Naturopathic Nutrition

Naturopathic Nutrition is holistic and preventative in approach.  We look at symptoms within the context of the whole body, to seek out their root cause.  I work with clients on a dynamic level to help restore and maintain the natural balance of the body.  

No two people are the same and Charlotte Fraser Naturopathic Nutrition tailors every programme to your individual needs and circumstances.

 

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Why might I need to look at my diet?

Mass food production,  globalisation and disruption to our eco balance is having a serious repercussion on the nutritional health of humans.  There is a big gap in the nutritional status of most people today, and that’s before we even take into account individual genetic inheritance and lifestyle factors.   

Our food choices are more often determined by their colour, taste, texture and calorie content, rather than for their nutritional value.   

When did you last pay attention to the warning lights on your dashboard?  Do you feel tired all the time?  Do you suffer from constant headaches.  Constipation?  Is your lower back pain really just down to sitting at your desk all day?    It is just so easy to dismiss these things as we distract ourselves in our busy lives.    

Often, it is only with the diagnosis of a more serious health condition – when the proverbial tyre falls off the car and stops us in our tracks- that we seek help.  Even then, most people often just treat the immediate symptoms.  This is often just a short term fix.  

If you’re an alive body, no one can tell you how to experience the world. And no one can tell you what truth is, because you experience it for yourself. The body does not lie.”

Stanley Coleman
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Identifying and Bridging the ‘Nutrition Gap’

The nutrition gap describes the difference between the levels of nutrients you are getting from your daily diet, and those nutrient levels identified by scientific research as necessary for OPTIMAL health in the population. Many people don’t get the level of essential nutrients required for health and protection on a day-to-day basis, and the short-fall adversely impacts health, now and longer term.

Aside from dietary intake, various factors contribute to nutrient shortfalls. These include: food choices within any 24-hour, seven-day window; the source of the food; the nutrient content of the food we eat; the bodies ability to assimilate the nutrients; our fitness and movement levels; and lifestyle factors, e.g. stress, alcohol, smoking, medications – these all pull more heavily on our nutrient ‘bank balance’. Sometimes nutrient imbalances arise from trial-and-error over-the-counter purchases of supplements and this can also be costly.

Wherever and as much as possible, we work with foods easily sourced in local supermarkets and farm shops. However, it may be necessary to prescribe supplements to achieve the necessary therapeutic effect, and/or to bridge any significant ‘nutrition gap’ identified. In that event, I work with Food State and Wholefood supplements.

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Cognitive assessments to objectively measure 

With the close association between gut and brain health, Charlotte Fraser integrates cognitive assessments in her nutrition consultations to measure how your brain is doing over time. As part of your nutrition programme, we will objectively check up on areas such as memory, attention, reasoning, and verbal ability—all cognitive abilities you need to function optimally in everyday life. This is not an IQ test—it’s a quick check-up on how you are doing today, like a blood pressure cuff for your brain.

The cognitive test is tailored to your individual needs. There are also assessments for specific conditions. For example: ADHD, Anxiety, Autism, Early Alzheimer’s, Depression, Dyslexia, Menopause, Sleep, Stress, Stroke, Multiple Sclerosis, Non-Alzheimer’s Dementia, Parkinson’s, PTSD, and Verbal Ability.

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Creyos (formerly known as Cambridge Brain Sciences)

Why is measuring cognitive health important?

One person’s interpretation of ‘I’m fine’ can be very different to another person’s. We all have a subjective idea of how our brains are doing—some days we feel “off” or have “brain fog”, while other days we feel like we can take on the world.   But how much better are we on the good days? Are lifestyle or health changes making a difference? That’s where cognitive assessing comes in. By putting a number to these subjective feelings, we can discover what is causing the good days in order to have more of them. When your brain is performing, every activity in your daily life will be easier, from remembering where you parked your car, to planning out the layout to your new room, to completing your work assignments on time.

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An engaging and scientifically-validated cognitive assessment

Charlotte Fraser Naturopathic Nutrition uses a leading cognitive assessment platform, Creyos Health, formerly known as Cambridge Brain Sciences, to quickly measure brain health. These measures help us scientifically assess, monitor, and manage core areas of cognition to ensure that your treatment programme is on the right track.

Validated by decades of scientific research, Creyos Health measures the most important aspects of cognition. Performance is directly linked with the areas of your brain that are active when you are at your sharpest. But more importantly, the tasks are fun, and only take 1.5 – 3 minutes each to complete. Now, not only will you feel better, but you can objectively , scientifically track how your brain is responding to your nutrition and wellness programme.  You can complete the Creyos Health assessments online from the comfort of your own home. View a sample Creyos Health cognitive health report here.

What is Naturopathic Nutrition?

Naturopathic Nutrition works with the individual’s efforts towards the promotion, restoration and maintenance of health.  This means that we also place a great emphasis on preventative health.

