Nutrition

Optimum Nutrition for Optimum Health creates a nutritional programme for your individual needs.

A rapidly growing body of evidence demonstrates the part that nutrition plays in the prevention of a wide range of illnesses. Many complaints are also influenced by nutrition.

Contrary to popular belief, it is no longer the case that a “balanced” diet is sufficient to meet all of our nutritional requirements. Surveys have found nutrient deficiencies to be common in up to 50% of the population.

You may be at risk: modern farming techniques, food refining and processing have resulted in the loss of significant quantities of nutrients from food. Storage in the shop as well as in your home, cooking, light and heat can also lead to further nutrient loss.

Exposure to pollution and stress increase the need for nutrients, while alcohol and stimulants such as tea and coffee can decrease their absorption. A reduced ability to digest food and to absorb nutrients can also be a significant factor in nutrient deficiencies.

Poor nutrition and deficiencies may initially result in minor ailments, but in the longer term they can be a factor in the development of disorders such as cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, macular degeneration and diabetes.

The solution is your Personal Programme. Individual nutritional requirements differ because of our different body chemistries resulting from factors such as genetic make-up, medical history, age, gender, present and past dietary patterns, and environmental factors. The same diet is not appropriate for everyone, and the needs of individuals change over time.

What are the benefits? An appropriate Nutritional Programme can benefit many conditions, including:

Allergies, asthma and food intolerances
Alzheimer's, Parkinson's disease
Arthritis, joint pain, osteoporosis
Bloating, digestive problems, indigestion
Children's hyperactivity
Constipation, diarrhoea, bowel problems
Cystitis, prostate conditions
Depression, mood swings, stress
Acne, eczema, psoriasis, other skin problems
Frequent infections

Hypertension or elevated cholesterol
Infertility
Low energy, chronic fatigue
Menopausal symptoms
Migraines, headaches
Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)
Some sight and hearing conditions
Thrush, candida
Weight management

Even those who consider themselves well and healthy may be able to enhance their physical and mental health as well as their performance, including athletic performance, by improving their nutrition.

Special nutritional advice can also be invaluable at important stages of life such as pre-conception, pregnancy, breast feeding, weaning, childhood, adolescence and advancing years.

Prior to your first consultation, you will be asked to complete and return a questionnaire relating to your goals and any health concerns, current diet and lifestyle. After that, during the consultation your nutritionist will:

Gather information about your current health, diet and lifestyle
Take a sample for a hair analysis, to reveal imbalances and particular conditions that may be affecting you.
Explain how various factors may be impacting on your health and well-being, present and future
Recommend a Nutritional Programme and possibly lifestyle changes, taking these factors into account
Advise on how to implement the Programme
Discuss the use of nutritional supplements if required

You will be provided with written guidelines. If appropriate, some biochemical tests will be recommended which will provide an in-depth evaluation of your health status.

A follow-up consultation, four to six weeks after the initial consultation, is needed to monitor progress and to make adjustments to your Programme as necessary.

We encourage further follow-up consultations to maintain motivation and facilitate the changes you are making. By setting small goals you will increase your chances of success in boosting health and vitality. Finally, you and your nutritionist will agree a long term strategy in order to maintain your optimum health.

Kate Fitzpatrick, our Nutritional Therapist, trained at the Institute For Optimum Nutrition, and is a Member of the British Association for Nutritional Therapy.

Kate specialises in provision of personal nutritional programmes tailored to individuals' health and lifestyle needs. Having always had an interest in health and fitness, she discovered how to change her life for optimum health by a complete change in diet and decided to take this knowledge further to help others. She has a particular interest in women's health problems, PMS, pregnancy, menopause and also food intolerances and allergies from babies to senior. Kate is currently researching nutritional therapy for premature ageing and also has a particular interest in children's health.

The treatment cost for an individual consultation and nutrition assessment is £65 for the first session, which takes about 1 hour. A follow-up consultation, lasting about ½ hour, is £35. Each consultation is of course strictly confidential, and includes one month of telephone back-up support.

Kate is also available to give talks on many aspects of nutrition and health, including weight management to groups, by arrangement.

Further nutrition information is available on the British Nutrition Foundation web site, www.nutrition.org.uk. Their Healthy Eating Advice section is particularly useful.