Functional Health and Performance

12/12/2025

The sooner we can move beyond the rigid notion of what a 'healthy' diet is, the sooner we can begin to get nutrition to work for us.

That doesn't mean to do something dramatic or extreme! You don't need to drop everything you thought you knew and start doing the opposite. There will still be some validity in what you have come to see as 'healthy'.

But if you miss the nuance and the context. If we aren't open to more perspectives of the pros and cons of a given food. If we can't acknowledge the up and the downsides of these foods. Then we'll often fall short.

When someone comes to us for help, we rarely need to help with motivation. There is no lack of seeing value in nutrition for health. The person is already attempting to eat a 'healthy' diet.

It would be great if it had been that simple. But they're exhausted and it's not working.

What we bring to the table is 'context'.

All that means is - building a process of individualising and prioritising nutritional choices.

Which is almost impossible if you are attempting to eat an extrinsic notion of a 'healthy' diet.

Let us know if we can help or you want to attend our upcoming Webinar, Workshop and 4-Week Course on this topic.

Jack

12/12/2025

“I reached out to Jack after months of feeling lethargic and the inability to treat a skin condition through the usual NHS approach. The functional approach makes real sense to me as you're helping your body work as effectively as possible and then healing can take place.

As opposed to treating just the symptoms. Jack arranged for blood and hair tests as well as a Gut Health analysis so that he could identify any underlying problems. Over the next 4 months I followed a bespoke plan to help my body. We addressed an H pylori stomach infection, I cut gluten from my diet and worked to fix a Vitamin D and B12 deficiency that had been identified during the blood testing. Jack is very knowledgeable and we discussed my progress in detail on weekly calls along with several other methods to help with my wellbeing.

I can honestly say I've learnt so much. I feel much better and have more energy. My skin condition is finally improving and I’ve been signed off from Dermatology! My asthma symptoms have also improved and I have been able to reduce my medication for this by 50%. The new diet and exercise is now a part of my usual routine and I have lost over 2 stone. I am within the healthy BMI range for the first time since my 20's.

Thanks for all the help Jack, it's really appreciated.”

John (Newcastle, UK)

11/12/2025

For this client, the Calcium/Potassium Ratio in their Hair Tissue Analysis was a great piece of the puzzle.

They were tired, experiencing cravings, struggling to recover from exercise, dealing with hormonal challenges and more.

Their metabolism appeared suppressed. Low temp, low pulse rate.

We were busy looking at ways to get valid feedback from the body despite not having the comprehensive thyroid markers. Ideally we would have the comprehensive thyroid blood test markers but these were not included in her Drs blood test at this time.

The next place we looked was the Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis test. A Test that I wouldn’t run in isolation, but one that is very insightful when alongside other tests/markers.

In particular, we were interested in one of Nicki’s Mineral Ratios. The Calcium to Potassium or Ca/K ratio.

Did you know it’s often more meaningful to look at ‘ratios’ of minerals, rather than just absolute levels of individual minerals.

This helps us understand the functions that they relate to. In the case of Ca/K this is Thyroid function.

It can scratch the surface of your physiology’s performance. With or without the presence of symptomology!

For example – this Ca to K ratio provides insight into Thyroid function for several reasons:

Adequate Thyroid hormone levels can regulate calcium to required levels.
High Calcium levels can affect the permeability and correct function of cell walls/membranes.
Potassium is required to sensitise cells to the thyroid hormone.
As you can see on Nicki’s HTMA test the Ca/K ratio is high. It’s 29.2:1 and optimal is around 4:1.

So this is a case of far too much Calcium compared to Potassium levels (in the hair).

The complexity of hair tissue mineral analysis is not what we’ll go into in this case study, but here we had more markers of not only how the thyroid could be a piece of the puzzle, but also what may be the driver of the thyroid dysfunction.

Looking at how the mineral Calcium was being displaced and shunted out of the body (lost) would be a pivotal consideration for this case.

Please read more if this fascinates or resonates: https://functionalhealthclinic.co.uk/case-study-nicki-going-from-extremes-to-mastery/

Jack

11/12/2025

Nutrition forms a large part of our coaching programs.

The Clinical 1-to-1, Memberships, Events and Resources.

At the pinnacle of what we do is the 'Health Restoration Program'. The comprehensive program where we coach and share everything we know about about solving chronic health challenges and improving wellbeing.

