MA (Oxon), DipION, mBANT, CNHC registered

Do you have an autoimmune condition and want to know how to take care of your health naturally?

I work with most autoimmune conditions, including psoriasis, Hashimoto’s hypothyroidism, alopecia areata, rosacea, rheumatoid arthritis, lichen planus, Crohn’s, colitis, coeliac, polymyalgia rheumatica, type one diabetes, pernicious anaemia, Sjogren’s, ankylosing spondylitis and Meniere’s.

If you have one of the rarer autoimmune conditions, please contact me to see whether I can help.

Please note I do not work with people currently receiving treatment for cancer, those with chronic kidney disease, or people with eating disorders. If you would like me to recommend someone who specialises in one of these conditions, please let me know.

- Brigitte, November 2023

“I chose to work with Kate after contracting a virus in February, it exacerbated my autoimmune condition, Hashimoto. I developed many other symptoms for example: swollen joints, chronic fatigue, non-functioning saliva glands, psoriasis flare-up, dry eyes, anxiety, and mouth ulcers to name a few.

Kate arranged for the appropriate test to be done relevant to my conditions. Finding someone who specialises in autoimmune conditions was a huge comfort as I had seen nutritionists in the past who don’t always fully understand.

The tests I had done were complicated to interpret, but Kate was able to go through them with me and explain the very interesting and relevant things that showed up. She then was able to construct a protocol for me to follow. That’s where you have to put the work in and do your best (I don’t find that too hard as I am slightly OCD and a people pleaser! but mostly I just didn’t want to feel like that any more). Consequently with my dedication and Kate’s fabulous advice most symptoms have gone! I feel almost human again.

Kate was lovely to talk to and very quickly made you feel comfortable. One of the things I loved the most was I never felt rushed. She managed to cover everything that was necessary and she emails you all the session notes after so you have a record of it and you can refer back to it in the future.

I would recommend Kate 100% and I already have. They too are impressed with her knowledge. Kate is thorough and takes the time to get to know you and understand your condition, backed up by the tests she has arranged for you to get done. I only wish I had found her years ago, I probably would have had fewer problems.”

- Rachel, November 2023

“I have a relatively new diagnosis of Rheumatoid Arthritis and so decided to work with Kate to understand how to best bolster my health beyond advice from my GP/consultant. I am also navigating pregnancy and recurrent miscarriage. Kate’s website and profile felt personal and detail oriented - both things which I felt were missing from my current care plan.

I’ve gained detailed, personal insight into my specific body and needs. Kate explained the test results clearly and we talked in depth about the different ways to improve my health. I generally feel better and now have the tools to continue improving my health long term.

Kate is wonderfully warm and generous with both her time and knowledge. I always felt 100% confident in Kate’s recommendations and she explained scientific reasonings in ways which were easy to understand. Kate went above and beyond when I had questions in between appointments and always had time to chat. I never felt judged by Kate when I wasn’t able to implement changes or felt like I hadn’t stuck to our plan. Kate is a great listener and understands that small changes can often require a large amount of effort!

I have already recommended Kate to a friend and will continue to do so. I am certain I’ll book in with her again in the future!”

You may be wondering how a nutritionist can work with you to support your autoimmune condition. So let me tell you more about the process…

Overview

I work with clients using a package that includes comprehensive testing together with four in-depth consultations and detailed protocol notes.

In addition to the testing, pattern recognition plays a really important role in assessing what is happening below the surface and how we can intervene to best effect. I take a lot of time to talk to my clients, to understand all of their symptoms, their timeline and what their daily life is like. I take on a very limited amount of clients each year so that I can look at clients holistically and hold all of this diverse information about them in my head as I look for these patterns.

I think when someone has the courage to work on their health, they should be given as much personalised and focused support as possible, as this really improves their chances of identifying and implementing that changes that are right for them.

Preparing for our first session

On booking in with me, you will complete a detailed questionnaire about your symptoms, any diagnoses, your medical and family history, as well as your dietary and lifestyles habits and preferences.

As part of the package, you will also take two of the best comprehensive functional tests for autoimmunity on the market, the Doctor’s Data Stool Chemistries and the Great Plains OAT urine test. These tests have a combined value of around £600.

These tests are simple to complete at home and minimise stress and inconvenience. They provide accurate, in-depth results across a wide range of areas including nutrient status, digestive, immune and hormonal function, together with crucial detoxification markers.

The body’s default mode is to heal. We explore the root causes that are preventing your body from healing.

Before your first session, I set aside a few hours to review all of this valuable information and immerse myself in your case. This time allows me to build up a holistic picture of your health and the key events in your timeline, something that many healthcare professionals simply do not have time to do.

In addition, before each follow up session, I send you a form to complete which gathers information about how you have been getting on since your previous session. This allows me to take time to reflect on your case and plan for your next session in advance.

The aim of this extensive reflection time outside of sessions is to make sure that the interventions we select are those that are most relevant to you. Everyone has limited time and resources, so avoiding a scatter gun, ‘throw everything in’ approach is really important.

The importance of pattern recognition

Much of my work is focused on pattern recognition. As I have been able to gather so much information, and have the time to analyse it, I can begin to understand which patterns of dysfunction are impacting your condition. The benefit of focusing on autoimmune conditions means that the same patterns tend to show up repeatedly in clients.

