Benefit of seeing a nutritionlist

[SAUK]

Hi all

I have been reading up on the importance of nutrition and the management of hypo symptoms. Has anyone ever seen a Nutritionlist or have recommendations on who to contact for advice on nutrition and diet?

Has this helped in the past for anyone?

Thanks

[Kes8]

I am currently training to be a Nutritional Therapist, 2nd year of 3 year course - so maybe a bit biased. When fully qualified will be a member of both BANT and CNHC.

As part of the course I had to see a Nutritional Therapist (NT) she identified possible thyroid problems a year before I was diagnosed - long before my GP.

This year I had a brilliant thyroid lecture that detailed how many people seek help from NTs as they have made repeat visits to GPs with no resolution of their problems. The lecture also covered how to get a diagnosis and in detail what blood tests to request from the patient/clients GP to aid diagnosis.

NT an have a bad reputation - dietitians hate us and view us as quacks, I would be wrong to say that some aren't and there are also the truly terrifying "wellness" brigade. Also seen some of the "Nutrition" suggestions on here as wrong and a bit scary.

But I come from the position of having type I diabetes since the age of ten and therefore know that eating fifty pounds of broccoli, activated almonds, whatever fad this week etc. will not preclude my need for insulin. BUT using food, maybe supplements, exercise etc. I can provide my body with as much help as possible to function as healthily as possible and that's the view of nutrition I take.

Sorry for rambling on but would I recommend a Nutritional Therapist - YES!

Only one registered with BANT and one who isn't going to advise a myriad of unnecessary tests.

Or tell you they can cure/remove your need for thyroid medication!

Best Wishes.

[bluebug in reply to Kes8]

Maybe due to you conditions you are the person the OP should seek some advice from. To make it clear I know you are NOT advertising for clients here.

[bluebug]

You are aware that nutritionist isn't a protected legal term? This means anyone can call themselves a nutritionist and they can have any form of qualifications from a degree in a closely aligned subject to an internet certificate.

Personally apart from the sports coaches I know and met - who incidentally were never my coaches but work/worked with high level teams - the other group of people I've found most informed about nutrition are posters on here.

For example posters on here can point to common myths we are fed by the government e.g. having to eat dairy products to get decent calcium levels as adults, and then point out what other food and drinks have a calcium in them.

In addition they are aware unlike anyone who is a health professional that you may need to take supplements in addition to your diet. I have to take vitamin D regularly to maintain my levels yet the rubbish I've heard from some health professionals about my requirements and dosage isn't based on any research evidence.

[Anthea55]

From my own experience I know the importance of good nutrition.

I had debilitating menopause problems many years ago. I saw a nutritional doctor who advised dietary changes and supplements. This made a vast difference. (My thyroid problem wasn't diagnosed until years later.)

One of the things the doctor said was that if you get your nutrition right, then any medical problem will present more clearly. On this forum I've also learnt that conversion of T4 to T3 may be affected if our nutrition is not good.

Look at the BANT website where you can find a nutritionist near you.

bant.org.uk/

[SAUK]

Thank you everyone

[Kipsy]

I’ve benefited enormously from seeing a UK functional nutritionist registered with the Institute of Functional Medicine. Through Genova testing, she discovered numerous gut issues including a parasite she thought was possibly the root cause of my Hashimoto’s. We’ve worked hard to eliminate the baddies (candida, SIBO, the aforementioned parasite etc) and are now replacing the goodies to heal my leaky gut. I’ve been on T4 since late April of this year and, although I got my TSH down to 0.89 ( 0.3-4.2) it wasn’t until after doing a parasite cleanse that my energy finally returned. If you want to read up on parasite cleanses, you could google Dr Hulda Clark. Without the nutritionist, I would never have suspected that I had all these horrible things as the symptoms were scant, apart from the unremitting fatigue.

[SAUK]

Thank you. That is very helpful