Become a Nutritional Therapist
Learn about the CNM training concept and course details.
Healthy Digestion
by Becca Millar, Nutritional Therapist
FREE ENTRANCE
Reserve your place - call 01342 410 505, or email info@naturopathy-uk.com.
Tags: edinburgh open day
Become a Nutritional Therapist
Find out the course details of our Naturopathic Nutrition course.
An Introduction to Naturopathic Nutrition
Naturopathic Nutrition stresses the use of whole and organic foods as medicine - an integral concept of healing in many indigenous societies. Today, we see that a return to chemical-free foods, along with other dietary measures, is an effective answer to many health complaints and common conditions. Come and learn more, and how you can change your eating habits for life.
Presented by Tanya Borowski, Deputy Director of Studies
Don’t miss this opportunity to meet the Director of Studies.
FREE ENTRANCE
Reserve your place - call 01342 410 505, or email info@naturopathy-uk.com.
View View larger map
Tags: brighton open day, cnm brighton, CNM Brighton Open Day
An Introduction to Naturopathic Nutrition
Find out how you can study part time to become a Nutritional Therapist
Nicky Acton - Director of Studies
FREE ENTRANCE
Reserve your place - call 01342 410 505, or email info@naturopathy-uk.com.
View CNM MANCHESTER in a larger map
Train for a new career
Find out how you can study full or part time to become a Nutritional Therapist, Acupuncturist, Homeopath, Herbalist or Naturopath.
An Introduction to Naturopathy
FREE ENTRANCE
Reserve your place - call 01342 410 505, or email info@naturopathy-uk.com.
Tags: CNM London open evening
Times and dates: 6:30 - 9:00pm, 1, 3, 5, 7 & 9 September 2010.
CNM London, 41 Riding House Street, London W1W 7BE
Cost £165
Fasting Week
Detox your body!
A lighter, brighter, healthier you in one week.
By Zoë Palmer-Wright ND, BA (Hons), Ad Dip Nut
Join our guided juice/broth fasting programme which will deeply cleanse your body tissues of waste and toxins leaving you rejuvenated and energised!
Attendance at 5 evening classes over an 8 day period with the reassurance of having email and telephone support in between will allow you to undertake a safe and effective home-based fast under the guidance of fasting expert Zoë Palmer-Wright.
Please note that acceptance on this course is subject to the passing of a health check.
Times: 6:30 - 9:00pm, 1, 3, 5, 7 & 9 September 2010.
Cost: £165
Bookings and info: Call Lauriane on 0207 580 0439 or email shortcourses@naturopathy-uk.com
Location:
View Larger Map
various locations across the UK
Cost £10 (£5 for CNM students)
Fit for the Future
How your child’s diet affects their adult health
By Gosia Desmond BSc Nut Med, MSc Diet MBs, MA, Research Director in Nutrition at The College of Naturopathic Medicine.
At this seminar Gosia Desmond will show you what to feed your children to facilitate vitality and good health now and into adulthood. Based on the findings of her unique research project into the significance of children’s diet and existing evidence on preventing future disease in their adult life, Gosia will show how you can help your child reduce their future risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, obesity, and types of cancer.
CNM will be the first to present Gosia’s findings in the UK.
Dates:
29th September 2010: London
30th September 2010: Brighton
1st October 2010: Edinburgh
9th October 2010: Manchester
10th October 2010: Birmingham
Times: 6:30 - 8:30pm
Cost: £10 (£5 for CNM students)
Bookings and info: Call CNM on 01342 410 505 or email info@naturopathy-uk.com
Tags: children, gosia desmond, special event
by Shaf Khan, Naturopathic Herbalist
FREE ENTRANCE
Reserve your place - call 01342 410 505, or email info@naturopathy-uk.com.
