Food Intolerance and Digestive Health

Get to know and UNDERSTAND your digestive system

When you have a digestive issue it’s really tough to get answers. To understand what’s really triggering your situation and what specific action you can take.

It’s not about them – it’s about YOU

Spend a few minutes on the internet, speak to friends (real and virtual!) and you end up with a really long list of things they think will help. Each one weirder and less appealing than the last (yup, I was remembering the cabbage soup diet too!).

Perhaps you have even tried a few of their suggestions. They might have helped a little bit. At first.

And then . . . . you’re back at square one.

Uncomfortable, embarrassed, awkward and always slightly anxious about what’s going to happen next.

Because the solutions that work wonderfully for your friend might be all wrong for you! Because your digestive system, your lifestyle and your discomfort are specific to you. And only you.

Experience + Training = Answers

I know that feeling. I spent years fighting with my own digestive issues – the pain, the weight gain, the awkward timing, the anxiety. All through my training as a nurse. Through shifts and commutes. Through time with my family.

And then I found my own, personal, solution.

And it was life changing.

I felt free! I understood the mathematics of my own digestive system. If I put X + Y in here, then Z is what happens. But if I put A + B in here then I get C (trust me, C was MUCH better!).

So back to school I went!

What’s your digestion equation?

Sooooooooo many of the symptoms of digestive distress can be attributed to a wide variety of other conditions. Or they are dismissed and ignored as part of other things or, that wonderfully dismissive, catch all term – stress.

• Stomach pain
• Bloating
• Diarrhoea
• Flatulence
• Skin rashes, itching or irritation
• Headaches and migraines
• IBS
• Fatigue or low energy
• Low mood
• Weight gain or loss
• Anxiety
• Digestive pain or distress

This confusion and dismissal can mean that getting concrete advice can take a long time, sometimes years! Meanwhile you are still uncomfortable, distressed and stuck.

The difference between food allergies (immediate reactions) versus food intolerances or sensitivities, where reactions can occur within 72 hours (that’s 3 DAYS!), can make it even more complicated to figure it out and be clear on what help you need.

And all of this confusion and lack of clarity leaves you back at square 1 – uncomfortable, embarrassing and anxious.

Testing to understand

The first part of the process to getting answers is understanding what your triggers are.

I do this in three main ways:

1. Food Intolerance testing – using blood analysis to find out how your immune system reacts to more than 200 different foods
2. Imaging – we want to SEE what your digestive system is doing. And how that is impacting on your lymphatic, nervous AND immune system.
3. Talking to you – the more detail I have about the reality of your life, the better I can create a realistic plan that you can actually follow.

Understanding the tests

Then we sit down with the clinical reports from both tests and review them with you. Because the most important part of this process is that you understand what those results mean.

Because if you understand your own personal equation that makes it MUCH easier to make those daily decisions about what food to buy, how to cook it and what to eat.

There’s no point in creating a diet plan that includes so many expensive and difficult to get ingredients that you have to spend a whole day doing the grocery shop and another day cooking just to eat dinner.

There’s no point creating a plan that means you’re not able to enjoy family meals or dinner out ever again.

But if you understand your personal situation, understand your reactions and have the tools to manage and respond to those reactions – then you can make the best choices for your personal life.

Working together – today and the next day

The thing about eating is that it happens every single day for the rest of our life.

And life has a funny habit of throwing a grenade into the best laid plans.

So I offer regular support throughout this process of education and change.

I offer reviews, both in person and via video, answer questions over the phone, email and WhatsApp (whatever works best for you!) and continue to update you on new ideas, research and techniques which are appropriate to you.

Where do I start?

I have a few different options depending on where you are in your journey to good digestive health. So you can pick the right place for you and we will go from there!

Review and Consultation – 1 hour

Ideal for general health concerns and support for your current digestive health plan.

Perhaps you have already been diagnosed but need more information on how best to support this diagnosis with your diet and lifestyle.

Or you have additional, unanswered questions about your current situation and need support in acting on recommendations.

Food Intolerance Testing – 20 minutes + 1 hour

This is a blood analysis to ascertain your immune system’s reaction to a list of over 208 food and drink ingredients (full list here).

We start with a quick 20 minute appointment to perform the simple fingerprint blood sample and complete the paperwork.

This gets sent to a laboratory in the UK for testing. They then send a report (in English).

Once we have the report we have a full 1 hour consultation. We review the report together, make sure that you clearly understand the information in the report and then support you in acting on any recommendations.

This review can be done in person (preferably) but also via video conference if your location doesn’t permit a face to face consultation.

Digestive Health Screening – 1 hour + 1 hour

This screening uses our thermal imaging camera – this is a completely painless and non-invasive procedure – as difficult as having your photo taken!

We look at you from front, back and both sides in the area between the base of your ribs and your pubis bone, to assess:

• Function of colon
• Inflammation of the digestive system as a whole
• Liver and kidney function
• Lymphatic System (over 80% is around your intestines!!)
• Nerve control to digestive system
• Lumbar spine health
• Inflammation and issues of the genitourinary area

You can also include imaging of the upper chest and thoracic spine for additional information on your immune, lymphatic and cardiovascular systems. (additional charge)

We have these images reported on by specialist doctors for a detailed report in English.

Once we have the report we have a full 1 hour consultation. We review the report together, make sure that you clearly understand the information in the report and then support you in acting on any recommendations.

This review can be done in person (preferably) but also via video conference if your location doesn’t permit a face to face consultation.

The Gold Package – 1 hour + 1.5 hour

This includes both the digestive health screening AND the food intolerance tests to give the complete and detailed picture of your digestive system.

Both the fingerprint blood sample and digestive screening will be done in the initial appointment.

Once we have the report we have an extended 1.5 hour consultation.

We review the report together, making sure that you clearly understand the information in the report and then support you in acting on any recommendations.

This review can be done in person (preferably) but also via video conference if your location doesn’t permit a face to face consultation.

Follow ups can then be arranged via WhatsApp, email or in person (depending on your situation!) to ensure you get the most from your results.

Before your appointment

There is no need to fast or make any alterations to your diet prior to the blood test for our Food Intolerance testing. However we do recommend drinking plenty of water on the morning of the test to help blood flow!

If you are having the Digestive Screening as a standalone test or as part of our Gold Package then please follow the pre-appointment requirements listed below. Failure to comply may affect test results.

At least 24-48 hours before: NO Sun exposure (sun burn will negate the screening)

At least 3 hours before: 

• No hot showers 
• No smoking 
• No deodorant 
• No body lotion 
• No foundation 
• No sunbathing 
• No hot or icy drinks 
• No physical exercise 
• No heavy meals the night before

Not sure which appointment is right for you? You can book a 15 minute telephone consultation to discuss your options.

Alternatively you can email us or send us a WhatsApp with your questions or call us to speak in person.