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Meet the Team

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Director of Savvy Dietetics 

Accredited Practicing Dietitian

Certified Patient Advocate

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Accredited Practicing Dietitian

Certified Health Coach

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Kristie

Virtual Assistant

@allied.studio

Savvy
About Savvy 

Hi, I'm Savita 

It's lovely to meet you.

I'm a patient-practitioner, Accredited Practicing Dietitian and Certified Patient Advocate.

My passion for food began as a child playing in my family's vegetable garden in England, and with both of my parents being hospital-based health professionals, health and the role of healthcare have always been on my radar. 

As a child I had no energy, perpetual sniffles and multiple food intolerances.

After seeking nutrition advice, my health improved dramatically; sparking my fascination with food, diet and the body. This led me to begin studying a Bachelor of Nutrition and Dietetics (Honours) at the Queensland University of Technology in Brisbane, Australia.

However, while attempting to juggle full time study and multiple jobs I became burnt out, which heralded the onset of chronic pain & fatigue, and what I later discovered was postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome, mast cell activation syndrome and hypermobile Ehlers Danlos Syndrome.

Savita Sandhu | Savvy Dietetics | Belinda Dorman Photography

 

This began the search for answers from a myriad of specialists, GPs and google sessions. Needless to say, I didn’t have much success.

There were too many try-this-it-might-work-for-you tablets that made me so nauseated I was unable keep food down, or utterly-out-of-my-uni-student-budget treatment recommendations which felt like a stab in the dark for a miracle cure. Or even worse, the well-maybe-it’s-just-anxiety card – urgh!

Ultimately, I was floundering with no real direction, or sense in which direction I was heading. If I continued on this path, I’m not sure how I would have been able to finish my degree, hold down a job or look after the relationships in my life – let alone walk 100 metres some days!

It took time to build the right healthcare team and start piecing together parts of my story. But through this I was able to find clarity and ease in a seemingly unconnected puzzle of symptoms, and make a clear roadmap for the path ahead. Restoring joy, autonomy and spontaneity to my life.

Now, as a practitioner I have a unique respect for the struggles which patients may encounter on their journey, along with the skills necessary to provide support. I uphold a scientific evidence-based and holistic approach; meaning that I am informed by current nutrition and medical research while also taking into account the unique situation of each person I work with. 

This is the approach I hope to bring to you with our team at Savvy Dietetics. If you're ready to take the next step or have any questions, head to the bookings tab below.  

Wishing you the best on your journey, 

Savvy

Savvy Dietetics in the Media: Careers With Stem, Queensland University of Technology 

Academic publication | Standardised Outcome Reporting for the Nutrition Management of Complex Chronic Disease | Sandhu, S., Angel, C., Campbell, K., Hickman, I. & McLaughlin, H. | 2021 | Journal: Nutrients, Special Edition Nutrition and Diet for Metabolic Health

Scholarship Runner up - Dr Richard Sager Scholarship | Australasian College of Nutritional & Environmental Medicine | 2023 

Bachelor of Nutrition and Dietetics (Honours, First Class) | Queensland University of Technology

Certified Professional Patient Advocate | Health Commons Connect 

Other Major Professional Development 

2024 | Aus POTS Conference Scientific Day (in person) 

2023 | EDS ECHO AHP Introduction to EDS and HSD | EDS ECHO Nutrition | EDS Global Learning Conference (online) 

2022 | The Pole Physio | Highlighting Hypermobility Online Workshop

2022 | POTS Unmasked Conference - Australian POTS Foundation 

ACNEM modules: Gastrointestinal Health | Women's Health | Foundations of Nutritional and Environmental Medicine 1 & 2 

Professional Memberships

Qualifications & Milestones

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Aleisha
About Aleisha 

Aleisha Adams is an Accredited Practicing Dietitian and Qualified Health Coach with a special interest in relationship with food, complex gastroenterology & women's health.

She has a range of experience in both hospital and outpatient dietetics - holding senior roles, as well as being a volunteer Dietitian for AusHEAL, where she has provides hands-on assistance at hospitals in the Congo. 

Gut health has always been a focus in Aleisha's practice. She has completed additional training with multiple organisations, and co-developed Miyagi's Healthy Gut Program. She has worked with clients with gastrointestinal symptoms and conditions to uncover factors contributing to symptoms - and loves digging into the research to find microbiome factors that can be optimised through diet, lifestyle and tailored pre & probiotics.

Aleisha has a passion for recipe development & food photography, and loves helping clients she works with find creative ways to nourish themselves which meet both their dietary and sensory needs. You can find her project The Hummus Hub here. 

Aleisha joined Savvy Dietetics in 2024 and is currently upskilling in all things Hypermobility & Co.

Hi, I'm Aleisha

Qualifications & Milestones

Bachelor of Nutrition and Dietetics (Honours, First Class) | Queensland University of Technology

Certified Health Coach: Foundations of Health & Wellness Coaching (Level 1), Wellness Coaching Australia

Certified Microba Informed Practioner (MIP)

Co-developer of the Healthy Gut Australia Program, Miyagi

Featured on Healthy Living radio show with Dr Ross Walker re SIBO

Volunteer Dietitian with AusHEAL, Heal Africa Congo 

Other Major Professional Development

 

The Low FODMAP Diet for Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Monash University

 

The Essentials: Training Clinicians in Eating Disorders & Community Training for Dietitians: The Essentials, Inside Out Institute

 

Microba Insights Course for Health Professionals

Professional Memberships

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As a dietitian, I take an evidence-based and holistic approach when working with clients, considering all aspects of health, both physical and mental, when finding accessible solutions.

I struggled with my relationship with food as a teenager. Over time and with an increasingly challenging relationship with food and exercise, conditions slowly appeared including IBS, amennhorea, low hormone levels and low bone density. I sought help from a number of health professionals, but the solutions they suggested were just a band-aid fixes.

 

In the 5 years that I worked to regain my period and my health, not a single health professional identified the underlying cause of my symptoms: the eating disorder. Instead all came back as 'normal' and I was repeatedly told that my hormones were 'just not working properly'. 
 
Sick of going back and forth to appointments that didn't seem to be making any progress, I decided to take matters into my own hands. I took a deep dive into some research reached the heavy and humbling realisation that my own eating habits were the cause of my symptoms. After around 6 months of regaining weight, fixing my iron deficiency, challenging my relationship with food and learning to rest my nervous system, I regained my period and my energy! I only wished that my eating disorder was diagnosed earlier and that I had been given the appropriate support.
 
I understand how easy it can be to develop a 'fear of food,' particularly when navigating other health conditions such as food allergies, intolerances, autoimmunity and IBS.

 

Food can be overwhelming, and that is why I love working with clients to improve their relationship with food and learn how to nourish their bodies in a way that feels safe and that suits their personal needs.

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Pups of Savvy Dietetics

Cami is a tiny Maltese - Shih Tzu - Poodle cross, born in 2021, and is a qualified therapy dog. You may see her in the background of telehealth consults on Savita's work from home days!

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 Cami 

Kimchi is Aleisha's collie, born in 2024. You may see her in telehealth sessions with Aleisha!

 Kimichi 
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