KIRSTIE
Dr Kirstie Lawton, PhD is a CNHC-registered Nutritional Therapy Practitioner (mCNHC), a BANT-registered Nutritionist (FBANT) and an AfN-registered Nutritionist (ANutr). She has a PhD in Nutrition and a BSc in Public Health Nutrition, both from Queen Margaret University in Edinburgh and a 3-year DipION from the renowned Institute for Optimum Nutrition in London.
Kirstie's specialism is adults who have been diagnosed with or are at risk of developing Motor Neurone Disease (MND/ALS). She is completing a Master's degree in Neuroscience and Neurodegeneration at the University of Sheffield. She is also an advisor to OPN MND and is a member of the Medical Advisory Committee at Healing ALS.
For the last 25 years, she has also worked in the field of child and young adult nutrition, with a focus on gastrointestinal health, neurological health including neurodivergence and mental wellness, and immune health conditions. She has also completed several modules on Psychiatry Redefined's Fellowship in Nutritional Psychiatry.
In addition to her clinical work, she was integral to the development of the UK's first Graduate Diploma in Integrative and Functional Nutrition, delivered by the Institute for Optimum Nutrition (ION), in collaboration with the University of Portsmouth (UoP). She is also a member of the Editorial Board for the Nutritional Medicine Institute and Journal.
She has a PGCE in Higher Education from the University of London and has taught various nutrition-related topics at several institutes in the UK, including ION/UoP, Queen Margaret University in Edinburgh, the University of Worcester and the University of Northampton.
In 2026, Kirstie was awarded the title BANT Fellow, which is the highest level of membership awarded by the British Association for Nutrition and Lifestyle Medicine (BANT), recognising significant, long-term contributions to the profession.
When not working or studying, Kirstie can typically be found in her garden or on a country path with her dog. She has a passion for creating recipes and preparing nutritious and delicious meals. She also has a passion for music, and co-runs a choir in her local area.
Deborah
Deborah is an HCPC Registered Dietitian (RD) and a BANT registered Nutritionist, with an MSc in Human Nutrition and a Post Graduate Diploma in Dietetics. She has completed additional training in Nutrigenomics, FODMAP diets, Sports Nutrition and Performance, and is currently working towards becoming a Registered Ketogenic Nutrition Specialist.
Deborah is part of the MND/ALS team at You Nutrition Clinic. She has been in clinical practice for around 20 years, specialising in weight management and metabolic health conditions. More recently, Deborah has been integral in the delivery of a programme providing nutrition and lifestyle support to those taking GLP-1 medication. Metabolic imbalance can lead to multiple health concerns, including neurological and neurodegenerative health conditions, as well as infertility, PCOS, hormonal imbalance, thyroid imbalance, insulin resistance and diabetes type II, hypertension, high blood cholesterol, fatty liver disease (NAFLD), and weight gain.
Deborah is a qualified yoga teacher, having completed 500 hours of teacher training and additional training in restorative and prenatal yoga. In addition, Deborah enjoys Qi Gong, CrossFit, walking in the Cornish countryside and creating delicious and nourishing meals.
KERRY
Kerry is a BANT registered Nutritionist, with a BSc in Nutrition from the University of Middlesex, a Post Graduate Diploma in Clinical Nutrition and a BA in Psychology. She has also completed additional comprehensive training in a number of areas of functional nutrition through providers including the Kharrazian Institute and Dr Jason Hawrelak, and is currently working towards becoming a Registered Ketogenic Nutrition Specialist.
Kerry has been in the health industry for over 20 years, during which time she has specialised in neurodegenerative health, mental health and wellness, neurodevelopment, autoimmunity and gut disorders, creating personalised plans and assisting her clients in navigating their health journey. Her main focus is now on those who have been diagnosed with or have a predisposition to MND/ALS and those who have been diagnosed with or have symptoms of Neurological Lyme Disease. She has a keen interest in the microbiome and genetics, and their effects on health overall.
Kerry consults as a clinical specialist for a large functional testing and genetics laboratory, supporting practitioners in test interpretation and assisting with the creation of mentorship programmes. At You Nutrition Clinic, Kerry offers 1-1 consultations with clients who do not want to work with a practitioner, but want a deeper understanding on current or previous test results. She is also involved in developing and presenting Functional Nutrition programmes for post graduate training institutions.
