Conditions

IBS (irritable bowel syndrome) and FODMAPs

IBS though not a life-threatening condition, can have a major effect on people’s quality of life due to its debilitating symptoms and for this reason, is a major cause of work absenteeism.

Symptoms can include all or a few of the following

Abdominal pain, diarrhoea or constipation (both in some cases), fatigue,  bloating, wind, acid reflux, nausea, headaches, fogginess, depression and anxiety, joint pain, migraine…

Both the immune and nervous systems are thought to be involved in the root causes of IBS. Stress, infections, life trauma, pathogens and toxins trigger both.

Different people experience IBS differently. We use a person-centered approach and will work with you to find the tools that will help you most to start enjoying food again and free you from the debilitating ibs symptoms.

The FODMAP diet is one of the lines of therapy for IBS and there’s information online, however because it is a very restrictive diet it is better followed with a dietitian’s support so that it is done safely without compromising the health status of people with IBS, who can already be under many stressors.

 Here at Nourish ALL, we will do a thorough assessment of your medical history, nutritional status, diet, and symptoms. We will support you in freeing you from symptoms but ensuring you have all the vitamins and minerals your body needs, and help you use less medication, like acid reflux and classic IBS meds.

Weight management

At Nourish ALL, we understand that every person is different when it comes to weight loss. We help you find strategies that suit you best to lose weight in a safe way. We listen to your concerns and help you find the solutions that work best for you.

Our ultimate aim is to support you in finding a healthy lifestyle that you can  adopt enabling you to lose weight and keep it off permanently.

How does it work?

We equip you with information tailored to your needs after assessing your nutrition and other lifestyle factors, as it can be very confusing to listen to all the noise out there online and on social media, where everybody pretends to be an expert. Jointly we agree on changes you are willing to make and we support you to make these changes. Weight loss sometimes requires a multifaceted approach. We work with psychotherapists and personal trainers when needed to get lifetime-lasting results.

We review your progress. This can be weekly or bimonthly. You can also email us 24hrs/7

Some clients request a menu plan. This can be provided but experience has shown this is not sustainable. We give you the tools to create simple, nutritious and delicious meals you can enjoy daily and anchor healthy habits that last for you and your family.

Heart health:

Cholesterol and triglycerides are types of fats (lipids) found in the blood that play important roles in the body but can negatively affect health when levels are too high. Elevated low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, often called “bad” cholesterol, can lead to plaque buildup in arteries, increasing the risk of heart disease and stroke. High triglyceride levels can further raise cardiovascular risk, especially when combined with low high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, the “good” cholesterol.

Simple diet changes can make a massive difference in terms of rectifying blood lipids abnormalities such as high cholesterol and triglycerides and thus avoiding big problems like heart attacks and stokes.

Inflammatory bowel disease

Food can significantly influence the symptoms and progression of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), including Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. While no single diet causes or cures IBD, certain foods can trigger flare-ups or help reduce inflammation. High-fat, highly processed foods, as well as those rich in added sugars may worsen symptoms like bloating, diarrhea, and abdominal pain. The same as foods that are high in soluble fibre though in general considered healthy foods. Conversely, a diet rich in whole, minimally processed foods—such as cooked vegetables, lean proteins, and omega-3 fatty acids and other supplements can support gut health and reduce inflammation. Individual responses to food vary, so personalized dietary strategies, often developed with a dietitian, are essential in managing IBD effectively

People suffering from Crohn’s or ulcerative colitis disease need a good dietetic support during relapse and remission. This is to avoid malnutrition and ensure a good nutrition to improve health and wellbeing.

Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)

PMS can affect a woman for as long as two weeks a month. Which means half of a woman’s life whilst menstruating. Symptoms can range from bad cramps, bloating to mood swings, depression and anxiety.

