Nutritional Therapy

 

“Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food”

― Hippocrates

Nutritional Therapy is the application of nutritional science by providing food and the nutrients the body needs to heal and help bring us back to a state of optimum health and vitality.

Nutritional Therapists use a wide range of tools to assess and identify potential nutritional imbalances and understand how these may contribute to an individual’s symptoms and health concerns. This approach allows them to work with individuals to address nutritional balance and help support the body towards maintaining health. Nutritional therapy uses food and supplements (if necessary) to supply the nutrients the body needs to be rebalance itself, while investigating which foods may cause adverse effects on the body. Seeing a nutritional therapist does not mean you have to change or cut out all the food you enjoy. You can still enjoy your favourite food in a sensible way. It can be a simple and easy adjustment in order to give your body strength to rebalance itself.

Nutritional Therapy is recognised as a complementary medicine and is relevant for individuals with chronic conditions, as well as those looking for support to enhance their health and wellbeing.

Nutritional Therapists consider each individual to be unique and recommend personalised nutrition and lifestyle programmes rather than a ‘one size fits all’ approach. Practitioners never recommend nutritional therapy as a replacement for medical advice and always refer any client with ‘red flag’ signs or symptoms to their medical professional. They will also frequently work alongside a medical professional and will communicate with other healthcare professionals involved in the client’s care to explain any nutritional therapy programme that has been provided.

Nutritional Therapy can have a positive impact on a wide range of major or minor health conditions.

Conditions such as:

  • Chronic fatigue and Low energy

such as hypothyroidism, insomnia, blood sugar imbalance

  • Digestive conditions

such as indigestion, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), constipation, diarrhea and bloating, food intolerances and allergies

  • Skin conditions

such as acne, eczema, psoriasis and dermatitis

  • Cardiovascular conditions

such as high cholesterol and high blood pressure

  • Hormonal and reproductive issues

such as premenstrual syndrome (PMS), menopause and infertility, Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), menopause and infertility

  • Mood related conditions, such as stress, anxiety and depression
  • Musculoskeletal conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis and pains
  • Immune imbalances

such as frequent colds & infections, including thrush & cystitis

  • Weight management

What to expect from your consultation

Each consultation is individually tailored to you and your goals/ needs. You will have a confidential one-to-one consultation.

Before the consultation

Prior to the first consultation you will be asked to complete a health questionnaire and food diary for 3 days. Ideally you should complete and return 3 days in advance of your consultation. The information that you give will facilitate a preliminary analysis and allow any necessary clinical research to be undertaken.

To ensure that you are being motivated to achieve your goals, you will be asked to send regular updates of your progress between consultations for the duration of your programme.

First consultation

 

The first consultation will last for 90mins.

During the consultation we will discuss your goals and current health status, and review the questionnaire and the food diary you have handed in. We may need to ask more detailed questions on your existing conditions, medical history, lifestyle, diet and eating habits.

When appropriate we may suggest functional laboratory tests, particularly in complex cases, this helps to identify any imbalances in your system.

Following the first consultation you will receive a personalized programme that fits with your lifestyle and budget. Nutritional supplements may be recommended if necessary.

Follow-up consultation

Follow-up consultations are highly recommended. This is generally 4-6 weeks after the first consultation (2-3 weeks after if you have taken a lab test or a Bio-well assessment) and usually last 60mins. This is to assess progress, make any necessary changes and to see that the program is as comfortable and effective as possible.

Further advice and recommendations will be offered to help achieve your health goal.

If you would like further information, or if you’re not sure whether Nutritional Therapy can help for your needs, feel free to get in touch.