The father of modern medicine Hippocrates, first coined the term ‘all disease starts in the gut’ and now over 2000 years later, ‘gut’ is once again the buzzword when it comes to health, along with naturopathy, the concept of food as medicine. Although it focusses on the stomach – and what you’re putting into it – naturopathy helps not just with digestive problems but also a surprising range of seemingly unrelated ailments, from feeling tired and run down all the time, to skin breakouts, stress and autoimmune complaints.

Registered naturopath and nutritionist, Allison Sheppard divides her time between Devon and London, and via her health programmes, supported detox programmes and foreign retreats has helped well over 1000 people to better health. She’s practised naturopathy almost her entire life, from being a sickly eczema-suffering child to an energetic 46 year-old – with the skin and bod of someone ten years younger. *not jealous*

If you have something bothering you that’s not been sorted out by your doctor, her One-One health coaching offers access to lab testing for a whole range of problems, and it conveniently can be done face to face or via Zoom/Skype etc. She’s had some amazing successes, including helping one amenorrheac woman back to full menstrual health within just one month, and digestive problems being reversed with just a few months of treatment.

Muddy discovered Allison when looking for a bit of a body boost this autumn, and joined her Cleanse for Living – a fourteen-day online programme based around healthy eating. By the end of it I was sleeping better than I’d done in ages, my wellbeing was through the roof, and my niggly runner’s knee pain was gone. I also lost six pounds without ever feeling hungry and mostly from around my midriff, somewhere (being a woman in my prime) I find it almost impossible from which to shed weight. I felt less puffy, bright eyed and bushy tailed and I would definitely do it again.

Not a bad result for a programme you can do from home, while working and for just £49. Give it a go!