View View larger map
Tags: CNM Birmingham open day
CNM London, 41 Riding House Street, London W1W 7BE
Cost £10 for graduates and practitioners (£5 for CNM students)
Herbs and the ageing thyroid
A seminar suitable for students and practitioners only
By Berris Burgoyne B.HscNat, Naturopath (Australia)
Thyroid disorders are most commonly diagnosed in middle aged women and can have significant adverse health consequences. Berris Burgoyne, visiting herbal lecturer and well known speaker in Australia, will draw on her many years experience in treating thyroid conditions. She will present the latest research in the field, as well as cases from her clinic. This seminar is suitable for students and practitioners only.
Times: 7pm -8.30pm, Wednesday 27th October
Cost: £10 for graduates and practitioners (£5 for CNM students)
Bookings and info: Call 01342 410 505 or email info@naturopathy-uk.com
Location:
View Larger Map
Tags: CNM London special event, thyroid
Become A Nutritional Therapist
Learn about the CNM diploma courses in Naturopathic Nutrition
An Introduction to Naturopathic Nutrition and Acupuncture
Talk by Hermann Keppler – CNM Principal
FREE ENTRANCE
Reserve your place - call 01342 410 505, or email info@naturopathy-uk.com.
Tags: bristol open day, cnm bristol, CNM Bristol open evening
An Introduction to our Short Courses
This evening will cover the Nutrition for Everyday Living and the Herbs for Everyday Living courses and will be discussed in detail by the tutors.
Come along if you want to get more information on these courses and the subjects covered in them.
FREE ENTRANCE
Reserve your place - call 01342 410 505, or email info@naturopathy-uk.com.
Diet, stress, lifestyle and solar radiation are external factors which combine with ageing and hormonal activity to affect the complex structure and anatomy of the human skin. What we do, what we eat and what we put on our skin has a profound effect on this vital organ, which not only mirrors our health and emotions in the short term, but controls how quickly our faces appear to age as a result.
This course will focus on the major influences affecting the remarkable regenerative and defensive biochemistry of skin. Practical techniques will be demonstrated for safe, natural and effective skincare including those which help to refresh and preserve good skin for as long as possible and those which deal with problem skin.
“Great lecture. Good time management and very organized.”
| Times | Dates |
|---|---|
| 10am - 12pm and 1pm - 3pm | Tuesday, 16 November 2010 |
| 10am - 12pm and 1pm - 3pm | Tuesday, 30 November 2010 |
CNM London, 41 Ridinghouse Street, London W1W 7BE (Tube: Oxford Circus)
Please contact our registration advisors for exact course pricing, discounts, and financing options.
Tags: short course, short courses, skincare
As a short term measure if you’re constipated, CNM Nutrition lecturer Zoë Palmer-Wright suggests that you try this natural tip:
Put a tablespoon of organic flaxseeds in a large glass of water and drink it. It’s best to do this in the morning. You will need to drink at least 2 litres of pure water or organic herbal teas or juices during the day. The seeds expand and if you don’t take enough liquid, you’ll make the problem worse, not better. The seeds are ‘slippery’ and help move waste out of the colon.
For the best effect, combine this with a simple abdominal massage you can do yourself: Pour a little oil (preferably olive oil or castor oil, you’ll need about 2 teaspoons in all) a bit at a time on to the palms of your hands. Start your (gentle) massage on the lower right side of abdomen then massage up towards ribcage, across the top of your abdomen and then down to the lower left of your abdomen and across the bottom of your abdomen back to the lower right side (a clockwise motion). Spend a little extra time at the lower right as this is where the small and large intestine meet and where lots of people have spasms and gas. Breathe deeply and continue this massage for 5-10 minutes at least.
What’s normal?
Healthy bowel activity is considered one or two movements of moderate size every day. Fewer bowel movements, e.g. every other day or once or twice a week is simply not enough for optimum health. Read on to find out why.
Why does it matter how ‘regular’ you are?
Zoë: Because if body wastes don’t move through the bowel quickly enough, toxins can get absorbed back into the body through the mucous membranes causing a range of adverse health effects. It’s incredibly important to keep that waste moving! Part of the problem is the ‘modern’ diet, full of processed foods, alcohol, coffee etc as it causes the digestive tract to produce mucus layers to protect the digestive tract from the toxins in these foods and these layers build up and prevent the body from absorbing nutrients from what we eat. Also, these processed, low-fibre foods rot away in our gut – putrefying, fermenting and leading to bacterial growth and this can lead to unbalanced gut flora. Common signs of this happening include headache, backache, bad breath, body odour, skin problems, irritability, abdominal gas and bloating.
