Health professionals say problems on the outside of our bodies can be traced to the inside. KERRY ANN EUSTICE finds out how nutritionists restore balance.

QUALIFICATIONS

I have a degree in biochemistry and a postgraduate diploma in nutrition. I need to constantly update my knowledge of these subjects through day courses and seminars because of advances in technology and science.

EARNING POTENTIAL

Nutritionists working full-time can earn around £40,000 per year.

PLACE OF WORK

Locksbottom Clinic.

HOURS

I work part-time, 9am to 1pm one day a week and sometimes one evening a month, if the clinic needs me to work extra hours.

WHAT IS YOUR TYPICAL DAY LIKE?

Patients make an appointment to see me. It's not like with a dietician where patients are referred by their GP - people come to me after they have tried other treatments for their health problems. These range from wanting to lose weight, allergies, eczema, asthma, fungal infections, bad digestion, arthritis and acne. To discover the cause of these problems I assess the individual to find out what is happening at a core level. Issues on the outside can be traced to the inside.To identify which nutrients are low or unbalanced I use kinensiology - a form of muscle testing. I can also get a nutritional profile from analysing hair. The body tells me what a patient needs and I work out how to get those nutrients back into the body for a set period, to see if it rectifies the problem.

The answer is not just to avoid the nutrients we have too much of, it is important to achieve a balance right for the individual. I believe in educating patients so they can manage their own nutrients and lifestyle.

WHY DID YOU DECIDE TO BECOME A NUTRITIONIST?

I was particularly interested in the science of food during my degree. I then read Let's Eat Well To Get Right by Adele Davis and found it really inspiring. She had made the transition from biochemist to nutritionist and it made me realise it was possible.

WHERE DO YOU WANT TO GO FROM HERE?

I'm interested in the research and promotion of glyconutrients. Scientists found these eight sugars were needed for the immune system to function properly.