as they know what they need to do, and also understand their role as active participants in their own health.
I've seen many sides of the health care system. I worked as part of the sports medical crew for the University of Western Ontario football team, tending to acute and chronic injury. I then went on to work as a fitness coach and subsequently qualified as a Certified Strength and Conditioning Coach with the National Strength Conditioning Association. I realized that the key to optimal health is targeted nutrition and lifestyle interventions. This inspired me to gain further training as a Certified Nutritional Practitioner. Wanting to learn more about combining the best of conventional medicine and functional medicine, I completed my Functional Medicine certification with the Institute of Functional Medicine based in Washington DC. My studies never stop. I continually attend webinars, seminars, courses, and workshops to ensure that I am working with the most up-to-date evidence based research. Constantly expanding my knowledge base gives me a "big picture" of health, and helps me to provide my clients with the most current information available.
My specialty is in being able to support my clients with effective personalized evidence-based therapeutic protocols that include specific dietary interventions, lifestyle recommendations, and nutraceuticals. I support clients that are being treated concurrently allopathically, and those who opt for a completely natural approach. I have also successfully worked with clients and their primary care physicians and specialists to ensure we are all working together for our client/patients optimal results.
The successes of my clients are the greatest rewards in the work that I do and I am truly honoured. When a 6-year old client sends me a drawing they made of me as a thank-you note because they are doing better in school. Or a couple sends me photos of their newborn, where we had been working together on fertility challenges. Clients whose Crohn's symptoms come under control, cancer that goes into remission, chronic inflammation that goes away, and clients whose health improves so much that they can go off their medications- are truly the greatest rewards. I love that I can be a part of someone's healing process, and it's remarkable to see the transformation in my clients- not just in their health but in the positive effect their improved health has on every aspect of their lives.
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"Josh Gitalis is the person I turn to when grappling with tough nutritional cases as he has learned how to interpret many testing options. Like a modern-day Sherlock Holmes, he looks for clues in your biology to then provide natural solutions that make a difference in your life."
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"I’ve met a lot of nutritionists and great functional medicine practitioners over the years, and none that’s as busy and as astute, and as good of a clinician as Josh."
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"I’ve been a client of Josh’s, and he’s my go-to recommendation when people ask me for a nutritionist. He gets to the root of the problem and helps people understand what is going on in their body. He really takes the time to educate and empower you. It makes you feel really cared for, and that’s everything."
Most of the courses that I've created came about because there was a need. My clients and students would ask me where they could get more information in specific areas. As a result I created my Advanced Clinical Focus Courses- education that I wish I had access to when I was in their shoes. These are part of a full Functional Nutrition Certification program (www.FunctionalNutrition.ca), where I offer a range of courses that include topics like supplementation, digestion, hormone balance, reading blood work and detoxification. These courses are taught to people who have a keen interest in learning more about their own health, as well as a range of practitioners- nutritionists, naturopathic doctors, pharmacists, and MDs- professionals looking to improve the results they get with their clients and patients.
"Josh presents evidenced-based data in a well-organized, logical, and effective manner and provides plenty of opportunity for feedback and questions to be asked. After taking the GI course, I knew I wanted to complete the certification program-knowing I would walk away better equipped to serve others."
"Josh, you are such an amazing teacher! Your ability to clearly explain and simplify technical pieces is amazing. Working through your courses, I can always count on my questions being answered on the next slide!"
"Josh Gitalis is an encyclopedia of information. He is very patient and has a great knack for explaining nutritional concepts. In addition, he has a kind soul and always puts the health of his clients and the success of his students first. He is a pleasure to work with."
I enjoy being outdoors - in my garden or out in the woods foraging and working with the remedies that I recommend. I spend quite a bit of time seeking out wild foods and herbs and learning how to work with these plants. My keen interest led me to participate in an intensive herbal medicine internship at the United Plant Savers Herbal Sanctuary. My wife, Meghan Telpner, who is also a nutritionist, and I enjoy travelling and exploring other parts of the world, giving us first hand knowledge of other foods, remedies and traditions. I have a curiosity for the natural world that keeps me constantly interested in learning more and discovering ways that I can apply this knowledge to my work.
Most of all I love spending time with Meghan and our son Finley.
Josh Gitalis, Clinical Nutritionist and Functional Medicine Practitioner, runs a Toronto-based private practice, with a worldwide client base. He is a recognized expert in integrative healthcare, merging the best of functional medicine and integrative therapeutics. As a leader in his field, Josh has taught Clinical Nutrition for several natural health colleges and runs the Functional Nutrition Certification Program. He is the first Canadian nutritionist to become an Institute for Functional Medicine Certified Practitioner (IFMCP).
Copyright 2023 Josh Gitalis, all rights reserved.