In her spare time Kerry can be found outdoors enjoying nature, and actively supporting The Lost Food Project - a local community food redistribution programme, her firm belief being that communities are healthier and better nourished when joined through sharing.
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Rachael
Rachael Marsden is an Independent Practitioner and Consultant Nurse with more than two decades of specialist experience in Motor Neurone Disease (MND)/Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). Her role at You Nutrition Clinic is Patient Advocate.
Her career began in a Young Disabled Unit, where she developed extensive expertise in supporting young adults with highly complex disabilities and gained deep insight into the importance of holistic, person-centred care.
In 2002, Rachael became the Coordinator for the Oxford MND Care Centre, which has since grown into one of the UK’s leading MND care and research centres. She has played a major role in shaping high-quality, multidisciplinary care for people living with MND. She was a member of the 2016 NICE Guideline Development Group for MND.
With a Degree and Master’s in Rehabilitation, Rachael now works independently, advocating for patients and helping individuals and families navigate the complexities of living with MND.
Outside her professional life, Rachael is an enthusiastic long-distance cyclist and holds the world record as the fastest woman to circumnavigate the globe on a tandem bicycle (TandemWOW).
melody
Melody is a BANT registered Nutritionist and a CNHC registered Nutritional Therapy Practitioner. She has a BSc in Psychology from the University of Bristol, an MSc in Personalised Nutrition from CNELM, Middlesex University, and a 3-year DipION from the renowned Institute for Optimum Nutrition in London.
Melody is You Nutrition Clinic's Parkinson's Disease specialist. She works with individuals presenting with symptoms, diagnosed with or a risk of developing Parkinsonism, including Parkinson's Disease.
With a background in clinical nutrition, and a focus on gastrointestinal health and the gut-brain axis, she works with clients to optimise nutrient intake around medication use, support neurological function, improve quality of life, and help clients to understand and navigate the complex relationship between diet, digestion, and brain chemistry.
Her approach integrates the latest research in neuroinflammation, mitochondrial function, oxidative stress and microbiome diversity to create tailored strategies that support motor and non-motor symptoms.
When not working with clients, Melody enjoys experimenting with recipes - especially those that support cognitive and gut health, spending time outdoors on walks, and going to the theatre and musicals and with friends and family.
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Nicolle
Nicolle is a BANT registered Nutritionist, a CNHC registered Nutritional Therapy Practitioner and an NMC registered Nurse. She studied Nursing at the University of the West of England, completing her clinical placements at the Royal United Hospital in Bath and surrounding areas, and qualified in Nutritional Therapy from the renowned Institute for Optimum Nutrition. She is currently training in the ReCODE Bredesen Protocol for Alzheimer’s disease support.
Nicolle specialises in supporting adults with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. She also works with individuals who are concerned about memory changes or wish to reduce their risk of developing dementia.
With over 20 years of experience as a memory clinic nurse and Alzheimer’s disease clinical trial nurse, Nicolle continues to work in research, administering the Clinical Dementia Rating Scale and preparing clinical trial medications. A confident phlebotomist, she is able to take and process blood samples at her clinic in Bath.
Outside of her clinical work, Nicolle enjoys cooking. She prepares and delivers Friday lunches for her husband and his team - a weekly ritual that also reflects her mission of promoting nutrition as the foundation of a healthy and fulfilling life, lasting through to old age.
jess
Jess, our Lead paediatric specialist, is a BANT-registered Nutritionist and a CNHC-registered Nutritional Therapy Practitioner who trained at the Institute for Optimum Nutrition. She has undertaken further professional training in paediatric nutrition and, through NEDDE, gained specialist knowledge to support children with conditions such as complex autism, ARFID (Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder), PDA (Pathological Demand Avoidance) and PICA. She is also our in-house PANS/PANDAS expert and works with children and young adults presenting with or diagnosed with Neurological Lyme Disease.
Jess is passionate about children’s health, with a particular interest in neurodiversity and how nutrition and lifestyle changes can help each child feel and function at their best. She supports children and young people with conditions such as autism, ADHD and dyslexia, PANS and PANDAS, using a functional medicine approach to explore root causes by looking at nutrition, gut health, detoxification and biochemistry to help them thrive both physically and emotionally.
Stemming from her work in fertility, Jess has seen how early nutrition shapes long-term wellbeing and the health of future generations. As a busy mum of two boys, she fully understands the realities of family life and brings a compassionate, practical approach to every consultation.
