Nutrigenomics ‘Metabolic & Longevity Masterclass’ (April-May 2023).
I did this course to support my clients who struggle to lose weight even though they are following every recommendation to the letter. This course taught in detail about the Metabolic Report that Lifecode Gx has recently bought out. This report displays the individual’s nutrigenomics (the impact of food and the environment on specific genes) on their metabolism. We learnt why some people have big appetites and feel satiated, why others crave sugar and fats, and how the body utilises these foods (sugar and fat metabolism) and results in weight gain. We then learnt the best choices people can make to support their metabolism.
Perimenopausal Brain! (May 2023)
Earlier this year I had my first hot flash and thankfully I was able to stop them by increasing phytoestrogen foods in my diet and supplementing with various herbs. Many friends and clients are suffering with perimenopause symptoms and although this short course was really revision, I like to make sure that I am up to date with all the latest scientific research.
Asthma & Chronic Respiratory Conditions (June 2023)
I grew up with asthma so this is a particular interest of mine. Although this course was revision for me, I did it because I wanted to make sure I was completely up to date with the cutting-edge research that is coming out about respiratory conditions.
Advanced Blood Analysis Training (September-November 2023)
The Advanced Blood Analysis training has taken my blood analysis practice to a new level. Not only was it very good revision, we covered more unusual anomalies that fine tune my nutritional approach. We also learnt how to grade the anomalies which helps to prioritise what to work on.
Clinical Psychoneuroimmunology (CPNI) Masterclass (November 2023)
This year I have become very interested in the mind-body connection having read Alan Gordon’s book, “The Way Out”. Using mainly Somatic Tracking, he has had remarkable results without using any medical interventions. CPNI is the interaction between the body, and the psychological, social and ecological aspects of life. This course covered some wonderful natural drug-free interventions to help combat chronic disease.
Metabolic Balance re-training (November 2023)
In 2015 I trained as a Metabolic Balance coach. During the following couple of years, I took dozens of my clients through Metabolic Balance with wonderful results. My husband and I also did Metabolic Balance and it changed our lives forever. For many of those clients, Metabolic Balance has been the only thing that has helped them to lose weight. They have literally tried every diet and nothing worked except for Metabolic Balance. I love metabolic balance because it is a plan that addresses all the biochemical imbalances in the body. People naturally lose weight and find that it becomes a plan for life as it has for my husband and I.
Nutri-Link mini courses with Antony Haynes (throughout the year)
Once a month over lunch time, Antony chooses a subject or health condition to dive into. These are particularly helpful to me as he covers in depth the latest research, dietary and lifestyle interventions, and specific nutrients and supplements. These are some of the subjects that we have covered this year: Fatty liver and fatty pancreas, Long Covid revisited, mould toxicity, The GAPS diet, magnesium, Osteoarthritis. Over the course of many years Antony has taught on any subject that a Nutritional Therapist may desire. I have learnt so much from him about specific autoimmune conditions as an example.
BOOKS
I have read several fantastic books this year which I highly recommend:
o Glucose Revolution by Jessie Inchauspe – easy bio-hacks for the life-changing power of balancing your blood sugar
o Adrenal Transformation Protocol by Dr Izabella Wentz – a 4-week plan to release stress symptoms and go from surviving to thriving.
o The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry by John Mark Comer – how to stay emotionally healthy and spiritually alive in the chaos of the modern world
o The Way Out by Alan Gordon – this book has helped get many of my clients out of chronic pain. If you are a client of mine and you find this book transformational, please let me know and can give you a 6-week trial on ‘Curable’ App which will hold your hand through the teaching and exercises.
o Fast like a Girl by Mindy Pelz – this book introduced me to the huge benefits of fasting in line with our monthly periods. This book highly complements a book I read a couple of years ago called In the Flo by Alisa Vitti.
o The Menopause Reset by Mindy Pelz – as a women myself going through menopause, this has been very helpful.
o Tiny Habits by BJ Fogg – BJ Fogg is a behaviour scientist who has been studying how people create long-term, lasting habits. I think the book is fantastic if you are struggling to change your diet, your fitness plan or anything else in your life.
Supporting Clients on PPIs with Deborah Grayson (December 2022)
With many clients on proton pump inhibitors such as omeprazole, this short course was a step-by-step guide to supporting these clients with their digestion and better health naturally.
