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Stephen Duncan FDN-P MSc · Curated Resources
What I Read.
What I Recommend.
What Works.
37 years of clinical practice, continuous learning, and open-minded critical thinking distilled into one reference list. These are the books, tools, and products I actually use and recommend — not sponsored placements, not generic lists.
AFFILIATE DISCLOSURE — Some links below are Amazon affiliate links. If you purchase through them I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. I only recommend products I use clinically or personally endorse. Supplement links via Fullscript are professional-grade, third-party tested formulations.

DISCLAIMER — The resources listed below are for educational and informational purposes only. They are not a substitute for personalised clinical advice. If you are experiencing health symptoms, please consult a qualified practitioner. Supplement recommendations are general — individual needs vary significantly based on testing, health status, and biochemical individuality.

Test, Don't Guess — Stephen Duncan
Start here — the foundational resource
Test, Don't Guess
Why your tests are normal and you still feel terrible
The clinical method behind everything on this page and every investigation I run. Five functional tests, 900+ data points, seven body systems. This is the framework — the books below are the influences that built it.
Paperback — £19.99 Digital — £97 Why I wrote it →
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Free Pattern Finders
Start here. These interactive clinical screens take 2–3 minutes and identify the patterns most likely driving your symptoms — based on the same framework used in the full TDG programme.
General Health
Health Pattern Finder
Fatigue, brain fog, digestive issues, hormone imbalance — identify which clinical patterns are most likely driving your symptoms.
Start the screen →
Weight Loss Resistance
Why Diets Stop Working
Five metabolic patterns that block fat loss regardless of diet and exercise. Find which one is most likely affecting you.
Start the screen →
Neurodivergent Biochemistry
ADHD & Neurodivergence Screen
Biochemical patterns that may contribute to neurodivergent symptom presentations. Not a diagnosis — a clinical investigation starting point.
Start the screen →
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Recommended Reading
These books have genuinely shaped my clinical thinking over 37 years. Some are technical references I consult regularly. Others changed my fundamental understanding of health. I encourage you to start with the topic that addresses your most pressing concern and let one book lead to another — that's how real clinical literacy develops.
Questioning Medical Orthodoxy & Terrain Biology
Turtles All the Way Down
Anonymous (Israel Science and Technology)
A rigorous, heavily referenced examination of vaccine safety science and the evidence base behind vaccination policy. Not anti-vaccine polemic — a serious scientific critique. I include it here because critical appraisal of medical evidence is a clinical skill, not a political position.
→ Amazon
The Truth About Contagion
Thomas S. Cowan & Sally Fallon Morell
Explores the terrain theory of disease — the idea that the internal environment of the body determines susceptibility more than the pathogen itself. An important counterweight to the germ-centric model that dominates modern medicine. Read alongside the mainstream view.
→ Amazon
Terrain Therapy
Various
The practical application of terrain theory to health optimisation — how diet, lifestyle, and environmental factors shape the biological terrain that determines health and disease susceptibility. The philosophical foundation behind the whole-system approach I use clinically.
→ Amazon
Can You Catch a Cold?
Daniel Roytas
Questions the conventional transmission model of respiratory illness and the role of host immunity, nutrition, and terrain in determining who gets sick and who doesn't. Challenges assumptions most practitioners never examine.
→ Amazon
The Extracellular Matrix and Ground Regulation
Alfred Pischinger
Pischinger's foundational work on the extracellular matrix as the primary communication system of the body — the biological ground substance that mediates between cells, blood, and lymph. The scientific basis for holistic biological medicine and one of the most important yet least known texts in functional health.
→ Amazon
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Home Testing & Monitoring
These are tools I recommend clients use between consultations to track patterns that matter clinically. Blood sugar and blood pressure monitored together with breathing practice create a genuine home biofeedback loop — you can see your nervous system responding in real time.

Clinical note — home monitors are pattern tools, not diagnostic tools. A blood pressure reading taken in isolation tells you less than a series of readings taken consistently at the same time of day in the same position. The value is in trends over weeks, not single measurements.

