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I set up my business Food Counts in 2007 and offer both Dietary Analysis and NLP Coaching services. I focus on food and nutrition  as I have an absolute belief based that eating the right kinds of food can keep our body's well and help us recover from ill health or imbalance.

Following a cycling accident and head injury in 2005, I lost my sense of smell and taste completely due to nerve damage.  I was advised by doctors that nerve regeneration wasn't possible and I was highly unlikely to ever be able to smell again but may be able to regain my sense of taste as this could in theory be 'diverted' to an alternate nerve system. This was devasting - it's very difficult to describe the experience of losing two senses that we rarely think about consciously but it was like a 'muffle' had been placed beween me and the world. I was unable to smell food, my family or the smell of the sea walking down the beach. As is common in people with 'anosmia' (complete loss of smell) , I became fearful of not being able to smell smoke from a fire or gas if there was a leak. Being unable to taste was equally difficult - as someone who had always loved food and cooking, losing my sense of taste seemed so unfair and cooking became a real challenge without the ability to taste and test food. There were a few overseasoned sauces and ridiculously hot curries in our house over that year !

During this time, I became determined to give my body the best chance of getting better and made sure the food I ate had all the right nutrients to support nerve and tissue health. I was fortunate in that,by that time, I had already studied for a year at the Instutute of Optimum Nutrition (I.O.N.) and had a good idea of the kind of nutritional approach I could take. I cut out all of the foods that would place a strain on my system like sugar, caffeine, alcohol and most 'convenience'  foods and set about replacing them with foods known to have a high nutritional content including doubling my intake of fruit and vegetables, and pushing myself to eat more lentils, pulses, nuts and seeds.

Thankfully, by 2006 my hard work had paid off and I am happy to say that I have now fully recovered both taste and smell. I feel very fortunate - I am one of the lucky ones but I also feel really strongly that it was the food I ate that made the real difference alongside the amazing support from my partner, family and friends.

I have continued to study and qualified as Dietary Analyst at the end of 2006. I also trained and qualified as an NLP Coach in 2006 then following further training became an NLP Practitioner in 2007. (INLPTA Certified)

I now practice Dietary Analysis and Nutrition Coaching in central Hove and run a Saturday Clinic at Back 2 Balance which was nominated for the CAM "Outstanding Contribution to the Community Award in 2007.

I am continuing my training in nutrition and plan to complete my Nutritional Therapy degree in December 2008.

Susan Kelly, Dietary Analyst & NLP Practitioner