Your immune system is a large network of organs, white blood cells and proteins (antibodies) that protects you from harmful substances, bacteria, viruses and parasites that cause illness.

The immune system is constantly defending you against disease-causing microorganisms but when it stops working properly illness occurs. Autoimmune diseases happen when the body’s natural defence system mistakenly attacks its own healthy cells. Nutrition is a key part of managing various conditions, and it is important to ensure that we are eating the right foods for our body to reduce illness symptoms. Understanding the process of disease can be helpful to start mapping the path back to optimal health. Our Nutritionists will review your health history and the development of your symptoms, to understand the progression of your illness.

Sessions will include making individualised nutritional changes and tracking symptoms. Your nutritionist may need to liaise with your doctor to help you manage your medical condition, in line with best practice.

We take a structured approach, informed by the science of nutrition, in helping you improve your health status.

We can work with you to create a personalised plan, based on a review of your health history and symptoms, food sensitivities and nutritional deficiencies.

Nutritionists support incorporates lifestyle and nutrition coaching, to help you understand your biochemistry and your nutritional needs, and helping you find motivation to achieve your long-term goals.

Going on different fad diets can disrupt our nutritional balances, and keep us in a cycle of yo-yo dieting and fluctuating weight.

We can work with you to understand your nutritional status, and create a weight management plan that is designed for your body, based on your metabolism and exercise levels.

This includes creating a bespoke plan that is varied and balances different food groups, consuming foods in the right proportions. Meal plans will look at balancing macronutrient levels to your individual requirements to support weight loss, without engaging in severe restriction.

With a personalised and structured weight management plan in place, our Nutritionists will coach and support you to plan and manage your bespoke meal plan, while navigating social and work factors, to help you lose weight.

Diabetes is the most rampant and infamous lifestyle disorder. The number of people suffering from diabetes all around the world is quite shocking. India alone has around 62 million people with diabetes and marked as the diabetes capital of the world! Diabetes can be controlled by healthy and balanced diet. But before we know about diabetes diet plan, let's understand about diabetes.

The global diabetes prevalence in 2019 is estimated to be 9.3% (463 million people), rising to 10.2% (578 million) by 2030 and 10.9% (700 million) by 2045. The prevalence is higher in urban (10.8%) than rural (7.2%) areas, and in high-income (10.4%) than low-income countries (4.0%). One in two (50.1%) people living with diabetes do not know that they have diabetes. The global prevalence of impaired glucose tolerance is estimated to be 7.5% (374 million) in 2019 and projected to reach 8.0% (454 million) by 2030 and 8.6% (548 million) by 2045.

Conclusions: Just under half a billion people are living with diabetes worldwide and the number is projected to increase by 25% in 2030 and 51% in 2045.

What Is Diabetes?

It is not a disease but a metabolic disorder characterized by high blood sugar (hyperglycemia) either due to inability of pancreas to produce necessary insulin or because the cells of the body have become resistant to the effects of the insulin produced or both. If diagnosed late or left untreated, this disorder can cause serious health complications.

How We Help To Fight Diabetes

Diabetes can be managed and often reversed with lifestyle modifications which essentially involves around healthy diet. Our Nutritionists can help you understand foods that treat or heal your medical conditions. Our customized diabetes diet plans aim to provide holistic nutrition that not only helps control you blood glucose levels but also promote weight loss.

Our diabetes diet charts for weight loss are formulated with utmost care in accordance to your condition. With us you get guidance and solutions to every hurdle in healthy eating.

Know the difference?

Food allergy is caused when your immune system mistakes a food or food substance as something harmful. In response, it produces antibodies called immunoglobulin E (IgE) to neutralise the allergen, signalling the release of histamine into your bloodstream.

Food intolerance does not involve an immune response, is generally less serious and often limited to digestive issues.

Symptoms

Food allergies and intolerances are often confused as the symptoms are similar. For some, a reaction to a particular food may be uncomfortable. For others it can be severe (anaphylaxis), even life-threatening.

Bloating

Constipation and diarrhoea

Difficulty breathing

Stomach cramps/pain

Indigestion

Itchy throat and difficulty swallowing

Skin rashes

Sneezing or itchy eyes

Swelling of the face, mouth or throat

Causes

The most common allergenic foods are: eggs, fish, shellfish, milk, soya, gluten, wheat & nuts.

Food intolerance and allergy can also be caused by:

Coeliac disease

Food preservatives/additives – colouring, sulphites, nitrates, MSG

Gut dysbiosis

Histamine intolerance

Intestinal permeability (leaky gut)

IBS – a chronic digestive condition causing cramps, constipation, diarrhoea

Lack of digestive enzymes – DAO deficiency, lactose intolerance

Malnutrition essentially means ‘poor nutrition’ – when the human body contains an insufficient, excessive or imbalanced consumption of nutrients.

