Rika Kamper
Nutritional Therapist in Peterborough

I was born in South Africa but have lived most of my adult life in the UK. Participation in sport from an early age sparked my interest in the interaction between what we eat and how well we perform.
As a keen cyclist and off-piste skier I regularly put my knowledge of nutrition into practice. Furthermore, a family history of cancer and mental health issues has made me conscious of the genetic influences on health and how nutrition can affect our moods and behaviour.
I realise that we are all unique combinations of genetics, food, lifestyle, exercise choices and unavoidable toxins from our environment.
I am passionate about using my knowledge to improve my clients’ health. I work with my clients to help identify elements in their current diet that are keeping them from experiencing vibrant, optimal health. I have seen how seemingly small dietary changes can have huge positive effects. I firmly believe in nutrition as a natural way of supporting the body’s various systems to achieve optimum health.

Background & Nutritional Therapy Qualifications

I obtained a diploma in Nutritional Therapy (DipION) from the Institute of Optimum Nutrition in 2011, then a First Class BSc (Hons) degree in 2014 . I am currently enrolled on the practitioner certification progamme of the Institute of Functional Medicine (IFM) in the US. I also regularly attend lectures and workshop to stay up to date with scientific evidence on the benefits of a healthy diet and lifestyle. I recently (April 2014) started a 2-year course on the interaction between psychology, our endocrine and our immune systems, a multi-disciplinary approach called cPNI (clinical psychoneuroimmunology).

My Specialisms

I am particularly interested in the effect of stress combined with the standard Western diet on our bodies, be it mental health, hormonal imbalances, infertility, digestive complaints, weight gain, or depleting vital energy stores that affects our performance and brain function. I have also acted as nutritional consultant for professional mountain guides doing off-piste skiing.

Approach to Nutritional Therapy & How I Work

I use a functional medicine approach with my clients, i.e. taking a detailed family and medical history to ascertain contributory factors (genetic, environmental, lifestyle etc.) to their current health condition. Functional medicine acknowledges that the body's various systems, e.g. endocrine and immune, are all inter-linked. It therefore aims to address and identify the root causes of health imbalances and through food and additional nutrients, aim to rebalance these systems. I may recommend additional nutrients (supplements), as well as diagnostic laboratory tests, some of which can be done via my clients' GPs. A typical initial consultation will last 90 minutes and subsequent sessions 60 minutes. The average recommended time between consultations is 4 - 6 weeks, to give my clients the opportunity to introduce and embrace new food and lifestyle habits.

Therapies & Rates

Please note the rates detailed below are there to give you an idea of the therapists standard rates, we strongly advise you contact the therapist for more detailed rates and any offers they may have.

Therapy	Appointment Type	Rate
Nutritional Therapy	In Person	£60 per 60 minutes