Common autoimmune patterns include high histamine load, gut barrier dysfunction, suboptimal liver function, dysbiosis in the gut, problems with stomach acid production which go on to impact subsequent digestive secretions and nutrient absorption, blood sugar regulation, food intolerances, certain nutrient deficiencies which impact detoxification and hormonal regulation, a high viral load, progesterone and oestrogen imbalances, genetic issues affecting methylation, a high environmental toxic load, and many more.

Our aim is to give your body what it needs, allowing inflammation to subside and your body to heal.

Contributing conditions

Sometimes contributing conditions need to picked up and referred to a medical professional. Thyroid problems, coeliacs, and type two diabetes are fairly common examples, yet they are often missed by GPs as they do not have the time to review a patient holistically. It is important to identify signs of these conditions, as they can prevent the body from healing. Often diet and lifestyle can support these conditions, alongside medical advice. Problems with anxiety and depression are also common and can be due to problems producing serotonin and microbiome health. Working on these issues and supporting the gut-brain axis through diet and lifestyle can make a significant difference here as well.

All of my work is evidence-based, meaning it is based on the findings from medical research and is in line with the requirements of the British Association for Nutrition and Lifestyle Medicine (BANT).

Package details

The package includes four sessions (1 x 70 mins, 3 x 50 mins), as well as my time spent analysing your test results, and answering any queries between sessions.

It also includes two of the best comprehensive functional tests on the market for autoimmunity, which have a value of just under £600:

  • the Doctors Data stool chemistries test; and

  • the Great Plains OAT urine test.

The cost of the package is £1,650, which is split into two payments.

Most of my clients now choose to work with me remotely using Zoom. However, I also offer the option to attend in person at clinics in Sale and Hale, Cheshire.

If you would like to book in with me, please use the ‘Book Now’ button. You can also use this button if you have any questions for me.

The FAQs section below may also answer some of your questions.

 FAQs

  • Working with a registered nutritionist does NOT replace the medical care you receive from your doctor.

    I work alongside GPs and consultants, liaising with them as closely as possible, to provide testing and nutritional and lifestyle support that complements the care they provide.

  • No! We all have our own eating preferences and I work with you to develop eating practices that work for you - always based on flexibility and enjoyment.

  • Autoimmune conditions are complex and require time and focus if we are to see real change. I ask clients to book a package of four sessions because this manages their expectations. It also allows us to work at a deeper level and to phase our work, which leads to improved outcomes.

  • The two tests included in the package will provide more than enough information for us to work through in the four sessions.

    If you continue to work with me beyond the first four sessions, we may identify a particular area that would benefit from an additional test. Any additional testing is completely optional. The cost of any additional testing is likely to be low as we will have narrowed our focus by this point. The initial tests included in the package are expensive because they cover such a wide range of markers.

  • I will provide comprehensive information about how to carry out these tests. The test kits will be sent to your home address by the laboratories and will also include full instructions. The tests are straightforward to complete at home and should not prove inconvenient or stressful.

    The test providers are world leaders in their field and hold all the necessary accreditations (Doctors Data and Great Plains).

  • Details of the package are set out further up this page. The package costs £1,650, which includes the two tests and four consultations. Please get in touch for further details.

  • Each person is different and has their own way of working, aims and expectations.

    Four sessions, together with the testing, gives us an opportunity to understand more about how your body is functioning and to identify and implement some changes that are likely to support you.

    Some clients choose to continue working with me beyond the four sessions, either to explore particular areas of their health in more depth, or for support with maintaining progress, or with re-introducing foods that they have been avoiding.

    I offer an add-on package of discounted sessions, or the option of adding single sessions on an ad-hoc basis, to clients.

Case study

Louise came to me for support with her Crohn’s disease. She was feeling excessively tired and was experiencing bloating, belching and irregular bowel movements. She had also noticed tingling in her hands at night.

The OAT test picked up several B vitamin deficiencies, including B12. It also showed a high level of mould in her system.

The gut test showed significant dysbiosis and short chain fatty acid deficiencies.

Louise’s questionnaire also showed that she felt chronically stressed and often ate on the move and had irregular eating patterns.

We looked at Louise’s digestion, particularly at her low stomach acid and we discussed its cascade effect and how this could connect up to the symptoms that she was experiencing and some of the test results.

We helped her to optimise her stomach acid and B vitamin levels, as well as using a particular supplement to reduce the levels of mould in her system. We temporarily removed certain foods that she was intolerant to, to give her the chance to regain tolerance to these foods.

We used dietary changes and specific probiotics to increase the beneficial bacteria in her gut to improve her digestion, B vitamin production, gut repair and immune tolerance.

Louise went away feeling more in control of her digestion and her energy levels. The tingling subsided once her B12 levels returned to normal and she also found that she was now sleeping better.

She now felt more able to manage her condition and was delighted with the outcome of our work together.

Click here to read the full case study and for further case studies.

Research shows that around 70% of autoimmune conditions are primarily the result of environmental factors; diet, lifestyle and environmental toxins.

Read more about what autoimmunity is and how certain diet and lifestyle changes can help.