Category Archives: Clinic Services

“Something is wrong – what do I do now?”

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Hi,

here is a quick video that I put together discussing some things to consider when we get a bit of bad news about our health. How do we feel about it? What do we consider as our options? Who do we go to?

If anything I just want to instill a bit of hope that you can take charge of the journey and weight up your options, follow your intuition, seek advice and support from many excellent therapists and doctors. Build up a team so to speak! You have options from:

  1. Medical doctors and consultants.
  2. Nutritional therapists.
  3. Functional or integrative therapists.
  4. Medical herbalists
  5. Manual therapists such as osteopathic and chiropractic and Bowen therapy experts.
  6. Reflexology, acupuncture, aromatherapy, sound therapy, homeopathy, tree and flower therapy (something close to my own heart).
  7. Energy healing modalities from technologies such as PEMF or from hands on therapists practicing energy healing.

Etc. I do recommend when possible to work with someone with a medical or science background so that they can understand both sides of the great divide that we know as holistic and conventional. A pretty crazy divide if you ask me as there are merits to all approaches and additional benefits from approaching your illness or diagnosis with a ‘team’ approach. Seek what feels right. Although I do recommend that you give any therapy and therapist sufficient time, there is nothing ‘wrong’ with seeking multiple answers.

Build allies on your journey

I always suggest that you blend physical and healing treatments with mindfulness, self-awareness and acknowledgement of emotions. Something I use often in my clinic is a TIME-LINE and clients find this very insightful to make a road map of factors that came before an illness or diagnosis.

Never quit on the journey forwards; the body given the right tools, love and support will always strive to heal.

Much love,
Andrea

PS you may find this interesting: http://www.healing-art-community.com/emotions-and-diseases/

 

Gut microbiome resources

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Hi all,

I have a long blog in the making to bring you up to speed with what I have been up to. This sums up a busy year.

Dublin 70.3 2017
2018 70.3 world champs slot
Beautiful lough Derg morning swim
Indoor bike training aftermath
Outdoor summer swims

I want to share with you some very helpful and informative resources regarding gastrointestinal health and the science emerging on the gut microbiome. This field fascinates me.

I always start every client evaluation and journey centred around gut health. If we need to test we do, if there are symptoms we find the cause, if the diet is lacking we make improvements and if there is imbalance we rebalance and heal. It is astounding but not surprising how many health conditions are linked to the gut and improve after investigation and healing.

The gut is the cornerstone to your whole health, well-being and emotional balance. 

If you have tummy symptoms, food intolerance, auto-immune or immune issues, emotional health or mental health problems or suspect that your gastro health isn’t optimal please do contact me as it is easily remedied. If you suffer with a condition such as IBS, Crohn’s, ulcerative colitis, athlete gut issues, diverticulitis and so on please don’t take your consultants word for it when they say that there is no link to diet and that it cannot be significantly improved with attention to food and the microbiome balance: it can!

World Gastroenterology Organisation tools and resources

International Scientific Association for Probiotics and Prebiotics page 

Gut Microbiota for health resources page

All the above have twitter feed and social media pages worth following for up to date and accurate advice.

Lots of love

Andrea

 

I can help YOU heal….

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To heal complex health problems we must look at everything and this starts with the gut…

This will be a short post!

I deal with chronic and complex health problems almost daily in my clinic. To solve complex health problems such as fatigue, fibromyalgia, gastrointestinal issues, modern complex conditions such as Lyme’s disease and post-viral syndromes, auto-immune issues and functional issues that we are told to live with, requires getting to the bottom of everything to the core of what is really going on.

I can help!

THIS is what I am good at, and why is probably a function of a mixture of my nature (wanting to know why in every possible way!), my training (pharmacy, nutritional therapy, and functional medicine training all lead to the desire to get to the core of the issue and treat from there) and my passion (I want you to feel not only better but well in all that this means for you).

The internet and social media is where people turn to for answers and I wont even attempt to try to answer all your questions here about why you are unwell because this is so very complex and so highly individual that to attempt to will miss many factors unique to you.

Google will not diagnose nor treat your problems; you have to let go and start to trust someone who has the science, the knowledge, the wisdom and the passion to want to truly help empower you with the tools to heal. I may, or may not be that person; only you will know this.

