What is Nutritional Therapy?
What does a nutritional therapist actually do and why should you be careful to choose a fully qualified practitioner, who is well trained on an accredited course, follows a stringent code of ethics and fully insured?
Check out this 2.5 minute video, which explains it perfectly...
Nutritional Therapy is the application of nutrition science in the promotion of health, peak performance and individual care. It is a complementary medicine and relevant for individuals with chronic conditions, as well as those looking for support to enhance their health and wellbeing.
Practitioners never recommend nutritional therapy as a replacement for medical advice and always refer any client with ‘red flag’ signs or symptoms to their GP. Practitioners do not diagnose, claim to treat, or advise against medication; practitioners prefer to work in collaboration with medical professionals and will communicate with other healthcare professionals involved in the client’s care to explain any nutritional therapy programme that has been provided.
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When working with clients I seek to uncover the root cause of the symptoms and address those, rather than simply trying to manage the symptoms. This approach is based on the Functional Medicine Model (FMM). My aim is to ensure all the systems of the body have what they need in order to function to their optimum. Achieving proper nutrition through natural wholesome foods is key to our protocol, as are lifestyle factors such as exercise or rest.
Each individual is unique - this is key in devising a successful protocol, and the reason why what works for one person, may not work for another.
What happens in a consultation?
Before your first consultation I send you a detailed questionnaire (NTQ) that must be returned at least 3 days prior to your appointment. This enables me to review your case fully and undertake any necessary research, to ensure we get the most out of our first session together.
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An initial consultation lasts between 60 and 75 minutes. I gather a detailed history, which enables me to evaluate your situation and understand what may be happening. Then we develop a personalised nutrition and lifestyle programme that is focused on achieving your key health goals. It includes your nutritional requirements in the form of natural foods and sometimes supplements, as well as lifestyle changes, which may include exercise, stress management and rest. Testing is sometimes required to provide us with further information regarding what's happening. Common tests I use include comprehensive stool analysis (CDSA) , small intestine bacterial assessment (SIBO), food intolerance or sensitivity, stress hormone panels, total thyroid screen, functional blood chemistries and urinary organic acid analysis. Testing can take place in-clinic, through private laboratories or with your GP/hospital. ​
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Your health plan is emailed to you within 7 days of your consultation, along with any other relevant information such as fact sheets, food plans, recipes, etc. It is usual for me to see clients over a period of time, depending upon each individual situation. The first follow up is usually after four weeks in order to monitor progress and make any necessary adjustments. However, I have a number of different programmes that provide weekly/fortnightly support, which works really well for the weight loss packages, or with complex conditions that required a staged protocol.