Frequently asked questions

• What’s the difference between “nutritional therapists” and “nutritionists” and “dieticians”?
• I thought only doctors and dieticians are qualified to give diet advice?
• You can get all your nutrients from your food, so aren’t supplements a waste of money?
• I’m so up and down with my moods and I can’t think straight. And I just can’t seem to cope with stress as well as I used to. I think I am better off going to the doctor for medication, aren’t I?
• We are a couple trying to get pregnant and worry one of us must be infertile. Can nutritional therapy help?
• I’m a woman heading towards menopause and I’m already noticing changes such as uncomfortable and embarrassing hot flushes. Plus I’ve heard conflicting stories about Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) and would rather take a natural approach. Can you help me?
• I've tried every diet going but I can’t seem to control my weight and always feel hungry or in denial from the foods I crave the most! I need to find a way to eat that will help me to lose weight where I don’t feel hungry all the time. I also don’t want to join a group weigh-in club, as I am embarrassed and don’t have the time. Why would you be able to help?
• I’m a mum/dad who just wants to feed my kids the best diet I can to give them the best start in life, but I am confused by all the information out there on what to eat. Can you help?

Q: What’s the difference between “nutritional therapists” and “nutritionists” and “dieticians”?

A:The term “nutritional therapist” is regulated by the voluntary professional organisation the British Association for Applied Nutrition & Nutritional Therapy (BANT). Please click here to understand the differences between a nutritional therapist, a nutritionist and a dietician. The Nutritional Therapy Council (NTC) regulates fully-qualified nutritional therapists and works with professional associations representing Nutritional Therapy practitioners to protect patients and promote standards. BANT is also a member of the NTC.

Q: I thought only doctors and dieticians are qualified to give diet advice?

A: The DipION foundation degree is a four-year course (including 1-year science foundation in chemistry, physiology & anatomy) in which graduates are considerably more qualified to advise an individual about their nutritional needs than medical training or dietetic training provides. The profession of nutritional therapy came into existence to address the shortfalls of a conventional dietetic approach. Dieticians are regulated by the British Dietetic Association and nutritional therapists are regulated by the NTC (see above). Individuals are urged to first check qualifications and training by visiting the NTC register before seeking the advice of a nutritional therapist. Dieticians and nutritional therapists are both trained in clinical practice to give one-to-one personal advice. See above for the key differences between the two professions in practice.

Q: You can get all your nutrients from your food, so aren’t supplements a waste of money?

A: Even those of us that profess to eat a balanced diet fail to eat the basic Recommended Daily Allowances (RDAs) of vitamins and minerals, according to every survey of eating habits conducted in Britain since the 1980s. In fact the RDAs of vitamins and minerals were set by governments to prevent deficiency diseases such as scurvy or rickets, rather than to ensure optimal health.  Unfortunately the gap between a lack of illness and ultimate wellness is a very large one, and this is where niggling and uncomfortable symptoms creep in. Let’s take vitamin D, for example. Where 5mcg a day confers protection from rickets, 30mcg a day (which is more than you can eat) provides optimal protection from a number of common cancers.

Q: I’m so up and down with my moods and I can’t think straight. And I just can’t seem to cope with stress as well as I used to. I think I am better off going to the doctor for medication, aren’t I?

A: Nutritional therapy is complementary to medical advice and does not replace conventional medicine. And do not discontinue medications already prescribed without your doctor’s consent. However, I would urge you to seek the help of a registered nutritional therapist to review your diet and lifestyle before asking for medications to be prescribed. You may be amazed at how your mood and ability to cope with stress may be improved by making simple dietary changes and lifestyle choices. There is a lot of scientific evidence that natural choices can help improve mood and reduce the effects of stress.

Q: We are a couple trying to get pregnant and worry one of us must be infertile. Can nutritional therapy help?

A: Yes! A healthy diet is crucial to a successful pregnancy and delivering a healthy baby. Yet many people are unaware of the fact that diet can help correct hormone imbalances that may be affecting your ability to conceive. And there are specific foods and drinks known to lower fertility.

There is also a considerable body of scientific evidence to support the use of nutritional supplements due to their beneficial effects on both male and female fertility. These supplements can be very effective in re-balancing hormones, as well as improving you and your partner's overall health—vital for successful conception.

It’s unlikely that even the best diet in the world will contain all the nutrients you need to give you the best chance of conceiving, which is why supplements are necessary. It is also critical that both partners engage in any nutritional programme as it takes a healthy egg and healthy sperm to conceive.

Q: I’m a woman heading towards menopause and I’m already noticing changes such as uncomfortable and embarrassing hot flushes. Plus I’ve heard conflicting stories about Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) and would rather take a natural approach.  Can you help me?

A: The good news is that this is one of the most researched areas for nutritional approaches. The key to relieving the numerous uncomfortable symptoms leading up to and after menopause itself (your final period) is by balancing hormones. And by making the right food choices you will be surprised how powerful an effect this can have to banish symptoms.

Q: I've tried every diet going but I can’t seem to control my weight and always feel hungry or in denial from the foods I crave the most! I need to find a way to eat that will help me to lose weight where I don’t feel hungry all the time. I also don’t want to join a group weigh-in club, as I am embarrassed and don’t have the time. Why would you be able to help?

A: Most diets out there state that the only way to lose weight through diet is to eat less. But it’s what you eat that counts, not just how much you eat. The Atkins Diet is one example of a diet that first hit the headlines because it seemed to work. And that by starving yourself of carbohydrate and using up your body’s stores of energy (called glycogen) you can instantly shed several pounds. But it’s not fat you are losing here, and those pounds don’t stay off for long. However, the good news is that changing the kind of carbohydrate you eat and what you eat it with is key to weight control. Improving your metabolism is also key. At Inside Out we will help you to make the right food choices for your weight-loss goals and “tune up” your metabolism to improve your ability to turn food into energy rather than fat.

Q:  I’m a mum/dad who just wants to feed my kids the best diet I can to give them the best start in life, but I am confused by all the information out there on what to eat. Can you help?

A: Absolutely. Inside Out will guide you through the maze of contradictory information out there and spend time assessing your family’s current dietary habits.  Then we will find practical meal ideas and tasty healthy recipes for the kids to love. We understand that quick and easy meal ideas are the most practical for busy parents balancing the stresses of both work and home lives. And even better if one meal fits all! The aim is to improve the health of your entire family now and in the long-term.

Guidance can also be provided on the use (or not) of nutritional supplements for your children / teenagers.