It all starts in the gut
The foundation of overall health lies in gut health. When it’s compromised, our ability to digest and absorb nutrients from food or supplements diminishes. Thus, even the most nutritious diet becomes ineffective if gut health is poor.
In my clinic, I commonly encounter symptoms like bloating, pain, changes in bowel movements, acid reflux, indigestion, and a feeling of food not sitting well. Additionally, headaches, skin issues, weakened immunity, brain fog, and fatigue can also tie back to poor gut health.
Attempting a DIY approach to restore gut health can sometimes do more harm than good. Not all solutions like the low FODMAP diet are universally effective, all probiotics aren’t created equal, and gluten isn’t always the root cause.
Guidance from a nutritionist is crucial. I can offer advice on suitable tests, recommend the right supplements, and design a balanced plan that won’t exacerbate your symptoms but will aid in reclaiming your health.
Arrange a complimentary discovery call to discuss your concerns. This will enable me to suggest the best plan to comprehensively address your gut health once and for all.
The Food Power Nutrition Approach
Recommended Services & Packages for improving Gut Health
The Vital Role of Gut Health: Nourishing Your Body from Within
As a nutritional therapist, one of the cornerstones of promoting overall health is addressing gut health. The gut, often referred to as the “second brain,” plays a pivotal role in nutrient absorption, metabolism regulation, mental health, immune function, and maintaining a delicate balance that influences various aspects of well-being. Several conditions, such as Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO), Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), Candida overgrowth, dysbiosis, and Leaky Gut, can disrupt this balance, leading to a cascade of symptoms. A personalized nutrition plan becomes instrumental in addressing these conditions, understanding their root cause, fostering gut health, and supporting holistic well-being.
It all starts in the gut
Gut health is so pivotal because in case of unbalances, conditions and inflammation nutrients from both food and supplementation won’t be fully absorbed, severely diminishing the efficacy of any protocol. For this reason, gut health should be addressed as a priority and symptoms thoroughly investigated via in depth questions or functional testing.
Pathogenesis and Symptoms of Gut Health Conditions:
1. Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO):
• What it is? SIBO occurs when there is an overgrowth of bacteria in the small intestine, where bacterial populations are typically low.
• Symptoms: Abdominal pain, bloating, diarrhea, and malabsorption of nutrients leading to nutritional deficiencies.
2. Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS):
• What it is? IBS is a functional gastrointestinal disorder characterized by changes in bowel habits and abdominal discomfort without apparent structural abnormalities.
• Symptoms: Abdominal pain, altered bowel habits (constipation, diarrhea, or both), and bloating.
3. Candida Overgrowth:
• What it is? Candida, a yeast normally present in the gut, can overgrow, leading to an imbalance in the gut microbiome.
• Symptoms: Fatigue, digestive issues, recurrent infections, and skin conditions.
4. Dysbiosis:
• What it is? Dysbiosis refers to an imbalance in the gut microbiome, where harmful bacteria outnumber beneficial ones.
• Symptoms: Digestive discomfort, irregular bowel movements, and susceptibility to infections.
5. Leaky Gut:
• What it is? Leaky gut, or increased intestinal permeability, allows undigested particles to pass through the intestinal lining into the bloodstream.
• Symptoms: Digestive issues, food sensitivities, autoimmune conditions, and systemic inflammation.
How a Personalized Nutrition Plan Can Help:
1. Identifying Trigger Foods: A nutritional therapist helps individuals identify trigger foods that may exacerbate symptoms, customizing the diet to meet specific needs and alleviate digestive distress.
2. Balancing Gut Microbiome: Incorporating probiotic-rich foods and targeted prebiotics supports a balanced gut microbiome, fostering an environment where beneficial bacteria thrive.
3. Reducing Inflammation: A personalized nutrition plan includes anti-inflammatory foods, such as turmeric, ginger, and omega-3 fatty acids, to mitigate inflammation and alleviate symptoms.
4. Modulating the Gut-Brain Axis: By including foods that support a healthy gut-brain axis, such as fermented foods and those rich in serotonin precursors, a nutritional therapist addresses the interconnectedness of gut health and mental well-being.
5. Boosting Immune Function: Nutrient-dense foods and a well-balanced diet provide essential vitamins and minerals, supporting immune function and enhancing the body’s ability to ward off infections.
In conclusion, gut health is a cornerstone of overall well-being, influencing nutrient absorption, inflammation, metabolism, mood, energy levels, and immune function. Conditions such as SIBO, IBS, Candida overgrowth, dysbiosis, and Leaky Gut can disrupt this delicate balance, leading to a myriad of symptoms. A personalized nutrition plan, crafted by a nutritional therapist, becomes a powerful tool in addressing these conditions, restoring balance, and fostering holistic well-being. By tailoring dietary recommendations to individual needs, a personalized approach empowers individuals to reclaim control of their gut health and improve their overall quality of life.
