We are what we eat — our bodies are literally built from the food we eat. The tissues and organs that make us up are continually streaming, new cells being created as old ones are replaced, and the material within those cells renewed faster still. The more metabolically active a tissue, the faster this renewal goes. A decline in this streaming and renewal is a characteristic of ageing; in fact, ageing is largely the result of regeneration not keeping pace with degeneration. The importance of a robust metabolism and adequate nutrition is clear, and a diet that supports them is foundational to lasting health — which is why it is emphasised in my practice. It is one foundation among several, though, and the aim is a way of eating that nourishes you without becoming a source of anxiety or a joyless exercise in restriction — eating should be a pleasure, after all.

There are universal principles that apply to just about any health-promoting diet — nutrient density, minimal toxicity, well-roundedness, balance. But beyond these, the particulars of such a diet are specific to each individual. Age, gender, genetic and epigenetic background, activity level, light exposure, season of the year, stress level, the state of the gut and its flora, medical history, individual food intolerances — all of these have an influence on your dietary requirements. There’s no single correct diet that’s ideal for everyone, or even for one person throughout their life. It’s a continuing iterative process to find what works for you where you are now.

This is the same whole-person thinking that runs through the rest of how I think about health: rather than applying a fixed template, the aim is to understand your particular situation and build from there.

It is always best to get our nutrition from good-quality food that is well digested and assimilated, and a well-chosen diet is the foundation of this. But some situations warrant the judicious use of supplements — to correct a deficiency, to supply a nutrient at levels that diet can’t practically provide, or where circumstances make them the most workable route. Used in this considered way, to meet a specific need rather than as a default, supplementation can be extremely therapeutic — a valuable and sometimes essential part of a plan, alongside good food rather than a replacement for it.

Diet and nutrition form part of most treatment plans I put together with patients. We look at what you’re currently eating, your digestive health, your preferences and what your situation calls for. We consider what changes, if any, are worth making first and continue from there. Where supplements have a part to play, we’d work that out together in consultation.

If you’d like to discuss whether changes to your nutrition might help with what you’re dealing with, the next step is a consultation. Book a consultation — or get in touch with any questions first.