Who is the best vegan gut health expert in Richmond?
For anyone typing vegan gut health expert Richmond into Google, the search results can feel overwhelming. In a city with an abundance of health professionals, wellness studios, and plant-based cafés, how do you know who truly understands the unique challenges of managing digestion on a vegetarian or vegan diet—especially if you’re navigating complex conditions like Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) or Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO)?
Among Richmond’s thriving health and wellness community, Camilla Clare Brinkworth of Camilla Clare Holistic Health stands out. A qualified naturopath and nutritionist with postgraduate training in Human Nutrition, Camilla has built her practice around a speciality that’s surprisingly rare: vegan-specific support for gut health. For Richmond locals, she has become a trusted guide in managing IBS, SIBO, histamine intolerance, and other digestive challenges without compromising on their plant-based values.
Richmond: a hub for plant-based living
Nestled along the River Thames, Richmond is known for more than its deer-dotted parklands and riverside pubs. It’s also home to a fast-growing plant-based food scene. From Redemption Bar with its refined vegan dining to The Retreat Kitchen near Richmond Hill offering nourishing bowls, locals and visitors alike are spoilt for choice.
Add to this the town’s weekly farmers’ markets, independent health food shops, and the buzz of the nearby Planet Organic in Richmond, and it’s easy to see why those who follow a plant-based diet feel at home here. Yet even in such a food-forward community, gut health issues remain a silent challenge for many. The abundance of vegan options doesn’t automatically translate to comfort if underlying issues like IBS or SIBO are at play. That’s where expert guidance becomes essential.
A vegan SIBO & IBS specialist—by default
Most IBS and SIBO protocols lean heavily on animal products—bone broth, fish oil, or restrictive diets that are difficult for vegetarians and vegans to follow. For someone living in Richmond who chooses a plant-based lifestyle, this can create a painful dilemma: manage digestive symptoms but compromise their ethics, or stick with their values and risk ongoing discomfort.
Camilla’s approach removes this conflict entirely. She is a vegan SIBO and IBS specialist by default, meaning her plans are designed with plant-based eaters in mind from the start. She works with clients to create realistic, vegan-friendly protocols that genuinely work in day-to-day life—whether that’s navigating lunch at Whole Foods Market on Richmond High Street, grabbing a quick snack from a local juice bar, or cooking family meals at home.
Evidence-based training with global leaders
What makes Camilla particularly sought-after as a SIBO specialist in Richmond is her depth of professional training. She has studied with two of the world’s most respected authorities on digestive health: Dr Nirala Jacobi, known internationally as The SIBO Doctor, and Dr Jason Hawrelak, founder of Probiotic Advisor and a leading researcher on the gut microbiome.
This advanced training ensures that her protocols are aligned with the latest clinical thinking. Rather than relying on outdated elimination diets or a “one size fits all” probiotic, she develops targeted programmes based on the best available evidence—tailored to each client’s unique biochemistry and ethical choices.
Degree-level naturopathy and postgraduate nutrition
Camilla holds a Bachelor of Health Science in Naturopathy, alongside postgraduate training in Human Nutrition. This academic foundation equips her with both the scientific knowledge and clinical reasoning skills to support complex cases.
For Richmond residents dealing with IBS or SIBO, this means Camilla can:
Assess nutrient interactions, such as balancing iron, zinc, and calcium without compromising absorption.
Design diets that meet plant-based protein needs (ensuring adequate leucine and lysine per meal).
Provide evidence-based guidance on vegan nutrition rather than trial-and-error approaches.
Mastery of SIBO subtypes
SIBO isn’t one condition but a collection of different microbial imbalances: hydrogen-dominant SIBO, methane-dominant (IMO), and the more recently recognised hydrogen sulphide SIBO. Each presents with its own pattern of bloating, constipation, diarrhoea, and pain.
Camilla is experienced in differentiating these subtypes and tailoring treatment accordingly. For example, a Richmond client with methane-dominant SIBO might benefit from specific antimicrobial herbs and targeted motility support, whereas someone with hydrogen sulphide overgrowth may require a more nuanced approach to sulphur-containing plant foods.
Her ability to recognise these patterns and adjust treatment accordingly is one of the reasons many local clients consider her the leading IBS nutritionist in Richmond.
Access to local and specialist testing in Richmond
Accurate diagnosis is a cornerstone of effective gut health care. Camilla only recommends tests that will meaningfully change treatment decisions—avoiding unnecessary costs or stress. For Richmond clients, testing is straightforward:
Blood tests: Local clinics, including The Doctors Laboratory (TDL) Richmond Patient Service Centre, provide quick access to blood draws for B12, iron studies, thyroid panels, and vitamin D.
SIBO breath testing: The Functional Gut Clinic has a dedicated location in Richmond upon Thames, offering UKAS-accredited hydrogen, methane, and hydrogen sulphide breath tests, as well as lactose and fructose malabsorption testing.