Health is more than ‘the absence of disease’. Disease ensues when the body’s homeostasis, or self-regulating system is disrupted. Then the body develops an acute response in its attempt to restore health, often demonstrated through enhanced processes of elimination. Suppressing these healing processes can contribute to the potential for chronic (longer term) breakdown, inflammation and disease.

A Holistic Approach

In Naturopathic Nutrition, the education and cooperation of the patient is fundamentally important and contributes to the success of the treatment process. The patient is assisted in examining his or her lifestyle and making healthier choices which, in turn, is established on a cellular level by means of appropriate nutritional support.

Charlotte Fraser works with clients on a physiological, physical, mental and emotional level. This is because optimum health and wellbeing depends on a multitude of factors and reflects a harmonious interaction with our environment.

The universe is exactly the way we think it is and that’s why.”

John Woods 

We need nourishing food, clean water, fresh air and sunlight, as well as lots of movement, rest and relaxation, to maintain health. However to truly thrive, we also need positive relationships, creative fulfilment and mental stimulus.

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Photo Credit: Nick Beal

“Every gut microbiome is unique.  Truly the embodiment of all our individual genetic, physical, mental,  emotional,  environmental, social, and cultural experiences”

Charlotte Fraser 

Core values of Naturopathic Nutrition are:

  • Healing Power of Nature: a ‘vital force’ underpins the body’s self-healing or self-correcting mechanisms.
  • Triad of Health: the connection and interaction between the structural, biochemical and mental/emotional components of all living beings. Dysfunction in one area will lead to disruption elsewhere.
  • Uniqueness of the Individual: people are genetically, biochemically, structurally and emotionally different from one another. Each person responds in a unique way to influences, be they mental, emotional, nutritional, social or cultural.

Contact Charlotte Fraser today to book an appointment to review your current state of health and well being, as well as to devise an individually-tailored nutrition plan.

Health Conditions

Charlotte Fraser works in partnership with you to help you achieve and maintain optimum physical and emotional/mental health and wellbeing.

Charlotte is particularly well known for her work surrounding Gut Health (treating digestive problems such as IBS, leaky gut syndrome, etc, as well as chronic, autoimmune diseases such as Ulcerative Colitis and Crohn’s Disease . She has also had significant success working with clients diagnosed with chronic fatigue, Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (M.E.), anxiety, depression, and fertility problems.

She works with clients to help treat the following health conditions:

  • Anxiety
  • Attention deficit and hyperactivity (ADHD)
  • Auto-immune diseases
  • Chronic Fatigue Syndrome / Myalgic Encephalomtelitis ( CFS / ME )
  • Brain and Cognitive Health
  • Depression
  • Gut health and digestive disorders (for example: IBS, Crohn’s Disease & Ulcerative Colitis)
  • Fertility assistance
  • Food intolerance
  • Headaches / migraines
  • High Cholesterol
  • Hormonal imbalances
  • Insomnia
  • Joint disorders
  • Long Covid
  • Low energy. For instance, do you suffer from TATT (do you feel ‘tired all the time’)?
  • Peri / Menopause
  • Parkinson’s Disease
  • Premenstrual stress / Premenstrual tension (PMS / PMT)
  • Skin conditions (for example: Acne, Eczema and Psoriasis)
  • Stress management
  • Type 2 Diabetes
  • Thyroid problems
  • Weight loss and management
  • Weakened immunity
  • Scientific cognitive health assessments are integrated and valuable for monitoring and evaluating progress in treating a wide range of health conditions.

    GAD-7 assessments provide a measure of general anxiety symptoms.

    PHQ-9 assessments are available to facilitate screening, diagnosing, monitoring and measuring the severity of depression. 

    The PSS assessment measures levels of perceived stress.

    There are also specific screens for ADHD, Autism and PTSD amongst others.

    “It is a new day for a new thought, new identity, new ideas, new steps and new breathe! We may choose to repeat the mistakes of yesterday or think of the lessons from the mistakes of yesterday. We may choose dwell on the fortunes or misfortunes of yesterday or think of what we can do with the fortunes or misfortunes of yesterday today! We may choose to continue or discontinue the steps we took yesterday today. Life is here today and we must think of what we can do today for today was the vision of yesterday and the true foundation of tomorrow!”

    – Ernest Agyemang Yeboah –


    Testing

    Charlotte Fraser Naturopathic Nutrition offers the following testing, scientific assessments and health screens:

    Food Intolerance Testing

    Providing instantaneous results, this food intolerance testing method is simple, non-invasive and helps isolate potentially problem foods, drinks and additives. We test over 80 different substances. A vitamin and mineral analysis is included alongside basic nutritional counselling.