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Training Equipment
Movement is a primary clinical variable — both insufficient and excessive exercise have distinct physiological signatures. These are the tools I use personally and recommend clinically for functional strength, mobility, and conditioning work that respects your biology rather than fighting it.
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Functional Foods
Food is the foundation. These are the products with genuine clinical rationale that I recommend as part of the nutritional layer of any protocol — not superfoods, not trends, but foods with measurable effects on gut health, inflammation, and metabolic function.
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Bone Broth
Gut-healing collagen and glycine source
→ Amazon UK affiliate link
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Collagen Powder
Hydrolysed bovine, unflavoured
Clinical support for gut barrier integrity, joint health, and skin. I recommend hydrolysed (broken down) collagen for better absorption. Add to coffee, smoothies, or soups — tasteless and easy to use consistently.
→ Amazon UK affiliate link
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Raw Apple Cider Vinegar
Willy's ACV — UK-made, raw, with the mother
Supports stomach acid production and digestive enzyme activity. A tablespoon in water 15 minutes before meals can significantly improve protein digestion and reduce post-meal bloating. Must contain "the mother" — filtered versions have no clinical value. Willy's is UK-made which I prefer for freshness and provenance.
→ Amazon UK affiliate link
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Live Kombucha
Raw, unpasteurised only
Fermented, probiotic-rich, and genuinely enjoyable. A daily small glass provides organic acids and beneficial bacteria. Must be unpasteurised — pasteurised kombucha has no live cultures and no clinical value. Check the label.
→ Amazon UK affiliate link
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Kimchi / Sauerkraut
Raw, naturally fermented — refrigerated section
The most cost-effective probiotic food available. A tablespoon with meals provides diverse Lactobacillus species and prebiotic fibre. Must be raw and refrigerated — shelf-stable versions are pasteurised and contain no live cultures.
→ Amazon UK affiliate link
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Raw Honey
Unpasteurised, local or Manuka
Antimicrobial, prebiotic, and genuinely functional when raw. Contains enzymes, polyphenols, and propolis that pasteurised honey destroys entirely. Manuka for clinical antibacterial properties, local raw honey for general use.
→ Amazon UK affiliate link
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High Polyphenol Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Total polyphenol count on label — aim for 400+ mg/kg
The most evidence-backed dietary fat for cardiovascular and inflammatory health. The key is polyphenol content — standard supermarket EVOO often has minimal polyphenols. Look for the polyphenol count on the label. Use raw, not for cooking.
→ Amazon UK affiliate link
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Beetroot Juice Concentrate
Beet It Organic — 300mg nitrates · 70ml shots · pack of 15
High dietary nitrate content converts to nitric oxide, supporting cardiovascular function, blood pressure reduction, and endothelial health. I use this personally and recommend it to clients working on blood pressure — the effect is measurable with a home monitor. Take 60-90 minutes before exercise or as a daily cardiovascular support shot. One of the few foods where the clinical evidence is genuinely compelling. Also useful as a simple transit time test — note the time you drink it and watch for the colour change in your stool. Normal transit is 12-48 hours. Under 12 suggests malabsorption risk, over 48 suggests sluggish motility. Outside that range warrants investigation.
→ Amazon UK affiliate link
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Organic Coconut Milk
Biona or similar — no additives
Medium-chain triglycerides for quick cellular energy, particularly useful for those with blood sugar instability or poor fat digestion. Biona is my preferred brand — organic, no stabilisers, no gums that can irritate sensitive guts.
→ Amazon UK affiliate link
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Whey Protein
Grass-fed whey isolate, minimal ingredients
The most bioavailable protein source available. Particularly valuable for clients with poor digestive function who struggle to meet protein requirements through food alone. Choose isolate (not concentrate) for lower lactose content. Check for minimal additives.
→ Amazon UK affiliate link
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Pea Protein
Nuzest Clean Lean Protein — minimal ingredients
The best plant-based protein option for clients with dairy sensitivity or who prefer plant sources. Good amino acid profile, easily digested, and clinically comparable to whey for muscle protein synthesis when consumed in adequate amounts.
→ Amazon UK affiliate link
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Ancestral Foods & Organ Meats
Organ meats are the most micronutrient-dense foods available — the category of food that synthetic supplements attempt to replicate, rarely matching the bioavailability or the cofactor complexity of the whole-food source. Liver from a grass-fed animal contains retinol (not beta-carotene), heme iron, CoQ10, B12 in its most bioavailable form, copper, zinc, and K2-MK4. No multi-vitamin comes close. The ancestral nutrition category is the food-first argument taken to its logical conclusion: before supplementing a nutrient, eat the food that contains it in its most complete, most bioavailable form.

One caveat worth stating clearly: liver is the most potent source of retinol (pre-formed vitamin A) available. For pregnant women, the upper safe limit for retinol is 3,000 mcg/day. A 100g serving of beef liver contains approximately 5,000-10,000 mcg. Desiccated liver supplements are lower dose but still relevant. Pregnant women should follow NHS guidance on liver consumption during pregnancy.

