Inside out healing

After a decade in the wellness industry Sara Borg realised that the secret to a glowing complexion isn’t just in the right facial, it’s in the gut, she tells Natalie Li

For ten years, Sara was a fixture in her mother’s successful spa in Malta. As a skin therapist, she spent her days helping clients achieve their aesthetic goals. However, despite her expertise in facials and topical treatments, she found herself increasingly preoccupied by a recurring pattern: while some clients’ skin stayed radiant, others struggled with persistent, returning issues. 

“I started to become really curious about the deeper connection inside the body,” Sara explains. “I was seeing these recurring skin problems and realised there was a missing link. I wanted to understand the internal environment that was manifesting on the surface.” 

Determined to find answers, Sara began searching for a path that aligned with her holistic values. At the time, nutritional therapy and naturopathic medicine were virtually non-existent in Malta, she says. Her search eventually led her to the Institute for Optimum Nutrition (ION). “I found ION and never looked back,” she says. 

The challenge of excellence

Sara enrolled in the Diploma in Nutritional Therapy, a journey she describes as both rewarding and rigorous. Having a background in anatomy and physiology gave her a head start, but the depth of the ION curriculum was a revelation. 

“I wasn’t expecting it to be so challenging,” she admits. “But I’ve always loved biology, and learning the intricacies of the human body was fascinating. The clinical practice was an amazing experience, watching our tutors and learning from them was invaluable.” 

Studying from Malta meant Sara was a remote student for much of the course, a feat that required immense self-discipline. At the time, digital connectivity wasn’t as ubiquitous as it is today, but Sara found strength in a tight-knit support group. “Three of us became really close. We had our own separate NT group, and we helped each other through. Being disciplined was key, I was working full-time in the spa while studying, so it was a major juggle.” 

Understanding the human element

After graduating with her diploma in 2019, Sara’s thirst for knowledge wasn’t quenched. She soon returned to ION to complete the Bachelor’s ‘top-up’ degree, a fast-track pathway to a degree in nutritional therapy using recognised prior learning. It is exclusive to nutritional therapy practitioners who have studied a functional or systems approach. 

Sara was motivated by a desire to master the psychology of health. 

The behavioural module ended up being my favourite part of the Top-up

“I wanted to learn about the behavioural change side of nutrition,” she says. “It’s one thing to know what someone should eat, but another to help them actually do it.” This interest was sparked by a course on human behaviour and archetypes, which explored how we store emotions in the body. “The behavioural module ended up being my favourite part of the top-up. It changed how I view the practitioner-client relationship.” 

Building a wellness empire

Since qualifying, Sara has transitioned from the spa to her own clinical practice, Balance by Sara. What started as a recipe-sharing platform on Instagram has blossomed into a multi-faceted wellness brand. 

Today, Sara’s career is a vibrant blend of clinical work and entrepreneurship. Based in Naxxar in north Malta, she sees a mix of local and international clients, specialising in women’s health. “PCOS and hormonal issues are extremely common in Malta,” she notes. “I’m passionate about helping women move away from the ‘eat less, move more’ narrative and helping them understand their cycles and nervous systems.” 

Beyond her 1-to-1 clinic, Sara is a prominent voice for corporate wellness, delivering talks to global firms like PwC and Deloitte. She has also pioneered a new health concept in Malta: Botanical Blends, a specialised juice bar. 

“It’s a health bar for the body and mind,” she explains. “We use mushroom extracts and low-sugar formulations. Each blend is named after its function: ‘Defend’ for the immune system, ‘Focus’ for the brain, and ‘Harmony’ for hormones. We even serve everything in traditional, reuseable glass bottles.” 

The power of the gut

For Sara, the most rewarding aspect of her work is witnessing the profound transformations that occur when clients finally address the root cause of their symptoms. One case in particular stands out: a 31‑year‑old woman who arrived at the clinic feeling completely lost in her body. She was dealing with chronic digestive issues, anxiety, intense sugar cravings, and heavy, painful periods. 

Sara approached her case with a comprehensive, root‑cause lens. She explored her full health history, reviewed her blood test results, and ran a detailed stool analysis. The findings revealed several key drivers: dysbiotic bacteria, candida overgrowth, low stomach acid, nutrient depletion, and increased intestinal permeability. 

Once Sara supported her gut, hormones, and nervous system together, everything began to shift. Just 12 weeks later the client’s anxiety and sugar cravings had gone and she experienced solid, regular bowel movements and reduced period pain. 

“This is what happens when you address the root cause, not just the symptoms,” Sara says. 

She recalls another client whose chronic anxiety was so severe she could no longer drive. “We did a stool test and found significant bacterial overgrowth,” Sara explains. “By working on her gut health and regulating her nervous system, her anxiety lifted completely. She’s back behind the wheel. Those are the stories that move me.” 

Advice to future students

Looking back on her journey from the spa to the clinic, Sara encourages anyone considering the path to dive in. 

It’s a beautiful industry to be in

“Nutrition gives you so much more than just information about food,” she reflects. “You learn about human patterns, behaviour, and why we do what we do. If you have a passion for the human body and lifestyle change, go for it. It’s a beautiful industry to be in.”