    The food intolerance testing involves a bio-electronic analyzer which measures the body’s electrical resistance to individual foods. Problem substances affect the body’s electrical resistance and register in a lower reading. The test is completely painless. it is best described as a ball point pen touching the tip of your finger upon a acupuncture point.

    You may benefit from Food intolerance Testing if you experience the following:

    • Low energy and fatigue
    • Bloating
    • Diarrhoea / constipation
    • Food cravings
    • Heartburn / nausea
    • Headaches / migraines
    • Joint pain / swollen ankles
    • Respiratory symptoms (sinusitis, runny nose, asthma, itchy throat )
    • Skin complaints (Eczema, spots, hives)
    • Sinus problems / catarrh / mucous
    • Sleep problems

    This test is suitable for all ages, including babies and children. It isn’t suitable for pregnant women or individuals fitted with a pacemaker.

    Scientific Cognitive Health Assessments

    With the close correlation between gut and brain health, Charlotte Fraser integrates cognitive performance assessments in her nutrition consultations to measure how your brain is doing over time. Her nutritional therapy includes a quick, fun series of tasks that objectively measure your memory, reasoning, verbal ability, and attention—all facets of cognition that are important in your everyday life.

    The cognitive test is tailored to the individual needs of every client. There are also specific assessments for certain health conditions. For example: Adult ADHD, Anxiety, Autism, Early Alzheimer’s, Depression, Menopause, Sleep, Stress, Stroke, Multiple Sclerosis, Non-Alzheimer’s Dementia, and Parkinson’s.

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    Creyos (formerly known as Cambridge Brain Sciences)

    Why Measure Cognition?

    There is an old saying that “if you can’t measure it, you can’t manage it,”and this applies to health and wellbeing too. We all have a subjective idea of how our brains are doing—some days we feel “off” or experience “brain fog,” while on other days we feel like we can take on the world. But how much better are we on the good days? And are lifestyle or health changes making a difference?

    That’s where cognitive assessment comes in. By quantifying or putting a number to these subjective feelings, we can discover what is causing the good days in order to have more of them.

    An engaging and scientifically-validated Cognitive Assessment Test

    We assess, monitor, and manage core areas of cognition to ensure that your nutrition programme is on the right track. You complete the assessment online prior to your consultation.

    The tasks assess aspects of cognition including reasoning, memory, attention and verbal ability.   

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    Is this an IQ Test?

    NO! We aren’t testing IQ! Think of it more like a blood pressure cuff for your brain. There’s no judgment, and the goal is progress over time, because we acknowledge that brain health changes from day to day. That’s why we believe we can improve or maintain your performance through improvements to both nutrition and lifestyle, and include cognitive assessments as an integral part of the programme.

    Are cognitive assessments really relevant to me?!

    Cognitive health affects almost every part of your life. Even conditions traditionally viewed as physical, like pain or constipation, can effect cognition, and vice-versa. You’re not thinking well if you’re not feeling well.

    What do results look like?

    A sample Creyos Health Cognitive report is available here. The report is easy to read and understand. It becomes more valuable with each additional assessment, shows your progress and lets you know when meaningful changes occur.

    More detailed information on the Creyos Health Cognitive Assessment is available here.

    Health Screens

    PHQ-9 Assessment for Depression

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    The PHQ-9 is a simple, 9-question instrument for screening, diagnosing, monitoring and measuring the severity of depression.  The assessment is online and takes 3 minutes to complete.

    Endorsed by leading health organisations and the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), PHQ-9 is one of the most used depression screens among Primary Care workers, clinicians and researchers.

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    GAD-7 Assessment to Measure Anxiety Levels

    The GAD-7 is a measure of general anxiety symptoms.

    The GAD-7 evaluation, together with the Creyos Health cognitive assessment and PHQ-9 gives insight into your cognitive, emotional and mental health.   Scientifically-validated, these assessments provide quantifiable evidence to further inform your nutrition programme.  

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    The PSS (Perceived Stress Scale)

    A multipurpose instrument for objectively determining severity of perceived stress symptoms and allowing for the monitoring of symptom changes and effects of treatment over time. Results from the PSS are used in conjunction with clinical judgement and other data.

    The Creyos Health cognitive assessment, together with the PHQ-9 and GAD-7 form a powerful quartet. Together they can be used as key outcome measures and mid-point check-ins to evaluate and customise your nutrition programme. Stress and how we perceive it or respond to it is integral to gut health.

    Autism Spectrum Quotient (AQ)

    A diagnostic questionnaire designed to measure the expression of Autism-Spectrum traits in an individual, by his or her own subjective self-assessment.

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    ASRS Screen for ADHD in Adults (over 16 Years)

    A short screening scale for measuring symptoms consistent with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) for adults. A total score is presented alongside raw responses, trends over time, and other contextual information to help you understand the results. We assess this in conjunction with the results of select cognitive tasks in the Creyos Health Assessment.

