caffeine general overview image

Understanding Caffeine

Caffeine is a powerful stimulant that can help provide mental stimulation, in fact it is the worlds most consumed psychoactive drug. The media and opinion often portray caffeine as something that can be both good and bad for your health....

alcohol general overview image

Understanding Alcohol

How we all respond to alcohol is likely to be very individual but let’s explore it’s potential affects on your health and physique goals, as well as providing some ways to be more mindful and make better choices when it...

carbohydrates general overview image

Understanding Carbohydrates

Not all carbohydrates are equal and over the years the image of carbohydrates have gone from friend to foe back to friend again depending on what article or “expert” you listen to.

fibre - a general overview image

Understanding Fibre

In this article I aim to provide a general overview of fibre, its benefits and the best sources to include in your diet.

protein image

Understanding Protein

In this discussion we are going to look at the role protein plays in the body, whilst determining what optimal levels are for you and reviewing whether too much protein can be bad for you.

what are phytonutrients image

What are Phytonutrients?

We’ve all heard of proteins, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals, but what are phytonutrients?

food prep made easy image

Food Preparation Made Easy

If you are a busy person, who still likes to make their own meals but would like to perhaps reduce your time in the kitchen then this article is for you. Not only will be be covering some food prep...

nutrition & lifestyle considerations for crohn's disease image

Nutrition and lifestyle considerations for Crohn’s Disease

In this article I am going to discuss the role of inflammation in the gut with a particular focus on Crohn’s disease. We’ll look at the main symptoms, probable causes and what you can do to help improve your outcome.

best prebiotic probiotic foods image

The Best Prebiotic and Probiotic Foods and how to support Postbiotic levels

To help support the balance of bacteria in our gut there are certain foods that should feature regularly in your diet. The two food groups you should include are prebiotics and probiotics. In this article we look at why beneficial...

framework for optimising digestive health image

How to improve your digestive health – The 5R approach

What I am going to introduce to you today is a concept known as the 5R protocol for gastrointestinal health. It’s something I have been using for a number of years now since I was first introduced to it when...

halloween recipes image

Halloween Recipes

Hi all, my name is Fay and I am Steve’s wife. People always ask me ‘ooooh your husband is a nutritionist, you must have to hide all your naughty stuff!’. Well no, luckily Steve is not a sergeant but he’s...

weight loss where do i start image

Weight loss – where should I start?

In the world of weight loss there are many opinions on the ideal way to succeed. In reality there is no one single protocol that is right for everyone, however there are some principles that work with the majority of...

rosacea diet and lifestyle considerations image

Diet and lifestyle considerations to help with Rosacea

In this article I look at considerations both in the causes of rosacea and also natural therapies to help address rosacea including dietary, testing and supplemental considerations.

acne diet and lifestyle considerations image

Diet and lifestyle considerations to help with Acne

In this review I want to discuss some of the mechanisms on how acne can develop and also discuss what you might be able to do to help address acne.

Should I be on a gluten free diet?

In todays article I want to discuss a few considerations with regards to going gluten free. I want to discuss my stance on the subject and also present some literature that was presented to me by Dr Tom O’Bryan recently...

what can your blood say about your health image

What can your blood say about your health?

In this comprehensive article I want to outline how a thorough Comprehensive Blood Chemistry (CBC) can be one of the main starting and ongoing assessments used to get an overview of your current state of health and to guide decisions...

do you use food to self sooth image

Are you using foods to self-sooth?

In this article we look at emotional eating, how to raise awareness and some tactics to help you overcome emotional eating habits that often lead to yo-yo type dieting and an inability to achieve your health and physique goals.

7 Hidden Blocks to Female Fat Loss image

Is Thyroid Function Impacting your Weight Loss Efforts

In this article we take a quick look at how thyroid function might be affecting weight loss and how you might be able to determine if you potentially have an underlying thyroid issue.

are low levels of serotonin messing with your mood image

Improving your mood naturally: 7 ways to boost serotonin

Did you know that your mood can be significantly affected by levels of serotonin in the body? We suggest 7 natural methods for boosting this important neurotransmitter.

SIgA Image

Why your low Secretory IgA (SIgA) levels are causing immune and digestive issues

Mucosal surfaces cover a large part of our body. The digestive tract, nose, mouth and throat are prime examples where this mucosal layer plays a critical role in supporting our health.

is there an accurate way to measure body fat skin fold calliper analysis image

Is skinfold analysis an accurate measure of body fat?

