Brain Food and Nutrition Clinic

21/10/2025

21/10/2025

Teacher: Mrs **** told me that you said …..

DS: She's lying

Teacher: Lying is a strong word

DS: It's the right word

Navigating the school system when you think and communicate in black and white is tough. It gets you into trouble.

Underneath this direct communication style is a young boy who has navigated a school system not made for him.

He has managed his sensory processing issues, his sky-high anxiety and somehow made it to year 11 in one piece.

Better than this, he is thriving; his sensory issues are still there, but managed. The anxiety he felt has generally dissipated.

However, he still regularly finds himself in trouble because neurodivergence presents as a direct communication style that doesn't work out well for you in school.

Not long to go now, son. Don't ever change.

Pic featuring the dog, as photo consent from the human was not forthcoming 🙂

20/10/2025

You shouldn't have to plan your day around your gut.

With our help, you don't have to.

Gut health is nuanced. Calling it all IBS is a broad-brush and generally unhelpful label. Also, thinking a probiotic or eating more pulses will fix it is misleading.

A personalised approach and expert symptom analysis are needed to guide recovery.

19/10/2025

Unexplained anxiety, mood swings, poor stress tolerance or brain fog are often put down to emotional lability, but there can be (and usually is!) a biochemical reason.

The Kryptopyrrole urine test checks for elevated pyrroles, these are compounds that can drain vitamin B6 and zinc. When these are out of balance, it can negatively affect mood, emotions, mental health and even digestion.

We offer a simple urine test that can reveal whether a pyrrole imbalance is part of your health puzzle, giving you a clear, targeted path forward.

Kryptopyrrole is a name given to a pyrrole-zinc-vitamin B6 complex that can be excreted in the urine of affected individuals. Kryptopyrroluria can result in zinc and vitamin B6 deficiency and this leads to complex mental health issues and has been indicated in eating disoprders, addictions, depression and anxiety.

A high incidence of increased levels of kryptopyrroles have been demonstrated in:

- Autism spectrum conditions
- AD(H)D
- Bipolar disorder
- Schizophrenia
- Alcoholism
- Depression
- Anxiety

This test requires one urine sample; mid-stream.

https://brainfoodnutrition.co.uk/product/kryptopyrroles-testing-pyroluria/

19/10/2025

Brain Food and Nutrition Clinic

19/10/2025

Optimal vitamin D levels are vital for mental well-being, cognition and brain development. Low levels are linked with a higher risk of depression and cognitive decline and dementia.

Vitamin D receptors are found throughout the brain and in areas that regulate emotion, memory and focus. It also helps control genes involved in serotonin and dopamine activity. Depression and cognitive decline are fuelled by inflammation and vitamin D deficiency contributes to this.

The connection between vitamin D and brain health starts early. Low vitamin D during pregnancy or early childhood is associated with delayed speech and motor skills and a higher likelihood of developmental issues.

In autumn, here in the UK, we rely on our stored vitamin D to see us through to spring. But one-fifth of the population has vitamin D levels below 25 nmol/L. That’s classed as deficient, but even above this threshold, I still see problems. I’ve seen clients with clear depressive symptoms with levels in the higher end of the adequate range (25–50 nmol/L) and then saw their mood improve noticeably as their levels rose into the optimal range. The lower end of an optimal vitamin D level is around 75 nmol/L, so it’s likely that many more people across the UK fall short of truly healthy levels.

Testing your levels now ensures you have enough reserves to carry you through the winter months. Helping to avoid the mood issues, tiredness and illness that often come in winter.

You can ask your GP to check your vitamin D at your next appointment.

If this isn't possible, for convenience, we offer an at-home testing kit along with a review of the results. This can help you optimise your levels and keep your mind and mood supported through winter.

We aim to help you reach optimal levels and stay there during the winter.

It’s one of the simplest and most effective ways to protect your mental, cognitive and physical health through the winter.

https://brainfoodnutrition.co.uk/product/vitamin-d-testing-kit/

18/10/2025

With over one-third of people diagnosed with IBS also presenting with anxiety, let's take a closer look at the link between IBS and Anxiety.

