WELCOME TO
Whole Mind Health
An online clinic that helps people get to the bottom of their symptoms using functional medicine, nutrition science and lifestyle medicine
Hi, I’m Anastasia
I’m a registered nutritionist and a certified functional medicine practitioner.
I empower people with evidence-based knowledge in nutrition research, functional testing and lifestyle approaches to tackle chronic health symptoms.
Many of my clients have endured years of being passed on from one doctor to another, never finding the answers to debilitating symptoms, such as fatigue, brain fog, digestive issues, pain, autoimmunity and hormone dysfunction.
Whilst allopathic medicine has a time and a place, it often fails to look ‘upstream’ and instead focuses ‘downstream’ on treating symptoms, without addressing the root causes of poor health.
I help my clients identify the underlying drivers of their illness using cutting edge functional testing and support them in making profound, long-lasting changes to their diet and lifestyle.
About My Services
My Approach
My approach is in identifying the root cause(s) of your symptoms. And by doing so, I look at you as a whole human being, rather than a compartmentalised entity.
1:1 Consultation
My 1:1 consultations feature a comprehensive mix of support. If you want to find out more about how I can help you, please get in touch with me so we can talk about your concerns and health goals
Functional Testing
Functional tests are comprehensive measurements based on blood, saliva, urine or stool samples, that combine standard and innovative biomarkers of health.
Symptoms I can help you with
Digestive problems
Hormonal imbalances
Mental health symptoms
Neurological issues
Skin problems
Fatigue
Common conditions I address
Autoimmune Disease
Chronic Fatigue
Cognitive Decline
Irritable Bowel Syndrome
What They Say About Me
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“Before working with Anastasia I had an adverse reaction to tapering off antidepressant medication too quickly which resulted in side effects including digestive problems, drastic weight loss, anxiety, depression, insomnia, sweating and blurred vision. After researching side effects from antidepressant withdrawal I decided to reinstate my medication and stabilise on them before attempting a slower tapering method that would enable my brain to repair itself from the damage of years of antidepressant use. With testing, Anastasia was able to identify an issue and support it with supplementation and making dietary changes so now I can taper off medication without experiencing severe side effects. Anastasia knows her field very well and strives to learn new research and knowledge which in turn makes me feel well advised and supported.”
JONATHAN, 31 YRS, DEPRESSION AND ANXIETY
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“I can’t recommend Anastasia highly enough. After taking you on as a client, she remains committed through both the consultation process and all the aftercare, where she takes a real interest in how you’re continuing to do. I came to her suffering from severe insomnia due to coming off prescription medication (too quickly). She advised me to return to taking it and to taper more slowly with nutritional and supplement support. This advice proved invaluable, as I was dangerously sleep deprived. After diagnostic testing she helped me to make dietary changes which have seen invaluable mental benefits. After two weeks I had more energy and the cloud of depression lifted. I’ve been bouncing around, feeling great ever since. I would recommend Anastasia and Whole Mind Health to anyone who wants to find vitality in health.”
ANNA, 46 YRS, PARANOID SCHIZOPHRENIA
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I used to suffer from migraines that were so intense, I couldn't stand up from bed, drive, eat, or enjoy the sun. They would occur for the duration of one whole week a month, which was an absolute write off for me, as I’d have to be in bed the entire time and was unable to cook for my family, let alone myself. Today, after about 50 days under Anastasia’s care, migraine symptoms have disappeared by almost 100%. I became more conscious about food triggers, food combinations, hormone balance and hydration. In addition, she did her market research to scout the best supplements in my area (I live in Athens). My sleep quality has dramatically increased, I have more energy throughout the day, everyone says that I look better. And I feel it too! Anastasia and I are aware the change can be longer than three months, but I feel she is always at my side to support me and explain what to do next.”
CHIARA FEGGI, 41 YRS MIGRAINES
An ancestral or traditional diet focuses on eating whole, nutrient-dense foods similar to those consumed by our ancestors, emphasising foods that are minimally processed and closer to their natural state. Adopting an ancestral diet during the postpartum period can be incredibly beneficial, as it naturally includes many of the nutrients needed for recovery after childbirth, supports breastfeeding, and helps balance hormones.
The fascinating dialogue between our muscles and brain is an area of scientific inquiry that has revealed intricate connections pivotal for our overall health, performance, and wellbeing. This crosstalk, a complex biochemical exchange, highlights the body's remarkable capacity for integration and adaptation. Understanding the mechanisms behind this dialogue not only sheds light on the holistic nature of human physiology but also opens new avenues for enhancing physical and cognitive health.
