Brain Food and Nutrition Clinic

07/05/2026

*FREELY AVAILABLE* - Why are omega-3 (and omega-6) fats so vital for brain development - and what happens when they're lacking in pregnancy and early life?

Many thanks to Dr Simon Dyall for this expert presentation, to The Waterloo Foundation and YPMH: The Foundation For Young People's Mental Health for organising and hosting it, and to all of them for allowing us to share this recording via FAB's YouTube Channel.

⚠️ PLEASE WATCH - and SHARE, to help this important information reach the widest possible audience.

Dr Dyall explains clearly the critical roles of long-chain omega-3 (DHA and EPA) and omega-6 (arachidonic and adrenic acid) in shaping the developing brain and nervous system

- and how dietary intakes in pregnancy and infancy shape children's lifelong behavioural and mental - as well as physical - health outcomes.

He summarises:

🧠 How these fats help create brain cells, synapses, and myelin

🤰 Why the placenta actively concentrates these vital nutrients to get them to the unborn baby

⚠️ How preterm birth interrupts this supply during a critical developmental window

📊 The highest-level evidence, showing higher omega-3 intake in pregnancy reduces risks for preterm birth

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2WeeKTN-Wo0

07/05/2026

You can choose a convenient date and time and request an appointment online or in-person using this form. In-person consultations take place at Moseley Golf Club, Kings Heath. After submitting your request we will get back to you to confirm the appointment date and time. If you have any questions pl...

24/04/2026

In addition to a cognitive function test, which can pick up subtle changes in cognition many decades before a dementia diagnosis, there is value in having a blood biomarker test that can do something similar.

The perfect blood biomarkers to test for are those that, the changing of which, leads to less risk and actual benefit in those with cognitive decline. This is called a dynamic biomarker.

A recently published study in China - https://bit.ly/4mGmNji - looked at whether a person’s homocysteine level predicted their risk and degree of cognitive decline. They did this by taking Alzheimer’s disease patients classified as mild, moderate or severe on a cognitive test (MMSE) and compared them to healthy people of the same age.

As severity of Alzheimer’s went up, so did homocysteine. Those classified as mild had an average level of 16.8mcmol/l, those classified as moderate had a level of 21 and those classified as severe had a level of 26.

The authors conclude “These results demonstrate that serum Homocysteine level is a promising biomarker for assessing Alzheimer’s disease severity, offering significant potential for predictive assessment and monitoring in clinical practice.

The researchers gave all Alzheimer’s disease patients a standardized B vitamin intervention regimen for six months.

At the end of six months there had been a significant decrease in homocysteine levels in all three severity groups and their cognitive function, as measured on the MMSE scale, had improved. Also, their level of homocysteine at the start of the study correlated with their degree of improvement.

The authors conclude “This finding further supports the potential utility of serum Homocysteine as a dynamic monitoring indicator for tracking disease progression and treatment response in Alzheimer’s.” So, homocysteine is both a predictive biomarker and a dynamic biomarker in that lowering it results in cognitive and clinical improvement.

I sincerely hope that the growing and consistent evidence for homocysteine as a biomarker, and lowering it with B vitamins as a treatment, will be adopted by health care providers around the world.

Meanwhile, it is up to individuals to both test their cognitive function at https://bit.ly/40bnRma and also homocysteine level through a home-test kit, then take an appropriately dosed B vitamin supplement, such as Connect - https://www.holfordnutrition.com/product/patrick-holford-connect-60-capsules/



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22/04/2026

If you’re considering functional testing, you’ve probably come across names like GI360, DUTCH, Organic Acids (OAT) and SIBO.

These advanced tests can provide insights that routine bloodwork often misses, but how do you know which one is right for you?

This guide breaks down what each test does, who it’s most useful for and how they fit together.

GI360 Stool Test

Best for:

Persistent bloating, IBS, IBD, diarrhoea/constipation, food sensitivities, post-antibiotic gut issues.

What it shows:

Gut microbiome balance, digestive function, inflammation, pathogens (bacteria, parasites, yeast).
Why choose it: Ideal if you want a comprehensive view of gut health and digestion.

DUTCH Complete Hormone Test

Best for:

Perimenopause, menopause, PMS, fatigue, mood changes, sleep issues, HRT monitoring.

What it shows:

Oestrogen, progesterone, testosterone, cortisol rhythm, melatonin, hormone metabolism and neurotransmitter metabolites.

Why choose it:

Perfect for hormone balance questions and understanding how stress affects your health and hormones.

Organic Acids Test (OAT)

Best for:

Fatigue, brain fog, low mood, ADHD/autism support, neurological issues, yeast or bacterial overgrowth.

What it shows:

Energy production pathways, nutrient metabolism, detoxification markers, oxalate levels, neurotransmitter metabolites, microbial by-products.

Why choose it:

Excellent for exploring gut–brain connections and hidden nutrient needs. A good functional lab test for children as it gives a broad overview with just one urine sample.

SIBO Breath Test

Best for:

Daily bloating, excessive gas, IBS symptoms (diarrhoea, constipation, or alternating), poor response to elimination diets.
What it shows: Hydrogen and methane gas patterns produced by bacteria in the small intestine.

Why choose it:

Focused, non-invasive way to check for bacterial overgrowth in the small intestine.

Other Tests to Consider

Kryptopyrrole (Pyroluria) Test:

Can help explain anxiety, addiction issues, mood disorders, poor stress tolerance or focus issues linked to zinc/B6 imbalances.

Food Intolerance Testing:

Highlights IgG food reactions that can contribute to bloating, fatigue, mood or skin issues.

How to Choose the Right Test

Start with your main symptoms: gut, hormones, brain/mood, or metabolism.

Consider whether you need a broad overview (GI360 or OAT) or a focused test (SIBO, DUTCH).

