Nutritional therapy looks at and tries to improve your overall health when hormone-related problems are presented. Here are some factors Kate may offer you nutritional advice on:

1. Blood sugar control
A diet high in sugar, stress or caffeine can lead to poor blood sugar control and insulin spikes. Too much insulin production can affect the sex hormones and ultimately lead to insulin resistance, which increases oestrogen production.

2. Being overweight
Fat cells are factories of oestrogen. It’s very difficult to have balanced hormones when you are overweight. A diet high in saturated fats increases an enzyme that prevents hormones being excreted in the gut.

3. Liver health
Your liver is responsible for deactivating old hormones and needs B vitamins to do this, especially folic acid. Certain foods offer the liver nutrients it needs to work optimally.

4. Digestion
A healthy gut is one with plenty of beneficial bacteria and not too many “bad” bacteria. Sugar, stress, alcohol and some medication all give the “bad” bacteria a chance to proliferate and unfortunately they produce an enzyme which reactivates hormones that are waiting to be expelled from the body via the stool, meaning they are reabsorbed instead of excreted.

1. Blood sugar balance
Highs and lows throughout the day caused by diet, caffeine, stress and timing of meals can hugely affect your energy, concentration and mood.

2. Digestion
Forget “ You are what you eat.” The approach of a nutritionist is often “You are what you eat, digest and absorb.” Take magnesium for example, pumpkin seeds are a wonderful source of it, yet if your body can’t absorb the magnesium, then no matter how many seeds you eat, you still won’t get the benefits. Working with a nutritional therapist can help improve your digestive function.

3. Nutrients
Especially B vitamins.

4. Thyroid and adrenal health

5. Mitochondria function
The mitochondria are where your cells produce ATP, the energy giving molecule for the body.

1. Stomach acid
Nutrition starts in the mouth and continues in the stomach and we need adequate amounts of hydrochloric acid (HCl) to break down foods, especially proteins, into smaller particles. HCl triggers enzymes to break proteins down and also triggers the pancreas to release digestive enzymes to continue to break food down. HCl is necessary to protect the body from certain microbes. It also allows the absorption of B12 and zinc. It decreases naturally as we age and through stress and poor eating habits.

2. Intestinal permeability
Sometimes we have an imbalance of good and bad bacteria in our gut and the gut wall can become inflamed and damaged. This can lead to intestinal permeability which results in particles of food “leaking” through into the bloodstream which should be too big to get through the gut wall. The body recognizes them as foreign, the immune system reacts and food intolerances can develop. Digestive, skin and certain auto-immune problems can be provoked.

3. Gut flora
Once again, this is connected to the good and bad bacteria in your gut. Your gut flora can be negatively influenced by diet, stress, caffeine, anti-biotics, the contraceptive pill and steroid medication.

4. Parasites
These can play a huge role in digestive health and unfortunately standard medical tests may not always detect a parasite. An extremely thorough test to identify parasites and give other indications of gut health is called a CDSA. Kate can advise on this during a nutritional consultation.

Three Phases
Peri-menopause when your periods many become heavier or lighter or your cycles may become longer or shorter. Hot flushes may begin.
Menopause when ovarian function declines (oestrogen and progesterone decrease significantly) and periods stop.
Post-menopause begins 1 year after your last period.

How can nutrition have an effect on my symptoms?
There are many ways in which taking a holistic approach to your health can help during this time. Individualised nutrition is an important factor.

• Some foods are known to have hormone-balancing roles. They contain compounds called phyto-oestrogens which help to supply a little oestrogen in a natural and harmless way.
• Some foods provide the building blocks for hormone balance. B vitamins and magnesium are among these.
• Symptoms such as sweats and hot flushes can be triggered by poor blood sugar control. Changes to your diet can result in far better blood sugar balance.
• Managing stress plays a large part in easing the symptoms. Measuring cortisol levels through a simple saliva test may be a useful strategy. Targeted nutrition can help improve your cortisol response and decrease your symptoms.
• Your liver also plays a role in hormone balance. A personalised nutrition programme can ensure your liver has the correct supply of nutrients for optimal function.
• Digestive health can be important during the menopause. More and more research is being done on the importance of the bacteria in the guts. They are implicated in energy and weight control, absorption of nutrients and deactivation of old hormones.
• We are surrounded by chemicals in our environment. Some of these are known as endocrine disruptors. Finding out ways to reduce your toxic load can be beneficial during the menopause.

Testing

• Comprehensive Adrenal Stress Index cortisol, DHEA, secretory IgA (4 samples over 24 hours)
• Menopause Screen – E1, E2,E3, progesterone, P/E2 and testosterone (3 samples, 5 days)
• Menopause Check Plus – E1, E2, E3, progesterone and testosterone plus post-awakening DHEA (as above + 1 sample 7-9 am)

You will be given a tailor-made dietary programme that is unique for you and based on boosting your fertility and chances of conception. There are certain nutrients that are beneficial to all those trying to conceive, but due to lifestyles, existing health issues and diet, some peoples’ needs for certain things are higher than others. A detailed questionnaire and discussion can highlight these areas and testing, if advised, can give further, more specific information. Included in your consultation is fertility nutritional advice, meal ideas and guidance, recipes and diet information sheets. Your fertility nutrition consultation can be in Edinburgh in person or if Edinburgh is inconvenient for you, it can also be done via Skype. Saturday consultations are available.
Follow-up consultations are advised after one month. You may also be recommended to see other Edinburgh-based complementary therapists who can support this plan and frequently work with fertility issues. For example: acupuncturist, herbalist, fertility counselor, reflexologist or cranial sacral therapist.
Once pregnant I can continue to support you and your growing baby throughout the 3 trimesters of pregnancy.br>