    Strengths and Weaknesses of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Symptoms and Normal Behavioural Scale (SWAN)

    An 18- question parent or teacher rating scale to assess for the indication of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder in children.

    Vanderbilt ADHD Diagnostic Rating Scale (VADRS)

    A psychological assessment tool for parents of children aged 6 to 12 years. It is designed to measure the severity of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms. In addition, this rating scale includes items related to other disorders which are frequently co-morbid with ADHD, such as anxiety and depression.

    RPQ Rivermead Post-Concussion Symptoms Questionnaire

    An assessment of the presence and severity of various post-concussion symptoms. The questionnaire assesses patients’ psychosocial functioning post-concussion, targeting physical, cognitive and behavioural domains. 

    PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5)

    The PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5) is a 20-item self-report measure that assesses DSM-5 symptoms of PTSD.

    Biography

    Charlotte Fraser BA Hons, Dip. NNP, Dip. AIT, mANP

    Charlotte Fraser is an award-winning registered Naturopath and nutritionist with over twenty years of experience working in the health, nutrition and wellness sector.  

    Holistic in approach, Charlotte works dynamically with the client on a physiological, physical, mental and emotional level to help achieve sustainable, long term health and wellbeing. Awareness is, Charlotte believes, 90% of the cure. She places considerable emphasis on helping clients to gain better self-knowledge and understanding.

    The Prestige Awards named Charlotte ‘Nutritionist of the Year – South England’ two consecutive years: 2021/22 and 2022/23.

    In 2022, CEO Today Magazine awarded Charlotte ‘Nutrition & Holistic Health Leader of the Year’, recognising her as one of 8 “rising talents and disruptive visionaries” in the UK healthcare sector. She was also awarded ‘Best Holistic Nutrition Healthcare Provider 2023’ in the SME Greater London Enterprise Awards.

    Charlotte’s interest in nutrition stems from her own personal experience treating a chronic health condition.  She was diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis (pan-colitis) when she was 23 years old. It was during that classic ‘transition’ time of leaving home, university and embarking on a career in London.  Repeat flare-ups followed by long, debilitating spells in hospital, compelled Charlotte to explore alternative health therapies and approaches.  Her journey took her to many of the world’s leading spas and medical detox clinics. Her interest in the mind/body connection led to further exploration through both psychodynamic and transpersonal psychotherapy. Charlotte’s integrates her further study of Traditional Chinese Medicine in her own practice alongside scientific cognitive testing.

    Charlotte found really tangible and meaningful results through nutritional therapy, also in adopting a different mindset and more holistic approach.  She went onto qualify with Diplomas in Naturopathic Nutrition (2005) and Food Intolerance Testing (2008), and a TQUK Level 2 Certificate in ‘Understanding Behaviour that Challenges’ (2022). She also has a DBS Enhanced Certificate.

    Association of Naturopathic Nutritionists
    Charlotte Fraser is a Registered Naturopath with the General Naturopathic Council

    The Gut Health Wheel ©

    The Gut Health Wheel © is a complete synthesis of all Charlotte’s clinical experience and years of research. Wholly unique, this graphic integrates signs and symptoms (physical, cognitive, emotional, psychological and behavioural), contextualising them within disease pathways and vitamin and mineral deficiencies. The wheel integrates TCM, western medicine and the latest scientific research.

    Charlotte developed The Gut Health Wheel © to help clients become more their own expert and understand their healing journey.

    The Gut Health Wheel © Charlotte Fraser Naturopathic Nutrition 2023

    The Whole Student Programme ©

    In 2021, Charlotte founded The Whole Student Programme © to provide holistic health and wellbeing support to students aged 12-19 to help them prosper in health, life and in their learning.   Country & Town House Magazine has featured Charlotte in their “Wellness A-Team” among nine “transformation specialists to dial-up for extra A-grade support.”

    Writing and Commentary

    A keen writer, Charlotte has written a nutrition column for Country House Magazine (now Country & Town House Magazine) and edited the ‘Success Stories’ for the European Rolfing® Association. She’s also contributed to BBC Radio Kent Live, City AM, Richmond Magazine, The Telegraph Magazine, The Sydney Morning Herald, High50, Harper’s Bazaar, ELLE, and Essential Surrey.

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    Charlotte Fraser
    BA Hons, Dip. NNP,
    Dip. AIT, mANP

    In addition to her nutrition practice, Charlotte serves as an Associate at Think Healthy Me which is dedicated to enhancing the well-being of individuals in East Kent. She also works with Glowing Flow Wellness Specialists and the award-winning destination spa, Preidlhof in Italy.

    Charlotte Fraser is a Registered Naturopath regulated by The General Naturopathic Council and member of The Association of Naturopathic Practitioners.

    She is an Ambassador for The College of Naturopathic Medicine.

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