The Glucose Revolution by Jessie Inchauspe (November 2022)
I want to mention this brilliant book about how to balance blood sugar to avoid the damage that blood sugar spikes have on the body. Many of you will know that long-term blood sugar spikes drive metabolic disorders such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and excessive body fat particularly around the middle. I believe that if we can balance our blood sugar then these disorders will be far less common.
Curable App for Chronic Pain (October 2022)
I was thrilled to be introduced to the Curable App which has been used by tens of thousands of people to relieve persistent pain. As a Chrysalis Effect practitioner, I am able to give my clients the 6-week free trial. Personally, I found this app life transforming when I was recovering from the pain I suffered with the terrible injuries I incurred back in August 2022.
Specialism in Chronic Exhaustive Conditions with The Chrysalis Effect (April 2022 on going)
I have nearly completed my specialism in Chronic Exhaustive Conditions, just a few more weeks to go before I will be a Chrysalis Effect Specialist Practitioner. I decided to do this training to support many people who were coming to me with Long COVID. I realised that nutrition was only part of the complex jigsaw to recovery and I wanted to learn about all aspects of my client’s recovery journey. The Chrysalis Effect has a wonderful track record of hope, encouragement and full recovery for those suffering with chronic exhaustive conditions including chronic fatigue syndrome, M.E., Long COVID and fibromyalgia. Watch this space.
Nutrigenomics 10-week Course (January-March 2022)
Nutrigenomics is a study of the relationship between nutrients, diet, and gene expression. Since the launch of the Human Genome Project in the 1990s, much research has focused on the way genes are affected by diet and lifestyle. Each of us have a variation in DNA and this makes us individual and unique. Moreover, genes can also respond to environmental influences, lifestyle and environment in a way that either ‘turns on’ or ‘turns off’ specific genes. Nutrigenomics helps us understand how our genes are interacting with our environment in order to understand and reduce symptoms of chronic illnesses.
Insomnia (January 2022)
Insomnia is something I have suffered with in the past and I was interested to learn how to support people, particularly as sleep has such significant repercussions on our overall health. I gleaned some wonderful clinical pearls.
Migraine Headaches (January 2022)
Having suffered with migraines for several years, I felt it was important to make sure I was up to date with current research on therapeutic diets, and personalised nutritional approaches. The two-hour webinar was mainly revision but I gleaned several clinical pearls from the lecture.
Health and Wellbeing Coaching (December 2021)
I have completed my training with the Chrysalis Effect and am now a fully qualified Health and Wellbeing Coach. The marriage of Wellbeing Coaching with nutritional therapy is a unique and powerful combination that has the power to bring massive breakthroughs your journey toward holistic optimal health. To read more please go to the Wellbeing Coaching page of this website.
Long COVID – part 3 (October 2021)
Another in-depth course on Long COVID with three renowned lectures, Dr Tina Peers, Lucinda Miller and Robyn Puglia. Dr Peers taught us about MCAS (mast cell activation syndrome), Lucinda Miller about supporting Children’s Health, and Robyn Puglia in complex cases of Long COVID.
Long COVID – part 2 (September 2021)
This in-depth course, with Dr Sarah Myhill, well-known in the field of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, took us through her successful and thorough protocol supporting people with energy deficient conditions.
POTs (June 2021)
Although I have only seen one or two clients with this condition, I am aware that the COVID virus or having the COVID vaccine can trigger this complex condition. Knowing very little about, I felt it was important to learn about it should anyone come into my clinic who may need support.
Lupus Disease (May 2021)
In May I did a lecture on Lupus disease as one of my close family members suffers with this condition and more and more people are coming to me with complex auto-immune conditions. It was interesting to dig deeper into this particular auto-immune condition and explore specific recommendations for the disease itself.
Long-COVID – part 1 (April 2021)
I took advantage of doing a short course in Long-COVID. A course that looked at the underlying causes, the type of person who suffers from it and what you can do to support people suffering with it. It looked at dietary, nutritional and lifestyle interventions. Our lecturer, a well-known and experienced practitioner, gave us the latest research as well as his own clinical experience dealing with this condition.
Thyroid Auto-Immunity (February 2021)
In February 2021 I did an advanced course in ‘Thyroid Auto-Immunity’ which included Hashimoto’s and Grave’s Disease with the Kharrazian Institute. In this advanced Functional Medicine course we were taught about diet, nutrition and lifestyle intervention. Hormone therapy was discussed in detail as well as environmental and pathogenic triggers. We were taught how to clinically manage clients suffering with these diseases.
