VJ Hamilton: The Autoimmunity Nutritionist

VJ Hamilton: The Autoimmunity Nutritionist I'm VJ, and I am a Nutritionist and Autoimmune Disease Expert.

There is something that happens when you start to feel better.You forget.You forget what it felt like to drag yourself i...
17/06/2026

There is something that happens when you start to feel better.

You forget.

You forget what it felt like to drag yourself into work when every joint ached as though you had the flu, forcing a smile because no one could see what was happening inside your body.

You forget the pain in your wrists every time you tried to open a door. The exhaustion that became so overwhelming you couldn't think about anything except getting through the day. The skin reactions that seemed to appear out of nowhere, leaving you wishing you had something to hide behind.

That was my life throughout my twenties and into my early thirties.

Lunch was often a sandwich, crisps and a cake. Evenings were spent on the sofa with strawberry laces and Chipsticks while watching a film. Despite learning to cook when I was seven years old, I rarely made meals from scratch because by the time I got home from work, I simply didn't have the energy. Convenience became the easiest option.

Those years should have been the prime of my life.

Instead, I was desperately searching for answers.

Today, I choose not to forget those years.

I remember them because they remind me how far I've come. They remind me to be grateful for the version of me who refused to give up, who kept believing there had to be another way, and who made the difficult decision to change her life.

If you're living depleted, burnt out, and wondering whether this is just how life has to be, please know it doesn't have to stay this way.

Sometimes the first step isn't doing more. It's understanding why your body is asking for help in the first place.

If you're ready to begin, comment BURNOUT below and I'll send you my free 5-Day Burnout Reset Guide.

One of the most common conversations I have in clinic starts with someone telling me they've removed another food.First ...
15/06/2026

One of the most common conversations I have in clinic starts with someone telling me they've removed another food.

First it was gluten. Then dairy. Then eggs. Then tomatoes. Then nuts. Before long, they're left wondering what they can actually eat.

Sometimes removing a food is exactly the right thing to do. I have seen carefully planned elimination diets make a remarkable difference to symptoms. However, what concerns me is when the list of foods gets longer and longer, yet the symptoms remain.

At that point, I often ask a different question.

What if the food isn't the problem?

Or perhaps more accurately, what if the food is simply revealing that something else has changed beneath the surface?

Our ability to tolerate food isn't fixed. It can change with stress, poor sleep, gut infections, microbial imbalances, hormonal changes, nutrient deficiencies, mould exposure and chronic inflammation. The food hasn't necessarily changed. Your body's capacity to cope with it has.

This is why I rarely see elimination diets as the final destination. They're a tool that can provide valuable information, but lasting progress usually comes from understanding why your body has become more reactive in the first place.

The goal isn't to survive on fewer and fewer foods.

The goal is to build a healthier gut, a more resilient immune system, a calmer nervous system and a body that no longer feels the need to react so loudly.
If you've found yourself reacting to more and more foods, I hope this carousel reminds you that there may be another way to look at your symptoms.

💬 Comment TESTS if you'd like me to send you information about the functional tests I use in clinic to investigate gut health, digestion, inflammation, nutrient status and other root causes that may be contributing to food sensitivities.

Have you found yourself becoming reactive to more foods over time, or has your tolerance improved as your health has improved? I'd love to hear your experience below.

When I first developed alopecia at the age of seven, the first place my dad took me was the hairdressers.My hair was fal...
11/06/2026

When I first developed alopecia at the age of seven, the first place my dad took me was the hairdressers.

My hair was falling out and, understandably, that was where our attention went. When a symptom is visible, it is often the place we look first for answers.

From there, I saw a dermatologist. Later came appointments with other specialists as new symptoms emerged. Over the years, I would also be diagnosed with psoriasis, chronic fatigue syndrome and tendonitis.

Each practitioner was looking at the condition in front of them, and each had their own area of expertise. Yet I often found myself wondering who was looking at the bigger picture. Who was asking whether these conditions might be connected? Who was exploring why my immune system seemed to be struggling in the first place?

Looking back, I can see that my hair loss was not an isolated event. Instead, it was one part of a much bigger story involving my immune system, nutrient status, stress response, gut health and overall resilience.

This is something I now see regularly in clinic. Whilst every person is different and there is rarely a single cause, hair loss is often connected to a wider picture involving nutrient deficiencies, thyroid dysfunction, immune activity, gut health, hormonal shifts, stress, or a combination of several factors.

It is one of the reasons I rarely start by asking, "How do we regrow your hair?" Instead, I am far more interested in understanding why the body may be struggling to grow it in the first place.

Because when we begin to uncover and address the factors that may be contributing to the hair loss, we are often able to support not only healthier hair growth, but improvements in energy, digestion, resilience and overall health too.

Hair loss is rarely just about the hair.

If you would like to learn more about the root causes of hair loss and the approach I use in clinic, comment HAIR below and I'll send you my free guide.

One of the things I set for myself this year was to give back more.Not because I wasn't already trying to be kind, thoug...
10/06/2026

One of the things I set for myself this year was to give back more.

Not because I wasn't already trying to be kind, thoughtful, or considerate, but because life is busy, and I think acts of kindness can easily become something we intend to do rather than something we consciously make time for.