In todays article I want to look at the use of skinfold measurements as a method for measuring body fat.

the forgotten basics of nutrition image

The Forgotten Basics of Nutrition

As a nutritionist it can be easy to get carried away with the more complex side of our job, the laboratory testing and supplement prescription. All too often nutritionists and other health practitioners forget or even disregard the basics that...

introduction to macronutrients image

Introduction to Macronutrients

In this article we are going to review the importance of the three main macronutrients: Proteins, Fats and Carbohydrates.

the importance of mindful eating image

The Importance of Mindful Eating

In this article we look at what mindful eating is and what you can do improve how you eat and the process of mindful eating.

improving your health separating the good the bad the ugly image

Is stress effecting your health? – Separating the good from the bad and the ugly

An important part of improving your health is to determine what parts of your current lifestyle are either contributing or taking away from your health goals.

is detoxing for dorks image

Is detoxing for dorks?

So it’s that time of year again, almost everyone I know is going to start his or her January detox. In the process they are going to post untold amounts of pictures of their nasty tasting green juices and plates...

can natural medicine play a role in cancer treatment image

Can natural medicine play a role in cancer treatment?

In recent months I have been asked my opinion on the role that nutrition and natural medicine can have on cancer treatment. As nutritionists we often find ourselves in a position of trying to help prevent disease, but on occasions...

vitamin d interactions image

3 Nutrient interactions you should know about before supplementing with Vitamin D

Confirmed low levels of vitamin D may require supplementation, yet before supplementing with vitamins you should consider the following nutrient relationships:

natural ways to support bone health image

Natural ways to support bone health – Mineral rich foods for healthy bones

Minerals are inorganic substances that provide physical structure to the body in the bones and also combine with other chemical regulators such as enzymes to shape biochemical processes. They divide in to two groups – the major and the trace...

foods that increase blood flow image

Foods that increase blood flow – Salicylate rich foods

Salicylates are chemicals that are naturally found in plants. They act like natural pesticides to help protect the plant against insects and disease. In some individuals, salicylate sensitivity is possible, and the symptoms are pretty obscure such as headaches, IBS,...

microwave cooking how does it effect your health image

Microwave cooking: How does it affect your food and your health?

For such a common method of cooking there has been a surprisingly sparse amount of research completed on the positives or negatives of microwave cooking on our food and our health. Most of the articles / blogs online are either...

organic vs non organic food image

Organic vs Non Organic Food

There is an increasing awareness with regards to organic foods vs non-organic foods, with many people choosing to buy organic for a variety of reasons, with the most popular reasons given are that of reducing toxin exposure, being better for...

how many vegetables should i eat per day image

How many vegetables should I eat per day?

There is not a week that goes by without a contradictory article telling us exactly how many vegetables we must eat to stay healthy. But is there an amount that’s right for everyone? Should we be aiming for a certain...

gut bug testing and ibs image

Gut Bug Testing and IBS

As I have already pointed out in previous articles, IBS is a blanket term used to diagnose someone with a particular set of symptoms. Unfortunately being diagnosed with IBS gets you no closer to understanding why you are experiencing these...

mercury detox image

Mercury Detoxification Considerations

Unfortunately we have many exposures to mercury these days and some level of management is required to help prevent the poisonous effects of mercury exposure.

gut bugs and ibs image

Gut Bugs and Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) – Most Common Digestive Infections

As I was explaining in my article titled ‘What is Irritable Bowel Syndrome?’, one of the major causes of IBS is the presence of something in the digestive system that should not be there, such as unwanted invaders or overgrowths...

What is IBS image

What is Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)?

Probably one of the most common diagnoses when attending your doctor with digestive symptoms is that of Irritable Bowel Syndrome or IBS in short. But what exactly is IBS?

honouring cephalic response image

Honoring your cephalic response: The practice of mindful eating

Your cephalic response occurs when we see, smell, think or taste food. It is a primal response that stimulates the limbic system in the brain before it then stimulates the vagus nerve that goes on to stimulate the production of...

digestive system 4 small intestine image

A journey through the digestive system – Step 4 The Small Intestine

The small intestine is roughly 20 feet long and spread flat could cover the size of a tennis court. It is at this crucial point that digestion is completed and much of the absorption takes place.

digestive system 3 stomach image

A journey through the digestive system – Step 3 The Stomach

Our stomach mostly plays a role in terms of digestion; very little absorption takes place here, other than certain medications, some water, certain salts and alcohol.

