There is SO much noise about what to eat and what not to eat. But I like to keep things simple, I work with knackered people after all. I don't spend hours in the kitchen and I don't expect you to either. During my almost 6 years of being a Nutritional Therapist, these are the TWO things that make the biggest difference in my clients' energy levels: 1) Make sure you're getting enough protein Yes, I know you know this, but are you doing it? I don't want anyone weighing food,

From neurotransmitters to the gut-brain axis, mental health relies on nutritional support too. Why is no one talking about how nutrition supports your mental health? We talk more openly than ever about stress, anxiety, burnout and emotional wellbeing. All very important topics affecting millions of people. But very few conversations explore whether the brain and nervous system have the nutritional building blocks they need to cope in the first place. The NHS website lists 5

When your nervous system is running the show and pumping out stress hormones, it can’t tell the difference between your crazy work schedule, the thousand things you need to do at home, or if you’re being chased by a tiger. It just knows it needs to keep you alive. And to do that it’s going to steal what nutrients and energy you have. Chronic stress depletes: Magnesium B Vitamins Vitamin C Zinc Omega-3 Vitamin D Iron And when these nutrients are low: Your energy production s

Earlier this month, the initial results from the “DecodeME, the ME/CFS study” involving over 15,000 people with ME/CFS were released. Predictably, the headlines in the newspapers varied enormously. But what does the research really say? As with much in health and nutrition research, the devil's is in the detail. Here's my take on the findings. The initial results from the “DecodeME, the ME/CFS study” identified: Eight genetic signals t hat are much more common in people wi

Note: This is part 2 of my story, you can read part 2 here . After taking redundancy, I planned to spend time trying to get better, and figure out what I was going to do with my life. During my research, I came a cross Nutritional Therapy, a practice that takes a root cause approach in unravelling and supporting ALL the potential underlying drivers of someone’s health issues rather than just treating the symptoms. My interest in nutrition was sparked when I discovered I had

12 years ago this July, I received a life-changing diagnosis. On 11th July 2013, I attended my daughter’s sports day, she was six at the time. It was a hot day and I remember dragging myself around the sports pitch. It was a huge effort just to keep upright. That afternoon, I had a doctor‘s appointment. I’d been struggling for a few months with extreme tiredness, brain fog, dizziness, and no matter how much sleep I got, I was waking up tired with no energy. At work, I struggl

During the last 5 years, the UK supplement market has continued to grow and was worth £680m in 2024. Social media is full of the latest must-have, life-changing, often (very) expensive supplements. But do you really need supplements? And if you’re buying supplements, how do you know what you’re getting, and is it worth the money? “You can get all the nutrients you need from a balanced diet” How often have you heard this? This is a myth as far as I’m concerned, here’s why:

The end of September is when B12 Awareness Week takes place. This mighty nutrient plays a key role in energy release, nervous system function and healthy blood cells . Low levels can result in fatigue, headaches and pins and needles - sound familiar? Symptoms of B12 deficiency: Low energy and fatigue Headaches Brain fog and difficulty concentrating Depression Digestive issues Pins and needles in hands and feet Food Sources of B12 (highest sources first): Animal liver and

Do you ever wonder why you seem to get ill when you go on holiday? This is often because we’re usually running around, doing “all the things” including wrapping up work and getting everything ready for our trip. We're probably running on adrenaline and cortisol, both of which suppress the immune system. So the minute we stop, those stress hormones fade away (along with the short-term energy they can provide). That’s when the infections and fatigue can kick in. I know it’s ea

This is a HUGE topic so I'm going to focus on food (unsurprisingly!). Discover what the research shows, what the "Dirty Dozen" is, and how organic your supermarket is. Plus get £15 off a Riverford veggie box! I'm often asked about the benefits of organic fruit and vegetables over non-organic. Some studies have shown that organic vegetables contain more nutrients and antioxidants than non-organic, and the impact of pesticides on our health is hotly debated. Why choose organic

I was inspired to write this blog today after being "glutened" two days ago, and I'm still feeling the effects... Gluten is a big no-no if you're autoimmune (keep reading to find out why), but first, a little story about how I discovered gluten was an issue for me. Back in 2011, I was experiencing excruciating headaches and sinus pain, neck and shoulder muscle pain and extreme fatigue (this was before my ME/CFS diagnosis). I tried paracetamol, ibuprofen and over-the-counter

25th May was World Thyroid Day which kickstarted World Thyroid Awareness Week, but for me every day is thyroid awareness day! I’ve written about underactive thyroid / Hashimoto’s disease here , but this article is going to explore some of the other thyroid conditions that I often see in practice. Hyperactive thyroid / Grave’s disease: Put simply, this is the opposite of underactive thyroid / hypothyroidism / Hashimoto’s disease. With hyper thyroidism, the thyroid gland is p

January is National Soup Month (apparently) so what better time to praise the almighty soup with some easy, practical tips on how to make it and what to include for a healthy, delicious soup. 5 great reasons to eat soup: It's a great way to pack a load of veg into your diet, especially the green ones - and your friendly gut bacteria will love all the fibre and plant chemicals! All that veg also means lots of lovely vitamins, minerals & phytonutrients your body needs to mak

Balancing blood sugar is not just for diabetics, but a fundamental step to improve energy, balance hormones and improve sleep. But let's be honest, at this time of year it can be more difficult than usual with temptation around every corner! Here are 5 ways to help keep you on track, plus 3 foods that might help. Remember the golden rule - Carbs + quality protein and/or beneficial fats with every meal. This golden rule also helps you stay away from the snacks as protein, fat

It's not news that both quality and quantity of sleep are vital for health and how to improve it is something I talk about a lot with my clients. Read on for an easy-to-read summary of why sleep is so important, top tips for improving your sleep and my favourite sleep supplements. Benefits of a good night’s sleep( 1 ): Increased energy Improved concentration and memory Reduced risk of: Being overweight Developing chronic diseases such as type 2 diabetes and Alzheimer’s Improv

All disease begins in the gut apparently, and I would certainly agree. But what's the link between gut health and fatigue? Studies show that both IBS and SIBO (small intestinal bacterial overgrowth) are common in CFS - in one study 90% of people with ME/CFS had IBS ( 1 ), and another showed 81% had SIBO( 2 ). Research also shows that the gut microbiome in people with ME/CFS - that is, the sum of all the microbes in our gut - is less diverse with fewer anti-inflammatory specie

This week is ME Awareness week, a subject close to my heart as it’s part of my own personal health journey. First of all, what's the difference between tiredness and fatigue? Well it depends on who you ask! My view is that tiredness is a normal part of life, and should be alleviated with adequate rest and sleep. The terms ME and CFS are often used interchangeably and I’ll do so in this article for ease. In ME/CFS, fatigue often comes hand-in-hand with a range of other debilit

And what's the camel got to do with it? You may have heard the term “post-viral fatigue” in the last few months and as with much concerning Covid-19 and the pandemic, there is lots of debate and discussion about the long term effects of the virus as new data emerges and is analysed. Post-viral fatigue syndrome is not new however - health practitioners working in the field of ME/CFS have known for years that viral infection is a common contributory factor in the development o

If you're tired all the time or have chronic fatigue, ruling out food sensitivities, intolerances and allergies as potential underlying causes is a good idea and can be relatively straightforward. Often these 3 terms are used interchangeably, but if you’ve noticed certain foods are making you tired or giving you other symptoms, how do you know whether it’s an allergy, sensitivity or intolerance? Here’s a simple overview: Food allergies involve the overreaction of the immune

Yes, it's that time of the year when everywhere you look there are posts and articles about detoxing. Surely our livers know what to do,...