All About Caren!
I became a nutritionist because I'm genuinely obsessed with food!
I honestly believe that the right food, eaten in the right way for our body, can make a profound difference to how we feel every day. Every week I see first hand how much difference the right nutrition advice can make to how someone feels.
Warning: if you ever want to get me talking, ask me about blood sugar - I could go on for hours!
What I love most about my job, after 15 years it still hasn't got old, is when a client realises that eating well doesn't have to be complicated or boring and eating nourishing food brings so much joy because it makes us feel good.
Nutrition is one of those subjects I find endlessly fascinating there's always something new to learn, always a connection to make between what someone is eating and how they're feeling
My Background
I studied Nutritional Medicine at the University of West London when my children were little. It was a part time six year science-based degree that covered the full breadth of clinical nutrition, functional medicine and the underlying causes of health conditions rather than just their symptoms. It's a rigorous qualification and one I'm proud of.
I've now been in clinical practice for over 15 years, working with hundreds of clients across a wide range of health concerns. Over that time my focus has increasingly centred on women's health in midlife - the hormonal changes, metabolic shifts and symptoms that arrive in our 40s and 50s and that mainstream nutrition advice often handles frustratingly poorly.
I'm registered with both BANT (the British Association for Nutrition and Lifestyle Medicine) and CNHC (the Complementary and Natural Healthcare Council) - both of which require practitioners to meet ongoing standards of education, ethics and clinical practice.
I also work with clients who are taking GLP-1 medications such as Mounjaro and Wegovy — helping them eat well on a reduced appetite, maintain muscle mass and build habits that support their health long beyond medication.
All of my consultations take place online via Zoom, which means I work with clients across the UK - not just locally in Penarth and Cardiff.
Why I Specialise in Women's Health in Midlife
A few years ago I went through perimenopause and I'll be honest despite being a nutritionist it still caught me completely off guard.
Weight was creeping on, my energy had quietly disappeared and my mood was doing things I didn't entirely recognise. I knew what was happening hormonally but that didn't make it any less frustrating to experience.
What helped most was going back to basics looking at my diet, my blood sugar balance, my sleep, my stress levels and making some targeted changes. Things shifted, not overnight, but I did get myself back on track. It did reinforce to me that our nutritional needs don’t stay the same, what was working for me in my 30s and early 40s was definitely not what I needed in perimenopause!
That experience gave me a much deeper understanding of what my clients go through not just clinically but personally. When a woman tells me she feels like her body is working against her, I know exactly what she means and I know that it doesn't have to stay that way.
My Approach
I don't do restrictive diets, calorie counting or banned food lists - life is too short for that and the evidence suggests they don't work long term anyway.
What I do instead is take the time to understand what's actually going on for you. Your health history, your lifestyle, your eating patterns, your hormones and build a practical, enjoyable way of eating that fits around your real life. That means food from a normal supermarket, meals you can make on a busy Tuesday evening and an approach that doesn't fall apart the moment you go out for dinner or someone brings cake into the office.
I also think food should be something we look forward to and take pleasure in. If your meal plan isn’t enjoyable there is no way you are going to stick with it long term.
Qualifications and Professional Membership
BSc Nutritional Medicine University of West London
Registered Nutritionist BANT (British Association for Nutrition and Lifestyle Medicine)
Registered Practitioner CNHC (Complementary and Natural Healthcare Council)
I'm committed to keeping my knowledge current and regularly attend training programmes, seminars and conferences to stay up to date with the latest nutrition research and clinical practice.
I am passionate about the benefits that a good diet can have on your health.
Chat with me
Please give me a call if you have any questions or would like to discuss whether a nutrition consultation is appropriate for you.