MINNA WOOD

New research is coming out regularly showing links between gut health and the health of the rest of the body, including brain health and mood, immune health and how well we recover from viral infections to name a few. Many chronic conditions have been associated with poor gut health.

‘All disease begins in the gut’  -Hippocrates, Father of Medicine, circa 400 BC

Flipping this famous quote by the Father of Medicine, Hippocrates, on it’s head – All health starts in the gut – and we can start to understand how important the gut and the digestive tract is for our overall health. You are not what you eat but what you absorb and what you feed to your gut microbes! Therefore, supporting the gut even when things have not yet gone wrong can make a big difference in lowering your risk of developing chronic symptoms and conditions.

A balanced gut microbiome (the collective term for the bacteria and other microbes that live in the gut) and a healthy gut wall are crucial for the health of the whole body, but both of these can get compromised by poor diet, stress and many other lifestyle choices. Clinical and research evidence shows that simple changes in diet and lifestyle (and targeted nutritional supplements) that address gut issues, reduce intestinal hyperpermeability (aka a ‘leaky’ gut) and restore the balance of microbes in the gut, can help achieve a healthy weight, increase energy levels and vitality, improve mood and sleep, balance hormones and manage many inflammatory conditions, such as skin issues, allergies and autoimmune diseases.

If you are struggling with your health, I’d love to help you to get back your vitality and feeling happy and healthy! I love working with and supporting clients with various chronic health issues that conventional medicine does not offer sufficient support for.

I’m fascinated by the gut microbiome, gut health, the gut-brain connection and the food-mood link. Gut and digestive issues are some of the main concerns my clients present with in clinic these days, and poor gut health can often be the root cause of many other symptoms, including anxiety and depression, metabolic health issues, skin conditions, hormonal imbalance and menopausal symptoms. Therefore the symptoms I see in clinic can be varied and diverse.

Health and nutrition and real unprocessed food are my passions. And for me, there’s nothing more empowering and satisfying than taking control of your own health. I also acknowledge that nutrition is only one part of the puzzle of optimum health and I know how important other lifestyle factors, such as adequate sleep, regular exercise, community, connection with nature and the use of mind-body practices, are for our health.

Our environment – 24/7 society, chronically busy and stressed lives and our toxic food environment with constant temptation of unhealthy, sugary and processed foods – doesn’t really encourage us to stay healthy and balanced.

Conflicting headlines in the media about what’s healthy and what’s not can be very confusing! We all know that fad diets don’t work! Instead, sustainable and consistent changes in diet and lifestyle are required to achieve permanent long-term results. And sometimes we just need help to kickstart this process to get started!

I’m here if you need support! I can help you get to the root causes of your symptoms, support you with personalised recommendations, help you stay on track and empower you to take control of your health for good.

I am a degree qualified, BANT and CNHC registered nutrition and lifestyle medicine practitioner, accredited reflux and digestive health specialist and a mindset coach. I help clients from my online clinic as well as my home clinic in Bracknell, Berkshire UK. After 4.5 years of intense study in nutrition science and clinical practice, in 2016 and 2017, I acquired a master’s degree (MSc) in Personalised Nutrition from Middlesex University and a diploma in Nutritional Therapy Practice from CNELM (Centre for Nutrition Education & Lifestyle Management).

I’m also a qualified Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) coach, so I can help you explore your mindset and any limiting beliefs you may have and help change them, in order for you to achieve your health goals. NLP can be used alone or in conjunction with a 1-to-1 nutrition programmes.

My practice is fully insured worldwide and I’m a member of the British Association for Nutrition and Lifestyle Medicine (BANT) and registered with the Complementary and Natural Healthcare Council (CNHC), requiring a minimum of 30 hours of continuing professional development (CPD) every year. My latest training was a Managing Reflux Accreditation Course to gain accreditation as a reflux and digestive health specialist. 

I also run a Food and Mood course at the Stepping Stones Bracknell Recovery College and have worked with NHS long covid patient groups.