The HRP is built on 4 Stages and the 1st stage is called 'FOUNDATION'.

When it comes to the vast and fired-up topic of 'Nutrition', these first elements are.... well.... a lot of things. And they are certainly unique.

One thing it usually is, is messy.

Like most building sites, when you see the 'foundation' it isn't pretty.

You've got to dig down first.

Its a mix of what already exists, an idea/goal of what is to be there in the future and a whole lot of change going on!

And that's ok.

So - rather than ignore this reality and wish it wasn't part of the process to building something 'better'. Instead, we embrace it.

We factor it in and build a program that encompasses principles and strategies that help us understand and navigate it.

Because you can't really out-run it or avoid it. Trying to do this appears to make it more complicated and frustrating in the end.

If we can integrate it as 'part' of the process it enables us to make it as smooth as possible. We still want the simplicity and ease and the more the better, without lowering your ceiling of potential.

The beauty of a foundation is that once you have it in place you can move on. Time to build and on to the next stage and build a robust and individual approach to nutrition.

Jack

10/12/2025

An individual requirement for any given nutrient is determined by many factors.

From person to person the amount of a particular nutrient we need from our diet could be significantly different based on our digestive capacity, ability to absorb and assimilate, microbiome interactions, metabolic needs, genetics and more.

This goes well beyond what may be an 'average' amount based on a few basic biochemical calculations. It's ok to have established these RDAs and typical recommended needs that help simplify nutrition.

But lets not go so far as to suggest that they cover everything and will ultimately work for everyone.

If we over-simplify and just want the answer, then we run the risk of missing the ability to get anywhere close to what we do best on.

We miss the process out. Discovering what works for us, ourselves.

If we tether to the rigid (and limited) rules too much, then they will rarely deliver what is expected of them.

And whilst not everyone wants to delve deep into the process, there are at least a few relatively simple steps to engage with that can help.

We have a series of upcoming resources on this topic - book, webinar, workshop and short course. We'd love to see you there. DM us for your direct links.

Jack

10/12/2025

Our approach to personalising nutrition over on our functionalhealthclinic.co.uk website:

https://functionalhealthclinic.co.uk/nutrition/

Nutrition is a very effective way to take control of your health. Cut through confusion and identify your unique nutritional requirements. In Newcastle, UK.

09/12/2025

The last few slots are available over the next couple of weeks.

Book in for a session online or in-clinic:
👇
https://functionalhealthclinic.co.uk/free-discovery-call/

We'll cover everything 'functional health' and guide you on your next steps.

09/12/2025

The Lipid Panel

The level of extreme opinion is matched by how charged this topic is.

Cholesterol good and bad. Should or shouldn't. Right, Wrong, etc

What we do here at the Functional Health Clinic is synthesise the information.

We take it all in. We consider the vast array of lipid and cholesterol markers that we can run now. We add a 'functional' analysis and perspective and pull it up alongside your Doctors Medical advice.

Then we add context. The YOU part. (Incredibly the part that is still left at the wayside).

When we do this with you, you may be pleased to hear we'll do it without heaping judgement onto it.

That's the part we'll leave to one side. Side-stepping it and saving some time and energy to focus on what is the most cogent, priority, individualised, safe and effective step for you.

Let me know if this has been missing from your support so far.

Comment 'Synthesise' below and we'll contact you to demystify your lipid panel.

Jack

08/12/2025

….the one-size-fits-all diets and how to challenge them….

See you on the webinar

De-Dogma Your Nutrition

Comment ‘Tickets’ and we’ll send you the details of how to book your free spot.

05/12/2025

This client was experiencing major symptoms including:
- Low Mood
- Intense Cravings
- Fatigue
- Low Blood Pressure
- Acne

If the toxic metal Aluminium is acculumating in the hair tissues, then it is very likely that the person as a significant exposure level currently, or some time in the past.

How much impact this is having on wellbeing and specific health challenges is difficult to pinpoint.

It really requires the context of the individual.

For this client it seemed quite significant for two reasons.

High Aluminium levels can be linked to their pattern of iron loss due to destruction of body cells.

Aluminium has been linked with displacing calcium in bone, which was a potential occurence.

Find out more about this client's functional labs and their route to recovery: https://functionalhealthclinic.co.uk/case-study-nicki-going-from-extremes-to-mastery/

Jack