Functional nutrition for gut health, hormones and energy
I'm Rita Soares, a functional nutritionist. I specialise in SIBO, IBS and reflux, thyroid and hormonal imbalance, perimenopause and menopause — and the fatigue, weight changes and brain fog that come with them.
IFM Member · Ordem dos Nutricionistas 2604N Online worldwide · In-person Lisbon
WHO IS THIS FOR
When standard diagnostics don't explain the full picture
Standard blood panels are designed to detect pathology — they flag what is outside the reference range. What they don't capture is the functional terrain that sits beneath clinical thresholds: disruptions in gut barrier integrity, shifts in microbiome composition, dysregulation of the HPA axis, subclinical thyroid dysfunction, or impaired mitochondrial energy production.
These are measurable, addressable physiological states. Functional nutrition uses targeted dietary intervention, evidence-based supplementation, and lifestyle protocols to restore function at the system level — gastrointestinal, endocrine, immune, and metabolic — before dysfunction progresses to diagnosable disease.
CLINICAL AREAS OF FOCUS
Gastrointestinal function — SIBO, IBS, intestinal permeability, dysbiosis, H. pylori
Hormonal health — PCOS, estrogen metabolism, perimenopause, menopause
Immune dysregulation and chronic inflammatory response
Body composition and metabolic health
Thyroid physiology and autoimmune conditions
Mitochondrial function, chronic fatigue, metabolic health
HPA axis, sleep architecture, stress physiology and burnout
Longevity and healthy ageing
HOW I WORK
Every consultation is 90 minutes.
​One-to-one, online or in Lisbon. Here's what we cover.
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A full medical, dietary and lifestyle history — the whole timeline, not a ten-minute intake
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Review and interpretation of your recent bloodwork and medical exams
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Review of every supplement you're taking, and whether it's earning its place
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Body composition analysis on the InBody scale — fat mass, muscle mass, visceral fat (In Person)
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A personalised nutrition and supplementation plan built around your goals and biomarkers
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Lifestyle guidance on movement, sleep and stress
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Prescription of further bloodwork or functional testing, where it will change the plan
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Email support afterwards, while you put the plan into practice
4-MONTH PROGRAMS
Structured intervention for lasting physiological change
Complex dysfunction doesn't resolve in a single consultation. Both programs provide the clinical continuity — structured follow-up, protocol refinement, and the time frame — needed for measurable, lasting change.
Gut health · 4 months
Gut Health Reset Program
For bloating, irregular bowel function, reflux, food reactions, skin issues or unexplained fatigue. This program identifies the underlying drivers and restores digestive function from the ground up.
WHAT CHANGES
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→ Reduction in bloating, reflux, and digestive pain
→. Restored gut barrier integrity and microbiome diversity
→ Identified and addressed food sensitivities
→ Clinical support for SIBO, H. pylori, and dysbiosis
→ Improved energy and cognitive clarity as gut function normalises
→ Skin conditions associated with gut dysfunction — acne, eczema, rosacea
SIBO · IBS · Reflux · Leaky gut · H. pylori · Skin conditions
Longevity & hormones · 4 months
Longevity, Hormones & Body Optimization Program
For low energy, poor sleep, weight changes, brain fog, irregular cycles, and hormonal symptoms. This program identifies the root cause and builds a protocol to restore balance.
WHAT CHANGES
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→ Restored energy production and reduced fatigue​
→ Hormonal regulation — cycle health, PCOS, perimenopause, menopause​
→ Improved thyroid function and metabolic markers​
→ Better sleep architecture and stress resilience​
→ Body composition changes through metabolic recalibration