This build up of wastes in the digestive tract can be severe; the bowel can become impacted with a huge amount of accumulated material, like an old sewage pipe, until the opening is no bigger than a pencil! Of course, if you want to beat constipation for good and be truly healthy the best solution is to make long term positive changes to your diet and lifestyle.
Look out for:
A Guided Fasting Week by Zoe Palmer-Wright starting on 1st September 2010 in London. Fasting allows the body to temporarily shut down the digestive system so it can detoxify, repair and rejuvenate.
Colon Hydrotherapy Course, starting on 25th November 2010, London only. This course is for postgraduates only.
Roger Groos, who teaches Colon Hydrotherapy at CNM, describes the process of colon hydrotherapy as follows: “A typical colon hydrotherapy session normally lasts approximately 45 minutes during which time around 75 litres of filtered water from either a gravity or machine system is used to gently stimulate the colon by feeding water in and waste out. Water temperatures are adjusted according to bowel response. Through the appropriate use of massage, the colonic hydrotherapist is able to work loose and eliminate even more toxic waste than any other short-term techniques, for example enemas, suppositories or laxatives, leaving the patient feeling lighter and clearer with enhanced wellbeing. Relevant herbs may be implanted during the procedure or probiotics afterwards in order to encourage good gut flora.”
There’s no need either to resort to expensive pre-packaged food for your baby or to slave over a hot stove for each nutritious meal you want to give him or her. Simply make your baby’s food in larger quantities by steaming separately some healthy fresh organic veg/ fruit/ meat, then puréeing the result and freezing it in ice cube trays, ready to pop out the required mix and quantities in the morning to defrost in time for lunch or dinner. Once defrosted, heat gently in a pan then allow to cool to a safe temperature for your baby.
WARNING: Please do not use a microwave either to defrost or cook, as this denatures food. Do not refreeze foods or reheat them more than once.
This ‘freeze a cube’ tip comes from mother of two boys, Lynne Ott who works full time as a Course Consultant for CNM.
“When I first went back to work after having Andrew” says Lynne, “I was determined not to feed my children processed food, but I didn’t have time to become an expert in making sure they got all the goodness they need.”
“Luckily I work in the right place, and one of my knowledgeable colleagues recommended a slim paperback book called ‘Optimum Nutrition for Babies and Young Children’, which still has pride of place in my kitchen. It gives step by step guidance how and on what to feed your child from weaning through to toddlerhood and beyond. The sample daily menus are just brilliant and so easy and quick to follow. There are also lots of suggestions for desserts, even no-sugar added birthday cakes which are deliciously sweet just using dried and fresh fruits. I can’t recommend this book strongly enough for parents of young children, especially those who are pressed for time and want the reassurance of knowing that they are doing the best they can to feed their children.”
‘Optimum Nutrition for Babies and Young Children’ by Nutritionist Lucy Burney, first published by www.piatkus.co.uk in 1999 and reprinted since. In her foreword the author says ‘What you choose to feed your child during the first few years of his life will directly affect not only his growth, but also his energy levels, his mood, his resistance to disease and his ability to concentrate and do well at school.’
Fit for the Future
What to feed your child for health in adulthood
By Gosia Desmond BSc Nut Med, MSc Diet MBs, MA
Click here to get dates and venues of the seminar nearest you.
CNM offers a short course in London called ‘Nutrition for Everyday Living’ which is ideal either as an introduction to our diploma course in Nutrition or as a stand-alone course to help improve your own health and that of friends and family. If you’d like to train as a Naturopathic Nutritional Therapist, see details of our diploma courses available at CNM colleges across the UK.
Alison Manos, CNM’s lecturer in Kinesiology recommends this Emotional Stress Release technique as a way of ‘supercharging your batteries’ when life seems to be getting on top of you:
Locate your Emotional Stress Release Points on the forehead, in between the eyebrows and the hairline, directly above the iris of the eye.
