My name is Lisa Smith, I am a Registered Nutritional Therapist and I have two grown-up children. I enjoy using wholesome ingredients and healthy recipes to make delicious meals and treats for my family.
I had to learn how to cook properly after realising how important nutrition is to our health and well-being. This was achieved simply by reading cookbooks and lots of trial and error. My family were encouraging and always ate the results of my kitchen experiments, regardless of how unsuccessful they were.
I have been practicing meditation on and off for years. Since making it a daily practice I have found it really helpful for improving my sleep and reducing stress. I also love to be outdoors in the countryside or by the sea. Going for a walk with my dog is a happy moment of mindfulness I always appreciate in a busy day. For me it is a wonderful way to exercise and relax at the same time.
A new food philosophy
I believe nutrition and lifestyle are the foundations of health. My aim is to empower people with the practical knowledge and support they need for optimal health. A good diet and lifestyle can have an incredible impact on your health.
I would like to show you how you can live and eat in a way that’s good for your body and mind. So that you can have a positive relationship with food and feel your best. Happiness is of course also important for health!
My path to better health
I first became interested in nutritional therapy after experiencing my own health problems following acute food poisoning. It left me with daily IBS symptoms, poor sleep, low energy, joint pain and frequent migraines that continued for over 2 years.
It was difficult to get to the root cause of my symptoms, and they could not be resolved by conventional medicine. I really didn’t feel anything like my normal self at all. I had tried to make dietary changes but was lost in a sea of conflicting information and opinions. Unsure if I was doing the right things and not managing to stick to any of the changes because I had no guidance or support.
Eventually, after consulting a nutritional therapist in Manchester. I was given a clear strategy using the principles of functional medicine. I learnt how to manage my symptoms by improving my gut health and reducing stress. This helped me to work on re-balancing my life by making a commitment to personal development and changing my diet with guidance from the nutritionist.
I concentrated on trying to live more mindfully and developed a daily meditation practice to improve my sleep and reduce stress. A yoga teacher first taught me meditation over 25 years ago but I had not managed to be consistent with practice. I attended an 8 week MBSR mindfulness course which helped me to prioritise meditation in my daily routine.
Nutrition enlightenment!
The difficulties I faced led to me looking after myself better and taking charge of my health. I took many nurturing measures to improve my sleep and reduce stress. I made the dietary changes with the support of the nutritionist.
Gradually, the nutrition and lifestyle improvements helped to better my sleep, improve the IBS symptoms and restore my energy. This experience gave me a new understanding about the importance of nutrition. There is a powerful connection between food and our wellness.
I have also seen the benefits in clients, friends, and family who have transformed their own health by using the principles of Nutrition and Lifestyle Medicine.
All this inspired me to qualify as a Registered Nutritional Therapist. I trained for three years at the College of Naturopathic Medicine, studying biochemistry and nutritional medicine. I am now continuing my education in functional medicine.
What does a nutritionist do?
A nutritionist advises people on what to eat in order to lead a healthy lifestyle, or achieve a specific health-related goal. They are able to spend time with clients to promote better nutrition education for preventing or managing diseases, and minimising symptoms.
Nutritional Therapists recognise that everyone is unique and can provide individualised dietary information for clients with health concerns. They are able to assess a client’s health needs and develop suitable diet plans. Nutritionists can take a clients preferences into account such as egg, gluten or dairy free, vegetarian or vegan to formulate nourishing meal ideas and recipes. They can identify nutritional deficiencies and improve health symptoms or fertility with dietary therapy.
It is important for nutritionists to keep up to date with nutritional science. As a BANT Registered Nutritional Therapist and a member of The Complementary and Natural Healthcare Council (CNHC), the UK regulator for complementary health care practitioners. I work in accordance with professional guidelines, undertaking regular professional development.
