MY APPROACH

It is far more important to know what person the disease has than what disease the person has.

Hippocrates (460-370 BC)

If you have already read the overview of nutritional therapy and don’t need more detail, you can skip ahead to Services. Otherwise, this page explains the approach I use in practice, how functional medicine principles inform my work, and how this supports a personalised approach to nutrition and lifestyle change. Understanding my approach may help you decide whether nutritional therapy is right for you.

How I work

My practice is centred on personalised nutritional therapy, using Functional Medicine principles as a framework for understanding health. This means I look at how different aspects of your health, history and lifestyle may be connected, rather than focusing on symptoms in isolation. Each person is unique, so recommendations are always tailored rather than based on a standardised plan. The aim is to understand the factors that may be influencing your health, then support your body’s natural functions through personalised nutrition and lifestyle strategies.

Why Functional Medicine?

Functional Medicine provides a framework for understanding health that considers the body as an interconnected system rather than a collection of separate symptoms. It recognises that long-term health is influenced by many interacting factors, including:

• health history and genetics
• diet and nutrient intake
• digestion and absorption
• sleep and stress
• activity levels
• environmental influences

Rather than looking for a single explanation for your symptoms, the aim is to build a clearer picture of how these factors may be interacting in your individual case. This allows for a more personalised and practical approach to supporting health and wellbeing.

The focus is on you, not on the health issues you have.

What this means in practice

Depending on your individual needs, we may explore areas such as:

Digestive health

Digestive health plays an important role in nutrient absorption, immune function and overall wellbeing.

Blood sugar balance

Blood sugar regulation can influence energy levels, appetite, weight management, cardiometabolic health and hormonal balance.

Food sensitivity and allergies

Some foods may contribute to symptoms and, where appropriate, a temporary elimination approach may be considered.

Inflammation

Inflammation may contribute to the development or progression of many long-term health conditions.

Nutrition status

Assessing whether your diet is providing the nutrients your body needs to function well.

Detoxification

Supporting the body’s normal detoxification processes through nutrition and lifestyle.

Stress and hormonal balance

Supporting resilience, sleep, mood and hormonal health.

Rather than following the same dietary advice for everyone with a particular health concern, recommendations are tailored to your individual needs and may include:

Adjusting the balance of foods

For example, carbohydrates, protein and healthy fats.

Choosing more whole foods

For example, replacing highly processed foods with minimally processed alternatives such as oats instead of sugary cereals, natural yoghurt instead of sweetened yoghurt, or nuts and fruit instead of processed snack foods.

Including more foods that support health

For example, foods rich in nutrients, phytonutrients or phytoestrogens, anti-inflammatory benefits, or foods providing pre-and pro-biotics

Using targeted supplements where appropriate (optional)

Supplements are not a replacement for a healthy diet, but may be considered to help support nutritional status or specific physiological functions, or individual needs related to symptoms or health concerns. Examples include vitamins, minerals, amino acids, probiotics, and permitted herbal products.

Reducing exposure to everyday environmental factors where appropriate

For example, food, household and personal care products that may affect health.

Lifestyle factors to support overall wellbeing

For example, stress management techniques, sleep hygiene, exercise

Food is so much more than calories (which you will not be counting!)

How I build a picture of your health

To help build a complete picture of your health, I may use a range of assessment methods where appropriate. Not every assessment is suitable or necessary for every client. The methods used depend on your health concerns, goals and the information needed to develop your personalised nutrition and lifestyle plan.

Health questionnaire & food diary

Information about your health history, goals, symptoms, diet & lifestyle

Consultation and case history

More information gathering takes place during consultations to build your case history.

Clinical measurements

For example, blood pressure, weight, waist and hip circumference where appropriate

Review of existing medical tests

For example, tests your GP has carried out.

Specialised laboratory testing (optional)

I may recommend specialised laboratory testing where appropriate to provide further insight into areas such as nutritional status, digestive health, metabolic health, and other factors relevant to your health concerns. Test results may help guide a more personalised approach to supporting your health.
Examples of tests I regularly use include comprehensive stool analysis, SIBO breath testing, nutrient status testing, cardiovascular markers (such as lipids and glucose-related markers), and food-related antibody testing. Many tests are non-invasive, with samples such as stool, urine, or saliva collected at home.

Kinesiology (optional)

Kinesiology is a gentle complementary therapy that uses muscle testing as a form of biofeedback. I offer it as an optional assessment tool where it may provide additional information to support nutritional assessment or help guide food and supplement choices. It is not intended to replace appropriate medical investigations where these are needed. Kinesiology usually takes place in a separate session.

Key Benefits of this approach

Supporting overall health and wellbeing

This approach recognises that the body functions as a connected system, so imbalances in one area can influence other aspects of health. For example, improvements in digestive function may also be associated with changes in skin, mood, weight, or joint symptoms.

Focus on prevention and healthy ageing

Chronic disease typically develops over time, often alongside a gradual decline in how well the body is functioning. By identifying factors that may be influencing health before significant disease develops there is an opportunity to support healthier ageing and long-term wellbeing.

For more information on what you will receive
following a consultation, see Nutrition and Lifestyle plan.

CONTACT ME TO BOOK
YOUR CONSULTATION