What is Nutritional therapy?
Nutritional therapy is the application of nutrition science in the promotion of health, peak performance and individual care. Foods, diet and nutrients are planned to optimise the functioning of key body systems, address nutritional imbalances and encourage the body’s natural ability to mend.
Each individual is unique, with their own story. Nutrition and dietary programmes are completely personalised rather than a ‘one size fits all’ approach.
As part of the Functional Medicine model, a range of clinic assessments and functional tests are available to explore and identify potential nutritional or functional imbalances. These enable more highly targeted nutritional interventions through an in-depth understanding of how specific imbalances may be contributing to health issues.
Nutritional therapy is never recommended as a replacement for medical advice and clients with ‘red flag’ signs or symptoms are always referred to their medical professional. Nutritional Therapy works alongside GP advice and other medical professional consultations and communication of any nutritional therapy programme is provided when required.
How Can Nutritional Therapy help?
- Manage existing chronic health conditions: Chronic health conditions can often benefit from nutritional therapy. Identifying potential nutritional imbalances or the status of vitamin or mineral intake is important in supporting the body with a chronic health condition.
- On the right track? Is your diet at a specific point in your life: a growing teenager, pregnancy, trying to lose weight, peri-menopause or supporting the body through times of chronic or emotional stress.
- The GP has run all the appropriate health tests? You maybe feeling below par and your symptoms have not improved even though your GP has run all the appropriate tests.
- Support your future health: Have you been diagnosed with a health condition recently or know that your diet and lifestyle isn’t that healthy? It is never too late to protect your future health and realise your health potential through food.
How does the consultation process work?
Prior to the consultation, you will be sent a Functional Health questionnaire and food diary. Please return these at least 3 days prior to the consultation with copies of any GP, consultant or nutritional test results.
Initial consultation (approx 1 hr 30 mins)
A detailed understanding of your current health, medical history, medications, diet, lifestyle, health concerns and symptoms will be discussed.
After taking a detailed health history and explaining to you in a functional context the reasons behind your current state of health, a suitable and workable nutrition and lifestyle programme is discussed and agreed. If appropriate, Functional Tests may be recommended and the supporting rationale will be explained.
You will be given supporting information for the programme. A more detailed list of the dietary guidelines will be prepared following the consultation. This will be posted or emailed (as agreed) within 3 working days. If a supplement programme is proposed, this will follow the consultation in order to review any polypharmacy contraindications.
Follow-up consultation (approx 45-60 mins)
The second consultation will be to discuss the progress of the programme and make alterations as necessary. Clinical experience has shown that some elements often require adjustment and additional elements may need adding. The results and interpretation of any tests are discussed and the implications of these will be incorporated into the nutrition plan.
