Nutritional Therapy (NT) is the application of nutrition and lifestyle medicine sciences in the promotion of health, peak performance and individual care. Registered Nutritional Therapy Practitioners Registered Nutritional Therapy Practitioners (NTP) assess and identify potential nutritional and biochemical imbalances via extensive health questionnaires, laboratory testing and biochemistry knowledge, to understand how these may contribute to an individual’s symptoms and health concerns. It is particularly suited to optimise any aspect of health, disease prevention and resolution. If you have tried other healthcare options which haven’t worked for you, you are not feeling yourself, or may still be experiencing symptoms, then NT may just be what you need.
BANT Practitioners consider each individual to be unique and recommend personalised nutrition and lifestyle programmes rather than a ‘one size fits all’ approach using the evidence-based Functional Medicine Model (see above diagram) designed by the Institute of Functional Medicine, which offers advantages to conventional medical healthcare paradigms. Functional medicine is a systems biology–based approach that focuses on identifying and addressing the root cause of disease, as opposed to treating symptoms like in conventional medicine. Each symptom or differential diagnosis may be one of many contributing factors to an individual’s illness.
NT Programmes
I have various NT programmes available to suit your goals and budget (contact me for more info and fees). During your NT consultation, expect to discuss:
– Detailed analysis of your dietary intake
– Detailed medical and case health analysis using the functional medicine model
– Recording signs and symptoms
– Aims to identify the root causes of your illness
– Discuss a strategy for health – personalised, simple, sustainable advice for diet and lifestyle changes; taking into consideration your nutritional requirements and personal circumstances.
– The recommendation of functional lab tests if required, will help ascertain any suspected underlying imbalances contributing to your symptoms
– May include referral to other healthcare practitioners to work alongside my recommendations
ie, a doctor, counsellor, or personal trainer where necessary.
After the consultation
Once Andrew has analysed your case history, he will recommend your health support and optimisation plan, which will include a therapeutic nutrition programme, personalised dietary and lifestyle recommendations, a meal plan, recipes, regular follow-ups, and a recommended supplement regime to help you heal and thrive. Andrwe will ensure you get this to you within 5 working days of the consultation. Support and periodic updates will be delivered via follow-up consultations and email support 24/7, unless otherwise stated (depends on chosen package).
Cognitive optimisation programmes
Andrew Fortuna NT is a qualified MOCA rater, having successfully completed training to be able to administer the Montreal Cognitive Assessment test. MOCA is a clinically validated tool to detect early cognitive impairment, an essential component of his Mild Cognitive Impairment / Alzheimer’s disease prevention programme called BRAINCOG LEARN MORE.
NT PROGRAMMES (RECOMMENDED)
Nutritional Therapy (NT) programmes
Although my NT programmes are ideal to improve or optimise any aspect of your health, they are especially suited for preventing or resolving complex health conditions which have not found any improvement or resolution with other forms of healthcare support. They can also serve as high-quality nutrition courses which can be personalised to your goals, preferences or health conditions(s).
What is NT?
NT is the application of nutrition and lifestyle medicine sciences in the promotion of health, peak performance and individual care based around the Functional Medicine health model. The programme will help identify potential nutritional, genetic, epigenetic, dietary and lab biomarker imbalances to understand how these may contributing to your symptoms, health concerns or to prevent disease onset via individualised recommendations. Programme fees vary depending on duration, payable in flexible instalments, but typically include:
– Professional support over 2, 4 or 6 months
– 2x consultations per month
– Professional health & symptoms questionnaire
– Professional case history analysis
– Lab testing interpretation & analysis (lab tests not inclusive)
– Personalised dietary plans and recipes
– Personalised online portal & resources
– Daily food log & activity tracking
– Sync your Apple watch, Fitbit etc
– Weekly tasks & challenges
– Goal setting & NLP Mental reframing
– Personalised supplement programme
– Supplement discounts
– Email support 24/7
– Iridology assessment
– Nature trip for you and your household
– and much more.
EMAIL ME for fes and more info, or arrange a free 20min discovery call to discuss more in person or Zoom.
WHY PERSONALISED NUTRITION?
Personalised nutrition is tailored specifically for you, taking into account your health journey, your health goals and dietary preferences. The practitioner may use functional tests to inform the recommendations that are based on your unique biological individuality. Personalised nutrition consultations are relevant for individuals with chronic conditions, such as diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular disease, and osteoporosis; anyone with persistent digestive issues or those wishing to support an autoimmune condition, as well as those looking to enhance their health and wellbeing. Recommendations are not a replacement for medical advice; practitioners frequently work alongside medical professionals to support individuals’ wellbeing.