The truth is that recognising other people feels good.

Whether it's leaving a Google review for a small business, thanking a tour guide who made your day, complimenting someone on their dress, helping someone with their bags, sending a thoughtful message, or nominating someone for an award, these small actions have a ripple effect far beyond what we often realise.

Anything that creates connection, gratitude, and purpose is good for our health.
I learnt a long time ago that I feel my most content when I do something that genuinely makes someone else's day a little better. It's one of the reasons I love what I do. Seeing someone feel heard, understood, or hopeful again is incredibly rewarding.

Last week I attended the launch of the Flamingo Business Awards, and it was a wonderful reminder of the power of recognising people who are making a difference. There is something special about celebrating those who work hard behind the scenes, support others, and create positive change in their communities and industries.

These awards bring together some truly inspiring businesses, leaders, and judges, and I feel honoured to be involved.

So if you know someone who deserves recognition, nominate them.

You never know how much it might mean to them.

And chances are, it will make you feel pretty good too.

09/06/2026

One of my favourite moments from my recent podcast interview with Dan Brulé was his reminder that some of the most powerful tools for changing how we feel are completely free.

We often think we need something complicated to reduce stress. A supplement, a meditation app, a retreat, or another item on our to-do list. Yet our body already has built-in mechanisms designed to help us feel calmer and more regulated within minutes.

One of these is called the physiological sigh.

The technique is simple. Take a deep inhale through your nose, then before you exhale, take a second small sip of air in. Finally, slowly exhale through your mouth, allowing your jaw, shoulders and chest to soften as you breathe out.

Dan explained that emerging research suggests this simple breathing pattern may help lower stress levels, calm the nervous system, and create a greater sense of ease. It is one of the quickest ways to signal safety to the body.

This is particularly relevant if you are dealing with alopecia, an autoimmune condition, digestive symptoms, fatigue, thyroid issues, or chronic inflammation.

Stress is rarely the sole cause of these conditions, but it can be a significant contributor. When cortisol remains elevated for long periods, it can influence immune function, blood sugar balance, inflammation, sleep quality, and even the hair growth cycle. In clinic, I often find that people focus exclusively on food and supplements while overlooking the impact that a constantly activated nervous system may be having on their recovery.

The good news is that your nervous system is listening all day long. Every time you slow your breathing, relax your shoulders, or consciously pause, you are sending your body a message that it is safe.

So the next time you feel overwhelmed, before reaching for another coffee or pushing through the stress, try taking three physiological sighs. Sometimes the simplest tools are the ones we overlook.

Have you tried this before? I'd love to know how you get on.

If you feel like your body has been stuck in "fight or flight" for far too long, comment STRESS RESET and I'll send you a free guide to help you feel less overwhelmed.

Over the years, I have worked with hundreds of people who have spent months, and often years, trying to understand their...
05/06/2026

Over the years, I have worked with hundreds of people who have spent months, and often years, trying to understand their health.

They have changed their diet, tried supplements, listened to podcasts, seen practitioners, completed testing, and read countless articles, yet they still feel unsure about what is actually driving their symptoms and where they should focus next.

One of the things I hear most often is:

"I've got so much information, but I don't know what matters most."

When I design new services, I often ask myself one simple question:

What would have helped me most when I was struggling with my own health?

If I'm honest, it probably wasn't another supplement, another practitioner, or another health article.

What I really needed was someone to help me step back, look at the bigger picture, connect the dots, and show me where to focus my energy.

When I was living with alopecia, psoriasis, fatigue and digestive issues, there were times when I would have loved the opportunity to sit down with someone for several hours and ask every question that had been swirling around in my mind.

Someone who could help me understand not just what was happening, but why.

Someone who could help me understand the root causes rather than simply manage the symptoms.

That is one of the reasons I have created the Root Reset® Intensive.

This is a new private, in-person experience in London designed for those who want dedicated time to step back, look at the bigger picture, connect the dots, and create a personalised six-month strategy for improving their health.

Ahead of the session, I review your health history, blood work, food diary and any previous testing. Together, we identify potential root causes, review key systems such as gut, immune, hormone and energy health, and create a clear roadmap for moving forward.

Most importantly, this is not about giving you more information. It is about helping you understand what matters most.

I will be offering just eight Root Reset® Intensive appointments between July and September.

If you would like to learn more, comment INTENSIVE below and I will send you the details, or send me a direct message.

03/06/2026

What if one of the most powerful tools for calming inflammation, reducing stress, and supporting healing was something you already do 20,000 times a day?

In this week's podcast, I sat down with breathwork pioneer Dan Brulé to discuss why so many of us are living in survival mode without even realising it.

One thing he said really stood out:

"Every psychological state, every emotional state, every physiological state has a corresponding breathing pattern."

In other words, the way you breathe reflects how your body feels.

When we're anxious, overwhelmed, exhausted, or in pain, the breath often becomes shallow, restricted, or stuck. But the relationship works both ways.

By consciously practising breathing patterns associated with calm, relaxation, and safety, we can help move the body out of stress physiology and into a state that supports healing.