You’ll often find Jess out in nature with her boys and the dog, with a coffee in hand.
clare
Clare is a Registered Nutritional Therapy Practitioner (RNTP) and BANT Registered Nutritionist. She trained at the College of Naturopathic Medicine (CNM) and has undertaken further professional training in children’s health and through NEDDE, developing specialist expertise in supporting children with conditions such as ARFID (Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder), PDA (Pathological Demand Avoidance), PICA, autism, ADHD and dyslexia. She is also a reflux-trained practitioner, with experience supporting children with digestive discomfort, reflux and feeding-related challenges.
Clare is also a qualified Fertility Practitioner and brings a strong clinical understanding of how preconception and pregnancy nutrition influence child health. Her work focuses on children’s brain development, gut health and immune function, with a particular interest in the importance of the first 1,000 days of life and how early nutrition shapes long-term wellbeing. She has extensive experience supporting children with digestive disorders, food intolerances and complex symptom presentations using a functional, evidence-informed approach.
Alongside her clinical work, Clare works collaboratively with local doulas and midwives, contributing to professional education through course content, training and talks in pregnancy and postnatal nutrition, with a focus on supporting families through early life stages.
As a mum, Clare brings a compassionate and practical understanding of the realities families face when supporting children with additional needs, alongside a calm, structured and clinically grounded approach.
RAE
Rae Bird is You Nutrition Clinic's Movement and Breathwork Practitioner. She is a 500-hr qualified yoga teacher, with training in the Chinese Medicine movement practice Qi Gong, the Indian medicine system Ayurveda, and varied forms of meditation. She is a qualified Oxygen Advantage Functional Breathing Instructor, and is currently progressing her learning towards becoming an Oxygen Advantage Advanced Breathing Instructor.
Rae is passionate about using these practices as a means of reconnecting with the self to find balance and a sense of peace and likes to make them as accessible as possible to anyone including those with chronic illness and trauma. She delivers the free weekly Breathing for Healing session and offers 1:1 sessions to all You Nutrition Clinic clients.
With a degree in horticulture Rae likes to spend as much time in nature as possible; singing, dancing, and as an ex book publisher she enjoys immersing herself in a good book.
richard
After spending 20 years in the corporate world, Richard’s life took an unexpected turn when he was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer. This experience became the catalyst for a deep exploration into Functional Medicine and nutritional science. Working alongside several Functional Medicine specialists, he developed a personalised, evidence-based protocol that supported his recovery and ignited a passion for helping others improve their health through integrative nutritional medicine.
Following his recovery, Richard decided to take a new career path, driven by a desire to help people manage complex health conditions and to share what he had learned about the body’s capacity to heal. He is currently studying for a BSc (Hons) in Nutritional Therapy at the Institute for Optimum Nutrition (ION). Alongside his studies, he is a BANT-registered Nutritional and Lifestyle Advisor and volunteers with Yes to Life, the UK’s leading integrative cancer charity.
His role at You Nutrition is Researcher. He works closely with Kirstie to ensure that the clinical team are up to date with the latest scientific developments in neurological and neurodegenerative disorders, and that our clinical work is evidence-based.
Outside of his professional and academic work, Richard is enthusiastic about fitness and can often be found trying to beat his parkrun time on a Saturday morning. A keen traveller, he has lived and worked in New Zealand and Australia, and travelled extensively across Europe, Asia, Central America, and South America.
magdalena
Magdalena is the clinic manager, overseeing the daily operations of the practice to ensure every client receives a seamless and supportive experience. She is committed to maintaining a well-structured and welcoming environment where both clients and team members feel valued and cared for. With a calm, focused approach, she ensures the clinic runs efficiently while upholding a professional and positive atmosphere.
Through her own experience, she discovered how a personalised approach to diet and lifestyle can have a powerful impact on symptom improvement and overall well-being. This understanding continues to shape how she supports others, both within the clinic and beyond.
Alongside managing the clinic, Magdalena practices as a nutritionist in her own time, supporting individuals in developing realistic, evidence-based strategies tailored to their goals. She is passionate about empowering individuals to reconnect with their bodies and make informed choices, using personalised guidance to help improve symptoms and maintain overall balance and vitality.
Outside of work, she enjoys walking in nature, exploring new places, from well-known landmarks to hidden natural spots rarely found on a map, and expressing herself through dance