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Ancestral Supplements
Grass-fed · New Zealand sourced · Desiccated whole organ
The market leader in desiccated organ meat supplements. Grass-fed New Zealand animals, freeze-dried to preserve nutrient integrity, minimally processed. Their Grass Fed Beef Liver is the foundational product — retinol, B12, heme iron, CoQ10, copper. Their Heart product provides the highest food-source CoQ10 available. Their Kidney provides selenium in the most bioavailable selenocysteine form. For those who cannot source or stomach fresh organ meats, this is the closest clinical equivalent.
→ ancestralsupplements.com · Ships to UK
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Ancient & Brave
UK-based · Collagen · Ancestral nutrition · Clean formulations
UK-based brand with good sourcing transparency and clean formulations. Their True Collagen and Wild Collagen products use grass-fed and wild-caught sources with no additives. Their MCT and collagen blends are useful for clients on ketogenic or carnivore-adjacent protocols. One of the more credible UK brands in this space — the formulations are thoughtful rather than trend-driven.
→ ancientandbrave.earth · UK delivery
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Hunter & Gather
UK-based · Real food · Nose-to-tail philosophy
A UK real-food brand built around the nose-to-tail eating philosophy — tallow, ghee, bone broth, beef dripping, and condiments without seed oils or refined sugars. Their tallow and dripping are the ancestral cooking fat alternatives to industrially processed seed oils. For clients on an elimination protocol or moving toward whole-food, traditional-fat cooking, Hunter & Gather removes the sourcing difficulty. Available in most UK health food stores and online.
→ hunterandgatherfoods.com · UK delivery
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Food-State Supplements
Whole-food sourced nutrients · Higher bioavailability · No isolated compounds
Food-state or food-sourced supplements use whole-food concentrates rather than isolated synthetic compounds. Vitamin C from acerola cherry rather than ascorbic acid retains the bioflavonoids that improve its absorption and activity. Iron from curry leaf or spirulina avoids the gastrointestinal effects of ferrous sulphate. Vitamin D from lichen (vegan) or lanolin contains the natural isomers found in food. The clinical rationale — that cofactors present in food forms improve bioavailability and reduce isolated-nutrient imbalances — is real, if not uniformly proven for every compound. Worth considering for clients who react to synthetic supplement forms or who prefer whole-food sourcing philosophically.
→ Seek: Garden of Life · MegaFood · Terranova (UK) for food-state options
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Supplements
I do not recommend supplements without testing. The products below represent categories that come up frequently in clinical practice — but the specific dosage, form, and combination should always be based on your individual results. A high-quality supplement taken unnecessarily is an expensive irrelevance. A targeted supplement based on a confirmed deficiency is medicine.
Clinical Grade Brands — Why They Matter

Not all supplements are equal. Raw ingredient purity, bioavailability, manufacturing standards, and third-party testing vary enormously across the market. The brands below represent the clinical standard I use in practice — available through practitioner accounts, UK distributors, or direct. They cost more than consumer-grade products because the formulation and quality control costs more. The difference matters clinically.

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Quicksilver Scientific
Liposomal & nanoemulsion delivery · Christopher Shade PhD
The gold standard for bioavailability. Quicksilver's liposomal and nanoemulsion delivery technology produces absorption rates significantly higher than standard capsule or tablet forms — particularly relevant for fat-soluble nutrients, detoxification support, and clients with compromised gut absorption (a common finding on GI-MAP). Their glutathione, phosphatidylcholine, and fat-soluble vitamin formulations have no consumer-grade equivalent. Christopher Shade's work on heavy metal detoxification and mercury specifically is the clinical standard. Available through specialist UK distributors — contact for recommendations.
→ quicksilverscientific.com · UK distributor referral on request
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Thorne Research
NSF Certified · Pharmaceutical-grade manufacturing
The practitioner benchmark for single-ingredient supplements and core formulations. Thorne holds NSF for Sport certification — the same standard used by professional athletics — meaning every batch is tested for contaminants, heavy metals, and label accuracy. Their methylated B vitamins, iron bisglycinate, magnesium bisglycinate, and vitamin D formulations are what I reach for when testing confirms a specific deficiency. Available through Fullscript (US) and practitioner accounts in the UK — Amrita Nutrition carries a selection.
→ thorne.com · Available via Amrita Nutrition UK
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Pure Encapsulations
Hypoallergenic · No fillers or artificial ingredients
The practitioner choice for clients with sensitivities, autoimmune conditions, or multiple food reactions. Pure Encapsulations use no artificial colours, flavours, or preservatives — no common allergens, no unnecessary excipients. Every product is independently tested for potency and purity. Particularly valuable for clients whose GI-MAP or food sensitivity results suggest heightened immune reactivity — where a supplement with unnecessary additives can trigger the reaction you are trying to resolve. Available through practitioner accounts and selected UK distributors.
→ pureencapsulations.com · Contact for UK practitioner access
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Seeking Health
Dr Ben Lynch · MTHFR & methylation specialists
Dr Ben Lynch's brand is the clinical standard for methylation support and MTHFR-related supplementation. If your blood chemistry shows elevated homocysteine, or if you have confirmed MTHFR variants, Seeking Health's Optimal Methyl B12, HomocysteX Plus, and B-Minus (for those who react to methyl donors) are the formulations I reference. Lynch's clinical writing on methylation cycle support is also the most practically useful in the field. Available direct from the UK website.
→ seekinghealth.com · Ships to UK
General Supplement Recommendations

