Dr Karin Elgar (Nutritional Therapist)
PhD, Dip ION, mBANT, NTCC, CNHC registered
I am passionate about the power of a diet and lifestyle natural to our bodies, and helping others experience the benefits of a nutritious diet. Whilst there are foods that can be detrimental to everybody’s health and some foods that will be health-giving to most people, I believe that there is not one fits all healthy diet, but nutritional needs are individual, based on someone’s genetic make-up, lifestyle and environment. As a nutritional therapist I work with the individual to establish such needs and define personalised nutrition plans.
My interest in healthy eating and sustainable agriculture started in my school days where I was inspired by a teacher who spent most of his lessons talking about healthy eating, the benefits of fasting and his part-time organic farm. But it wasn’t until I experienced myself many years later how dietary changes made a significant difference to my own health, that I decided to become a nutritional therapist and started a three year course at the renowned Institute for Optimum Nutrition, established by Patrick Holford. From there I graduated in 2004 and have since been practising as a nutritional therapist in the Greater Manchester area.
I have a particular interest in women’s health including optimizing hormone balance and pre-conceptual care and work closely with a consultant gynaecologist in these areas. My second area of specialization is maximizing energy and supporting a healthy stress response and I currently undergo some further training in supporting people in the recovery from ME and chronic fatigue syndrome.
I am a member of the British Association for Applied Nutrition and Nutritional Therapy (BANT) where I also serve on the Professional Practice Committee. I am a Senior Associate of the Royal Society of Medicine and registered with the Complementary and Natural Healthcare Council (CNHC) which is recognized by the Department of Health as the voluntary regulatory body for complementary therapists.
In addition to seeing individual clients I deliver talks and workshops on nutrition related topics and write regular nutrition features for local and national publications. Prior to becoming a nutritional therapist I followed a career in the pharmaceutical industry for eight years where I gained extensive medical knowledge. I hold a Masters Degree in Biology and a PhD in Physiology.
Being a keen hill-walker, I love the great outdoors and traveling, and try to get out and about with my husband and two young children whenever possible.