digestive system 2 the mouth image

A journey through the digestive system – Step 2 The Mouth

As you would have seen from my previous article digestion actually begins in the brain and I gave some simple steps that might allow you to improve this starting point of digestion.

digestive system part1 the brain image

A journey through the digestive system – Step 1 The Brain

There are many considerations when it comes to optimising digestion, but first of all we must understand the journey that our food takes to get broken down into its simply molecular form such as amino acids, fatty acids and glucose.

zinc testosterone connection image

The Zinc – Testosterone Connection

Athlete populations seem to be more prone to zinc deficiency, so those that train on a regular basis would fit into that same population. Red blood cell zinc is a much more effective measurement than serum zinc levels and test...

The Vitamin D - Testosterone Connection image

The Vitamin D – Testosterone Connection

There are vitamin D receptors located on sperm cells and vitamin D also appears to play a direct role in the production of steroid hormones. Similar to Zinc and Magnesium those found with low levels, and given supplementation to increase...

magnesium testosterone connection image

The Magnesium – Testosterone Connection

Low magnesium levels are associated with lowered testosterone, thus magnesium supplementation has been shown to increase testosterone to normal ranges.

oestrogen testosterone connection image

The Estrogen – Testosterone Connection

Estrogen and Testosterone have been coined female and male hormones. Whilst this is not strictly true, imbalances can see masculisation of females or feminisation of males.

blood sugar testosterone connection image

The Blood Sugar – Testosterone Connection

Blood sugar regulation is the cornerstone of any good nutrition plan, and unbeknown to many, poor blood sugar regulation and thus insulin control can have a significant effect on male sex testosterone production.

how to prevent getting ill after flying image

Flying Considerations: How to prevent getting ill after flying

There are many possible causes of the increased risk of illness after flying, and in this article we are going to investigate the possible causes, dispel some myths and also give you some hints as to what you can do...

gratitude diary image

Why and how to keep a gratitude diary

Whilst a gratitude diary is a very ‘American’ type of activity that us Brits generally laugh at, it is certainly an effective way of changing mind set before bed, reducing stress hormones and encouraging a good night’s sleep.

how much water should i drink per day image

How much water should I drink per day?

One of the first areas of nutrition everyone should focus on and is easy for us to change is that of water intake.

Flying Considerations: How to beat jet lag and improve performance

Jet lag has the potential to wreck your performance, whether a competitive athlete or a travelling businessman / woman you need to be aware of tactics you can use to overcome jet lag as quickly as possible.

Flying Considerations: Effects of Air Cabin Pressure on Digestion

Flying can be particularly stressful on the body; I know in my experience that when I fly I’d often feel pretty out of whack for at least 24hours after landing and often my digestion felt awful for days. Even if...

diaphragmatic breathing image

A Basic Guide to Diaphragmatic Breathing

Diaphragmatic breathing, often referred to as deep breathing, plays a pivotal role in supporting and enhancing the functionality of our nervous system. This technique, which involves deep, rhythmic breaths from the diaphragm, encourages full oxygen exchange — the beneficial trade...

beginners meditation tips image

10 Tips for beginners on meditation

Meditation when first starting out can seem challenging. We live our lives at 100mph and to take time out of our hectic schedules to sit and be in the present even just for 5-10mins can seem like the most demanding...

evening routine habits to improve sleep health image

3 Evening Routine Habits to Help Improve Sleep Health

Sleep is one of the most important areas of health that is often forgotten about. Poor sleep can lead to lower libido, increased risk of many chronic diseases, impairs attention and alertness, increases the risk of depression, can mess up...

psychology of change image

The psychology of change

Before determining the in’s and outs of healthy nutrition one crucial area that must be talked about is the psychology of change. Understanding why we want to make change and forming relationships between the new habits and our current highest...

how to perform elimination diet image

A Functional Medicine approach to performing an elimination diet

Embarking on an elimination diet can seem like a daunting endeavour. However, when guided by the principles of functional medicine, this process transforms into a powerful tool for uncovering the hidden causes of discomfort and disease. In this article, we...

can we trust medias nutrition advice image

You seem confused! Can we trust the media’s nutrition advice?

