Your questions, answered

Nutritional therapy applies nutrition science to support health, performance and individual care. Nutritional Therapists use a range of tools to assess and identify nutritional imbalances, and to understand how these may contribute to your symptoms and health concerns.

It's a complementary approach, practised alongside mainstream healthcare. It can help people who want to feel their best, as well as those living with chronic health conditions.

Functional medicine is a systems-based approach that focuses on you as an individual, not just your symptoms. I gather information about your health, diet and lifestyle, and piece the puzzle together to reveal the root causes of what you're experiencing.

Where helpful, I use functional lab testing to learn more about things like your gut bacteria, digestion, hormones or genetics. From there, I build a comprehensive plan to help you find relief.

A Nutritional Therapist is trained to degree level or higher in nutritional therapy or personalized nutrition, often with additional functional medicine training. In the UK, fully qualified Nutritional Therapists are registered with bodies such as BANT (British Association for Nutrition and Lifestyle Medicine) and CNHC (Complementary & Natural Healthcare Council). We provide personalized nutrition and lifestyle advice following a thorough assessment.

"Nutritionist" is not a protected title in the UK, so training varies widely. Dietitians are regulated healthcare professionals who usually work within hospitals and mainstream healthcare, often as the first point of nutritional care for conditions such as diabetes.

I'm a UK-registered Nutritional Therapist. I'm not a licensed dietitian, and I don't diagnose or treat medical conditions. I work alongside your doctor.

Before we start, you'll complete a detailed health questionnaire and a food diary. I then research your health concerns in depth and build your case using functional medicine, looking at how your body systems link together to find the likely root causes.

For example, around 70–80% of the immune system sits in the gut, so if you come to me for immune support, I'll often look at your gut health too. You'll then get a clear, phased plan and ongoing support. See my programs for full details.

It depends on your health and how quickly you progress. I'll give you the tools to make real improvements, but you're the one who puts them into action.

To keep it simple, I offer two programs: The Comprehensive (3 or 6 months of monthly consultations and support) and The Health Detective (a one-off full investigation with a 90-minute consultation, with the option of ongoing monthly support afterwards). If you have long-term or complex symptoms, a longer program usually works best. Not sure? Apply and we'll talk it through.

Functional lab testing goes deeper than standard medical tests. It looks at how your body is functioning, rather than only checking for disease, so we can explore the root causes of your symptoms.

• Comprehensive stool testing shows the bacteria, yeasts and parasites in your gut, plus markers of digestion, inflammation and gut lining health.
• Genetic testing shows how your body tends to work by default, such as detoxification, nutrient metabolism and hormone balance.
• Specialized blood testing can uncover nutrient imbalances, hormone patterns and markers of inflammation or metabolic health that aren't routinely checked.

No, testing is optional. I often find it reveals crucial information that speeds up progress, especially for complex, diagnosed conditions. Without testing, we can still make progress, but it may involve more trial and error.

Some basic tests may be available through your own doctor, and I'll suggest these where it makes sense. Comprehensive functional testing is usually private.

Yes. I work with labs in the UK, Europe and the US, and most tests are home kits shipped to you. I'll guide you through which tests are available in your country and how to complete them.

Yes. All consultations are online via Zoom, and I work with clients across the UK, US, UAE, Europe and Asia. I offer appointment times across several time zones, which you can see on the homepage.

Usually not. Functional nutrition is a private, self-funded service in most countries. Many of my clients see it as an investment in finally getting answers, with the time and depth that short insured appointments often can't give.

Prices are in British pounds (GBP). If you're paying from another country, your card provider converts the amount to your currency.

That's entirely up to you. I work alongside your doctor and any other healthcare practitioners, and I'm happy to write to them.

Nutritional therapy is not a substitute for medical advice. I can't make medical claims or diagnose conditions, and I'll always flag any "red flag" symptoms that need medical attention.

Yes. Laura Lam Nutrition Ltd and I are fully insured with Balens for professional liability and malpractice. As a member of BANT and CNHC, I follow a professional code of conduct and keep my training up to date through continuing professional development.