Mould and Mycotoxin lecture (January 2021)
As you may know this is of particular interest to me as we had a mould issue in one of our downstairs cupboards last year and I suffered some unpleasant symptoms as a consequence. In this lecture, I leant about how mycotoxins produced from mould and damp can affect the body and the symptoms they produce. We learnt about the best tests to use, the supplements to help the body clear the toxins, various lifestyle interventions and the best air purifying systems.
Wellbeing and Health Coach (January 2021)
I am thrilled to announce that I have just begun training with the Chrysalis Effect to become a Welling and Health Coach. It has been on my heart for many years to train as a coach and I know this additional tool will help greatly towards my Nutritional Therapy Practise. I have chose to train with the Chrysalis Effect because they specialise in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, ME and Fibromyalgia. Many people are contacting me with symptoms relating to these issues and also relating to Long COVID. I am confident these skills will be invaluable to many of my clients this coming year.
Neuro-Inflammation (November 2020)
In November 2020 I did an advanced course in ‘Neuroinflammation Clinical Strategies and Treatment Applications’ with the Kharrazian Institute. We worked with the Functional Medicine model. We were taught a step-by-step clinical approach on how to identify patterns of brain inflammation and their sources by taking a thorough client history, laboratory and clinic tests. Research covered the detailed role of the blood-brain-barrier in brain inflammation and the tools to address this inflammation. We studied conditions such as Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia, Multiple Sclerosis and Parkinson’s Disease. The underlying cause of these conditions is neuroinflammation. Out of control brain inflammation damages the brain in different areas according to the disease that is diagnosed. We were given the tools to reduce inflammation and prevent these conditions from getting worse.
Live and Dried Blood Analysis Training (March to August 2020)
At the beginning of this year (2020) I bought myself a highly sophisticated microscope and camera. During lockdown, I made the most of my time learning about Live and Dried Blood Analysis with NeoGenesis’s Dr Okker Botha. It has been a very in-depth course, and one many people chose to do after completing other Live and Dried Blood Analysis courses because it is so comprehensive. To find out more, click here.
Demystifying Sibo (August 2020)
In August 2020 I completed another advanced course in Small Intestinal Bacteria Overgrowth (SIBO). Dr Jason Hawrelak did his PHD researching gut microbiome and is one of the leaders in the field of both research and clinical practice. Research in this area is advancing all the time (and will continue to do) so this course help refresh my understanding of SIBO, and give me new practical applications in testing and therapeutic strategies.
Functional Medicine Advanced Gastrointestinal Module (November 2019)
In November 2019 I completed the Functional Medicine Advanced Gastrointestinal module. This three day course in London covered the latest research on the Gastrointestinal tract including how to treat many complex gut issues using the Functional Medicine model. These included everything from the stomach to the anus! Our lectures were live from specialist doctors in America, and there was an opportunity for questions and answers at the end of each section.
Small Intestinal Bacteria Overgrowth (SIBO) (June 2019)
At the end of June 2019, Tracey Randell, a Functional Medicine Practitioner and expert in gut health, ran an Advanced Small Intestinal Bacteria Overgrowth (SIBO) Workshop. Tracey runs the IBS Clinics on Harley Street and works for the well-known laboratory BioLab.
According to research, 60-84% of all IBS is considered to be SIBO. It is only beginning to be understood, and is a complex condition which requires proper assessment and treatment. It is associated with many different symptoms but the main ones include:
- bloating (belching and flatulence),
- digestive pain,
- diarrhoea and/or constipation,
- food intolerances,
- acid reflux and nausea,
- fatigue, anxiety and brain fog,
- headaches, and
- rashes.
If you are experiencing any of the above symptoms, it can worth finding out whether the underlying cause is SIBO. It can often be triggered by food poisoning, stress, antibiotics, and tummy bugs. SIBO damages the walls of the small intestine leading to malabsorption and increased food sensitivities.
Testing can help determine what the best treatment be according to the gas and amount of it produced.
A couple of years ago, I did an thorough course on SIBO which gave me the foundation knowledge to support people with this condition. This recent course filled in the gaps and gave me the detailed information I needed to help treat more complex cases. It was great to be around other experienced practitioners who were also seeing lots of their own clients with SIBO. We went into much more detail regarding testing, the different diets available and when to recommend them, and the supplement that have really been shown to work in Tracey’s clinical practice.
