Who is Gwen Bastian-Enright:

Gwen Bastian-Enright is a Nutritional Therapist living in West Cork, Ireland with her husband and two children. Being in practice since 2015, Gwen focuses on women’s health and family nutrition, with particular focus on helping mothers thrive in motherhood and in perimenopause. Thriving, not surviving is her motto, as well as "one woman at a time", knowing that a holistic approach can also help a woman's family, friends and wider circle.

Nutritional Therapy goes far beyond "just" food and encompasses your medical history, your relationship with food, stress levels and sleep as well as looking at your support network and works on building lifelong habits. For this reason, while I specialise in women over 35, I do see all ages in my clinic and having done a lot of public talks for local active retirement groups I also see older people.

I also want to be very inclusive in my clinic and am working on multiple courses for neurodivergence, supporting women with late diagnoses in particular. I am also mindful of using your correct pronoun and invite you to share this with me - likewise, any name changes from your registered name is welcome to be included in all our work together.

How does it work and what happens during a session:

In shorter consultations, sessions will focus on reviewing recent blood test results, medications, supplements and a food diary to pinpoint where some changes may benefit for a specific time of life or health condition.

In full Nutritional Therapy, you will complete a detailed intake form before the consultation, and within the 2 hour consultation Gwen will ask you a lot more questions to get an understanding of your past, what you are currently experiencing and what you hope to achieve through nutritional therapy. One of Gwen's favourite questions is "If I could wave a magic wand, what would happen?".

A detailed protocol will be discussed, including dietary and lifestyle recommendations, all with your permission and with minimal removal of foods - the focus is always on what we can ADD in, rather than take out. Depending on your results and symptoms, specific supplements may be suggested as well as further testing.

With your protocol you may also receive further referrals to other practitioners, links to podcasts or videos that may benefit you in your lifestyle adaptations. You will also receive meal and recipes to support the dietary actions you've been recommended. This protocol is issued via the software PracticeBetter and issued within 5 working days post the consultation. You will then receive weekly check ins for 4 weeks post consultation.

Though Gwen is trained in using therapeutic diets, she only does this when absolutely necessary, so there is no need to be scared of being told to cut out all chocolate, coffee, wine etc as restriction is not the aim of nutritional therapy!

What will those sessions be useful for:

• Perimenopause symptoms such as hot flushes, night sweats, anxiety, sleep issues, itchy skin/ scalp/ ears/ eyes etc.

• Menstrual cycle problems such as heavy and painful periods, or named conditions like fibroids, endometriosis, fibroids, PMDD etc

• Thyroid conditions

• Autoimmune conditions like Hashimoto's, Rheumatoid arthritis etc.

• Chronic conditions like Long COVID, MCAS, Chronic fatigue, POTs etc.

• Anxiety or depression

• Digestive issues such as IBS, IBD, GERD, SIBO - or symptoms like diarrhoea, constipation, bloating, reflux...

• Inflammatory conditions such as osteoarthritis