This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.
About Me
I’m Liz Clarke, a Nutritional Therapist and Functional Medicine Practitioner. I qualified as a medical doctor in 1996, spending over 20 years working as an anaesthetist in the NHS. When my son was diagnosed with a serious autoimmune disease at the age of 10, I began looking into nutrition and lifestyle changes to support his health. I was blown away by the results we achieved. His healing journey began, and his health went from strength to strength. As a doctor I was amazed at how nutrition changed my family’s whole world for the better and I became obsessed with finding out more about how nutrition can support health and vitality. I truly believe that what we put on our plates can affect every aspect of wellbeing and I am passionate about supporting others on their journey back to health.
In 2019, I gave up my NHS career to further my interest in nutrition. I have completed several courses with the Institute for Functional Medicine, and I have a Nutritional Therapy Diploma from the College of Naturopathic Medicine in the UK, graduating with a distinction.
Qualifications
- MBChB (medical degree)
- FRCA Fellowship of the Royal College of Anaesthetists
- Diploma in Nutritional Therapy with Distinction, College of Naturopathic Medicine
Institute for Functional Medicine courses attended
- Applying Functional Medicine in Clinical Practice
- Cardiometabolic Advanced Practice Module
- Immune Advanced Practice Module
- Gastrointestinal Advanced Practice Module
- Environmental Health Advanced Practice Module
- Hormone Advanced Practice Module
- Bioenergetics Advanced Practice Module
Autoimmune Disease
A healthy immune system serves to protect us from disease and infection. Autoimmunity occurs when an individual’s own immune system attacks their own organs, tissues, or cells, causing inflammation, pain, or metabolic disturbances. This can potentially lead to irreversible damage. Autoimmune disease is an umbrella term encompassing over 80 different medical diagnoses, including conditions such as Coeliac disease, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Crohn’s Disease, Systemic Lupus Erythematosus, Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, and Psoriasis. Whilst genetics can predispose to autoimmunity, environmental factors can be triggers and mediators of symptoms. Around 70-80% of immune cells are present in the gut. These are influenced by their immediate environment. Optimising gut health and the trillions of bacterial species residing within the gut can have a profound effect on the course of an autoimmune disease. Lifestyle modifications to aid reductions in inflammation or toxicity and to aid the body’s natural repair processes can also support those living with autoimmunity.
A Functional Medicine Approach
A functional medicine approach supports chronic illness by identifying and addressing the root causes of disease. My approach to each client is personalised, considering the whole person, rather than just individual symptoms. Nutrition is often a big part of the recommendations made, but other areas to focus on may include stress relief, reducing toxicity, improving sleep hygiene, or optimisation of movement and exercise. Identifying underlying imbalances means that these can be addressed with nutrition, lifestyle, and environmental modifications, supporting health and well-being, and increasing vitality.