The Pumpkin Bumpkin Nutritional Therapy

22/04/2017

Have you just been advised to go on a gluten and dairy free diet? Or, perhaps been advised to eat more colourful vegetables and lessen your intake of bread and potatoes? What can you have for dinner? The good news is, it's the perfect time to experiment with your food and discover flavours and food combinations that you may not have considered before.

If you're pressed for time and typically eat take-aways, you might want to consider shopping instead for bags of salad, fresh herbs, and vegetables for stir fry, along with some Tamari and gluten-free sauces & dressings from the gourmet section. You can mix and match these with meat, seafood, or legumes and sweet potatoes, quinoa, corn kernels, or a small amount of brown rice. All of these can be bought chopped up or ready to cook.

Take for example, this gluten-free salt 'n pepper squid, with a prawn stir fry of kale, cabbage, onions, and carrots cooked lightly in olive oil and tamari. Served with quinoa and baby leaf spinach, topped with a mango-lime-chilli dressing. With the exception of the squid (prepared for baking the night before), it took 20 minutes to prepare everything else. It was certainly a tasty and healthy meal.

I would recommend buying organic and wholefood from your health food store where possible. However, if time and budget constraints limit your options to supermarket shopping, by all means hit the fresh food section and fill your basket with different coloured fruit and vegetables. For inspiration, think about making your food as colourful as possible. 🍃

19/04/2017

Autoimmunity expert, Dr. Tom O'Bryan, talks about the importance of Vitamin D and getting a good daily dose of sunshine. Watch this 4 minute video to find out how our bodies produce and use it. 🍃

Dr. Tom O'Bryan explains how every cell in your body relies on Vitamin D for peak function. Are you getting enough of this important vitamin? Watch the video...

20/03/2017

Be grateful for the small things. When we appreciate life, it reflects in our own happiness.

18/09/2016

UPDATES: Our clinic sessions are currently limited to Skype. This is due to a preparation for additional certified services such as Nutrigenetic counselling and SIBO Therapy for an even more personalised functional approach. For your convenience, we are working with other RNTs in the Bristol area to ensure you get an in-clinic consultation on your preferred days.

Please visit www.thepumpkinbumpkin.com for more info on the benefits of Nutritional Therapy. Send in your enquiries, and we'll match it with the next available practitioner. 🍂

Nutritional Therapist online & in Clifton. Evidence-based tailored nutrition plans designed around your goals. Small dietary changes, supplements & functional tests.

17/09/2016

The next British Association for Applied Nutrition and Nutritional Therapy (BANT) event is coming to Bristol on Friday the 30th of September at the Armada House. It will feature Autoimmunity and testing, and excellent speakers including Laura Stirling, Lucy Blyth and Dr Eve Pearce.

TREATMENT & MANAGEMENT OF AUTOIMMUNE CONDITIONS 3.5 CPD HOURS (Applied for)

This event is an excellent opportunity to listen to top speakers Laura Stirling from Regenerus Laboratories presenting on the application of Cyrex Assays in autoimmune conditions, Lucy Blyth from Energy Dots exploring the effects of wi-Fi radiation on numerous inflammatory conditions and Dr Eve Pearce discussing on the relevance of DNA testing in suspected cases of auto-immunity on behalf of myDNAhealth. The event will feature a number of exhibitors and a healthy networking lunch (cost £10 for BANT members, £20 for non-BANT members plus fee) plus a goody bag for each attendee.

To book your tickets and for more information: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/treatment-and-management-of-autoimmune-conditions-tickets-27181125478

Seats are limited so please book soon to avoid disappointment.

Contact southwest@bant.org.uk for enquiries.

Treatment and Management of Autoimmune Conditions This event is an excellent opportunity to listen to top speakers Laura Stirling from Regenerus Laboratories presenting on the application of Cyrex Assays in autoimmune conditions, Lucy Blyth from Energy Dots exploring the effects of Wi-Fi radiation...

19/06/2016

17/06/2016

is important for , maintenance of heart, lungs, kidneys. Food sources include sweet potatoes, carrots, pumpkin, red meat, liver, broccoli. http://ow.ly/EVR2301m3nK

There are 2 types of vitamin A available from food: preformed vitamin A and carotenoids like beta-carotene. Preformed vitamin A is available from animal sources, including dairy, fish, meat, and liver. The human body converts beta-carotene into vitamin A. Both carotenoids and preformed vitamin A must be metabolised within the cells to the active forms of vitamin A which the body can use to support essential biological functions. (National Institutes of Health)

Due to our biochemical differences, some people are not able to actively convert vitamin A from food to its active form, thus resulting in possible nutrient deficiencies. The body stores most of its vitamin A in the liver. Hence, although it is safe to consume it from whole food sources, supplementing always needs to be within optimal ranges for safety.

There is also a link between vitamin A status in the body and zinc. Zinc status affects absorption of vitamin A from food, transport within the cells, and its biological utilisation. (http://1.usa.gov/1W37mBd) Eating whole food sources and a balanced diet to cover all your vitamin and nutrient needs is essential. However, when the body is unable to absorb the nutrients from food and utilise it, it results in nutrient imbalance and poor health. Consider supplementing with a complete multivitamin or speak to a health professional who can advise you safely on dosage intakes.

Office of Dietary Supplements - Vitamin A

10/06/2016

More on eating healthy fats to get thin from the experts at IFM..

Science has demonstrated for over a century that fat simply isn’t the macronutrient villain it’s been made out to be.

03/06/2016

Yes, studies do show a link between autism and nutrition especially where food allergens are concerned. Here's an interesting story on a popular health food product.

After coming to the United States, Arshad's story began when he became a serious cyclist but when he took six years off active racing he gave up vegetarianism and gained weight.

02/06/2016

Confused about what can do for you? Here's a short video on its potential health benefits. 🍃

For all healthcare providers with roots in integrative, traditional and functional medicine seeking to optimize patient outcomes with support from clinical nutrition and lifestyle medicine

30/05/2016

Dispelling the myths of a "too clean" diet, British Association for Applied Nutrition and Nutritional Therapy (BANT) Chairman Miguel Toribio-Mateas says “A lot of clean-eating ingredients are very low in protein, which makes it easy to follow a clean-eating diet that’s protein deficient. Protein is required for cellular structure, function and regulation of the body’s tissues and organs. A low-protein diet also makes you prone to picking up infections.”

Consulting with a Registered Nutritional Therapist before embarking on restrictive diets will help you achieve your goals safely and effectively. One diet does NOT fit all. Going gluten or dairy free is advocated for people who are allergic, sensitive, or are in a state of inflammation. The latter being a temporary phase. It may also be advised for ADHD, autism, and autoimmune disorders (type 1 diabetes, hashimoto's thyroiditis) because gluten and dairy can contribute to inflammation in the gut. That being said, other types of grains should not be excluded except for a very short-term under a registered practitioner's advice. Dairy should not be excluded from children's diets unless they suffer from the conditions mentioned above and also eczema or psoriasis. We have to assess if benefits outweigh the risks of eliminating certain food from our diet. Unless allergic or highly sensitive to a food product, elimination does not have to be forever - it can be a 3 to 6 month period allowing your gut to heal, while ensuring that you get all nutrients from other types of whole food, not processed ones. Supplements are recommended to boost areas of your health that need help biochemically. These should not be relied upon either.

As always, the advice is MODERATION IS KEY. 🍃

It started, ironically, with a desire to get healthy. Laura Wilson was 28, 5ft 6in and, at 15st, the heaviest she had been in her life. So she embarked on a high-protein diet. Within a year she...