Practitioner Q&A – Farzanah Nasser
Farzanah’s special areas of interest are autoimmunity, thyroid health, skin conditions, gut health, women’s health and stress management.
Farzanah uses personalised dietary interventions, functional testing and lifestyle medicine to move her clients forward to see big changes.
What brought you to nutrition:
When I was in my mid 20’s I was diagnosed with PCOS, I developed an ulcer an autoimmune condition and was on the verge of burnout. I didn’t want to take a pill for every issue I was experiencing and so retrained in nutritional therapy to try and find a way to rebalance my body naturally. I’ve managed to reverse all the above and now I can help my clients do the same.
What are your areas of interest in health & nutrition
The areas that I specialise in are female health, especially Hashimotos disease which is autoimmunity associated with the thyroid. Up to 90% of hypothyroidism is due to Hashimotos and many women are unaware of this. Luckily there is lots that can be done to support this condition.
What can clients expect from a consultation with you
During a consultation we do a deep dive into their medical history, symptoms experienced and food diary. I get a good understanding of each of my clients, what could be driving their health challenges and the root causes. From collecting all this information I am then able to write a health plan to support them on their journey.
What is your favourite health & nutrition book?
There are so many! Here are a few.
- Heal Your Oral Microbiome – Case Nelson because your GI tract starts in the mouth and oral health is so important when supporting gut health.
- Why do I still have thyroid symptoms if my TSH is normal – Datis Kharrazian because the majority of my clients have thyroid issues and this is a helpful book in allowing them to understand what is going on better.
- Fibre Fuelled – Dr Will Bulsiewicz because he helps you get more fibre in your diet which is so important for the gut and immune system.
Favourite on the go snack
Nuts! They are so each to carry with you when on the go and they are a perfect snack because they keep your energised and are loaded with healthy fats and protein which keep your blood sugar levels are balanced.
Favourite form of movement
I love walking. I try to get a short walk daily in nature. This is a simple and great way to support your microbiome and therefore immune health too. When I feel a cold coming on I slow down. I try and rest as much as possible and I will increase my vitamin D, vitamin C and take a probiotic. I will also make sure I am getting fresh air in the house: open the windows and diffuse some essential oil in the house to help kill any germs in the home.
One lesson I will take from the C19 pandemic
Balance. Life is all about balance and it’s important to slow down. If I could give one piece of advice it would be to create a morning routine. This can be so powerful in creating balance in the day and helping you achieve your health goals. It could be waking up at the same time each morning, journaling and eating a nourishing breakfast.
Get in touch to book a nutrition consultation with Farzanah