Ever wondered why when you start eating snacks like Doritos or popcorn you can’t stop going back for more? Let me reassure you it’s got absolutely NOTHING to do with your willpower and everything to do with the evil science of food engineering, which literally hijacks the brain and leaves you feeling unfulfilled.
Whilst there are incredible benefits of intermittent fasting on factors, such as reducing weight and improving insulin sensitivity, and therefore preventing diabetes, fasting can have a negative impact on the delicate web of hormones in women.
While researchers continue to explore various aspects of long COVID, one intriguing avenue of investigation is the role of the gut microbiome in shaping the trajectory of this condition. In this blog post, I delve into the fascinating interplay between the gut microbiome and long COVID, exploring how disruptions in this microbial community may contribute to symptoms and potential strategies for restoration.
The root cause of autoimmunity is a complex and multifactorial issue that is not fully understood. Autoimmune diseases occur when the immune system, which is designed to protect the body from foreign invaders like viruses and bacteria, mistakenly targets and attacks the body's own tissues and organs. While the exact cause of autoimmunity varies depending on the specific autoimmune disease, several factors are believed to contribute to its development:
Functional medicine is an approach to healthcare that focuses on addressing the underlying causes of illness rather than just treating the symptoms. When applied to Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), functional medicine aims to understand the unique factors contributing to an individual's IBS and develop a personalised treatment plan.
The practice of intermittent fasting has long been in mainstream knowledge and one of the most common questions I get in my educational work is ‘does intermittent fasting really work?’…
My answer is, yes, it can be pretty miraculous actually in supporting healthy weight loss, improving blood sugar regulation, digestion, energy levels and brain health. However there are some caveats that I believe are important to highlight (see the end of this article).
The brain is an EXTREMELY energy hungry organ. Despite the fact that it weighs a mere 1.5kg (on average), it takes up at least 25% of the overall body’s energy requirements - that’s massive. It’s no surprise, therefore, that energy deficits in the brain drive the development of mental health conditions and cognitive health diseases.
IBS stands for Irritable Bowel Syndrome, and encompasses a vast number of symptoms - bloating, cramping, diarrhoea, constipation, wind, pain, indigestion, acid reflux, nausea. Just like the number of symptoms, there are a large number of reasons why anyone can suffer with any of the above complaints, and this is where conventional medicine is lacking - its solutions are rarely tailored to any of the root cause of these symptoms, and instead mask them and often perpetuate them.
Methylation is an incredibly complex biochemical process that plays a ubiquitous role in the body’s maintenance. In very layman terms, it turns nutrients from the food that you eat into a type of fuel that your body uses to catalyse enzymes, which are involved in everything from mood regulation, fertility, detoxification of toxins and hormones, energy production, and vascular health.
Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) isn’t just a case of the winter blues (although the information shared here will definitely help in any case). It is a condition that affects up to 3% of the population and is 4 times higher in women than men. It can commonly lead to suicide ideation and severe depression, with feelings of hopelessness, increase or loss of appetite, over or under sleeping, as well as loss of interest in sex.
Whilst we’re constantly told that we should be aiming for 8 hours of solid kip a night, many of us can only dream of having consistent restful nights of sleep. With as many as 16 million UK adults having trouble either getting to sleep or staying asleep every single night, it’s safe to say that we are in a sleep deprivation epidemic
A couple of weeks ago I had the pleasure of being interviewed and featured on Julie Bjelland’s podcast, where I got to introduce my work and why I’m so passionate about what I do with her community. Julie is a psychotherapist that specialises in supporting Highly Sensitive People. These are people who have a sensory processing sensitivity trait that 20% of the population have, and I have come to learn that I also have.
Omega 3 fatty acids, which are found readily available in oily fish such as salmon, sardines, herring and mackerel, have been heralded for many years for their therapeutic impact on the brain.
The Blood Brain Barrier (BBB) is effectively our brain’s own ‘policing system’, a physical barrier that separates our blood circulation from the central nervous system. The deterioration of this highly intelligent barrier has been linked to many neurological conditions, one of which is Alzheimer’s, the most common form of Dementia (1).
In particular, having a dysregulated CAR - meaning it is either too high or too low - can lead to symptoms of depression, anxiety, affective disorders, chronic fatigue and increase risk of autoimmunity. This is because CAR has a unique ability to regular inflammation, blood sugar, as well as memory and recall due to the fact that the hippocampus is so tied in with CAR. It also plays a role in infection regulation and so can have far-reaching effects on the body’s resilience to viruses and bacteria.