Contact them with a very light touch and remain that way for as long as you can, but for a minimum of five minutes.
Either use the middle and forefinger of both hands, or just use the thumb and forefinger of one hand.
You will be placing light pressure on the neuro vascular points for the stomach and brain meridians, thereby bringing the blood to the frontal lobes of the brain and to the stomach. The increased blood flow relieves stress dramatically and will result in clearer thinking and a lighter, more positive view on life.
“We live in stressful times,” explains Alison. “Our bodies were designed originally for us to live peacefully most of the time and to use stress to energise us when necessary. Nowadays many people live in a state of heightened stress much of the time, with deadlines to meet and not enough hours in the day. Stress inhibits our ability to think clearly and burdens us with negative thinking. So many of the symptoms I see in my patients are due to stress, from unexplained pains to anxiety and weakened immunity. In Kinesiology we have the most amazing techniques to relieve stress. This one’s a great start because you can do it to yourself , even on the bus, at work etc. Focussing on the issues that are causing the stress also magnifies the relief hugely. After a few minutes the issues seem to drift away, or you get a ‘brainwave’ about how to deal with them.”
For the last ten years Alison Manos has run a busy Kinesiology practice in South London, where she has helped thousands of people reclaim good health, using Kinesiology, herbs, nutrition and flower essences. www.alisonmanos.co.uk
You can attend a foundation course in Kinesiology at which Alison lectures, at CNM’s central London college. The next course begins on 6th October.
For further information on the course click here or email Lauriane Etienne on shortcourses@naturopathy-uk.com or call 0207 580 0439.
Some babies have problems when first teeth start to come through their gums. Coleen McEntyre first noticed her baby daughter, Mckenna, suffering from the age of about 3 months when her teeth began to appear. Painful gums, flushed cheeks, irritability and an increased tendency to wake up at night crying were all evident. Anxious not to resort to routine use of pharmaceutical solutions for her daughter she was intrigued when a friend recommended an amber teething necklace.
“Within a day of my putting the necklace on Mckenna, her temper had calmed and she became much more peaceful,” says Coleen. “I really notice the difference because if I take it off her then within a day she’s back to how she was.” Mckenna certainly looks well-tempered in her picture here!
Amber is fossilized resin, traditionally prized for its beauty and its healing properties. Good quality Amber contains oils with analgesic, calmative and anti-inflammatory properties and it’s tiny amounts of these oils that are said to be released by the skin’s warmth into the bloodstream.
Amber teething necklaces are a tried and tested remedy for baby teething problems in many countries in Europe, where you will find them stocked in local pharmacies. In the UK they are less well known, so if you can’t find one locally you may have to buy one on the internet, which is what Coleen did. A number of companies sell them, obviously designed to be child-safe. They are relatively inexpensive, ranging between about £8 and £20.
“Amber teething necklaces are great for providing natural pain relief whilst avoiding the need for medication and chemicals.” says CNM Principal and Naturopath, Hermann Keppler. “I know that they work because they’re a frequently used remedy in Germany, where I come from. However, we are all individuals and as with any remedy, it may work better for some than for others. If your baby isn’t soothed by the necklace then I suggest that you visit a homeopath who will work out a specific remedy for your baby’s individual type. And when baby is ready to cut his or her teeth on something, I advise that you DO NOT choose a plastic teething ring! Although manufacturers of toys and teething rings have been asked to remove harmful phthalates from their products, I still wouldn’t recommend plastic. In my opinion an organic carrot or a crust of organic bread is a simpler and healthier option for baby to chew on!”
UK SEMINAR TOUR COMING SOON………
FIT FOR THE FUTURE – How your child’s diet affects their adult health.
Learn what to feed your children to facilitate vitality and good health now and into adulthood.
Dates will be listed shortly on our website
Ed Berger, CNM’s course director of Herbal Medicine recommends drinking Elderflower tea or Elderflower cordial to alleviate the symptoms of runny eyes and nose which typically blight hayfever sufferers at this time of year.