WHY CHOOSE A BANT-REGISTERED NUTRITION PROFESSIONAL
BANT registered Nutritional Therapy Practitioners are trained to a minimum degree levels and trained to work on in a 1-to-1 clinical settings with clients. Recommendations are not a replacement for medical advice; Nutritional Therapy Practitioners frequently work alongside medical professionals to support individual’s wellbeing with or without prescribed medications. Understanding how a drug works and may cause nutrient insufficiencies and side effects, and how a nutrient may block or stimulate pathways targeted by a drug leading to adverse reactions, is crucial to how NTs work to safeguard and improve the health of their clients. The field of personalised nutrition is still evolving before truly becoming an integral part of the future healthcare paradigm, and including personalised nutrition guidance and therapeutics. They are required to comply with yearly Continued Professional Development (CPD) to ensure the evidence-base for their recommendations remains current, safe and effective for each individual.
IMPORTANCE OF CLINICAL TRAINING
As part of his clinical training, Andrew Fortuna NT has completed an extensive, supervised clinical consultations with various real clients experiencing a wide range of chronic diseases, which also involves studying the pathophysiology of chronic diseases with special consideration to client safety and drug-nutrient-herb interactions, and understanding how nutrient availability, biochemical imbalances, genetic predispotion and lifestyle factors, may influence disease predisposition and development. He has supported a number of patients experiencing Myocardial infarction, severe obesity, Long COVID, Crohn’s disease, Fibromyalgia, Rheumatoid arthritis, Systemic lupus erythematosus, Raynaud’s disease, Mixed connective tissue disease, Sjögren’s syndrome, Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism, hypertension, insomnia and many others.
His clinical training is internally validated by the UK Nutrition Therapy Education Commission (NTEC) and externally endorsed by QUALIFI UK. NTEC accredited nutritional therapy courses are professionally accredited to the standard required for entry to an accredited register held by the Complementary and Natural Healthcare Council (CNHC) on behalf of the UK Professional Standards Authority (PSA) for Health and Social Care, the same body that overseas dieticians and GPs in the UK and Gibraltar via their respective regulatory bodies. Students who follow courses that do not meet this standard will not be able to apply for professional registration as a Nutritional Therapay Practitioner, until they have accrued three years clinical experience of working at the level of the National Occupational Standards, evidenced by the submission of a detailed portfolio of evidence.
PERSONALISED SUPPLEMENT PROGRAMMES
ANDREW FORTUNA NT is clinically trained to be able to recommend evidence-based dietary supplement programmes to help support your symptoms and medical diagnoses, whilst considering potential drug – nutrient – herb interactions for your safety. Supplement programmes are evaluated periodically to ensure efficacy and safety and may change depending on symptoms progress, medically diagnoses and/or other contraindications. Understanding which types and forms of many supplements, and in what doses, is critical to achieve safe and effective outcomes whilst ensuring they do not interacted with any other foods or medications.
LEARN MORE ABOUT MY REGULATORY BODIES
ANDREW FORTUNA NT is a fully qualified registered member of BANT. To become a BANT-registered nutritional therapist, it is essential to have a very strong background in nutrition science at minimum degree level, a deep understanding of the human anatomy and physiology, many hours of supervised clinical practice with real clients living with a wide range of complex nutrition and health-related disorders whilst following practice guidelines by the Complementary and Natural Healthcare Council (CNHC). The CNHC hold an accredited register of qualified nutritional therapists and registered nutritionists, who in turn are regulated by the UK Professional Standards Authority responsible to the UK Parliament. Nutritional Therapists also comply with General Data Protection Regulations. Click the on video above to find out more about our training and what we can achieve by working together.
DIFFERENCES BETWEEN NTS & DIETICIANS
NUTRITIONAL THERAPIST vs DIETICIAN
Both Nutritional Therapist and Dieticians are trained to very high standards, and undergo extensive clinical training via evidence-based research. Additionally, In April 2015 the General Medical Council UK (the GP Register is a list of doctors who are eligible for appointment as a general practitioner in the UK, and by extension, Gibraltar) released guidance confirming that “Doctors can refer patients to practitioners on Accredited Registers”. Registered Nutritional Therapy Practitioners are members of BANT, who in turn are registered in an ‘Accredited register” and therefore, they can be suitably referred to by General Practitioners.
BANT is a professional organisation for practitioners of nutrition and lifestyle medicine. BANT practitioner members are required to be registered either with Complementary and Natural Healthcare Council (CNHC) or be statutorily regulated. CNHC holds a register accredited by the Professional Standards Authority for Health and Social Care (PSA), an independent body accountable to the UK Parliament. Only Registered Nutritional Therapy Practitioners and Registered Dietitians are trained and qualified in clinical practice to meet national standards and work in a one-to-one setting. Registered Nutritionists have met training and qualification standards and work with groups, and the wider industry, academia and in non-clinical settings. BANT members are required to meet Continuing Professional Development (CPD) standards.
Watch a quick overview on how Nutritional Therapists work