I was born in South Africa but have lived most of my adult life in the UK. Participation in sport from an early age sparked my interest in the interaction between what we eat and how well we perform.

As a keen cyclist and off-piste skier I constantly put my knowledge of nutrition into practice. Furthermore, a family history of cancer and mental health issues has made me conscious of the genetic influences on health and how nutrition can affect our moods and behaviour.

I realise that we are all unique combinations of genetics, food, lifestyle and exercise choices, and, most of the time, unavoidable toxins from our environment.

My passion and quest for knowledge about nutrition and health led me to study at the Institute of Optimum Nutrition in London, where I qualified as a nutritional therapist in 2011. I upgraded my qualification at Middlesex University, where I received a First Class Honours degree in Nutritional Therapy in 2014.

I am also a Certified Practitioner of the Institute for Functional Medicine in the USA. Gaining this qualification required attending Advanced Practice Modules in Clinical Practice, Gastrointestinal Health, Immune Function, Hormones, Detoxification, Cardiometabolic Systems and Energy, as well as a comprehensive examination and case submission. Functional medicine addresses the underlying causes of disease through a systems-biology approach. It takes into account the environmental, genetic, dietary and lifestyle factors that determine an individual’s state of health. For more information on the functional medicine approach see www.functionalmedicine.org

As part of my continual professional development, I regularly attend lectures to stay abreast of the latest research in the fascinating field of nutrition. In my practice I’ve seen how small changes in diet and lifestyle can bring about significant improvements in health and, above all, quality of life.

As a healthcare professional, I am dedicated to applying my nutritional knowledge to make a positive difference in my clients’ lives.