Nutrient therapy for schizophrenia, and other mental health disorders, is an area that is poorly understood. However, health practitioners adopting this strategy as a method to help improve symptoms associated to mental health disorders, as well as reducing side effects of medication, have had positive results. This type of strategy aims to target the underlying drivers of symptoms, such as poor methylation, severe oxidative stress and atypical immune-mediated responses.
Glutathione has been labelled as the mother of all antioxidants and the ultimate free radical quencher and detoxifier. We produce this molecule endogenously, primarily in the liver, using the precursor amino acids cysteine, glutamine and glycine, which come from the food that we eat. Research shows that as we increase in age our levels of glutathione gradually go down and deficiency of this antioxidant has been associated with Alzheimer’s and depression, as well as other chronic illnesses such as cancer.
A leading theory looks at serotonin production and how levels of this neurotransmitter in the body are significantly affected by the amount of available sunshine. Research shows that exposure to sunshine has an impact on the binding-capacity of serotonin to receptor sites in the brain, which essentially allows serotonin to work its magic, leading to feelings of contentment and happiness.
Whilst increasing vegetables and fruit intake is crucial for improving health due to their richness in micronutrients, fibre and antioxidants, when it comes to brain health there are some key nutrients that cannot be found easily in a vegan diet that must be taken into consideration, if we want to keep the brain healthy on a long term basis.
Abraham Hoffer and his team theorised that in order to reduce the production of adrenochromes, a methyl acceptor such as B3 would be needed. Methyl acceptor is the name for nutrients, mainly in the B vitamin family, which each play an important role in a biochemical process known as methylation. This process is needed for a variety of biochemical reactions, such as building and breaking down neurotransmitters, supporting liver detox pathways and DNA repair, to name a few.
The ketogenic diet was first introduced by physicians in the 1920s for the treatment of childhood epilepsy, after scientists discovered that during periods of fasting the body begins to use fat as a source of energy instead of glucose, which resulted in less seizures in patients. Two specific compounds were found to be produced in the body during fasts – acetone and beta‐hydroxybutyric acid – now known as ketones, which are a byproduct of fat breakdown in the liver and are used by the body as energy when there is no more glucose available.
Considering how thyroid activity influences the mitochondria - which play a fundamental role in the energy production of each and every cell in our body - it’s no wonder that when it is either over or under-working, people can experience a wide variety of symptoms that can closely relate to mental health conditions. For example, an overactive thyroid can cause symptoms such as restlessness, anxiety, irritability and heart palpitations. Whereas an underactive thyroid can cause symptoms at the other end of the spectrum, such as fatigue, depression, muscle aches, brain fog and sleep issues. These symptoms are commonly coupled with digestive complaints, low or high body temperature and rapid weight gain or weight loss.
We have long known and believed in the saying ‘you are what you eat’, however, emerging research is showing that we could also argue that ‘you are what you think’. Many of us know intuitively that thinking positively leads to better health just as thinking negatively on a consistent basis can lead to poor health, but have you ever wondered why this is the case?
A growing body of research displaying clear links between high levels of inflammation in the body and depression is revealing how the serotonin model, which is based on the understanding that low mood is caused by a deficiency in serotonin and therefore supports the use of antidepressants, is becoming defunct. A recent study published in JAMA Psychiatry, found a 30% increase in inflammation in multiple brain regions in those suffering from depression.
Vitamin D, also widely known as nature’s version of Prozac and the sunshine Vitamin, helps regulate the amounts of calcium and phosphate in the body; these are needed to keep bones, muscles and teeth healthy. Maintaining the level of Vitamin D in the body therefore helps to prevent conditions such as osteoporosis, rickets, muscle weakness and cardio vascular disease. It also plays an important role in our immune health and mental health. Very importantly, it is not just a vitamin but also has hormone-like qualities which play a role in switching genes on and off to further support our health.
So what’s the big deal with sugar and why should we watch our sugar intake? To put it simply, our bodies are not geared up, genetically, to be eating excessive amounts of sugar and refined sugar.
Have you ever considered the connection between what you are eating and your levels of stress, anxiety and fatigue? Most people wouldn't even think to join the dots between our dietary intake and our feelings. However, negative symptoms associated to chronic stress can be significantly exacerbated, as well as in some cases, triggered by what we eat.