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Gut issues
FAQ
What is Nutritional Therapy?
Nutritional therapy is the application of nutrition science in the promotion of health, peak performance and individual care. Nutritional therapy practitioners 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 is recognised as a complementary medicine. It is relevant both for individuals looking to enhance their health and wellbeing and for those with chronic conditions wishing to work with or ‘consult’ a nutritional therapist in collaboration with other suitably qualified healthcare professionals. Practitioners 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.
What’s the difference between nutritional therapist, nutrition coach and nutritionist?
In the ever-evolving landscape of health and wellness, the importance of seeking legit professional guidance for optimal nutrition cannot be overstated. Registered Nutritional Therapists play a pivotal role in promoting well-being by providing personalized and evidence-based nutritional advice. I wanted to explore the significance of consulting a Registered Nutritional Therapist, shedding light on their qualifications (a degree) and the importance of being registered with professional bodies like BANT (British Association for Nutrition and Lifestyle Medicine) and CNHC (Complementary and Natural Healthcare Council).
What is the difference between Nutritional Therapists, Nutrition Coaches and Nutritionists?
- Nutritional Therapists:
- Focus: Holistic, addressing underlying health issues.
- Qualifications: Hold a degree in nutritional therapy or a related field.
- Registration: Registered with professional bodies like BANT and CNHC.
- Approach: Personalized, evidence-based recommendations.
- Scope: Work one to one with individuals dealing with specific health concerns.
- Nutrition Coaches:
- Focus: Goal-oriented, often centered on fitness and weight management.
- Qualifications: Vary; it is not a regulated profession and only some may have certifications in coaching or attended courses in
- Registration: Not typically required, but some may hold certifications from coaching organizations.
- Approach: Goal-focused, motivational, and lifestyle-oriented.
- Scope: Assist clients in achieving specific health and fitness goals.
- Nutritionists:
- Focus: General nutrition advice, public health, and community settings.
- Qualifications: Hold a degree in nutrition or a related field.
- Registration: Registered with professional bodies such as the AfN, but not always required.
- Approach: Broad nutrition education and advice, which is not personalised to a 1:1 approach.
- Scope: Work in diverse settings such as public health, research, or education.
In the pursuit of optimal health and receiving personalised and tailored 1:1 advice, consulting a Registered Nutritional Therapist stands out as a wise choice. Their holistic approach, personalised guidance, and commitment to professional standards set them apart. Ensuring that a nutritional therapist is registered with BANT and CNHC adds an extra layer of assurance, highlighting their dedication to excellence, knowledge and high standard of practice.
What is mBANT?
BANT (British Association for Nutrition and Lifestyle Medicine) is a professional organisation for Registered Nutritional Therapy Practitioners and Registered Dietitians which are trained and qualified in clinical practice to meet national standards and work in a one-to-one setting.
BANT practitioner members are required to be registered either with Complementary and Natural Healthcare Council (CNHC) or be statutorily regulated. CNHC holds a register accredited by the Professional Standards Authority for Health and Social Care (PSA), an independent body accountable to the UK Parliament. BANT members are also required to meet Continuing Professional Development (CPD) standards.
Being a BANT member highlights the high standard of my training and work practice, reassuring clients of the quality of the consultations and plans I provide at Food Power Nutrition.
How long would it take to see results?
Nutritional Therapy aims to create long lasting change. Those changes will be gradual but definitive, differently from allopathic medicine that aims to suppress symptoms for immediate relief. As each person is unique, also the speed on which results will be obtained is different and this is also impacted by how closely the suggested nutritional and supplemental plan is followed.
Does Food Power Nutrition operates only online?
Food Power provides online consultations via a dedicated platform. Online consultations will be held via telehealth/zoom and can be easily accessed via the client’s “Practice Better” portal. In person consultations will be held on Thursday evenings at Elpis Therapy Rooms, 14 Hanover Square, Mayfair, London W1S 1HN
What should I expect to achieve after our appointments?
Food Power Nutrition plan are highly personalised, created around around your needs and your goal in order to obtain the best results possible. Saying that it is important to note that results vary from person to person as we are all unique and our body responds differently. Expectations and goals will be discussed during our discovery call.
What shall I do if I have questions in between my two appointments?
Please contact me at my email lucia@foodpowernutrition.com or via Practice Better chat service for support – I am always happy to help.
How can I get in touch with Food Power Nutrition for more information about packages and costs?
Please feel free to ask for information via the contact form, specifying if you wish to be contacted via email or via phone. I am happy to offer a free discovery call to talk through your current health concerns and discuss how we can work together.