My interests in nutrition and health originally stemmed from my study of Sport and Exercise Sciences at the University of Birmingham, where I graduated with a honours degree in 2006. I was fascinated by how what we eat can affect our body’s ability to perform. This was the main reason behind my initial decision to pursue a career as a Dietitian. I completed my Postgraduate Diploma in Dietetics in 2009 at the University of Wales institute Cardiff (UWIC). During my time studying, completing placements and starting my first dietetic job, I realised my interests lie more in how diet can affect our health, and vice versa.
As part of my work as a NHS dietitian, I started seeing clients with various conditions affecting the gut. Their symptoms were having such a detrimental impact on their daily lives, being able to explore with them the potential of dietary changes to help manage their symptoms, was so rewarding. This work led me to my current role as a NHS community gastroenterology dietitian in Somerset. I am currently the clinical lead for this service, and over the last 10 years, I have gained a wealth of experience providing dietary support for a broad range of clinical conditions including irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), coeliac disease, gluten sensitivity, diverticular disease, IBD, food intolerances and food allergies that affect the gut.
Alongside my private practice, I continue to work within the NHS. This exposes me to the constant developments seen within healthcare and the opportunity to continually learn from other professionals. I have contributed to various publications which explore how dietitians can support the management of various gut conditions. I have also played a role in the development of various resources that support dietetic practice nationally. As a member of the Somerset Community Dietetic Gastroenterology team and wider multidisciplinary team, our work in managing irritable bowel syndrome has been recognised via various awards including the National Institute for Health & Care Excellence (NICE) Award in 2016, and as a finalist in the 2015 Health Service Journal (HSJ) awards.
The menopause, and the time leading up to the menopause, known as perimenopause, is a natural part of aging for women. It is a time of hormonal chaos due to the fluctuating and overall decline in levels of the female hormone oestrogen and can cause a wide range of symptoms that can differ person to person
Inside your gut, there are trillions of microbes (including bacteria, viruses and fungi), which produce a wide range of chemicals including vitamins and hormones. Due to this the environment within your gut, known as the gut microbiome, plays an important role in health.
Coeliac disease is a life-long autoimmune condition that causes damage to lining of the bowel, when people with the condition consume gluten. Currently, the only treatment for coeliac disease is a gluten-free diet.
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