There is a reason why I don’t rely on the mainstream media to educate myself on nutrition and lifestyle practices. Day in day out we are being told contradictory information regarding what we should or should not be putting in...

the benefits of epsom salt baths image

Benefits of Epsom Salt Baths

In this article I would like to discuss the benefits of including Epsom Salt baths in your life and how they can help with a range of health issues.

the importance of adequate zinc image

The importance of adequate zinc

The human body contains around 1.5-2.5grams of zinc, of which most is found in the bones and muscles. Because there are no reserves of zinc in the body that are readily mobilised, it is crucial to keep a steady intake...

low stomach acid image

Hidden Gut Dysfunctions Part 2: Stomach Acid Insufficiency

The acid that begins the process of protein digestion in the stomach is Hydrochloric acid (HCl). Within the health industry I have noticed the abuse of supplementary HCl in a hope to improve digestion. The use of non-scientific methods of...

hidden gut dysfunctions part1 leaky gut syndrome image

Hidden Gut Dysfunctions Part 1: Leaky Gut Syndrome

As you saw in my article ‘What your poo says about you’, there are many indicators that can tell us is something is imbalanced in the gastrointestinal system. Moving on from assessing our stools, there are also a number of...

what your poo says about you image

What Your Poo Says About You

Many years ago I remember watching ‘Dr’ Gillian Mckeith poking her nose around peoples stools on the programme ‘You Are What You Eat’. Little did I know that whilst watching that programme I would go on to become quite fascinated...

improve health by improving digestion image

Improving overall health by improving digestion – my story

Many people assume that I have been healthy all my life, and whilst I have always been aware of health, read about health and studied health, I have by no means always been healthy. My own experiences with ill health...

reverse type 2 diabetes naturally image

Reverse Type 2 Diabetes Naturally: A Case Study

Type 2 Diabetes is one of the most prevalent chronic disease around, especially in developed countries. Truth be told it is a disease of lifestyle. Some people are more prone to the development of the disease, but if the right...

connective tissue injury prevention recovery image

Nutrition strategies for connective tissue injury prevention and recovery

Following an injury, enhancing, and optimising the recovery process, is a primary concern for anyone who likes to move and feel healthy. Additionally, preventing injury is even better! Conventional treatments of rest, immobilisation, ice etc. are well known. This article...

lifestyle medicine and chronic disease image

Lifestyle Medicine and Chronic Disease

Working as a nutritionist and functional medicine practitioner, I am able to work with my clients on a number of different levels. I work on every single aspect of their lifestyle to elicit the most optimal change in their health,...

its not just about calories image

It’s not just about calories!

I am going to touch on a very controversial subject. For years the notion of calories in calories has been the fundamental principle many health experts, doctors, dieticians etc have stuck to as an explanation as to why we as...

cruciferous vegetables cancer and oestrogen metabolism image

Cruciferous vegetables, Cancer and Estrogen metabolism

Consumption of cruciferous vegetables – a family of vegetables that includes spinach, watercress, radish, cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts and kale – has long been associated with good health. A highly significant study from the University of Ulster was published...

lose the pot belly image

Lose the Pot Belly

In my clinic I spend a lot of my time pinching my clients skin and taking their body fat measurements. The method I use called Biosignature Modulation is a great way of seeing where a client is predominately storing body...

10 tips for offloading stress image

10 tips for offloading stress

Stress is a major component of modern day life – here are 10 tips for helping offload some of the stress we encounter through the day.

9 tips for optimal sleep health image

9 quick tips to help regain optimal sleep health

Poor sleep health is something that affects us all at one time or another. Whether it is stressful events, jet lag, temperature, all these things can have a negative effect on our quality of sleep. Here are 9 quick tips...

colon cancer considerations image

Colon Cancer – Nutrition & Lifestyle Considerations

In this blog I am going to look at some of the natural approaches to helping prevent colon cancer but also some interesting natural methods of supporting the body if you have already been diagnosed with colon cancer.

are government guidelines making you fat image

Are government guidelines making you fat?

Image taken from: www.food.gov.uk/sites/default/files/multimedia/pdfs/nutrientinstitution.pdf Here in the UK we have a major challenge with obesity. Every evening there is a programme on TV about obesity and weight loss, most of which concludes that the best approach is to staple around...

mind the gut image

Mind The Gut

I am going to start this blog with some interesting and potentially surprising facts and then a personal story about how digestive health can affect symptoms that would seemingly appear unrelated. 2 million people were diagnosed with a digestive disorder...

diabetes - is what we are being told correct image

Diabetes – is what we´re being told correct?

In the UK we have the third highest obesity rate in the world, with 22.4% of the population obese. Between 50-60% of the population are also overweight and these statistics are rising each year. Alongside the obesity rates diabetes prevalence...