FAQs

Which is the best diet for optimum health?

The short answer? There isn’t one! This is such an incredibly individual matter, that there are essentially as many ‘right’ diets as there are humans on the planet. We each have our own unique version of ‘ideal’.

There is so much conflicting dietary information out there, and while dietary protocols can be a great guide, especially when you are starting out, they are ultimately only as good as they are workable for you and your needs. They are a great starting point, but they have the same potential downside as anything that comes with an established ‘label’. They should not create more stress than benefits, and you should feel free to bend, and even break, the so-called rules of any dietary protocol and tailor them to your unique needs.

For more on this subject, check out this post.

what is your food philosophy?

In short, my food philosophy is about balance. I don’t consider one way of eating superior to another because I believe that everyone’s individual state of balance is achieved differently. It’s about finding what works best for the individual, while also considering the wider implications of our personal food choices (for the planet, the environment, animals, small and local businesses etc).

You can find more information on my food philosophy here.

Will diet and healthy eating cure me?

Honestly, I don’t know. I believe that diet can heal a person, but that doesn’t mean that it necessarily will. I favour, and strongly believe in, a holistic and multifaceted approach to health, and in particular to chronic health issues. It’s rarely a case of one thing alone flipping the switch on a complicated health situation, and diet alone is, unfortunately, not always enough. Many things need to be addressed: stress, one’s mental and emotional wellbeing, sleep quality, exposure to toxins in one’s environment, exercise etc.

One thing is for certain though, and that is: while diet may not always be enough by itself, it is an essential part to any kind of healing. It lays all the right foundations for helping improve a health issue at its source, and makes any other healing modalities you are using, medication you are taking, or changes you are making, even more effective. The goal is to lay the foundations for achieving our best possible health, and while this will look different for each individual, the food we eat is a great starting point, and one that is within our control.

From an IBD perspective, diet can help to varying degrees. Some people see huge improvements in their condition and are even able to get themselves into remission, while others find that, while they do not see as dramatic benefits, they are able to at least achieve relief from symptoms, thus improving their day-to-day.

are you a nutritionist?

I am a certified Culinary Nutrition Expert and Instructor (with the Academy of Culinary Nutrition), and I am also a graduate of the Functional Nutrition Lab Digestive Intensive. I have also been a Program Coach for the ACN’s Culinary Nutrition Expert Program. I am not a clinical nutritionist, a naturopath or a doctor. My approach is therefore one of food and health ‘education’, rather than consultation: to break down and share information and resources for others to use in their health-focused decision-making.

Undoubtedly, my biggest ‘educator’ has been living with a chronic illness for most of my life, as it has given me first-hand knowledge of what that means on a day-to-day basis. I have spent years researching and learning about health, the gut, the way the body works, using food as medicine and eating for health, and have applied it all to myself over the years.

As someone who always wants to know more about this field, I am an eternal student and am always looking for ways to expand my knowledge base and skill set. All information shared on Good Gut Feelings is the result of both thorough research and personal experience.

Why did you start good gut feelings?

Once upon a time, I studied law, did my training and became a fully qualified lawyer, with an MA in Human Rights and a PgDip in Maritime Law. I never wanted to be an actual lawyer, but went down this route with the aim of working in academic research, which I did for a while and loved it. Unfortunately, various health challenges meant that I had long stretches of not being able to work, and somewhere in between I also had a couple of other jobs in the corporate sphere, which was precisely where I didn’t want to be.

I always really wanted to do something that mattered, that made even a little difference to somebody, somewhere. The very same desire that drew me to human rights and to working on research projects that could raise awareness and effect some change in people’s lives, merged with my own daily life of ongoing health struggles, and prompted me to want to build something on that foundation. I was already doing all the research and experimentation for myself, so why not share it and hope that it helps someone else too?

I have lived through that frustrating want and need to find a person, a guide, some help, an elusive something when I was first diagnosed with IBD, and later when I was struggling with symptoms and trying to figure it all out, and after that when I was drowning in all the contradictory dietary advice and protocols. If I can provide at least part of that to even one person, I will be very very happy! That’s how - and why - I ended up right here, doing this.

Didn’t find what you were looking for? Just drop me a line with your question and I’ll get back to you!