This is particularly important for those living with autoimmune disease, chronic fatigue, chronic pain, anxiety, or burnout, where the nervous system can become trapped in a constant state of vigilance.

We also discuss:

- Why mouth breathing may be affecting your health
- The link between breath, stress, and inflammation
- The surprising benefits of sighing and yawning
- Simple breathing practices you can start today
- How to become more aware of your breathing patterns

Comment JUST BREATHE below and I'll send you the link to the podcast.



I’ve just returned from the IFM Conference () in San Diego, and my notebook is full of ideas, insights, and inspiration ...
02/06/2026

I’ve just returned from the IFM Conference () in San Diego, and my notebook is full of ideas, insights, and inspiration that I’m excited to bring back into the clinic.

One of the most memorable sessions was from , who shared some incredibly moving stories about the experiences that shaped his life's work. As he celebrated his 80th birthday during the conference, it was a powerful reminder of what healthy ageing can look like when you truly invest in your health. Functional medicine certainly seems to be working for him.

There were so many outstanding presentations throughout the event. I loved the discussion on hormones and healthy ageing from Annina Burns, the fascinating deep dive into immunometabolism in children from Chris Magryta, and the sessions exploring the connections between gut health, immunity, and chronic disease from Leigh Frame and Lara Zakaria ().

Another standout was the roundtable discussion led by on building truly multidisciplinary healthcare teams. As someone who believes the best outcomes come from looking at the whole person rather than isolated symptoms, this really resonated with me.

It was also a genuine privilege to meet , whose work has inspired so many people living with autoimmune disease. I can't wait to read her upcoming book.

What struck me most, however, wasn't a single piece of science or a new protocol. It was the recurring theme of purpose. Time and again, speakers returned to the importance of knowing your "why"—the deeper reason behind the work you do, the choices you make, and the life you want to create.

There was also a huge emphasis on something I speak about regularly with clients: health is about far more than food. Nutrition matters enormously, but so do stress resilience, nervous system regulation, vagal tone, meaningful relationships, movement, sleep, purpose, and joy.

I'm returning home feeling grateful, energised, and more committed than ever to improving the experience, support, and outcomes I provide for my clients.
If there is one thing this conference reinforced, it's that true health is not simply the absence of symptoms. It's having the energy, resilience, and capacity to live a life that feels meaningful to you.

Comment STRESS RESET below if you'd like more information on improving your stress resilience, supporting your nervous system, and building greater capacity to handle life's challenges.

One word I would use to describe many of my clients is tenacious.Not because they are constantly pushing harder or tryin...
29/05/2026

One word I would use to describe many of my clients is tenacious.

Not because they are constantly pushing harder or trying to force their bodies to heal, but because they refuse to give up. They know there is a better version of health available to them, even when they feel overwhelmed, exhausted, frustrated, and unsure where to turn next.

By the time many people find me, they have often spent years searching for answers. They have tried countless diets, supplements, practitioners, tests, and protocols. They are carrying the weight of disappointment as much as the weight of their symptoms.

I knew Lotta was one of those people from the very beginning.

In many ways, she reminds me a little of myself. Curious. Determined. Willing to keep looking beneath the surface when the obvious answers were not enough.

Over the past year, that determination, combined with the right investigations, personalised support, and a clear plan, has paid off. Not through struggle, deprivation, or endless restriction, but through transformation.

Yes, her hair has regrown.

But what stands out to me even more is the confidence she has regained, the trust she has rebuilt in her body, and the way her life has evolved alongside her health.

One of the greatest privileges of this work is seeing clients reach a point where they begin sharing their own stories to help others. That is exactly what Lotta is doing now.

Thank you, Lotta, for allowing me to share a small part of your journey.

You can hear more from Lotta and follow her story here: .momentum

When I was younger, trying to make sense of the world while living with fatigue, psoriasis, alopecia, an unsettled home ...
28/05/2026

When I was younger, trying to make sense of the world while living with fatigue, psoriasis, alopecia, an unsettled home life, and putting far too much pressure on myself at school, I discovered Marilyn Monroe.

After studying her in depth for a school project, it wasn’t the blonde bombshell image that drew me in most. It was the poetry I discovered she had written. At that time, writing became an outlet for my own emotions too, and in many ways it still is.

I have always felt that Norma Jeane was deeply misunderstood, and far more intelligent, sensitive, and talented than she was often given credit for. Beneath the Hollywood image was someone navigating vulnerability, pressure, loneliness, and identity in a world that constantly wanted her to be something else.

So it felt incredibly special to visit Hotel del Coronado in San Diego, where Some Like It Hot was filmed, and be reminded of a period in my life when I watched that film on repeat. Sometimes films become more than entertainment. They become comfort, escapism, inspiration, or even a quiet reminder that someone else understands emotions you cannot yet put into words yourself.

What films did you love growing up? I’d genuinely love to know. Sometimes movies carry us through difficult chapters of our lives in ways we do not fully appreciate until years later.

Address

Harrogate

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when VJ Hamilton: The Autoimmunity Nutritionist posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Business

Send a message to VJ Hamilton: The Autoimmunity Nutritionist:

Shortcuts

Share

Category