About me
For those who do not know me yet, I am Adriano dos Santos, BSc, AFMCP, MBOG, NWP, RSM, ESIM, a Functional Registered Nutritionist, who focuses on nutritional therapy for patients with metabolic syndrome, particularly those suffering from digestive issues and sleep disturbances.
I’m half Brazilian/British and I have been living and working in the Netherlands for the past 10 years. Besides learning the language here, I learned how to run errands by bike like a Dutchman. I share my time between The Hague and Cannes, where I live part of the year.
I also give lectures and workshops for companies on preventive medicine programs and do consulting work for nutraceutical companies. I have over 20 years of experience in sports science and nutrition therapy altogether. Over all these years, I have developed effective tools and strategies to help people improve their health through personalised nutrition prescriptions and lifestyle changes.
As a proud member of The Royal Society of Medicine (RSM), The Institute for Functional Medicine (IFM) and The European Society of Integrative Medicine (ESIM), I strive to stay up-to-date with the latest scientific research and medical advancements. I'm also a member of MBOG (Association of Orthomolecular Medicine) in the Netherlands.
I see patients both in person and online, and I love to share my knowledge and insights through my own learning platform, e-books, and blogs. It's my mission to help people feel their best, whether they're living in The Hague or sunbathing in Cannes. (And let's be honest, who wouldn't want to be in Cannes?)
And speaking of being a professional, I recently graduated in AFMCP (Applying Functional Medicine in Clinical Practice) at IFM (Institute for Functional Medicine) with a focus mainly on mitochondria, environmental, cardiovascular and metabolic health. I'm also trained in Nutrigenomics and Pharmacogenomics at the DNAlife Institute. This means that I bring into my programmes the information on how genetic factors can contribute to disease, and how we can use appropriate interventions to make positive changes.
But my thirst for knowledge doesn't stop there. I'm studying and researching in a master's program (MSc) in Sleep Medicine at the Clinical Neuroscience department at the University of Bërn in Switzerland, where I dive deep into the science, physiology and anatomy of sleep, sleep disorders, genetics and much more. As part of my professional interest, I would like to research more about the relationship between our microbiome metabolites, metabolic syndromes, and sleep quality.
All in all, I may be a nutrition professional, but I'm not afraid to have a little fun along the way. After all, what's life without a little laughter?
Qualifications and degrees
Sports Science Degree (BSc Hons)
Exercise Physiology(MSc)
Nutrition Science Degree (BSc Hons)
AFMCP (Applying Functional Medicine in Clinical Practice) at IFM (Institute for Functional Medicine)
IFM Environmental Health International Advanced Practice Module
IFM Bioenergetics Advanced Practice Module
IFM Gastrointestinal (GI) Advanced Practice Module
DNA Testing Nutrigenomics
Level 6 Health Specialist by Ereps
Current studying
Master program: Sleep Medicine at University of Bërn
CPD Degrees
My vision of integrated medicine
I can't entirely agree with the concept of alternative medicine as being an alternative or replacement for 'conventional medicine'. There are many elements to consider when it comes to health; it's not simply a case of conventional versus alternative. I believe in integrated medicine, where we bring the two approaches together. That's how we get the therapeutic spectrum much broader. When we understand that we can do more than one thing to get well, we position ourselves better to return to good health.
If somebody is sick and needs pharmacological drugs, they need drugs. However, "nutraceuticals" could be employed to support a patient while reducing the number of medications used or even not using any drug. To achieve this integrative medicine approach, I work with doctors, functional medicine practitioners, naturopaths, psychologists, osteopaths and fitness professionals.
Let's analyse the DNA variations and several systems in the body before choosing the treatment approach. After the first consult, I frequently recommend a couple of functional laboratory tests such as DNA, digestive tract analysis, hormones, enzymes, vitamins & minerals and allergies or intolerances. It is the most efficient and effective tool for evaluating all these interconnecting systems and, therefore, your overall health. It screens for various foundational potential triggers and system assessments, including several types of anaemia; indications of gut, viral and bacterial infections; insulin resistance and hypoglycemia; liver and kidney issues; and a comprehensive thyroid profile.
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In Biology, we learn that all of our systems operate via complex biochemical pathways. If these become functionally slow or halted, there is an effect at a cellular level. If left unchecked, whole systems move away from their optimal natural balance, resulting in a domino effect of system dysfunction. The disease can often be a long way out, but the balance of homeostasis may have been tipped enough to result in a sub-optimal dysfunction. And that's why most of the clients I see do not have a full-blown "disease", but they certainly have enough symptoms to indicate that several systems have moved away from their optimal level. Integrated Nutritional Therapy stands for addressing the causes of system dysfunction, recalibrating bodily systems and restoring optimal function. In other words, excellent health!
