I’m Claire, a qualified nutritional therapist and UK SIBO Nutritionist based in York, North Yorkshire.

I have a Postgraduate Diploma in Nutrition Science and I am BANT-registered. I’m passionate about helping individuals improve their gut health so they can take back control of their IBS and live a more enjoyable life.

I understand the struggle of chronic bloating, digestive discomfort, constipation/loose bowel movements, food reactions and the stress of managing these symptoms. I’ve experienced all of these symptoms myself for many years so I can empathise with anyone suffering in this area. 

Having overcome the challenges of these symptoms I now use my personal and clinical experience to help individuals address their unique gut health needs so they can feel healthier, nourished and comfortable in their bodies again. 

The gut microbiome is a key factor in developing IBS and digestive issues. I use gut microbiome (stool) and SIBO breath testing (small intestinal bacterial overgrowth) to create personalised diet and supplement programmes to address the underlying imbalances driving gut problems and inflammatory symptoms. 

My Story

I’ve struggled with IBS, multiple food intolerances, chronic bloating, persistent nausea, acne, mild liver inflammation, joint pain and osteoarthritis. 

Despite many doctor’s appointments and tests, conventional medicine offered no explanation or resolution for many of my symptoms. I knew my gut wasn’t happy and was fuelling the inflammation in my body. In my mid-twenties I started working with a local nutritional therapist who helped me with some initial food intolerance testing and eliminating my main trigger foods. This was the beginning of my journey into gut health and nutrition. 

After changing my diet I started to see some alleviation of my digestive symptoms. I decided to study nutritional science as I wanted to further my knowledge of nutrition and understand how it could have an impact on all of my symptoms, not just IBS and food reactions. 

A large part of my health journey involved managing hip pain due to osteoarthritis, caused by a hip condition I was born with (known as hip dysplasia). My joint pain seemed to be exacerbated by inflammatory foods and chronic stress, so I knew that nutritional therapy could be a help with this area of my health too. 

Throughout my training, I experimented with different diets and supplements and carried out functional tests on myself including private stool and SIBO breath testing. I discovered I had SIBO, large intestinal overgrowth (LIBO), intestinal candida overgrowth and signs of intestinal hyper-permeability (leaky gut). These imbalances were the driving force behind my overactive immune response to foods, IBS symptoms and systemic inflammation.  It wasn’t a quick fix but by following a more tailored diet and supplement programme targeting my specific gut imbalances I finally began to see lasting improvements and freedom from many of my chronic symptoms. It took around 1 year to calm my IBS-type symptoms at the start of my health journey then a few years later, after working on SIBO, I noticed more improvements in my health which took another 6-12 months. Undoing a lifetime of dysbiosis and inflammation isn’t a quick fix.

In my quest for managing the chronic pain caused by hip dysplasia and osteoarthritis, I tried many different complementary therapies over the years too which I am sure played a role in improving my gut health. I’ve found that the best approach to any chronic health condition is one that not only looks at diet, nutrition and lifestyle but also considers the mind-body connection and emotional aspects of health conditions. 

The gut and our immune system are massively affected by our nervous system, so we must take care of our emotional health when managing any chronic health condition. My journey has included Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT), Acupuncture, Chiropractic, Myofascial Release Massage, Pilates, Physiotherapy and counselling. I don’t think we have to do all of these therapies but combining some of the above with nutritional therapy has been a winning combination for me. Even now that I’ve had multiple hip surgeries including two total hip replacements, I find nutrition and lifestyle strategies to be helpful in managing hip pain and inflammation. 

Having improved my own gut health I am now passionate about helping others with their own digestive symptoms and well-being by supporting their gut microbiome.

My Approach

  • I believe gut health is a foundation of overall health 
  • I use a scientific approach and utilise stool and SIBO testing to investigate exactly what’s going on in your gut 
  • I consider the role that lifestyle, mindset and stress levels play in gut health, not just diet  
  • I work with all different dietary preferences (vegan, vegetarian, omnivore and paleo/keto) 
  • I offer sensible food guidance rather than a rigid diet plan 
  • I believe food is important but a personalised supplement plan can be a game-changer in modifying the gut microbiome once dysbiosis (imbalance) has occurred 
  • I consider the interconnectedness of all your symptoms. Whilst IBS and SIBO are my specialism, I have a keen interest in other health concerns that stem from microbiome imbalances such as skin problems, hormonal issues and female health challenges such as recurrent vaginal thrush, BV, UTI’s and vaginal health 
  • I let clients set the pace for their own health journey. 
  • I offer advice with compassion and empathy because I know how important it is to feel heard and understood. 

I am located in York, England and serve a broad range of clients through online consultations using Zoom. Please feel free to get in touch using my Contact Me page if you have any questions or check out my Work With Me page if you’d like one-to-one support.

Get to Know Me: 

Q1. What’s your favourite food? 

Anything Mexican – fajitas, tacos, enchiladas – I love it! Gluten-free of course. 

Q2. What’s your least favourite “health food”? 

Kombucha, kimchi and kefir. Too much histamine! 

Q3. What’s the weirdest thing in your fridge? 

Probably the draw-full of loose herbal teas – dandelion, burdock, marigold, raspberry leaf and Pau d’arco. 

Q4. What one supplement can’t you live without? 

It has to be transdermal magnesium oil! I love it for relaxation, sleep and easing muscle pain.  

Q5. What do you do in your spare time? 

Catching up with friends, cooking, reading about health-related things, candle making, walking my Patter-Jack Betsy and a spot of retail therapy. 

Q6. What’s your favourite holiday destination? 

Canary Islands! I love the laid-back, desert vibes. 

Q7. How long did it take you to resolve your IBS? 

It took 1-2 years to fully get it under control but this involved a lot of trial and error beforehand. The gut microbiome takes time to change.

Q8. What kind of music do you like?

My all-time faves are Alanis Morrisette and Taylor Swift! 

Qualifcations, Memberships and Further Training

  • Postgraduate Diploma in Nutrition Science & Practice accredited by Middlesex University – 2019
  • Active member of the British Association for Nutrition and Lifestyle Medicine (BANT) the UK professional body for Nutritionist/Nutritional Therapist. 
  • Registered with the Complementary and Natural Healthcare Council (CNHC), the independent UK regulator for complementary healthcare practitioners. 
  • Professional indemnity insurance with Balens. 
  • SIBO Doctor Approved Practitioner since 2020 

Further Training: 

Gastrointestinal Disorders by Dr Datiz Kharrazian 2019

SIBO Mastery by the SIBO Doctor (Dr Nirala Jacobi) 2020

Demystifying SIBO by Dr Jason Hawrelak 2020

Liver & Gallbladder Function by the SIBO Doctor 2020

SIBO Pro & SIBO Tough Cases by Alison Siebecker 2021

Female Ecology and Vaginal Microbiome by Moira Bradfield 2022

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