On this weeks Food for Thought I have nutritional lecturer Lesley Shepherd with me talking about Irritable Bowel Syndrome, giving your bacteria respect, how stress and sugar are one of the factors in IBS, and how the medical model struggles to support this type of chronic condition with the approach it has currently. We talk about how personalised medicine and nutrition has to be the way forward, and education is key in enabling people to take responsibility for their health. Wednesday 2pm and Saturday 1pm for the replay.
Biography
Lesley started her career as a bi-lingual secretary for an international law firm in Paris, France after graduating from Huddersfield University with a BA Hons in French & English. She left Paris to fulfil a lifetime ambition of travelling solo around the world, and on returning to England began a career in Corporate Communications within the aviation industry where she spent the next 18 years. It was during this time that her long-time latent interest in the science of nutrition and health was sparked into action following years of suffering with Irritable Bowel Syndrome. She embarked on a BSc Hons in Nutritional Therapy from Middlesex University graduating in 2012 with a first class honours. Her studies were pivotal in equipping her with the scientific knowledge to both investigate and successfully overcome her digestive health issues.
Lesley currently works full-time at the Centre for Nutrition Education & Lifestyle Management (CNELM) in Wokingham, UK, which is a collaborative partner of Middlesex University and where she studied for her nutrition degree. She holds the position of Communications Manager and Head of Level 5 on the BSc Hons Nutritional Science programme. She also lectures on the BSc programme and is Module Leader for the Applied Pathophysiological Reasoning module which looks at the aetiology and pathophysiology of chronic disease together with laboratory testing for disease. Her areas of special interest include digestive health, stress and adrenal fatigue and female hormone balance.
Lesley’s mission is to educate as many people as possible on the importance of diet and lifestyle on chronic disease so that they are equipped with the knowledge and power to get the best from their health. Based on the principle that everyone is biochemically unique, Lesley has set up www.unique-wellness.com, a one-stop shop for nutrition education aimed at those with no prior scientific nutritional knowledge. As the site develops, Lesley will be introducing interactive online courses and webinars designed to help people to make informed choices about what is the right diet for their unique biochemical needs, and what to do and where to go when they need specific help with their health.
You can sign up to Lesley’s free newsletter and regular updates at www.unique-wellness.com.