Eating a variety of wholesome, real foods can bring great enjoyment and balance to the body.  Good nutrition needs to be put in perspective and contributes to our foundation of health allowing us to accomplish our goals throughout our lives. The benefit of having good overall nutrition can’t be underestimated.  Looking at the body as a complex adaptive matrix can be helpful.  Each body system needs supportive nutrients simultaneously to maintain health.  This web-like way of thinking is perhaps a better way to understand how the human body functions rather than the more typically linear, mechanistic way medicine is often applied. 

Excellent nutrition ensures that our body with all its complex pathways and intricate metabolism gets the essential nutrients in abundance that it needs so it can function at its best level.  Ensuring good nutrition is always a very positive step we can take to support our own health.  In a sense it can be seen as a corner stone of both conventional and alternative medicine, helping both to be more effective. Some principles of Optimum Nutrition are:

The top 10 benefits my clients appreciated the most  were to:

All conditions can be supported at some level with excellent nutrition.   Appropriate eating plans may help lower inflammation, help maintain a stable pH within the body and help the healing and rejuvenation at a cellular level within the body.  This means that all conditions relating to, for example digestive function may be supported.  Conditions such as anxiety, stress and insomnia may be improved. 

Conditions related to cardiovascular and circulatory health can be improved and supported.   The hormonal system, the immune system as well as the nervous system can also be supported and strengthened.  Serious and often debilitating situations involving low mood and depression, concentration and behavioural problems, particularly in conjunction with some psychotherapy techniques may be lifted and improved.   Inflammatory conditions such as Arthritis and difficult skin conditions such as Eczema and Psoriasis can be supported and eased.  Issues surrounding weight and eating disorders may also be worked on effectively with a combination of nutritional support giving a balanced programme alongside the right psychological approach and care.

A detailed questionnaire and food diary will be sent to you prior to your consultation and you will be asked to complete them and bring them with you to the appointment.  Filling out these forms as a reflective exercise can be quite revealing  We may know, in theory, some broad guidelines about healthy eating but many people often struggle to put this into practice in a constructive way.  This is where professional support can be invaluable.

Within the consultation it is very much a dialogue and process of understanding and education.  There is often not just one ‘right’ way to do things and your needs and wishes as well as  your ‘likes’ and ‘dislikes’ are carefully gone through.  Not only will we discuss the theory of what approach may be supportive in your particular circumstances but we will discuss how you can put these suggested changes into practice in a manageable way.  

The important point is that it is a supported process of change leading you towards a better level of health.  The first consultation is one hour and follow-ups are 30 mins or 45 mins depending on your needs.

Changes to your basic eating pattern and choices may be suggested along with lifestyle changes, such as exercise.  The process of change will be supported with motivational techniques coming from Medical NLP and Human Givens Psychotherapy.  If any serious underlying medical conditions are suspected that have not been properly checked I may suggest that you see your GP.  

In addition, it may be appropriate for physical, structural problems that you see a good Osteopath, Physiotherapist or Yoga/Pilates teacher and so this type of avenue may be suggested to you. 

Some broad biochemical tests are often recommended and these can be done privately and, as appropriate, in conjunction with your GP or Consultant Doctors.