Tweaking your diet can help combat health problems

It's quite surprising that I haven't turned into a potato.I didn't realise how many tubers I consume, until I compiled a food diary for holistic nutritionist Tara Inchbald Holt.

There were entire crop loads of them on a daily basis, as well as the five Cs - cake, coffee, crisps, cheese and chocolate.

Although I have gone through periods of healthy eating in my life, there are some fatty foods that have become staples, and others that appear too regularly (like potatoes – baked, chipped and mashed).

So, when Inchbald Holt – who works alongside a private GP in Glasgow and has devised dietary programmes for nurseries, fashion models and international clients – invited me along for a consultation, I was keen to give it a whirl.

She runs her business from various locations, including Napiers in Glasgow, and Nevo Health (underneath The Black Dutch Coffee Bar on Edinburgh's Montgomery Street), where I met her.

This therapist takes a holistic approach to dietary requirements, by finding out about any health complaints that you may have suffered from, now and throughout your life.

It may seem a bit weird to be asked about your wellbeing, from ages one to five and onwards, but she wants to get to the root of any long-standing problems.

The initial session lasts about an hour. Afterwards, she sends you an eating programme to follow in the six weeks before your next appointment, when it can be tweaked to suit.

My new diet included loads of brown rice which, according to Inchbald Holt, is very soothing to the gut.

She also encouraged me to steer clear of wheat and dairy for the initial period, to give my body a break, more than anything else. Also, as I often suffer from energy crashes, she suggested that I snack more often (hooray) - including a piece of fruit before bed, and other healthy nibbles throughout the day.

As part of the consultation, you're also sent a selection of recipes (I liked the chickpea and cauliflower curry), as well as a list of suggested dietary supplements.

Unfortunately, my willpower is weak. I am ashamed to report that I have failed at the plan somewhat.

That's because there are some things I find too difficult to give up – sugar, salt, caffeine and fatty three-course meals. I can, however, report that I found the session totally inspiring, and have moderated my diet so that there is more variety.

For example, rather than a sandwich at lunchtime, I'll have vegetable soup and rice cakes with hummus. And some mornings, I'll have soya, oat or rice milk, rather than the stuff from cows.

Once in a while, I'll even swap my precious tatties for brown rice.

I definitely feel better for it, and I'm starting to look less like a King Edward.

See www.purenutrition.org.uk for venues.

Nutritional consultations cost 70 for an hour (30 minute follow up consultations are 40)

This article was first published in The Scotsman, 9 July, 2011