Maria Cross
Every professional displayed on Nutritionist Resource has been independently verified by our team to ensure they have suitable credentials to practise.
This professional is available for new clients.
This professional is available for new clients.
About me
I became a nutritional therapist in 1994. Since then, I’ve also been a university lecturer and tutor, helping set up the first BSc nutritional therapy degree clinic in the UK, and published two books. I’ve also led numerous workshops and given talks on the link between diet and health.
I specialise in diet and mental health, but to understand mental health is to understand diet and the gut; to understand the gut is to understand the immune system. You can’t separate the immune system from the hormonal system, or metabolism from muscle. The body works as a complete ecosystem, and the whole is always greater than the sum of its individual parts.
My story
I learned much of that from personal experience: studying nutrition put paid to years of intestinal misery. I had the gut from hell. For nigh-on 15 years I had lived with almost daily, often excruciating abdominal pain, accompanied by some extraordinary bloating and gas. Then there were the spots and rashes, and the brain that didn’t work properly: poor memory and a persistent fog were constant companions.
In my early, pre-nutrition student days, I lurched from one bad lead to another in my quest to resolve all these issues, having no idea that all my problems were connected. Nutrition joined the dots for me; I was able to work out the root causes of my issues and restore my health and wellbeing.
That is what I aim to do for you. I take a detailed health and lifestyle history and put together a timeline of events, tracing symptoms and issues back to where they began. We work together from there. I may recommend certain laboratory tests, if appropriate. Sometimes you may only need to make dietary changes, or take supplements for a period of time.
Everyone is different, but everyone deserves the best possible health.
How it works
The initial consultation lasts 60-90 minutes. Prior to the consultation, you fill in and return to me a detailed health questionnaire. That way I am prepared and familiar with your goals, before we start. Shortly after the consultation, you receive a detailed report, summarising our discussion and outlining our plan of action.
Normally, a follow-up consultation takes place 3-4 weeks later. Between consultations you may contact me with any questions or queries you have regarding your programme, no matter how small. It's part of the service.
Training, qualifications & experience
- 1994 - DipION
- 2003 - MSc (Public Health Food & Nutrition) from The University of Wesminster.
- 1994-1999 Part-time product advisor at supplement company. Practitioner. Third year tutor at The Institute for Optimum Nutrition
- 2000-2008 Lecturer and clinic tutor at the University of Westminster, on the first nutritional therapy degree course in the UK. Freelance writer.
- 2009 Published Nutrition in Institutions (Wiley Blackwell)
- 2011 Published I Wish I Hadn't Eaten That (Hay House)
- Present: Nutritional therapist; writer
Member organisations
The CNHC encompasses many types of alternative therapy, including massage, aromatherapy and nutrition.
In order to be admitted to the register a practitioner must have studied to the National Occupational Standards for that profession/discipline, or have reached the equivalent of the National Occupational Standards through other relevant training or at least three years of experience and been assessed by their peers.
A practitioner must also have professional insurance and agree to abide by the CNHC Code of Conduct, Performance and Ethics.
The British Association for Applied Nutrition and Nutritional Therapy is the professional body for Nutritional Therapists.
There are different BANT membership classes, including Full Member, Fellow Member and Student Member.
All BANT practitioners must have met the required standards of training, be fully insured and adhere to the BANT Code of Ethics and Practice.
Accredited register membership
The Accredited Register Scheme was set up in 2013 by the Department of Health (DoH) as a way to recognise organisations that hold voluntary registers which meet certain standards. These standards are set by the Professional Standards Authority (PSA).
This therapist has indicated that they belong to an Accredited Register.
Nutrition topics
Information about health conditions (*)
Nutritional therapy can help enhance the well-being of individuals diagnosed with serious medical conditions, but should not take the place of medical treatment and advice. If you have been diagnosed with - or suspect you may have - any of these conditions, please speak to your doctor before starting nutritional therapy or making any major changes to your diet or lifestyle.
Fees
£125.00 - £210.00
Free initial telephone session
Additional information
Initial consultation: £210.00
Follow up consultation: £125.00
If laboratory tests have been arranged, there is an additional fee of £25 per test
When I work
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Further information
Consultations currently take place in Hythe or via Zoom.
If you are not sure if nutritional therapy is for you, just drop me a line or give me a call to discuss your goals and how I can help you achieve them.
