Eating to
Support Illness
Nutrition has a significant impact on many chronic diseases and conditions, which in some cases may be preventable, but once developed, it can be hard to know where to turn for support.
Advice from a dietitian can help to manage or eliminate many symptoms, improve overall physical and mental health and empower those struggling with illnesses to improve their quality of life. Appropriate nutritional strategies, alongside lifestyle changes, can improve the management and recovery from diseases.
Unnecessary food restrictions can potentially lead to nutritional deficiency and undermine relationships with food causing long-term problems. Clare provides evidence-based, personalised support whilst focussing on practically including a range of tasty foods to enhance clients recovery or management of their long term conditions
Illnesses Clare can help with…
Our diets can be hugely influential on how we feel on a day-to-day basis, this is especially true when we’re unwell. Nutritional advice can really help with the following conditions;
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Cancer, and its treatment, can cause digestive issues for patients leading to weight loss or nutritional deficiencies. Incorporating evidence-based diets can help ensure your body is in the best place to optimise cancer treatment success and alleviate side effects. It is important to note that cancer cannot be cured with diet.
There is lots of conflicting information surrounding cancer, and not all of it is scientifically evidence-based. There can be a feeling of lacking control and fear, but there is a lot of scope within the diet to help improve outcomes and quality of life.
Clare helps her clients incorporate nourishing foods into their lives with positive, caring support.
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This is an umbrella term for a widespread number of cardiac diseases that affect over 7 million people in the UK alone. Clare has experience working with clients with CVD, including those with a family history of heart issues, high blood pressure, and helping with cardiac rehab following a cardiovascular event (such as a heart attack or heart failure).
Healthy habits are important to maintain a healthy heart. There is strong science showing the impact that eating well can have on improving heart health and preventing cardiac conditions.
Clare works with her clients to reduce the risk of cardiac issues and also to support them with their recovery from illnesses that have impacted on their heart health. Emphasis is placed on changes that are achievable and sustainable in the long term. Key aspects of dietary advice include a focus on healthy salt intake, limiting saturated and trans fats, and increasing dietary fibre and omega 3 fatty acids.
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Diabetes is a serious, long-term condition that impacts the management of the amount of glucose in our blood stream. If not managed well it can have serious complications for both short, and long-term health. Diets are hugely influential in positive management of this condition.
Clare has experience working with all types of diabetes; Type 1, Type 2, Gestational Diabetes, and Pre-Diabetes. She works with her clients to regulate their blood sugar levels and improve knowledge and confidence in managing diabetes whilst creating a healthy, positive relationship with food.
Working with her clients, Clare ensures they are eating balanced diets containing high fibre, low glycaemic index carbohydrates, a wide variety of fruit and vegetables and healthy fats, whilst minimising the intake of sugar, refined carbohydrates, alcohol, salt and red and processed meats.
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PoTS is a complex disorder of the nervous system, it is a collection of symptoms associated with cardiovascular abnormalities; where heart rate increases inappropriately and remains raised.
Nutritional support or people with PoTS can be extremely helpful. Clare works with clients to support a diets with an emphasis on reducing refined carbohydrates, introducing a stable and manageable meal pattern, ensuring intake of adequate fluids & dietary sodium and managing associated gastrointestinal symptoms. Alongside traditional clinical treatment she offers support with meal planning, culinary support and education that accounts for the debilitating symptoms of PoTS
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Rheumatoid Arthritis is an inflammatory condition. There is no special diet for arthritis but there are particular foods that may reduce inflammation and associated symptoms of joint pain.
Clare works with her clients to reduce the risk of chronic inflammation and the symptoms associated with it. There is growing research into the impact gut health has on tackling inflammation and joint health, and science is continuously emerging in this area.
Cooking lessons and meal plans allow Clare to work with compassion to support her clients in mitigating the inflammatory response through food choices and diet; especially with fibre, antioxidants and omega 3 fatty acids.
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This illness refers to a group of lung conditions, that can inhibit ability to breath normally. It can lead to challenges with eating and drinking, due to breathing difficulties, with involuntary weight loss and reduced muscle mass being experienced by many people with this condition.
Clare works with her clients to provide nutritional intervention when they may be lacking in certain areas. A balanced diet is vital, but ensuring that there is adequate energy and protein intake is essential for those struggling to breathe or experiencing discomfort whilst swallowing.
There may be practical challenges when preparing or cooking food, Clare can assist her clients with this ensuring the key nutrients are being consumed.
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There are a variety of degenerative diseases that diet can impact, examples include Parkinsons Disease, Motor Neurone Disease, and Dementia.
Clare has experience working with a wide range of degenerative conditions. Dietary treatment not only involves targeting the specific diseased related challenges but also the potential side effects of some medications.
Clare works alongside other medical specialists such as speech and language therapists to help with commonly experienced swallowing difficulties. She ensures that when required, texture modified foods and fluids are not only nutritionally adequate, but also enjoyable and tailored to taste preferences.
Clare works with her clients and their carers to ensure they meet their nutritional needs and maintain a healthy weight, whilst managing side affects and monitoring the progress of their illness. Dignity, respect and enhancing quality of life are at the core of Clare’s care.
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Long COVID is described as symptoms that develop during or following a COVID-19 infection, that continues for more than 12 weeks and is not explained by an alternative diagnosis.
Eating whilst experiencing long COVID symptoms can be very challenging. There is currently no strong scientific evidence to suggest a specific diet is helpful to combat these symptoms. However, a focus on anti-inflammatory foods and eating a wide variety of vitamins, minerals, protein, energy, fibre and sufficient fluid is essential for recovery to support the immune system and increase energy levels. Some scientists have suggested that a low histamine diet may support recovery from long COVID, however currently there isn't clear evidence that this would be of benefit. Furthermore a low histamine diet can be very restrictive and time consuming to maintain.
Clare works with clients to provide bespoke advice to manage their long COVID symptoms accounting for changes in weight and appetite, smell and taste disturbances , and gut symptom management. She guides clients who are interested in trialling a low histamine diet, ensuring this is for a limited period, that the diet continues to be balanced and meets nutrient needs and also helps with staged reintroduction of foods. Clare also provides practical culinary support for clients, to help them implement the advice given whilst also considering the challenges that living with long COVID can present.
Compassion and care is at the centre of Clare’s practice, she works with all of her clients on an individual basis to provide them with complete support.