Does your stomach tighten when you’re anxious or does your anxiety spike when your IBS flares? It's not a coincidence. Your gut and brain share two-way communication called the gut–brain axis.

When stress hormones rise, digestion slows. Gut bacteria shift. Inflammation and nutrient absorption change.
That can leave you feeling anxious or on edge for no obvious reason. Worse still the longer IBS goes on the more chronic anxiety becomes, until you can't remember a time when you didn't feel this way.

Anxiety isn't purely emotional, it can also be biochemical and is very much related to our gut and digestive health.

When we work on our digestive system, improve nutrient absorption and calm IBS, anxiety can improve.

At Brain Food Nutrition Clinic, I help people identify what’s fuelling that feedback loop; from gut bacteria and blood sugar to nutrients that affect neurotransmitters, so they can finally be IBS and anxiety free.

If your anxiety feels rooted deeper than your thoughts, it might be time to start with your digestion.

17/10/2025

What can our stools reveal about our health?

t’s not something people talk about much, if at all, but our stools can tell us a lot about our health. If you flush the toilet and never look back then this article is not for you. But if you’ve ever wondered what your stool can tell you about the inner workings of your body read on….

Pale stools:

This is a sign that bile is not flowing from your gall bladder to contribute to the digestion process. If your stools are often pale it is likely that you are not absorbing fats and fat-soluble nutrients and need some support to get bile flowing again. Bile flow often becomes sluggish on a low-fat diet. Magnesium deficiency or lack of stomach acid secretions can also be a factor. Sometimes gall stones prevent the flow of bile, if you feel some discomfort just under your ribs on your right side consider speaking to your GP.

White-stuff in stool:

It could be something you have eaten and not digested properly. If it looks like grains of white rice or thread it could be pinworms. These are very common, especially in children and can be treated with an over the counter medication from your pharmacist. Other signs of pinworms include an itchy a**s, especially at nighttime. Another possibility is longer, flat white pieces in the stool could be tapeworm. Likewise, a whole-gut approach is the best way to gain control over intestinal worms. Lastly, thin, white, mucus-like strands could indicate a yeast or candida issue. If you also have symptoms like athletes foot, thrush, a white coated tongue and sugar cravings then this could be a possibility.

Pebble-like stools:

This is a common sign of constipation. Stools should be long and smooth. Consider increasing water and vegetable intake. You can add a tablespoon of linseeds to a glass of water, leave to oak for 30 minutes and then drink it all on an empty stomach. This can help deliver water and fibre to your colon and encourage bowel movements.

If your bowel movements are always sluggish despite plenty of water and vegetables and you generally feel fatigued and struggle with weight loss – it might be worth getting your thyroid function checked with your GP. Low thyroid function can slow down bowel transit time.

You may have received a diagnosis of IBS-C (IBS with constipation as the dominant symptom), this is an umbrella term that basically tells you your digestion isn’t working properly. With the right diet and supplements bowel function can return to normal.

Sandy/grainy stools:

Grainy-looking stools can be a sign of oxalate crystals being dumped in the stool. Oxalates can be produced by our bodies and are also present in foods. Oxalates can lodge in body tissues and cause pain and inflammation. Unexplained muscle/joint pain and urinary issues can be related to oxalate problems.

Parasites in stools:

Parasites in stools can be difficult to spot. Comprehensive stool tests use technology to detect the DNA of parasites in the stool. Most parasites are only expelled in the stool when undertaking a nutritional programme to target them specifically. It is during this programme that one might see evidence of parasites or worms (see white-stuff in stool above). Some of the larger parasites are worms and can be spotted in the stool and sometimes liver flukes appear looking like the skin of a tomato. Other parasites like blastocystis hominis, giardia and d. fragilis may not be seen in the stool by the naked eye.

Parasites can be picked up from overseas travel and food poisoning. If you have travelled overseas and had issues with digestion at that point or from then, or similarly never fully recovered normal stools/digestion after food poisoning then this is something worth looking into.

Dark stools:

Iron supplements can cause stools to appear dark, almost black in colour. Check your current supplements to see if they contain iron. Another possibility is that there may be some bleeding in the upper part of your digestive system, perhaps from an ulcer or inflammation in the stomach. You should visit your GP who can advise on further testing.

