Welcome to Nutritious Minds Trust Charity (NMTC) My name is Rachel Gow and I am the Founder of Nutritious Minds Trust Charity (NMTC). The concept of creating NMTC had been on my mind for several years before it eventually came to life. As a young, first-time mum, raising my son with ADHD and Dyslexia seemed overwhelming at times with an almost never-ending-list of challenges, detours and obstacles. Thankfully, ADHD is now a household name, but back then it was not. Having a diagnosis of ADHD was often met with judgment, misunderstanding and, at times, unkindness or contempt.
Along our journey, often in the most unexpected ways, I encountered individuals who were kind and helpful in various ways. They taught me the language of special educational needs, guided me through statements (now EHCPs), and supported me during tribunals. With their help, I managed to adjust my sails in the storm, though the path was far from easy. Determined to better understand and support my son, I went to university in my 20s as a mature student and spent 14 years studying psychology, nutrition, and neuroscience. Over time, I came to realise I was not alone—there were thousands of other parents and families facing the same struggles. This realisation fuelled a need to speak out against the injustices and increased risks our children with ADHD encounter, including educational failure, exclusion, isolation, marginalisation, and, at times, even worse outcomes. Around 2017, I began laying the groundwork for Nutritious Minds. Initially, this involved screening children and young people for ADHD and related conditions, making referrals for diagnostic evaluations, working closely with schools to prevent permanent exclusions for children with ADHD, and writing psychological reports for court hearings to help young adults with undiagnosed ADHD avoid custodial sentences. As a Child Neuropsychologist, my work extended far beyond these efforts. I offered subsidized payments for families with some financial means and, for those who could not afford to pay, provided support as an act of kindness. Finally, in January 2024, Nutritious Minds achieved official charitable status, and we celebrated our launch on Friday, October 4th, at Ministry, London. As you can imagine, we are busy writing grants and fundraising for vital community projects that we deeply believe can make a meaningful difference. We are fortunate to have a loyal and dedicated team, some of whom have been with us since Nutritious Minds was just an idea. That seed has now grown, and we’re thrilled to be on this journey. We’d love for you to join us and be part of this exciting mission! With gratitude, Rachel xo
Rachel V. Gow, Biography Dr. Rachel V. Gow is considered one of the U.K.’s leading authorities on the role of nutrition in ADHD and neurodevelopmental conditions. Dr Gow received her Ph.D. in Child Neuropsychology in the Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, at the Institute of Psychiatry (IoP), King’s College London in 2012. During her training at the IoP (2008-2012), she worked in clinical research alongside world-renowned ADHD expert, Professor Eric Taylor, Emeritus King’s College London, and neuroimaging expert,
Professor Katya Rubia. Dr Gow received world-class training in electrophysiological recordings of brain activity, biochemistry, conducting structured clinical interviews, screening, and assessment for ADHD and associative conditions. Her PhD thesis examined EEG recordings of brain activity and nutritional profiles in children with and without ADHD and is published online by King's College London.
Between 2012 and 2016, Rachel worked as a Guest Researcher at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in Bethesda, Maryland, United States in the Section of Nutritional Neurosciences. During this role, she co-designed and managed the NORAA (Neuroimaging, omega-3 and reward in Adults with ADHD) trial. This was the worlds first clinical trial testing the role of omega-3 highly unsaturated fatty acids in reward-related processes using neuroimaging techniques in adults with ADHD.
Memberships & Collaborations Rachel is a Science Fellow of Think Trough Nutrition, and a council member of the Food and Health Forum, at the Royal Society of Medicine. She has been an expired but long-standing member, of International Society for the Study of Fatty Acids (ISSFAL). In addition, she is a Trustee for Professor Michael Crawford’s, The Mother and Child Foundation, and also works with other charities including NutriTank, and Food and Behaviour (FAB) Research. TV Work Rachel has worked as an adviser on the BBC TV show Trust Me, I’m a Doctor. She has previously given interviews and featured on GMTV, Sky News, LBC and BBC radio on the subject of ADHD. She has provided behind-the-scenes consultancy to Betty TV during an episode of the Food Hospital on Channel 4, London. Books Rachel's first book, Smart Foods and Brain Health was published in 2021 by Jessica Kingsley Publisher, part of the Hachette Book Group and can be ordered via the JKP website or Amazon.