One of the subjects I knew a little bit about but learnt far more about was the association with histamine problems that result from SIBO. When people have difficulty dealing with histamine in their body, it can be a bit of a minefield and very complex. It was wonderful to understand it in more detail and learn the clinical pearls that work for Tracey
Thyroid Conditions (June 2019)
As many of you know, I am always interested in the latest research that can be used to benefit my clients. You will often find me talking with my colleagues about nutritional research, filling my office with books, journals and newsletters, and travelling to different parts of the country to attend professional development courses. It is very important that I keep up to date current research and I aim to chose accredited lectures that are relevant to the type of clients I see.
Recently I spent the day learning about Autoimmunity, Hashimoto’s and other Thyroid Conditions. It gave me a greater understanding of the function of the immune system and the thyroid as well as some fantastic clinical pearls. Did you know that the body often produces antibodies to the thyroid gland before other autoimmune conditions develop? Some of the many symptoms associated with suboptimal thyroid function include:
- fatigue,
- weight gain (and an inability to lose it),
- feeling cold,
- dry hair and skin,
- hair loss,
- menstrual irregularities,
- oedema,
- muscle aches and joint pain,
- constipation,
- depression and low mood.
Do you recognise some of these symptoms? Perhaps you have been told that it is just ‘peri-menopausal’? If you want to rule out problems with your thyroid function, please get in touch.
In just under a month’s time I am off again to London to do a masterclass in Small Intestinal Bacteria Overgrowth known as SIBO. A couple of years ago I did an intensive course in SIBO but this particular course is for those who already have experience with SIBO but would like to support complex client cases! Studies have shown that 60-84% of all IBS cases are associated with SIBO, and 25% of our UK’s population are thought to suffer with IBS! This is another great tool to have in my tool box.
The Lightning Process (November 2018)
The ‘Lightning Process’ is a short training course in recovery from stress, fatigue and pain. I took the Lightning Process course because stress and busyness were having a detrimental impact on my life and my health. I know – what a surprise to have a therapist seeking therapy!
And by a wonderful coincidence, a new study has just come out on this very course, reaching the headlines recently in the Guardian and the Telegraph. The research, though small-scale and preliminary, showed some surprisingly clear results in 50 children who underwent the Lightning Process. Compared to another 50 children who didn’t take it, they logged more days of attendance at school and experienced progressive improvements both 6 months and 12 months after the course had ended.
My practice as a nutritional therapist has gradually grown over the years, for which I am truly grateful. But in many ways, I needed to learn how to deal with being as busy as I had always hoped to be! Of course, I knew all sorts of ways to help myself with nutrition, yet I struggled to find the rest of the right tools I needed.
Several clients and friends told me how the Lightning Process had transformed their lives and their wellbeing. You yourself may have heard of people who had ME or chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), who then seemed to walk miraculously free from all symptoms after doing the Lightning Process.
How it works
The Lightning Process depends primarily on the creative training of thought habits. And for me as a nutritional therapist, this makes perfect sense. Research in psychoneuroimmunology has shown for years that thought patterns have a chemical and biological impact in the body, because anxious emotions produce stress hormones which, if produced at high levels over a long time, can create negative impact on health. This is what mainly drives the LP approach.
For myself, after taking the course, I noticed that I felt a new emotional balance and a greater ease, even with just day-to-day life. I no longer felt so much under the pressure of time, and I felt much better able to make good decisions. Interestingly, I can now recognise when I am producing too many stress hormones, and with the tools I learnt on the Lightning Process, I can then bring my body back to calm again.
My husband declares he has seen a huge change in me, my sleep has improved, and I find I am relaxed and confident in situations where previously I might have felt a bit tense. Headaches which had not responded to nutritional support before, are now almost non-existent.
Another factor, is that I can face difficult situations more effectively. For example, I was recently in a situation that would normally frighten me, but because I had prepared for it using LP, I not only faced it, but got through it without a single fearful thought.
Importantly for me, I have been able to adapt the tools of LP according to my Christian faith, and use them in a way which I felt drew me closer to Jesus. As I walk through the LP with Jesus, I am finding that He is the one who most wants to challenge my ‘limiting beliefs’ and negative thought patterns – and He is the one who most empowers me to choose life in all its fullness.