Loose stools:

Regular loose stools, although often defined as IBS can indicate specific issues with your digestive system. It is likely that you are low in digestive secretions that help your to process your food. It is also a strong possibility that you are consuming a food that you are intolerant to.

Green(ish) stools:

Green poo occurs when food has moved quickly through your digestive system. This is usually because your digestive system has been aggravated, this can be related to food intolerances. It is often accompanied by mucus in the stool.

If you have concerns about your stools or digestion get in touch with us. We can help you identify the issues and put together a programme to help you get back on track.

17/10/2025

Managing HRT and peri-menopause with the DUTCH Complete.

If you are in the thick of peri-menopause or have started HRT but are still struggling with symptoms then the DUTCH Complete test could provide you with valuable information. The DUTCH Complete test is the smarter way to manage HRT and peri-menopause.

Hormone changes can be chaotic and blood tests only offer a snapshot of levels that fail to capture the full picture. The DUTCH Complete test uses metabolites in urine samples to gain a detailed, functional insight into what’s going on with your hormones.

Hormones don’t decline in a straight line. In peri-menopause, it’s common for oestrogen levels to spike and crash unpredictably, while progesterone quietly declines in the background.

Blood tests can miss these fluctuations entirely. This explains why some women feel anxious, wired but tired or emotionally all over the place, even when their results are technically considered within range. The DUTCH Complete test picks up on these patterns.

The DUTCH test tracks hormone patterns across the day. It gives information on levels of progesterone, oestrogen and testosterone as well as giving information on how well your body is clearing them. This is particularly helpful with HRT use as it helps to identify whether you body is metabolising hormones efficiently or pushing them down pathways that might trigger symptoms like weight gain, breast tenderness or anxiety. For anyone concerned about long-term risks, such as oestrogen-sensitive cancers or fibroids, this detail is incredibly useful. It allows us to intervene early, support detoxification, and make HRT more targeted and effective.

It also assesses your adrenal function by looking at cortisol patterns throughout the day. If you’re waking at 3 am, struggling to switch off or feeling totally depleted, this is often where the answer lies. High or low cortisol can directly impact how you respond to HRT or other treatments, so understanding this is essential.
Cortisol is your body’s primary stress hormone and it plays a central role in hormonal balance. When cortisol is too high because of chronic stress, overwork or anxiety or too low due to adrenal burnout from long-term stress exposure, it can interfere with the way oestrogen and progesterone are used and processed in the body.

For example, high cortisol can suppress progesterone production, which is already declining in peri-menopause. This can worsen symptoms like anxiety, poor sleep, irritability and heavy periods. It also makes the oestrogen to progesterone ratio more unbalanced, amplifying oestrogen dominance symptoms.
Cortisol affects liver detoxification and this is important for breaking down and clearing hormones. It can disrupt liver enzyme activity and deplete nutrients needed for phase 2 detoxification. This is the stage that excretes broken-down hormones. This leads to hormone metabolites recirculating and causing symptoms and imbalances.

The DUTCH Complete also includes markers linked to nutrient status, antioxidant capacity and neurotransmitter activity. This allows us to spot signs of low B vitamins, sluggish detoxification and impaired dopamine and serotonin pathways. Issues with these can contribute to mood swings, fatigue, brain fog, cravings and anxiety.

For women navigating peri-menopause or adjusting to HRT, these insights make a real difference. They allow us to create a personalised plan that addresses your unique biochemistry.
If you’re feeling unheard or are unsure whether your HRT is working for you, or maybe you simply want a clearer picture of what your hormones are doing, the DUTCH Complete test could be the missing piece. I offer one-to-one support and interpretation alongside this test, helping you make sense of your results and build a personalised plan that actually works.

15/10/2025

15/10/2025

From anhedonia to anxiety, an interesting perspective on what to look out for when moving away from using antidepressants.

Video by Luc http://toxicantidepressants.frTwo part video about the effects of psychoactive drugs on our bodyand mind. Efekty uboczne leków psychoaktywnych. ...