Welcome to Body & Soul Nutrition
My name is Rebecca O'Neill, I am a Nutritional Therapist and I work with auto immune conditions, immune system support and sports nutrition.
My goal is to empower people to take control of their health and wellbeing using diet, supplements and lifestyle changes necessary to support you in reaching your health and fitness goals and addressing the many challenges that living with an auto-immune condition can bring.
My journey to changing my health began after suffering many years of minor ailments such as IBS, headaches, hormonal imbalance, skin issues, stress and fatigue. My health continued to deteriorate and at the age of 22 I was diagnosed with Crohn's Disease. I was a young mother of two at the time and most days I barely had the energy to take care of my children. With a lot of research, I soon learned how dietary changes could improve symptoms for many Crohn's patients and I began to change the foods I ate.
Although my symptoms improved greatly and very quickly, I found it difficult to adhere to these changes and I spent the next 10 years on a roller coaster of sickness and remission. I had a particularly difficult flare up of my illness in 2013 when I was pretty much house bound for a year unable to perform simple tasks independently such as climbing the stairs or walking to the shops due to weight loss, weakness and exhaustion. This is when I decided enough is enough!
I began cooking healthy meals and snacks, learning and implementing ways to reduce stress, sleeping and resting as much as possible (not so easy with 4 kids!) and making my health a priority over everything else. This was a slow process as I had to build up my energy levels and learn how to fit all of this in with family life. My health continued to gradually improve, and it was during this time I decided to study nutrition.
I became a student of The Institute of Health Sciences, Dublin, in 2016 to study Nutrition & Lifestyle Coaching, Sports Nutrition and I then went on to gain a Diploma in Nutritional Therapy, and I am a registered member of the Nutritional Therapists of Ireland (NTOI). The nutritional education has been great, and for me, the coaching element is very important as I know having a health coach would have been of huge benefit to me on my journey from illness to wellness.
I have now experienced many years completely symptom free and the healthiest I have ever felt. My journey has been very difficult at times but taking control of my health has been incredibly rewarding and I want to be able to share that with others.
What is Nutritional Therapy?
Nutritional Therapy is the science-based practice of how food, supplements and lifestyle can be used to make specific changes to your health and wellbeing. Nutritional Therapy applies the Functional Medicine model of health care to address the body as a whole unit and not just focusing on individual symptoms, with the aim of addressing the root cause of your health concern. It is not a “one size fits all” approach, as each program is very individual, and tailor made to your health concern, likes, dislikes and work/life balance. Nutritional Therapy is not a replacement for medical care or advice; however, it can work very well alongside your regular medical treatments.
It is best to start with a quick phone call, to determine if Nutritional Therapy is the right choice for you and to clear up any questions you might have.
I will e-mail you an in-depth questionnaire that covers your diet, lifestyle, medication, medical history and a 3-day food diary. You then e-mail it back to me before your scheduled appointment, so I have time to research your medical history, medications and/or diagnosed conditions.
Your initial consultation will take an hour, during this time we will discuss the information in your questionnaire, I may have some more questions! This is a time for you to elaborate on whatever you feel is relevant to your health that was not covered in the questionnaire, as everyone is different. After researching your case and discussing all the information provided, I will explain to you what imbalances may be going on in your body and together we will build a program that is both suitable and realistic for you to achieve.
Follow-up consultations usually last between 30-40 minutes, and during this time we can discuss what went well, what you enjoyed, anything that didn't really work out for you and any progress you made or problems you encountered before implementing the next step of your program.
As part of your consultation, you will receive:
- A report that explains the imbalances that may be occurring in your body, which are causing your symptoms
- Dietary changes to include specific nutrients that may be lacking in your diet
- Recipes to help you include new foods
- Tips on lifestyle changes such as stress management, improving sleep or meal planning
- A tailor-made supplement protocol as needed
This consists of one consultation per month, for three months, in person or online. This may suit someone looking to support their immune system, or as a starting point for supporting someone with an auto-immune condition.
Are you suffering from any of these immune conditions?
- Hayfever/sinusitis
- Skin conditions (psoriasis, eczema, rosacea, acne)
- Chronic pain
- Food sensitivities/allergies
- Recurring infections (Respiratory, UTI's, Candida)
- Auto-immune diseases
- Chronic fatigue
- Brain fog
- Digestive issues
- IBS/IBD
If yes, then Immune System Support therapy can help.
This is for anyone needing support in reaching their fitness goals, athletic performance or energy production using diet, supplements and lifestyle changes. You may only require one consultation or more depending on your needs. Get in touch with me for more information.
Is your sports performance suffering due to:
- Reduced energy
- Recurring infections/allergies
- Slow recovery time
- Respiratory/breathing issues
- Hormone/menstrual cycle interference
If yes, then Sports Nutrition therapy can help.
For additional information or to make an appointment, please refer to my contact details below.