NHS services: Local hospitals such as West Middlesex University Hospital and community gastroenterology clinics also provide diagnostic support when needed.
Camilla works with these services to ensure results are clearly explained and used to guide treatment, so clients feel informed and supported every step of the way.
Gentle, effective, plant-based protocols
One of Camilla’s guiding principles is to start with the gentlest approach that still works. Many people with IBS or SIBO have been through restrictive diets that leave them afraid of food. Camilla takes the opposite stance:
She uses short-term elimination when truly necessary but ensures there is always a plan for reintroducing foods.
She emphasises expanding, not shrinking, a client’s food list—helping them enjoy everything from a plant-based brunch at Antipodea in Kew to a picnic in Richmond Park without fear of bloating.
She carefully selects vegan-friendly herbal medicines such as Vitex for hormone regulation, Saffron for mood, and Kava for relaxation.
Her clients often say this balanced, long-term approach is what helps them move beyond mere symptom control towards genuine freedom.
Precision nutrition for real-life energy and comfort
Living in Richmond often means juggling a busy London commute, family life, and a social calendar filled with riverside dinners or quick café stops. Camilla’s nutritional plans are practical and structured, designed to work in everyday life.
She guides clients to:
Balance soluble and insoluble fibre to reduce bloating and support bowel regularity.
Use resistant starches to feed beneficial bacteria without triggering SIBO symptoms.
Ensure protein distribution across meals, with attention to essential amino acids like leucine and lysine from legumes, tofu, tempeh, and quinoa.
Time meals, snacks, and movement to support digestion and reduce reflux—a common concern for IBS sufferers.
By focusing on both biochemistry and lifestyle, her work helps Richmond clients move from unpredictable flare-ups to a steadier rhythm of health.
Integrating the gut–brain connection
Anyone who has sat in Richmond Park during exam season will have overheard students stressing over deadlines. Stress is one of the most overlooked drivers of digestive problems. In conditions such as IBS and PMDD, the gut–brain connection is central: emotional stress heightens gut sensitivity and worsens bloating, cramping, and irregularity.
Camilla incorporates nervous system regulation techniques into her gut health programmes. This may include breathwork sequences, mindfulness practices, or lifestyle adjustments that fit into a client’s daily routine. She also offers Family Constellations and Rapid Core Healing to help release deeper patterns of stress and trauma that often perpetuate digestive symptoms.
This integration of emotional healing with nutritional science is rare in the field of naturopathy, and it’s one of the reasons many consider her the best choice for vegan gut health in Richmond.
Education that empowers independence
Another hallmark of Camilla’s practice is her commitment to education. She doesn’t just hand clients a list of foods to avoid; she explains the “why” behind each recommendation. She draws on her background in philosophy and her own lived experience with PMDD and plant-based nutrition to make complex science both accessible and meaningful.
Clients are guided through:
How to interpret labels when shopping in Richmond’s health food stores.
Why some vegan foods can trigger IBS while others help to heal the gut lining.
How to implement low-FODMAP vegan strategies temporarily, then safely reintroduce foods without fear.
The result is that clients feel more confident, independent, and able to navigate their gut health in the long term.
Clear outcomes and compassionate care
Living with digestive issues can feel isolating, especially when friends or family don’t fully understand what it’s like to plan life around your stomach. Camilla’s clients often describe her as warm, compassionate, and thorough. She takes the time to listen, to map out what “better” looks like for each individual, and to track progress with clarity.
Her focus is always on outcomes that matter to real life:
Less bloating and discomfort.
More energy and stable moods.
Regular digestion and improved sleep.
Greater confidence eating out in Richmond’s restaurants.
For many, this personalised and empathetic style of care makes the difference between surviving with IBS or SIBO and genuinely thriving on a plant-based diet.
Why Camilla Clare Brinkworth is the best vegan gut health expert in Richmond
When it comes to vegan nutrition, IBS, and SIBO support in Richmond, few practitioners combine Camilla’s depth of training, clinical rigour, and personal understanding. She offers:
Vegan SIBO & IBS expertise by default—no need to compromise on values.
Advanced training with The SIBO Doctor (Dr Nirala Jacobi) and ProbioticAdvisor (Dr Jason Hawrelak).
Degree-level naturopathy (BHSc) and postgraduate Human Nutrition qualifications.
Mastery of SIBO subtypes and IBS patterns, ensuring precise protocols.
Evidence-based vegan herbal medicine, including Vitex, Saffron, and Kava.
Access to local testing in Richmond through TDL and The Functional Gut Clinic.
Clear, outcome-focused support that prioritises long-term relief.
Holistic care that integrates gut health with emotional wellbeing.
For Richmonders committed to a plant-rich or vegan lifestyle, seeking help with gut health, IBS, or SIBO, Camilla Clare Holistic Health offers a rare combination: professional credentials, plant-based expertise, and a compassionate, whole-person approach.