5 Reasons to See a Nutritionist (That Have Nothing to Do with Eating More Kale)

Feeling tired, dismissed, or stuck? Here are 5 powerful reasons to see a nutritionist, none of which involve eating more kale.

Let’s face it, life is full. Your to-do list never ends, your energy sometimes does, and in between juggling work, family, and everything else, your own well-being often drops to the bottom of the pile. You know you could be eating better, sleeping more, or finally figuring out what’s going on with your body… but where do you even start?

Here’s the truth: seeing a nutritionist isn’t about being told to cut carbs, quit chocolate, or go gluten-free “just because.” It’s about understanding you, your symptoms, your lifestyle, your stress load, your blood results, and using that insight to create a plan that works for your body.

If you’ve been feeling stuck, dismissed, or just plain exhausted, here are five real reasons to work with someone like me and how it could help you start feeling better.

1. You’re exhausted but your blood tests always come back ‘normal’.

This is one of the most common reasons clients come to me.

You’ve dragged yourself to the GP, explained how tired you are, maybe even pushed for some blood work… only to be told everything is fine. But you don’t feel fine. You’re waking up tired, struggling to focus, getting that 3 pm slump every day, or collapsing by Friday with nothing left in the tank.

Here’s what many people don’t realise: standard blood tests often only flag issues once they’re at a clinical threshold. They may not investigate nutrient levels like B12, folate, ferritin, or vitamin D in enough detail. And they don’t give the full picture of how your body is functioning day to day.

That’s where I come in. I use private blood testing to dig deeper. Together, we can check whether your ‘normal’ results are actually optimal for you, and then build a nutrition and lifestyle plan that supports your body to repair and recover.

2. You want clarity, not guesswork.

Let’s be honest: the internet is full of health advice. Some of it’s great, some of it’s harmful, and most of it’s completely overwhelming. Should you be adding ashwagandha to your smoothies? Going keto? Cutting sugar? Taking magnesium? And if so, which type?

Trying to figure this out alone can be like throwing spaghetti at the wall and hoping something sticks. It’s expensive, exhausting, and usually ends with a shelf full of half-used supplements and no real change in how you feel.

A good nutritionist won’t just give you a meal plan or supplement list; they’ll help you understand what’s going on in your body right now and how to make sense of it. I blend science-based nutrition, functional testing, and coaching to remove the guesswork and create realistic changes that work in real life.

3. You’re tired of bouncing between ‘all in’ and ‘burnt out’.

You start strong. You commit to a new plan, maybe cutting caffeine, going to bed earlier, or finally trying to eat more protein. You feel better for a week or two. Then life happens, your energy crashes, and you’re back to square one.

Sound familiar?

This cycle isn’t about willpower. It’s often a sign that your body is already running on empty, and without the right support, it can’t sustain those changes long term. Something deeper is going on, whether that’s stress hormones like cortisol, low thyroid function, blood sugar swings, or nutrient depletion.

Instead of trying harder, we need to understand why your body keeps hitting a wall. With the right lab testing and support, we can find the root of the problem and build a plan that supports your energy in a sustainable, compassionate way.

4. You’re dealing with hormone or gut issues that no one seems to take seriously.

Bloating, irregular periods, brain fog, mood swings, skin flare-ups, painful PMS, these are often brushed off as “just part of life.” But they’re not. They’re signs that your body is under stress and needs support.

Maybe your digestion has felt off for months. Or your cycle changed after stress, stopping contraception, or hitting your 40s. Perhaps you’ve started reacting to foods you used to tolerate, or your skin is flaring up when your workload spikes. It’s frustrating when you feel like no one’s joining the dots.

This is where targeted testing and personalised nutrition make a real difference. We look at gut health, blood sugar, stress, and hormones, and then build a plan to help your body rebalance, gently and sustainably.

5. You’re ready to stop feeling like you’re the problem.

If you’ve ever left an appointment feeling like you weren’t heard, or worse, like it’s all in your head. I want you to know this: you’re not the problem.

Many of the women I work with are smart, capable, and proactive. They’ve done “all the right things”, cleaned up their diet, tried different supplements, started exercising again… but still don’t feel well. Often, they’ve been dismissed, misdiagnosed, or made to feel like they’re just not trying hard enough.

That ends here.

When we work together, I help you connect the dots between how you feel and what your body might be trying to tell you. We look at blood results, symptoms, lifestyle patterns, and food triggers, because you’re a whole person, not just a list of symptoms.

So how do you know who to trust?

Here’s something most people don’t realise: the title “nutritionist” isn’t legally protected in the UK. That means anyone, regardless of training, can use it, even without formal education or professional oversight. Understandably, this can make it confusing when you’re trying to choose someone to support your health.

That’s why it’s important to understand the different roles, and what regulation and professional registration actually mean:

Dietitians are the only nutrition professionals who are statutorily regulated by law. They’re qualified to work in clinical and NHS settings and support people with diagnosed medical conditions. They are registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC).
Nutritionists may work in public health, research, education, or private practice. While the title itself is not protected, nutritionists who meet certain academic and professional standards can register with the Association for Nutrition (AfN), which provides oversight and encourages best practice.
Nutritional Therapists often work one-to-one with clients in a functional, personalised way, exploring diet, lifestyle, and potential underlying imbalances. Some may choose to register with a professional body, but not all do. Those who meet specific standards can register with the British Association for Nutrition and Lifestyle Medicine (BANT) and the Complementary and Natural Healthcare Council (CNHC), a voluntary register supported by the Department of Health.

Personally, I’ve chosen to register with both BANT and CNHC. While not all nutritional therapists do this, I believe in holding myself to the highest possible standards. Registration means I’ve met criteria around training and clinical practice, follow a clear code of conduct, and commit to ongoing professional development and supervision.

Before retraining in nutrition, I worked as a registered nurse, which gave me a strong foundation in evidence-based care and the importance of ethical, regulated practice. That background continues to shape the way I work today, with a deep respect for both science and each client's individual experience.

When your health is on the line, regulation matters. Whether you’re working with a dietitian, nutritionist, or nutritional therapist, it’s worth checking credentials, training, and professional registration. That way, you can feel confident you’re in safe, qualified hands and receiving advice that’s right for you.

Curious about what’s really going on in your body?

My 1:1 consultations include access to a wide range of private blood tests, covering nutrients, hormones, inflammation, thyroid, liver function, and more. No waiting lists, no guesswork, just answers and action steps that are personalised to you.

If you’re ready to stop spinning your wheels and start moving forward, I’d love to help.

About Claire
Claire Thomas is a Nutritional Therapist, NLP Practitioner, and Phlebotomist with a background in Children’s Nursing. She specialises in supporting ambitious women who feel exhausted, burnt out, or stuck in survival mode. Through personalised nutrition, mindset coaching, and functional testing, Claire helps her clients increase their energy levels, find clarity, and feel like themselves again. Based in Tiverton, Devon, she works both in-person and online through her clinic, Nourish to Soar.

Categories: : eating well, empowerment, energy