So all I can offer really is this:

My word!

That I care and will do everything I know to help you on your journey back to health.

That I am continually studying to ensure that I am up to date on all relevant and important research in all these fields.

That I understand your concerns, anxiety and at times inability to trust that we can do this because I know just how overwhelming it feels when chronic ill-health strikes.

That although what I may ask you to do seems simple and easy it is based on a lot of research, study, and expense on my behalf to ensure that I am doing the very best job possible.

That I want to listen to you; how you describe your journey with your health is of crucial important.

That I am here 100% to support you.

Chronic health issues suck, and happen as a result of many complex and intertwining factors that start as far back as before our birth, to the antibiotics we received as a child, the stress that we suffered at times in our lives, the appendix or tonsils surgery, to that gastritis bug we suffered on holidays or the accident we had, and on and on. Then add to this our lifestyle and diet choices, ongoing stress, our genetic weak sports, where we live and we start to see that things are complex.

My job is to make it simple. You effectively employ me to be your health detective, and then your advisor and guide, and from there hopefully your friend and support system.

Have a think about the following triggers and if you feel that I can help using a combination of the skills that I am fortunate to have (science, medicine, nutrition and herbs, healing and a giant heart) then please do contact me.

Love,

Andrea

 

another great blog from the Precision Nutrition team

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If you are to read one article this week, then let it be this:

Why the “pause-button mentality” is ruining your health and fitness.
‘Getting a fresh start’ isn’t the magic bullet you thought it’d be. By John Berardi, Ph.D.

Time and time again when clients email me they then stall on making the appointment or making a start and it drives me NUTS.
pause-button
Why?

Newsflash:

There never is a perfect time to get started.
There is no getting it 100% perfect all of the time; but what there is, is doing your best moment by moment and day by day and achieving this – doing your best – consistently sees you achieving your health, fitness and life goals.

So what are you waiting for?

Love,
Andrea
lough cutra 6
I’m doing my best too 🙂 not always perfectly because
that helps me to help you better.

Nutrition advice and resources for triathletes and endurance athletes

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Hi folks,

I would like to point you in the direction of this fantastic resource for you all to support you on your journey with food such that you not only become a healthier but also more metabolically efficient athlete in accordance with the principles of Metabolic Efficiency™.

www.metabolicefficiency.org

epi-level-i-mets-hmp-jpeg

I am a certified Level I Metabolic Efficiency Training Specialist (METS I-HMP) having trained under Dina in Colorado last year. I wrote more about this here on my Kona nutrition blog.

I am not one for reinventing the wheel, if there are resources to help improve your food choices and cooking skills in addition to the resources and education that I provide you with then I am all for it! Bob Seebohar and his team have done just that for you on their website.

This means that my primary role is to be your health educator, advisor, interpreter, and supporter. I evaluate your health in the context of your life and training, I interpret your training and physiological, functional and medical tests into meaningful and practical advice, I support you on a journey from A – where we are to Z – your race goals.

Every athlete is different in respect to their need for and tolerance to carbohydrates and their ability to oxidise fat as a fuel across the various exercise intensities.

 

It is all good and well to read about low carbohydrate (availability) training and fat adaptation, and high carbohydrate sessions, nutrition periodisation, preparation phase nutrition versus race season, fasted training and so on. But how do you get this right? Without falling ill to coughs and colds, injury niggles, muscle or strength loss, poor recovery or mid to end of season fatigue?

 

Well this is my job; to guide you through it and achieve your best results. The goal is optimal body composition, strong health, an efficient and flexible metabolism such that you are an efficient fat oxidiser and glycogen sparer across all  intensities and yet are still an efficient carbohydrate oxidiser at race intensities.

It is not just about diet; that is the easy bit – there are a gazillion diet plans out there and yet still so many over-weight, under-performing, over-fatigued and confused athletes.

I trouble shoot nutrition problems, health issues, fatigue, recovery or injury concerns and well take the general and most up to date science and make it relevant and applicable to you as an individual. I should make life easier for you, and nutrition more specific for you. Cut through the bullshit so to speak.

