G.E.M.M. was developed by experienced Nutritional Biochemist, Dr Christine Houghton PhD., B.Sc., R. Nutr. after 30 years in clinical practice, and extensive research into the complexities of digestive health and the intricate connections that link the gut to every other system of the body.Â
The G.E.M.M. Protocol addresses the root causes of ill-health through optimising the function of all human cells. The Food-First philosophy of the G.E.M.M Protocol is designed to educate and sustain long-term food and lifestyle changes to empower your own self-care and prevention of future illness.
The human body is an interconnected network of many different types of cells. No single body organ or system can function independently, so it makes sense to use treatment approaches that focus initially on the function of the microscopic cells before attempting to treat specific poorly-functioning organs which may have led to disease.
Working at the cellular level, the G.E.M.M. principles have their foundation in the integration of several branches of science including Nutrigenomics, Microbiology, Cell Biology and Immunology.
Both gentle and effective, G.E.M.M. aims to restore and maintain the inbuilt defensive mechanisms within every cell of the body, progressively improving organs and systems that have been functioning poorly.
Your clinician will initially focus on the single layer of cells lining the digestive tract – the gut epithelium. These remarkable cells are directly connected to the cells of the immune network below them. Restoring balance to the Gut-Immune interface creates the foundation for healthy communication with the trillions of other cells throughout the body. In this way, targeting gut function is the first step in restoring overall health.
To enrol in the Gut Ecology & Metabolic Modulation (G.E.M.M.) Course, a clinician must demonstrate prior nutrition-centric qualifications that meet a minimum standard of education.
After completing the foundation training, the clinician can advance to become an Accredited G.E.M.M Clinician by undertaking additional assessment and annual upskilling.Â
Accredited Clinicians are identified in the G.E.M.M Clinician Directory as ‘Holds Advanced Accreditation’.
The G.E.M.M. Protocol was developed by Australian Nutritional Biochemist, Dr Christine Houghton PhD, who after several decades in clinical practice, realised that existing therapies for addressing gut health, metabolic and other chronic diseases were not effectively targeting the underlying causes of ill health. All aspects of the G.E.M.M. Protocol have their foundation in peer-reviewed scientific evidence.
G.E.M.M. promotes Diet of Inclusion, not Diets of Exclusion. A few foods may need to be excluded initially when embarking on G.E.M.M but the ultimate aim of the G.E.M.M. Protocol is to encourage a diverse array of minimally-processed whole foods which are introduced sequentially as you progress through the programme.
The G.E.M.M. Protocol is designed to stimulate healing and repair at a cellular level. To sustain the beneficial changes you are likely to experience, it will be necessary for you to maintain the new diet and lifestyle practices you will have learned. With such a diverse array of health-promoting foods from which to choose and a genuine desire to stay well, it becomes remarkably easy to maintain the new lifestyle habits.
The human body contains literally trillions of cells, grouped into different types of tissues, organs and systems. Each one of these remarkably complex cells contributes in its own unique way to your health. When these cells aren’t working at their peak, lots of things can start to go wrong – and that means that disease is likely to develop in that particular group of cells.
Because the G.E.M.M. approach is to implement treatment at the cellular level, ALL the cells of your body should benefit. What this means is that the name of your condition doesn’t matter very much. G.E.M.M. adopts the principles of Nature to restore cellular function in whatever tissue or organ your condition lies.
The length of the treatment phase of the G.E.M.M Protocol will vary from one person to another. It will be dependent upon a range of factors which include the nature and extent of your health issues, your genetic predisposition and how readily you can adopt the necessary lifestyle changes.
Your clinician may be able to provide approximate timeframes based on the information you provide, together with his or her clinical experience in treating other patients with similar conditions.
As a guide, most patients will experience substantial improvement within 3 months; more complex and longstanding conditions may take longer. On the other hand, many patients feel beneficial changes in just a few weeks. As you see your symptoms disappearing, you will know that there are important cellular changes taking place.
The G.E.M.M Protocol is underpinned by the same principles Nature has used to sustain human life on this planet for many thousands of years. With the benefit of modern Nutrition Science, G.E.M.M has been developed to incorporate those diet and lifestyle habits which have the most impact on human health.
As these factors are gradually introduced into each patient’s programme, specific nutraceutical formulations are selected to hasten and support progress.
As you move through the various G.E.M.M. Levels, your clinician will guide you in establishing the dietary and lifestyle habits best suited to the maintenance of your long-term health.
While targeting digestive health is the first step of the G.E.M.M. Protocol, the second step focuses on restoring the communication between the gut and its underlying immune network. In doing so, G.E.M.M. balances the complex immune system, thereby enhancing the response to infection while reducing allergy and autoimmune reactions.
A comprehensive global directory is now available for you to connect with a G.E.M.M Clinician in your area.
Many clinicians work online and you can use the advanced search function to broaden your results, and filter by those who ‘Hold Advanced Accreditation’.
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