Member Article

Katrina offers help for Christmas gluten sufferers

If you’re dreading the thought of Christmas because of the effects that festive food has on your body it’s possible that you’re one of the thousands of people in the UK suffering from undiagnosed food intolerances.

Kinesiologist Katrina Woodrow, who herself battled with headaches and discomfort for years before finding out she was wheat and dairy intolerant, is aiming to help people get to the root cause of their symptoms before the festive season arrives.

Kinesiology uses muscle testing to isolate food allergies and intolerances and then suggests alternatives and supplements that can put the body back into balance. Ponteland-based Katrina, who qualified in 2001 and is a registered professional with the Kinesiology Federation, is offering pre-Christmas MOTs so people can prepare for a pain-free Christmas – without missing out on all the fun.

She said: “Food intolerances can really play havoc with your body, from acute pain to long-term, low-level discomfort. But in many cases, issues can be solved quickly and easily.

“And if a food intolerance is at the root of your issues, you don’t have to miss out on Christmas dinner. There are now so many alternatives available that you can still enjoy the full festive feast.”

Katrina herself suffered repeated bouts of earache and sore throats as a child growing up in Lobley Hill. The antibiotics used to treat them left her with a yeast overgrowth in her gut that led to a lot of discomfort. Later, she was forced to give up work as a secretary due to blinding headaches that her doctors told her were stress-related. More than a decade later, she saw a Kinesiologist who diagnosed her food intolerances. Within weeks, the pain and discomfort lifted and she decided to train in kinesiology herself to help others in the same position.

“If you’re constantly tired or have problems with your digestive health, it’s possible that the type of food you are eating just doesn’t get on with your body,” said Katrina.

“Kinesiology is about putting the balance back, whether that is through dietary changes, supplementing mineral deficiencies or using correction techniques such as massaging hiatal hernias back into place.

“Unfortunately, food processing means that we eat a lot of stuff are bodies weren’t designed to handle and that can result in ill-health. We need to take a leaf out of the cavemen’s book – we need to eat meat, fish, berries and vegetables and fewer grains. This diet leaves us healthier and slimmer, and is not difficult to achieve.”

It isn’t complicated to swap to a gluten-free Christmas. Today, the major supermarkets produce gluten-free ranges, which include Christmas puddings, bread to make the stuffing, sausages, corn flour for the gravy and organic vegetables.

A pre-(or post) Christmas MOT can identify the particular food groups to avoid for each individual and suggest replacements.

Katrina, who has been practising since 2001, has treated more than 400 people and helped to resolve their problems. In some cases, she has treated three generations of the same family.

She said: “My husband is a pharmacist and at first he was very sceptical. However, when he saw the difference cutting out wheat and dairy made to my health, he realised this is something that does work.

“Today, we always have gluten-free Christmases. The food I serve looks and tastes ‘normal’, and has the added benefit that it won’t upset the balance of your body.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Keith Newman .