Louise Marchionne's son Gianni, aged 11, used to be unwell

all the time. Here Louise, of Montpelier, explains how she

transformed his health

When I gave birth to my son back in 1996, like so many new

mothers I was determined to feed my child healthy, home-cooked

organic food.

So when he started developing eczema within his first year,

I was concerned and baffled. But I put it down to the fact that

his father and I both had sensitive skin as young children, and

hoped it would be something he would grow out of.

By the time he was three years old, he had spent a day in

hospital with a severe asthma attack, had started displaying

the symptoms of hay fever and had recurrent ear infections. By

the time he was five, he had endured pleurisy, severe chicken

pox and glandular fever. During this time, he had been given at

least two courses of antibiotics.

If I had to put my finger on a time in his short life when I

believe his constitution changed, it would be then. I say this

because his shape and his behaviour started to change.

Over the next year or so he started to put on weight

inexplicably. Yet he was as active as all the other children

and he ate a sensible, well-balanced diet, and I cooked

everything myself.

By the time he was seven, I had decided to take him to see

an allergist because the rash on his legs had become very

severe and did not seem to be reacting well to any topical

remedies or treatments.

He was tested using the Vega method. This uses a machine to

measure the body's electrical resistance to substances.

It was discovered that he had candida, which is a yeast

imbalance in the gut. We had to cut out all sugar and yeast. To

cut sugar and yeast out of the diet of a seven-year-old is, and

was, a huge struggle. To do it completely, is near

impossible.

I now know this is the reason why allergy therapy supports

your system with the use of supplements. They aid your

recovery. The allergy therapy we received at the time simply

involved dietary changes and probiotics, and not good ones at

that. I have learned that with supplements you really do get

what you pay for. They are worth paying for, they do make a

difference, they do help you to feel better.

It was through this experience that I decided to train in

allergy therapy, and graduated with a distinction.

During my diploma, I volunteered my son to be a case study

for the course, as I knew he was still not as “vital” as he

could be. His health had not improved sufficiently. He was

becoming increasingly unfit and having to use his inhaler more

often.

I was, by now, determined to get to the bottom of it. He had

also developed a painful bone growth disorder that affects the

heel. This was probably exacerbated by the extra weight he was

carrying. In himself, he was not happy and was being teased at

school.

He was tested as a case study. I then discovered that not

only did he still have candida, but he was also intolerant to a

lot of foods, predominantly all the gluten grains and cow

dairy. Once I was over the shock of the enormity of the task in

hand, I decided to embrace this effort wholeheartedly. I wanted

my son's health back. I was embarking on a journey that would

send me back to the culinary drawing board on many an occasion.

I would have to leave the house prepared, just as I did during

the days of weaning.

I truly believe the supplements at this stage were

invaluable. They helped him, and helped me to help him. It was

an intense journey. Finding yourself saying “no” to your child

constantly around the area of food was, at times, difficult and

emotional for both of us.

This was worsened by social gatherings, and I had to

overcome the feelings that people thought I might be depriving

him not just of food, but part of his childhood as well. There

were moments when it was very hard to remain calm and

focussed.

The important thing to remember about allergy therapy is

that it addresses your body at that moment in time. Our bodies

change and evolve all the time; in children this process is

understandably much faster. I will always remember the day when

he said that his joints didn't hurt any more, and apart from

the problem with his feet, I hadn't even known that his joints

were hurting him.

Eventually, when he started to feel better and lose weight,

he began to truly embrace what he was doing.

He then started exercising more. We have since been lucky

enough to find a trainer who has inspired him and advised him

every step of the way. He is now thriving and training to

become a triathlete. He is tall, slim, strong and very fit. He

has achieved this himself. I managed and nourished him; he did

the rest. I can only commend and congratulate his demonstration

of such commitment at such a young age. I have had people tell

me that they don't recognise him. The change in him is

astounding. As his mother, it has been a joy to witness his

confidence grow.

At home we are still gluten and cow dairy-free. Friends with

children still come to eat and enjoy what they eat. He has

regained a tolerance for wheat, which means he can now also

enjoy going for a pizza with his friends and it doesn't make

him feel ill. His skin, apart from the usual scrapes found on

boys knees is looking so much better. His hay fever is now

apparent only on those very “high” days, and I believe that his

immune system is almost as fit as the rest of him.

This experience has been a learning curve for both of us. It

has enriched our lives on so many levels. It is a journey we

have shared together and we are healthier and happier with each

other as well as individually.

For further information on allergy therapy treatments by

Louise Marchionne, go to www.foodfitforyou.co.uk.