What is malnutrition?

Malnutrition refers to deficiencies, excesses or imbalances in a person’s intake of energy and nutrients. Malnutrition can affect people of all ages, genders and health, although it tends to be more common in developing countries where there are shortages of food. In industrialised countries, however, more and more people are being diagnosed with the condition, with factors such as diet, alcoholism, mental health problems, and digestive disorders cited as common causes.

The two types of malnutrition are:

Undernutrition (subnutrition) – When a person’s diet is lacking in nutrients and does not provide them with an adequate amount of calories, sustenance and protein for maintenance and growth. Undernutrition can also occur if the body cannot efficiently use food as a result of an illness.

Overnutrition – When a person’s diet is getting far too many nutrients for the body to cope with. Usually a result of people choosing to eat more food than they need, but in rare cases it can be caused by excessive supplement intake.

What are the symptoms of malnutrition?

The symptoms of malnutrition refer to the way someone feels as a result of poor nutrition. Physical and emotional symptoms vary depending on the severity of malnutrition and the causes behind it.

Some of the common symptoms of undernutrition include:

depression

aching joints

soft and tender bones

breathing difficulties

tiredness and fatigue

lower sex drive

low blood pressure

lower body temperature

diarrhoea

dizziness

bleeding and/or swollen gums

irritability

loss of reflexes and lack of coordination

scaling and cracking of the lips and mouth

Symptoms of overnutrition can include:

obesity

type 2 diabetes

diarrhoea

bleeding

high blood pressure

heart problems

hair loss

difficulty walking

Treatment for malnutrition depends on how severe the malnutrition is and what is causing it. After an assessment and diagnosis by a medical professional, sufferers may need dietary advice and supervision from a dietitian and/or a nutritionist to safely change and improve their eating habits in the long term. For those suffering from severe malnutrition and/or showing evidence of health problems that have contributed to the condition, hospital admission may be required.

Nutrition plays a significant role in modulating the effects of environmental toxicity on human health. The composition of a population's diet and their nutritional status can greatly influence susceptibility to toxicants and subsequent adverse health outcomes . Nutrients can interact with xenobiotics, altering their toxicokinetics and effects . Diets enriched with bioactive food components such as polyphenols and omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids can prevent or decrease toxicant-induced inflammation . On the other hand, diets high in proinflammatory fats can exacerbate pollutant toxicity . Nutrition can also modulate epigenetic markers that are linked to disease risks or protection against diseases . Furthermore, exposure to pollutants can alter epigenetic markers and contribute to inflammation and disease . Understanding the relationship between nutrition and environmental toxicity is crucial for developing strategies to reduce the health burden of toxicants and designing personalized lifestyle interventions .

We can assist on trigger toxin eliminations, education and guidance to facilitate a cleaner living environment.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a general term used for conditions affecting the heart or blood vessels. CVD is usually associated with a build up of fatty deposits inside the arteries and an increased risk of blood clots that interrupt the flow of oxygenated blood to the organs. There are many types of heart disease and each one has its own symptoms and treatment.

Symptoms

It is important to detect the signs of cardiovascular disease as early as possible. Prevention is better than cure.

Chest pain

Abdominal pain

Severe headaches with unknown cause

Pain or numbness in legs or arms

Shortness of breath

Heart palpitations

Dizziness or fainting

Fatigue

Nausea

Causes

There are several risk factors, both genetic and behavioural, that increase your chances of developing CVD.

High blood pressure/hypertension

High cholesterol

Family history of CVD

Being overweight/obese

Unhealthy diet

Diabetes

Smoking

Physical inactivity

Excessive alcohol consumption

The gut (also known as the digestive system or gastrointestinal tract) is made up of a group of organs: the mouth, oesophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestine, liver, pancreas and gallbladder, and is home to your unique gut microbiome; a complex ecosystem of microorganisms that live symbiotically with you. It plays an essential role in your digestive function and overall health, absorbing nutrients from the food you eat and excreting waste.

Our bodies are strongly adapted to our native land and food- this is revealed by our genetics and microbiome which are strongly linked to our diet and environment, the smallest of changes can disrupt our gut health.

Symptoms

When the gut is healthy, we don’t notice that it is working harmoniously, but when it has a bacterial imbalance – also known as gut dysbiosis – it can lead to unpleasant physical symptoms such as:

Diarrhoea

Constipation

Acid reflux

Stomach pain

Indigestion

Flatulence/bloated

Change in stools

Skin rashes

Depression and/or mood swings

Causes

Digestive issues are very common, negatively impacting a person’s quality of life. Gut health is affected by poor nutrition, food allergies, excess medication/antibiotics, stress, autoimmune disorders and can cause chronic conditions such as:

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)

Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth

Intestinal permeability (leaky gut)

Parasites

Crohn’s disease

Stomach ulcers

Ulcerative colitis

Colon cancer

Stomach cancer

43% of the population of the UK have experienced digestive problems in their lifetimes, but only 59% of them have ever visited a physician to discuss them.