I am more than a nutritional therapist; I also have experience as a trained pharmacist since 1998 and am trained in functional medicine, herbal medicine, and have areas of interest in food, holistic health, hard core sports and health science, energy healing and spiritual mind-body connection, herbs and aromatherapy, chronic fatigue, complex heath issues, gastrointestinal issues, female health problems, hormones and adrenal and thyroid problems. I use ALL these skills when needed.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Andrea

 

 

IFM Applying Functional Medicine in Clinical Practice

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ifm-logo

Hi Folks,

I am currently in Phoenix, Arizona for the Institute for Functional Medicines AFMCP training. I promised that I would keep everyone informed so I have recorded a short message at the end of each day.

The course is being run from The JW Marriott Desert Ridge, and wow what a venue! I haven’t seen the half of it yet; I am lucky if I can even find my car!

Marriott Desert Ridge Resort-full

To be honest by 7 pm my brains are completely fried after the long day so please excuse the quality of the recordings as I cannot even begin to describe how much brain function has been used during the long day; I can barely recall the lecture titles when I get home!

I have been enjoying a good routine here and am up and out the door just after 6 for a short run and then lectures start at 8 am.

If you are nosy this is the street layout here, all my runs are in perfect squares and flat as a pancake; and i am still trying to get used to the giant cacti in people’s gardens.

The sun rise over the mountains is a sight to stop your heart and makes my day and no matter how tired I am calls me out the door to get the feet to the pavement in the cool morning air.

So here are my video blog posts and I will keep adding as I go. I will create a new post for my trip to Sedona and also Colorado.

 

I am placing my last day first as it contains the most important message to you all; enjoy.
PS I really wish YouTube didn’t freeze the clips on the ugliest facial expressions!!!

Small addition from the kitchen 🙂

Day -1

Day 1

Day 2

Day 3

Excuse the fumbling spiel about organic; I advocate the best quality that you can buy and am pointing out that if you cannot afford to buy everything organic that at least we have local and seasonal options here in Ireland that still are ‘good’ in quality.

TBC………… 

Love,
Andrea

andrea

PS: To learn more about my trip here in the USA read here:

 

Sports Nutrition Clinic Services

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Hi healthy peeps,

I recorded a quick video blog earlier today to let you know a little bit more about my approach for athletes in the clinic. Mostly because there isn’t really an adequate title to cover what I do and provide to athlete clients.

Firstly my qualifications; I am a pharmacist, Nutritional Therapist, and Senior Associate member of the Royal Society of Medicine.

This means that I have trained in pharmacy and health care, functional medicine and functional and medical diagnostics, nutrition and sports nutrition, and also have been gifted a high level of sensitivity to the energy of people and what is going on in their bodies.

Science and a little bit more!

Some call this being psychic, medically intuitive, an energy healer and so on. I just see it as a nice way to help you even more because I sense what you and your body need on a day-to-day basis. This can come in handy when assisting you reach your goals! I don’t have a crystal ball, I don’t want to see anyone’s future; I simply sense what you need in the moment that I am with you or before I meet you which can be interesting.

It can be as simple as just saying hey I think your body will benefit from a probiotic in the month before your race, and then all the facts will point to this. Or it will give me a sense of what is the most immediate concern for you when the paper and science will tell us we need to do fifty things; sometimes it is best to keep it simple and go on what the body needs in that moment… and then work from there.

Something that this does give me is a knack for feeling your energy, and the state of health within the muscles and what you need to do to assist their recovery; so if you are open to it and I sense it is needed I may suggest some energy sessions, a go on the PEMF machine, some healing aromatherapy oils (I use Vibrant Blue oils; here is a nice blog on how oils work and Panaway by Young Living oils is a favourite for those with sore or tired muscles) or some other helpful strategies.

Secondly what I really do?

Well think of me as your support team; regarding diet, nutrition, explaining the ins and outs of health and sports supplements (IF needed and how to determine what is worth your while), your functional health and the monitoring of this, your energy and rest-recovery balance, etc.

Basically I sort of act as that support system that provides more than just nutrition. I prefer to see nutrition as just one of the tools we use as more often that not all you require here is guidance (most athletes and active person know what to eat; and if they aren’t then this is where we must focus!).

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