Dietary changes and supplementation can make a big difference in the quality of life and symptom management.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)

Unfortunately more and more women and especially teenagers are being diagnosed with PCOS.  On ultrasounds, cysts in the ovaries are visible. The cysts are due to the disruption of follicle maturation in the ovaries. The condition is characterised by irregular or absence of periods, abnormal hormones levels including high insulin and androgens. The consequences can be similar to a metabolic disorder such as high blood pressure, cholesterol, insulin resistance and weight gain; not necessarily all present in all cases. Dietetic advice can balance hormones and prevent the side effects of the condition. We know that stabilising blood sugar levels and avoiding spikes along with a healthy diet and exercise have a very positive effect in the control of the condition.

Acne

Though skin conditions appear to be external including acne which appears to be an inflammation of the skin and many people will target it externally, much of the root cause is internal, linked to the gut and can be linked to the diet.

We have very good results at treating teenagers who were willing to follow the dietary advice.

Fatigue and lethargy

Our body needs the right nutrients to function properly. Inflammation, unbalanced hormones or gut bacteria, nutrients deficiencies due to not eating the right foods or malabsorption and lack of movement can all contribute to us feeling very tired.

At NourishAll we do a holistic assessment to identify the causes of exhaustion in our patients and work with them to restore good energy levels and a better fitness.

Depression and anxiety

More is known now about the effect of our diet on mental health. The interactions of the brain with the gut; also known as the gut brain axis is very much on the limelight and there is more research emerging about how our gut communicates with our brain. Following the right diet can alleviate symptoms of depression and anxiety and restore a feeling of happiness, calmness and grounding.

Coeliac disease

If you have been diagnosed with coeliac disease (allergy to gluten, a protein in wheat, barley, rye and oat), it is very important that you see a dietitian to help you eat a healthy and balanced diet whilst avoiding gluten containing foods and products.  Eating these will continue damaging gut lining and result in poor absorption of vital nutrients like iron, calcium… and consequently leads to anaemia (iron deficiency), osteoporosis (fragile bones)…

We will help you identify natural gluten free foods and how to use them in recipes that appeal to you. Supplements can also be used to restore the health of your gut that has been previously damaged by gluten, hence improving your nutritional status and health.

Diabetes and prediabetes

Diabetes occurs when the sugar (glucose) in the blood becomes higher than it should be, this is because of a lack or absence or inefficiency of the insulin hormone.

What is prediabetes? When glucose blood test is  between 7.8 to 11.0 mmol/L.

The most common reason why someone can become prediabetic and diabetic (type2) is being overweight (especially have fat around the middle. Losing weight can stop the progression to diabetes and even reverse in some cases type 2 diabetes. A study has shown that 64% of participants who have lost 10Kg or more could stop their medication and were in remission after two years.

Diabetes:

 Unlike most other diseases diabetes is initially painless, silent so some people might not realise they have the disease or might underestimate the consequences of not managing it properly once they know they are prediabetic or have diabetes.  A good management of  diabetes is indicated by HbA1c test, (a test that indicates the average blood sugar (glucose) over the past 2-3 months) of 48mmol/mol (6.5%) or less.

Type 1 diabetics use insulin on a daily basis. The dose of insulin needed will be set with the help of a diabetes nurse but the patient has to make adjustments depending on their starchy foods (carbohydrates) intake.

 It can be quite tricky to work out the insulin needed for your carbohydrates intake we can help you with this.

Care of the elderly: We do work with nursing homes’ catering department to help improve meeting nutrition related CQC criteria. Also we see residents individually and older people in their own homes. Good nutrition can make a massive difference, and is crucial in keeping our loved ones independent and away from hospitals.

Management of cancer and cancer treatments side effects

Cancer and cancer treatment often leaves patients without an appetite and without energy to think, prepare or shop for food. This means that weight loss is common. Research shows that patients who maintain a good weight and nutritional status have a much better recovery and a quality of life.

A part from appetite and energy levels, chemotherapy and radiotherapy can have a range of side effects compromising eating and drinking such as mouth ulcers, nausea and vomiting, change in taste buds, diarrhoea and food intolerances.

We can help you find foods and meals that you can tolerate and give you tips and strategies to keep a normal weight and a good nutritional status.