70% of your immune system is in your gut

Hormones are chemical “messengers” produced by glands in your endocrine system that regulate many bodily processes including your appetite and metabolism, heart rate, sleep cycles, reproductive cycles and sexual function, growth, body temperature and mood.

Hormonal imbalances occur when there is too much or too little of a particular hormone in the bloodstream. Even a slight imbalance can cause detrimental health conditions.

Symptoms

Your hormones work in unison. When there is imbalance in production of one, it can negatively impact the rest of the network. Symptoms can overlap and may include:

Adrenals –

Acne, Brain fog, Fatigue, Feeling weak, High blood pressure, Insomnia, Loss of libido, Stress, Weight gain

Thyroid –

Hypothyroidism (under-active): 

Brain fog, Brittle hair, nails Constipation, Depression, Dry skin, Fatigue, Feeling cold, Muscle weakness, Mood swings , Weight gain

Hyperthyroidism (overactive): 

Anxiety, Diarrhoea, Feeling hot, Hyperactivity, Itchiness, Loss of libido, Muscle weakness, Mood swings, Weight loss

Sex hormones –

Acne, Erectile dysfunction, Excess body hair, Infertility, Irregular periods, Hair loss, Loss of libido.

Causes

Hormonal imbalances can cause serious health issues from adrenal fatigue, inflammation, diabetes, obesity and sexual dysfunction to heart disease, due to factors such as stress, poor diet, excess medications and environmental toxicity.

Adrenal hormones – after sustained periods of stress, cortisol can lead to hyperglycaemia, insulin resistance, hyperlipidemia, hypertension and obesity. Proper functioning of the adrenals is essential for thyroid and sex hormone production.

Thyroid hormones – TSH is needed for production of T4 to be converted into its active form T3. A lack of key nutrients can cause thyroid dysfunction such as hypothyroidism (Hashimoto’s) or hyperthyroidism (Grave’s disease).

Sex hormones – oestrogen, progesterone and testosterone fluctuate during puberty, perimenopause, menopause & andropause. Stress, nutrition & lifestyle factors contribute to underproduction of these hormones.

Metabolic syndrome refers to the presence of a group of conditions (insulin resistance, impaired glucose tolerance, hypertension, abdominal obesity and hyperlipidemia) increasing your risk of developing cardiovascular disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, or all three. Metabolic syndrome is also referred to as insulin resistance syndrome.

Symptoms

Most disorders associated with metabolic syndrome don’t have obvious symptoms but are characterised by:

Large waist circumference (abdominal obesity)

Symptoms of diabetes – increased thirst and urination, fatigue, blurred vision

High blood sugar – causes blood clots

High blood pressure – often found in people with insulin resistance

Elevated triglycerides – a type of fat in the blood

High levels of LDL cholesterol (also known as bad cholesterol)

If you are suffering from any of these issues you may be at risk of developing heart disease and type 2 diabetes.

Causes

The causes of metabolic syndrome are complex and interconnected:

Family history or genetic predisposition.

Obesity — contributes to the development of insulin resistance, associated with higher levels of triglycerides and low LDL cholesterol which increase the formation of atherosclertoic plaques leading to cardiovascular disease.

Insulin resistance — leads to higher levels of insulin and glucose, precursors to developing type 2 diabetes. High insulin levels cause elevated blood pressure due to excessive sodium retention in the kidneys.

Stress response has played a key role in our evolution and survival as human beings. In moderation, stress is healthy as it motivates us to achieve our goals and get things done.

However, when stress is not managed properly, or is sustained for long periods of time, it can be a cause of mental and physical illness.

Symptoms

Everyone experiences stress, however, people’s ability to cope with it varies. Certain people are not fully aware how stressed they are until it affects them severely.

If stress starts to affect your mood, sleep and/or relationships, it is important to manage it as soon as possible to prevent health problems from developing:

Difficulty concentrating and relaxing

Constipation or diarrhoea

Eating more or less than usual

Feeling overwhelmed, irritable

Changes in menstrual cycle, libido

Mood swings — anxiety, depression

muscle tension

Sleep problems — insomnia

Using alcohol, tobacco or drugs to relax

Causes

The most common sources of stress are work-related, financial, relationships, or dealing with illness.

Stress can be caused by one big event such as a bereavement or divorce, or by an accumulation of many small things that build up.

When you are stressed, your brain signals the release of a cascade of hormones (adrenaline, cortisol) providing you with a burst of energy to react to perceived dangers.

However, when stress becomes chronic, it can start to create inflammation and imbalances that may take a toll on your cardiovascular health, digestion, hormonal and sexual health, immune system and mental wellbeing.