Nicole Goode, author, podcaster and champion for chronic conditions, shares her inspiring journey from burnout to building a wellness empire. By Natalie Li
Imagine being told by specialists that your debilitating symptoms “don’t quite match.” This was the reality for Nicole Goode, an ambitious neuroscience student with dreams of a medical career.
Her world was turned upside down as her health deteriorated. “I was at university when I got ill,” she recalls. “We now know it was likely Epstein-Barr virus triggering an autoimmune response. Nobody could figure out what was wrong. I was getting sicker and wasn’t getting any help.”
Frustrated but determined; Nicole took matters into her own hands. “I started looking into it myself, what could I do to help myself?” Her scientific background guided her into research, and she stumbled upon the world of nutrition and functional medicine. Though sceptical at first, she decided to try it. “I knew eating well couldn’t do any harm, and I was amazed at how much better I got.”
As Nicole regained her health, clarity began to emerge from the chaos.
The moment it all changed
She enrolled in law school, a practical choice for running her own business later, but her passion for health pulled her back. “I just said to myself, ‘I want to help people in this way.’” Her new path led her to the Institute for Optimum Nutrition (ION), renowned for its functional medicine approach and clinical training. “I felt that clinical training and supervised clinics were so important,” she says. “It was more scientific than I expected, which is a good thing, a deep dive.”
Despite challenges, Nicole thrived at ION, completing the BSc (Hons) Nutritional Therapy course to gain an in-depth understanding of nutrition and lifestyle science. The course prepared Nicole to start her own practice with a well-developed business plan.
She formed strong bonds with her peers through a WhatsApp group that remains active to this day.
“We support each other every day,” shares the Cheshire-based practitioner. Graduating during the COVID-19 pandemic presented hurdles, but Nicole adapted quickly, transitioning her practice entirely online. “It pushed me out of my comfort zone,” she reflects, “but it also allowed me to reach clients worldwide.”
A business built on care
Today, Nicole is a Certified Functional Medicine Practitioner (CFMHC), registered nutritional therapist (BANT CNHC), and BANT-registered nutritionist. She is the Founder and Clinical Director of The Goode Health Clinic, which won Best Functional Medicine Clinic in 2023 and 2024.
In 2025, Nicole received the accolade of Functional Medicine Specialist of the Year. Her expertise spans immune health, energy, and optimal well-being, and she has developed the innovative MitoImmune® Method, a personalised approach to healthcare. “I’m a big advocate for tailoring care to the individual,” she says. “No two clients are the same.”
Bestseller born from experience
Nicole Goode, author, podcaster and champion for chronic conditions, shares her inspiring journey from burnout to building a wellness empire. By Natalie Li
Imagine being told by specialists that your debilitating symptoms “don’t quite match.” This was the reality for Nicole Goode, an ambitious neuroscience student with dreams of a medical career.
Her world was turned upside down as her health deteriorated. “I was at university when I got ill,” she recalls. “We now know it was likely Epstein-Barr virus triggering an autoimmune response. Nobody could figure out what was wrong. I was getting sicker and wasn’t getting any help.”
Frustrated but determined; Nicole took matters into her own hands. “I started looking into it myself, what could I do to help myself?” Her scientific background guided her into research, and she stumbled upon the world of nutrition and functional medicine. Though sceptical at first, she decided to try it. “I knew eating well couldn’t do any harm, and I was amazed at how much better I got.”
As Nicole regained her health, clarity began to emerge from the chaos.
The moment it all changed
She enrolled in law school, a practical choice for running her own business later, but her passion for health pulled her back. “I just said to myself, ‘I want to help people in this way.’” Her new path led her to the Institute for Optimum Nutrition (ION), renowned for its functional medicine approach and clinical training. “I felt that clinical training and supervised clinics were so important,” she says. “It was more scientific than I expected, which is a good thing, a deep dive.”
Despite challenges, Nicole thrived at ION, completing the BSc (Hons) Nutritional Therapy course to gain an in-depth understanding of nutrition and lifestyle science. The course prepared Nicole to start her own practice with a well-developed business plan.
She formed strong bonds with her peers through a WhatsApp group that remains active to this day.
“We support each other every day,” shares the Cheshire-based practitioner. Graduating during the COVID-19 pandemic presented hurdles, but Nicole adapted quickly, transitioning her practice entirely online. “It pushed me out of my comfort zone,” she reflects, “but it also allowed me to reach clients worldwide.”
A business built on care
Today, Nicole is a Certified Functional Medicine Practitioner (CFMHC), registered nutritional therapist (BANT CNHC), and BANT-registered nutritionist. She is the Founder and Clinical Director of The Goode Health Clinic, which won Best Functional Medicine Clinic in 2023 and 2024.
In 2025, Nicole received the accolade of Functional Medicine Specialist of the Year. Her expertise spans immune health, energy, and optimal well-being, and she has developed the innovative MitoImmune® Method, a personalised approach to healthcare. “I’m a big advocate for tailoring care to the individual,” she says. “No two clients are the same.”
Bestseller born from experience
Nicole’s success extends beyond her clinic. She is the author of Optimal You, a bestseller published in November 2024. The book reflects her philosophy of personalisation, featuring flexible health plans built around readers’ unique needs. “The goal was to reach more people, especially those who can’t afford to work with me in clinic,” she explains. “I wrote Optimal You: Supercharge Your Energy, Strengthen Your Immunity because I believe that low energy, constant fatigue, and weakened immunity shouldn’t be accepted as the ‘new normal’ just because we’re getting older. Yes, life gets busier, responsibilities grow, and stress is a constant companion—but that doesn’t mean we should resign ourselves to feeling less than our best.
“Through my work with clients, I’ve seen how these symptoms can slowly creep in, making it harder to focus, stay active, and enjoy life.
“What starts as ‘just a bit tired’ can snowball into constant exhaustion, brain fog, and a compromised immune system,” she adds.
“And for too many people, this feels inevitable. But it isn’t. Optimal You challenges the idea that aging means declining health. It offers a different perspective, one where you can maintain high energy, strong immunity, and a sharp mind, no matter how fast-paced or demanding your life may be.”
The book explores the science behind energy and immunity, looking at how stress, sleep, nutrition, and lifestyle all play a role. And it provides practical, actionable steps to reclaim your vitality and optimise your health.
“I’ve seen incredible transformations in clients who thought they had to settle for feeling less energetic and vibrant as they aged. By addressing the root causes—whether it’s mitochondrial health, gut health, or managing stress we can all live fuller, healthier lives.”
Spreading the word
As host of The Goode Health Podcast, Nicole continues to spread her knowledge, interviewing practitioners, athletes, and celebrities, including Olympic medallist Lina Nielsen and TV and radio presenter Emma Forbes about their health journeys. “I love having those conversations,” she says. “There’s still so much awareness to raise about nutrition and functional medicine.”
With her sights set on another book, growing her clinic, and expanding her podcast’s reach, Nicole remains driven to empower others. “Part of every nutritional therapist’s job is spreading the word about what’s available,” she says. “We want to grow the industry and help more people.”
Nicole’s journey from patient to practitioner highlights resilience, passion and the transformative power of functional medicine. “It’s been hard work,” she admits, “but it’s incredibly rewarding.”
