Therapeutic Nutrition

“Let your food be your medicine and let your medicine be your food”. These wise words written by Hippocrates, date from 400BC and as old as naturopathy itself which has its roots in ancient Greece. Therapeutic nutrition is an integral part of all treatments and Jennifer is still amazed at how powerful a therapy food can be – as are her clients. Individualised and delicious dietary programmes taking into account all aspects of her clients’ health, culture, spiritual beliefs and lifestyle, are one of Jennifer’s specialties.

The nutritional programmes include good quality supplements which are an essential part of modern naturopathic treatments, and are frequently used as medicines. Often our diets leave a lot to be desired – for a variety of reasons - and unfortunately many modern farming methods mean that our foods are not providing all the nutrients we need, and if not organic actually add a toxic load. Supplemental vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, probiotics and essential fatty acids can all greatly improve our health from biocellular level.

Detoxification & Cleansing

Jennifer often begins treatments with a detoxification programme and it’s very interesting how many of the clients’ complaints can have resolved following a good cleanse.

Very few of us eat an ideal diet, and this, combined with exposure to an ever-increasing cocktail of chemicals in our water, foodstuffs and environment means that our natural detoxification pathways become overwhelmed and blocked.

As a result toxins accumulate in the body, which may leave us feeling sluggish, constantly tired, fuzzy-brained, maybe a bit depressed, and with a whole list of niggling complaints such as digestive/bowel problems or headaches. If left unchecked we are open to even more serious health problems and degenerative diseases.

So, if you would like to:

• Have a healthy, well functioning body and mind
• Look wonderful
• Feel clear headed and alert
• Feel good about yourself
• Have younger-looking skin, stronger nails and healthier shiny hair
• Have improved digestion and elimination
• Understand and enjoy a healthier way of eating and living
• Find and maintain your optimum weight
• Feel energetic, well and full of life

…then see Jennifer for a customised and delicious nutritional programme.

Weight Management

Jennifer has great success in helping clients with weight management – weight loss, gain and maintenance – and without gimmicks or deprivation. The strain on the body of repeated deprivation or ‘pretend-food’ based diets leads to ever increasing weight gain.

As with all our relationships, the one we have with food can either be nourishing or damaging. It’s important for all of us to have a good relationship with food - after all, we need to eat in order not only to live, but also to live well - and it’s to be enjoyed.

The emotions that can drive over-eating, under-eating, or eating disorders are very important considerations, as well as what, when and how we eat.

Jennifer sees both men and women with emotional and lifestyle components to their weight concerns and as with all treatments, she deals with all aspects of the problem.

A believer in getting back to basics and eating real food, Jennifer provides her clients with customised dietary programmes that are aimed at not only dealing with the weight issue, but also improving overall health and wellbeing.

Candidiasis – Stress, illness, pollution, food additives, poor diet, diabetes, antibiotics and the oral contraceptive can tip the balance between friendly and unfriendly bacteria in the digestive system with damaging results to their host – you.

When the friendly bacteria are weakened by the above factors the problematic Candida albicans population can go out of control, resulting in, or contributing to a wide variety of health problems such as: 

• thrush
• fatigue
• allergies
• depression
• aches and pains
• abdominal bloating and digestive problems
• headaches
• oedema (water retention)
• cravings for sweet foods and refined carbohydrates
• PMS
• acne
• eczema
• and many other common ailments. 

Antibiotics especially compound the problem, as they also kill off the friendly bacteria so the body is further weakened and becomes more susceptible to further illness.

Symptoms: (these are often worse when humidity is high and on damp days). 

• Persistent drowsiness
• lack of coordination
• headaches
• mood swings
• rashes
• mucus in stools
• belching and wind
• bad breath
• post nasal drip
• nasal itch and/or congestion
• nervous irritability
• vaginal itching and/or ‘cottage cheese’ discharge
• anal itching
• frequent sore throats not associated with a cold or flu
• tightness in the chest
• ear sensitivity or fluid in ears
• heartburn and indigestion

Naturopathic treatment is focussed on rebalancing the internal population of bacteria by the use of diet, herbs and Probiotics.

Food Allergies and intolerances (masked allergies) –

The types of food allergies or intolerances dealt with by Jennifer are not those causing the life-threatening anaphylactic reaction. But although not life-threatening, masked allergies or food intolerances can cause severe health problems or be implicated in certain diseases, and it is important to take the time to sort the problems out for improved long term health.

As the signs and symptoms of food allergy are many and varied, most people don’t realise that it’s not only the physical that can be affected by problem foods – our minds and emotions are too.

Therefore, when it is suspected that there may be a food aspect to health problems, tests are arranged to identify the ‘culprits’, and the treatment programme is formulated with the aim of getting the client back onto a full and varied diet within a few months.

Often found in conjunction with food allergens are environmental intolerances which can include:

• Monosodium glutamate
• Artificial flavourings, preservatives and colourings
• Chemical sweeteners
• Chemicals
• Fumes, including perfumes
• Dust and dustmites
• Molds
• Grasses and pollens
• Biological washing powder
• Detergents
• Animal dander
• Cat fur
• Dog hair
• Feathers

As it is not possible to live in a chemical-free world, we can work on lightening the load where possible. By avoiding problem foods, improving both immune and digestive health, optimal health can be obtained – and awareness is a great thing!