Hello, I’m Lucy! A nutritionist in Taunton…
But, what do I do? That’s usually the first question I get asked. Well, I’m a nutritional therapist, or nutritionist in Taunton, Somerset. I trained in Sydney, Australia, but last year returned to the UK with my husband and children to be closer to our families.
But, what is a nutritional therapist?! And why did I become one? A nutritional therapist is more than just someone who tells you what to eat, how to ‘diet’ or how to lose weight. I examine your overall health, as well as your health history, and discuss any specific issues you may be facing. These may be fertility-related, hormonal, digestive, skin-, sleep- or stress-related, pain, headaches, fatigue and low energy, the list goes on and on. I then request and interpret any relevant pathology and other tests, which help to understand underlying causes.
After building a complete, holistic picture of your health, I formulate a personalised treatment plan. This can include meal plans, nutrition guidelines, practitioner-only supplements (if required) and any necessary referrals (further tests, other specialists).
I am registered with both ATMS (Australian Traditional Medicine Society), and in the UK with NNA (Naturopathic Nutrition Association). This means I am able to continue treating patients in Australia via online consultations, as well as in the UK via face-to-face and online.
And now the why…
Prior to studying, I worked in the corporate world, followed by a career in a small start-up – polar opposites. The only things these jobs had in common were stress and redundancy!
During this time, I also suffered digestive issues (which still plague me from time to time if I don’t take care of myself). These factors were the kick start I needed to begin my journey into nutrition and health, and become a nutritional therapist.
Within the first few weeks of my studies, I fell pregnant. This doesn’t seem quite so remarkable, until you learn we had been trying for 18 months, with one miscarriage and no success. It turned out my stress, digestive issues, and some low nutrient levels had been contributing to our infertility. One of the main ways to fix this was through boosting these specific nutrient levels. I then spent the next three years of my studies pregnant, breastfeeding, and then pregnant again – a lot of child-nurturing during that time. We had our second daughter a month after I completed my course. And now, shortly after returning to the UK, we are expecting our third addition to the family…
Thanks to my own journey, I have a genuine appreciation of the struggles many couples go through to conceive. So, helping couples in this area has become a real passion of mine. As well as women’s and children’s health too – areas requiring the foundation of good gut health, and all close to my heart!
Whatever your reason for visiting The Real Nutritionist, you can be confident knowing I am committed to helping you achieve your health goals, and will guide you through the steps you need to take to get there. Get in touch today!
Lucy x
P.S. I am sporting an 8-month baby bump in this photo!