Professional-grade supplements are available through my Fullscript dispensary for US clients. UK clients — contact me directly for practitioner-grade recommendations from the brands above. The products below are general consumer-grade options available on Amazon for those without access to practitioner dispensaries.

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Vitamin D3 + K2
D3 with MK-7 K2 — combined formulation
The most common deficiency I see in testing. Functional optimal is 100-150 nmol/L — most UK adults are significantly below this. K2 is essential alongside D3 for calcium metabolism. Never supplement D3 without K2. Dose based on your blood result.
→ Amazon UK affiliate link
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Magnesium Glycinate
Glycinate form only — not oxide
The most absorbable form of magnesium. Involved in over 300 enzymatic reactions including cortisol regulation, blood sugar control, and sleep. The glycinate form is gentle on the gut and crosses the blood-brain barrier effectively. Magnesium oxide is cheap and largely useless.
→ Amazon UK affiliate link
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Omega 3 Fish Oil
High EPA/DHA, triglyceride form — Nordic Naturals
Anti-inflammatory foundation. The triglyceride form absorbs significantly better than the ethyl ester form found in cheaper products. Look for a combined EPA + DHA of at least 1000mg per serving. Nordic Naturals is my preferred brand for purity and bioavailability.
→ Amazon UK affiliate link
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B-Complex (methylated)
Active forms — methylfolate + methylcobalamin
The methylated forms bypass the MTHFR conversion step that a significant portion of the population has difficulty with. Standard folic acid and cyanocobalamin are cheaper but poorly utilised by those with methylation issues. If you have MTHFR variants, methylated forms are non-negotiable.
→ Amazon UK affiliate link
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Probiotic — Multi-strain
Refrigerated, clinically studied strains
Only use after GI-MAP testing has identified what's actually dysregulated. A probiotic without testing is guesswork — you may be adding bacteria you don't need or that are contraindicated. When indicated, choose refrigerated multi-strain formulations with clinically studied strains and guaranteed CFU count at expiry.
→ Amazon UK affiliate link
Zinc Bisglycinate
Bisglycinate or picolinate form
Essential for immune function, thyroid hormone conversion, gut integrity, and reproductive health. Commonly deficient in those with poor digestive function or high stress loads. The bisglycinate form is better absorbed and less likely to cause nausea than zinc sulphate.
→ Amazon UK affiliate link
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Smart Choices
I'm not the health police. If you're going to drink coffee, eat out, have a glass of wine — do it informed. These products help reduce your exposure load without requiring you to live like a monk. The clinical principle is simple: if you're going to make a less-than-optimal health choice (and most healthy people do), make it a wise one. A little of what you like does you good — as long as what you like isn't actively undermining your biology.
Coffee — If You're Going to Drink It

Coffee isn't inherently harmful — for many people it's a net positive. The problem is mycotoxins: ochratoxin A and aflatoxin contamination in conventionally sourced beans. If your OAT test shows elevated mycotoxin markers, the first question I ask is about your coffee. Switching to a tested, mycotoxin-free source is one of the simplest environmental load reductions you can make.

Wine — Harm Reduction, Not Prohibition

I'm not going to tell you never to drink. What I will tell you is that conventional wine carries a sulphite load that burdens liver detoxification pathways, a histamine load that triggers reactive clients, and a pesticide residue that biodynamic and organic options avoid. If you're going to have a glass, make it one that minimises the biochemical cost. Low-sulphite, organic, or biodynamic wines are a reasonable harm-reduction strategy — particularly for clients with elevated liver markers, histamine intolerance, or anyone in an active detox protocol.

Specific wine recommendations coming soon — researching biodynamic and low-sulphite UK sources.

Coming Soon

Additional smart choice recommendations are being evaluated, including metabolic tracking devices and respiratory monitoring tools. Products are only added here after clinical evaluation and — wherever possible — personal testing. Check back or subscribe to the blog for updates.