Nutrition in Adelaide CBD

Nutrition care starts with your usual intake, medical history, medicines, symptoms and goals. We consider dietary variety, energy and protein intake, and whether you are meeting your vitamin and mineral needs. Advice is adapted to your preferences, culture, budget and daily life.

Where a deficiency is suspected or already identified, we can review relevant results and develop a nutrition plan. This may involve dietary changes and an appropriate nutritional prescription, with follow-up testing or medical referral when indicated. Investigating why a deficiency has developed is as important as correcting intake.

Gastrointestinal (GIT) symptoms such as bloating, abdominal discomfort, wind, constipation and diarrhoea can have several contributing factors. We review symptom patterns, bowel habits, dietary intake and previous investigations, working alongside your GP or gastroenterologist where needed.

For diagnosed irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), dietary strategies can include adjusting fibre, meal patterns and individual triggers. A structured low-FODMAP approach may be appropriate for some people; it includes a short restriction phase, reintroduction and personalisation rather than permanent avoidance. We consider nutritional adequacy and your relationship with eating throughout care.

Constipation care may include reviewing the amount and type of fibre, fluid intake, meal regularity and factors such as medicines or an existing health condition. Fibre changes are introduced individually because increasing fibre quickly can worsen bloating for some people.

For diarrhoea, reflux, nausea or suspected food intolerance, we explore patterns and discuss suitable dietary strategies and whether further investigation is needed. Persistent or new symptoms warrant medical assessment; nutrition care can accompany investigation and treatment of an identified cause. Blood in the stool, unexplained weight loss or difficulty swallowing need prompt medical attention.

Microba testing uses a stool sample collected at home and DNA sequencing to describe the microorganisms in your gut, their relative abundance and their genetic potential for functions such as producing short-chain fatty acids. Depending on the test selected, additional gastrointestinal markers may be included.

Your practitioner can discuss whether testing has a useful role for your particular concerns, what the selected panel measures and how the findings might inform a nutrition discussion. Results are interpreted alongside symptoms, diet, medicines and standard investigations. A stool microbiome profile does not diagnose IBS or SIBO, and evidence for using these profiles to select treatments is still developing. Testing is considered individually rather than routinely recommended to everyone.

Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) describes an excess or alteration of bacteria in the small intestine associated with symptoms in some people. Bloating, wind, abdominal discomfort and diarrhoea can overlap with IBS and other conditions, so symptoms alone cannot confirm SIBO.

A breath test measures hydrogen and, where included, methane at intervals after a glucose or lactulose drink. Methane testing can also assess suspected intestinal methanogen overgrowth (IMO), which is associated with constipation. This is a different investigation from stool microbiome testing.

Preparation and interpretation matter: gut transit and other factors can affect results, and false positives and negatives occur. We discuss suitability and coordinate medical assessment and treatment when needed. A positive result is considered in the context of your history and other findings.

Bring any recent standard blood test results. We can review nutrition-related findings such as iron studies, vitamin B12 or folate alongside your history, and consider which further investigations may be relevant. Your GP or medical specialist may need to arrange or interpret investigations for an underlying medical condition.

Functional testing, including selected gut or other investigations, is considered when there is a clear question it may help answer. Before proceeding, we discuss the purpose, evidence, limitations and cost, and how the result could change your care. More testing is not always more useful.

Adequate nutrition helps maintain normal immune function. We assess dietary variety and intake of protein and nutrients such as zinc, iron and vitamins A, C and D, considering whether a deficiency or reduced intake needs attention.

Care can focus on practical nutrition during recovery, changes in appetite and meeting your needs when you are unwell. Supplements are selected for an identified need rather than routinely used to “boost” immunity. Recurrent or persistent illness should also be assessed by your GP.

Nutrition can form part of care for reproductive and metabolic health. PMOS—polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome, formerly called PCOS—is a hormonal condition that can affect menstrual cycles, metabolic health and other aspects of wellbeing.

For people with PMOS/PCOS, care may focus on sustainable eating patterns, metabolic health, adequate nutrients and individual goals alongside medical management. International guidelines support healthy lifestyle care and do not identify one specific diet as best for everyone. We avoid unnecessary restriction and tailor advice to your preferences and circumstances.

Preparing for pregnancy is relevant to both partners. We review eating patterns, nutrient intake, supplements and lifestyle factors, with attention to folate, iodine, iron, vitamin B12 and other needs appropriate to your circumstances. We can also work alongside your GP or fertility team.

Nutrition is involved in normal reproductive function, and research explores links between diet, sperm health and egg development. However, evidence does not establish that a particular diet or supplement reliably improves egg quality, sperm quality or the chance of a live birth for everyone. Our focus is correcting deficiencies and building a nutritionally adequate foundation before conception, without delaying appropriate fertility assessment.

Pregnancy changes your nutritional needs. We can help you plan meals and snacks, consider nausea or food aversions, and review nutrients important during pregnancy, including folate, iodine, iron, calcium and vitamin B12. Advice includes food safety and individual supplement needs.

Nutrition support complements your antenatal care. Existing medical conditions, significant vomiting, abnormal blood results or gestational diabetes require care with the relevant medical team. Your plan is adapted as your appetite, symptoms and pregnancy progress.

After birth, nutrition care can focus on recovery, replenishing low nutrient stores and making regular meals achievable. Breastfeeding increases energy and several nutrient requirements, so we consider protein, iron, iodine, calcium, vitamin B12 and overall dietary adequacy.

If you are concerned about “postpartum depletion”, we explore what you are experiencing and assess possible nutritional contributors rather than assuming one diagnosis. Fatigue can also relate to sleep, thyroid changes, mood or other medical factors. Support aims to reduce the risk of nutritional shortfalls while working with your GP and other postpartum care providers.

Diet and nutritional status can influence skin health, but the relationship differs between conditions and individuals. For acne, research suggests a lower-glycaemic eating pattern may help some people; findings are mixed, and nutrition care complements skin care and medical treatment.

Eczema is not routinely caused by diet, and broad food avoidance is not generally recommended. If a food allergy is suspected, medical allergy assessment is important. We can review dietary adequacy and confirmed nutrient deficiencies, and coordinate with your treating team rather than assuming a dietary cause.

Some people report symptoms associated with particular foods or naturally occurring food chemicals, such as salicylates or amines. Food intolerance differs from food allergy. We review your symptom history and whether a carefully supervised dietary trial is appropriate.

Where used, an elimination approach should be time-limited and followed by structured reintroduction to identify individual tolerance and maintain the widest practical diet. Suspected allergy and complex dietary restrictions may require an allergy specialist and an Accredited Practising Dietitian with relevant expertise.

Your first consultation explores your health history, eating patterns, symptoms, recent tests, medicines and supplements, as well as what you would like to achieve. Together, you develop practical steps and discuss whether any further assessment is needed.

Follow-up appointments review your progress and adjust the plan to your response and changing needs. You can bring recent results and a list of medicines and supplements. Nutritional prescriptions are individualised and checked in the context of your existing care.