Remember: sometimes a combination of tests gives the clearest picture.

For example:
GI360 + SIBO = full gut overview
DUTCH + OAT = hormones + energy/metabolism
GI360 + Food Sensitivity = digestion + potential triggers

14/04/2026

You’re in your late thirties, forties, or early fifties. You’re exhausted in a way that feels bone-deep. Your sleep is all over the place. You’re snapping at people you love and then feeling terrible about it. Your brain isn’t working the way it used to. And underneath all of it is a low hum of anxiety you just can’t switch off.

So what’s going on?

Is this burnout? Or perimenopause? Or both? Or one might be masking the other. Sometimes what looks like burnout is actually a hormonal shift, or vice versa.

It matters which it is, because the support for each looks quite different.

But it’s complicated, because these two experiences share a lot of the same symptoms and they frequently happen at the same time, in the same women, often for related reasons.

Here’s what we know..... 👇

11/04/2026

Wondering about functional testing?

If you’re considering functional testing, you’ve probably come across names like GI360, DUTCH, Organic Acids (OAT) and SIBO test. These tests provide insights that routine bloodwork often misses, but how do you know which one is right for you?

This guide breaks down what each test does, who it’s most useful for and how they fit together.

GI360 Stool Test

Best for: Persistent bloating, IBS, IBD, diarrhoea/constipation, food sensitivities, post-antibiotic gut issues.

What it shows: Gut microbiome balance, digestive function, inflammation, pathogens (bacteria, parasites, yeast).

Why choose it: Ideal if you want a comprehensive view of gut health and digestion.

DUTCH Complete Hormone Test

Best for: Perimenopause, menopause, PMS, fatigue, mood changes, sleep issues, HRT monitoring.

What it shows: Oestrogen, progesterone, testosterone, cortisol rhythm, melatonin, hormone metabolism and neurotransmitter metabolites.

Why choose it: Perfect for hormone balance questions and understanding how stress affects your health and hormones.

Organic Acids Test (OAT)

Best for: Fatigue, brain fog, low mood, ADHD/autism support, neurological issues, yeast or bacterial overgrowth.

What it shows: Energy production pathways, nutrient metabolism, detoxification markers, oxalate levels, neurotransmitter metabolites, microbial by-products.

Why choose it: Excellent for exploring gut–brain connections and hidden nutrient needs. A good functional lab test for children as it gives a broad overview with just one urine sample. Paediatric collection kits are available if your child is in nappies. Simply message us to request this when you place your order.

SIBO Breath Test

Best for: Daily bloating, excessive gas, IBS symptoms (diarrhoea, constipation, or alternating), poor response to elimination diets.

What it shows: Hydrogen and methane gas patterns produced by bacteria in the small intestine.

Why choose it: Focused, non-invasive way to check for bacterial overgrowth in the small intestine.

Other Tests to Consider

Kryptopyrrole (Pyroluria) Test:

Can help explain anxiety, addiction issues, mood disorders, poor stress tolerance or focus issues linked to zinc/B6 imbalances.

Food Intolerance Testing:

Highlights IgG food reactions that can contribute to bloating, fatigue, mood or skin issues.

How to Choose the Right Test

Start with your main symptoms: gut, hormones, brain/mood, or metabolism.
Consider whether you need a broad overview (GI360 or OAT) or a focused test (SIBO, DUTCH).

Remember: sometimes a combination of tests gives the clearest picture. For example:
GI360 + SIBO = full gut overview
DUTCH + OAT = hormones + energy/metabolism
GI360 + Food Sensitivity = digestion + potential triggers

The Role of Interpretation

If you need help putting your test results into context, I can help. Working with an experienced clinical nutritionist can make the difference when it comes to interpreting and applying the results. I have a degree in Nutritional Medicine, an MSc in Public Health Nutrition and over 15 years experience in interpreting functional tests. I interpret results in the light of your history and symptoms, then create a tailored nutrition plan that helps you move forward. You can book an initial consultation here.

Ready to Find the Right Test for You?

If you’re confused about which test will give you the answers you need, fill in the contact form below with your symptoms and goals and we’ll get back to you asap.

09/04/2026

Something that comes up almost every single week with clients is that they've had blood tests and they've been told everything's fine. And yet, they're exhausted, they can't shift weight no matter what they do, their mood is unpredictable and they just don't feel like themselves anymore.

And because the tests say normal, they start wondering if it's all in their head.

It's not.

Normal and optimal are not the same thing. And standard blood tests miss a lot, particularly when it comes to how your body is actually processing and using your hormones, not just what the levels look like on paper.

I've just published a new blog post going through 5 of the most common signs that your hormones are out of balance. I've also included a section on lipoedema - that disproportionate, painful fat that tends to sit on the legs and hips and doesn't respond to diet or exercise. It's still so underdiagnosed, and the hormonal link is something more women need to know about.

Link in the comments if you want a read 👇

06/04/2026

Tired of being told your bloods are "normal" when you know something isn't right?

The women I work with come to me after years of feeling exhausted, run-down, with erratic hormones and being told their results look fine. But standard blood tests only tell part of the story.

The DUTCH Complete Test is the gold standard in hormone testing. It goes far deeper than a standard blood panel. It measures not just your hormone levels, but how your body is actually processing and metabolising those hormones. That's where the real answers are.

It looks at:
✅ Oestrogen and its metabolites (crucial for cancer risk and detox)
✅ Progesterone and testosterone
✅ Your full cortisol pattern across the day
✅ Melatonin and sleep hormones
✅ Key nutrient markers affecting mood, energy and brain function
This is data and data means we can build a plan that's tailored to you.
👉 Find out more and order yours here:

https://brainfoodnutrition.co.uk/product/dutch-complete/

04/04/2026