When people hear ”Nutritional Therapy” “Nutritionist,” they often think of food plans, calorie counting, or being told to eat more greens. But what I do is so much more than that.
I work at the intersection of Functional Medicine and Naturopathic Nutrition — two approaches that dig deeper, ask more questions, and look at the whole person, not just a list of symptoms.
It’s a way of working that means I don’t just ask “What’s wrong?” but “Why is this happening in the first place?” And that’s what truly changes health outcomes.
It also recognises that food is just one part of the healing equation. How we sleep, manage stress, move our bodies, connect with others, and even spend time in nature can all influence how well we absorb nutrients, regulate hormones, and maintain long-term health. In this way, Naturopathic Nutrition works as a bridge between everyday lifestyle choices and the deeper, root-cause work of functional medicine..
What is Functional Medicine
Functional Medicine is a science-based, personalised approach that looks at the root causes of illness. Instead of focusing only on symptoms or a diagnosis, it examines how the body’s systems are connected — hormones, digestion, brain function, detoxification, immunity, and more.
A functional medicine consultation usually involves:
- A detailed health history, often going right back to birth.
- Looking for patterns in symptoms over time.
- Considering genetic, lifestyle, and environmental influences.
- Using advanced testing to see what’s really going on.
In other words, instead of just asking “How can we fix this?” we ask “What caused this?” and “How do we stop it from happening again?”
What is Naturopathic Nutrition
Naturopathic Nutrition is rooted in the belief that food is medicine — but it doesn’t stop there. While diet is a foundation, this approach also looks at lifestyle, emotional wellbeing, environment, and prevention.
It’s about:
- Using whole, unprocessed foods to nourish and repair the body.
- Supporting the body’s own healing abilities.
- Considering mental, emotional, and physical health as one connected picture.
- Encouraging prevention rather than waiting for illness to develop.
When you blend this with the functional medicine model, you get a powerful toolkit for restoring and maintaining health. In my own work, this means not only looking at what’s on your plate, but understanding how your body is functioning at a deeper level — from hormones and gut health to genetics and detox pathways. Naturopathic nutrition gives the food, lifestyle, and prevention focus, while functional medicine provides the investigative tools and frameworks to find the root causes. Together, they create a complete picture, so the plan we create is not just healthy in theory, but truly personalised to your body’s needs.
My Training at CNM London
I studied Naturopathic Nutrition at the College of Naturopathic Medicine (CNM) in London — a three-year course with over 200 hours of supervised clinic work.
The training started with observing experienced practitioners in the clinic, then gradually moving to leading consultations myself. By my final year, I was working with real clients, taking full case histories, creating personalised plans, and supporting them over time.
At the same time, I studied Naturopathy, which gave me an even broader perspective. This included herbal medicine, detoxification methods, stress management, and lifestyle medicine — all of which I still use today.
Learning Through Testing – Even Before Graduating
During my training, I didn’t just learn about tests in theory — I used them. On myself. On my family. I ran nutrigenomic tests, blood panels, the GI Map, the DUTCH hormone test, and Genova GI Effects.
This hands-on experience meant that even before I graduated, I was confident in interpreting results. I could connect the dots between symptoms and what the tests were showing, and use that to create effective, targeted plans.
How Naturopathy Helped Me as a Student
Studying two demanding courses at the same time meant I sometimes had only 1–2 weeks between big exams. Thanks to what I was learning in Naturopathy, I supported my brain and memory with targeted nutrition, herbs, and lifestyle strategies.
It was a real-life example of how these principles work — not just in textbooks, but in the day-to-day demands of life.
The Role of Testing in My Practice Today
Testing remains a cornerstone of my work. While I listen closely to what my clients tell me, sometimes symptoms alone don’t give us the full picture.
Functional tests can reveal:
- Hormone patterns (including stress hormones)
- Nutrient deficiencies
- Gut microbiome balance
- Detoxification capacity
- Genetic tendencies that affect metabolism and health
When we have this data, we can move faster and more accurately towards the root cause — instead of guessing.
Why This Approach Works
When you combine Functional Medicine with Naturopathic Nutrition, you get:
- Personalised plans — no one-size-fits-all solutions.
- Root cause resolution — addressing why the problem started.
- Sustainable results — because you’re not just managing symptoms
This approach is particularly effective for:
- Hormonal imbalances (including perimenopause and menopause)
- Gut health issues
- Fatigue and burnout
- Autoimmune conditions
- Skin problems
- Mood and brain health
Final Thoughts
Naturopathic Nutrition is not “just” about diet. Functional Medicine is not “just” about running tests. Together, they create a powerful, whole-person approach that addresses the real reasons you don’t feel your best — and helps you get back to living fully.
If you’re ready for a more complete picture of your health, I’d love to help you discover what’s really going on and guide you towards a plan that works for you.
You may also like: Beyond Quick Fixes: A Functional Medicine Approach That Lasts