‘Elderflower tones and astringes the mucus membrane in the sinus’ Ed explains, ‘and thereby reduces the watering of eyes and nose.’
Like many herbal traditions, the practice of using Elderflower in this way was forgotten as people left the land and pharmaceutical solutions were introduced to an industrialised population. The Romans described the Elderflower tree as ‘Nature’s medicine chest’, since all parts of the plant were used for medicinal purposes.
Ideally it would be good to collect the Elderflower fresh off the tree to make your own cordial, but Ed doesn’t recommend this course of action to anyone who isn’t thoroughly familiar with the plant. It can easily be mistaken for one of its look-alikes, some of which can be poisonous.
CNM’s short course ‘Herbs for Everyday Living’ provides safe and practical knowledge of traditional herbal remedies for the whole family, and includes step by step exercises on how to make your own herbal ointments, tinctures and teas. The next course starts in London on 6th October 2010.
If you’d like to practice herbal medicine as a career, you’ll need to study our full diploma in Herbal Medicine. You can still enrol at 2009 prices until Summer 2010.
Chinese Nutrition can be used to assist a wide range of diseases and conditions, such as digestive problems, irritable bowel syndrome, constipation, diarrhoea, food allergies, weight problems, low energy, skin conditions, hormonal imbalance, and mental problems such as depression and anxiety.
In Chinese medicine, every food has a type of energy in addition to its physical components: foods are warming or cooling, drying or moistening, and so on. Chinese medicine also differentiates between hot and cold diseases or problems, which are made worse by warming and cooling foods, respectively. Different foods also affect different organs of the body in the Chinese system, so that a patient’s diet may be altered to specifically target, say, the liver or kidney. As such, the Chinese system considers how food affects the body, on an energetic level, when it is eaten.
Chinese Nutrition is, therefore, a holistic system of diagnosis and therapy, where each patient’s individual characteristics are taken into account to provide a unique diagnosis and a personal treatment programme. A ‘wonder’ of Chinese Nutrition is that simple, practical recommendations along the lines of “eat a little more of one thing, but a little less of another” can often lead to the desired result – a subtle shift in the overall balance of the diet that promotes healing.
The strong practical focus of this course will allow you, as a practitioner regardless of discipline, to broaden your therapeutic scope and immediately begin using your new skills.
Open to all qualified practitioners, including traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) practitioners/acupuncturists, herbalists, homeopaths, osteopaths, chiropractors, medical doctors, etc.
Module I (2 Weekends): 18 September - 24 October 2010
Module II (4 Weekends): 20 November 2010 - 13 February 2011
Module I
| Course | Times | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Weekend 1 | 10am - 6pm | 18 - 19 September 2010 |
| Weekend 2 | 10am - 6pm | 23 - 24 October 2010 |
Module II
| Course | Times | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Weekend 1 | 10am - 6pm | 20 - 21 November 2010 |
| Weekend 2 | 10am - 6pm | 11 - 12 December 2010 |
| Weekend 3 | 10am - 6pm | 22 - 23 January 2011 |
| Weekend 4 | 10am - 6pm | 12 - 13 February 2011 |
CNM London, 41 Riding House Street, London W1W 7BE (Tube: Oxford Circus)
Please contact our registration advisors for exact course pricing, discounts, and financing options.
Ayurveda - an ancient philosophy for the modern world
Practiced in India for over 5,000 years, Ayurveda is one of the oldest and most established healing systems in the world. Traditionally, the word “Ayurveda” is a contraction of two separate words or ideas: “ayu”, meaning “life”, and “veda”, meaning “knowledge” or “science”. Ayurveda is, therefore, the “science of life”. With a postgraduate diploma in Ayurvedic Medicine from the College of Naturopathic Medicine, you can begin to apply Ayurveda, the science of life, in your everyday practice.
At the core of Ayurvedic philosophy and practice is the concept of the doshas, meaning literally “that which deteriorates” and more easily understood as mind–body or constitutional type. According to Ayurveda, each person’s health is determined by the balance of their doshas. A key skill of the Ayurvedic practitioner is to determine their natal constitution and any current imbalances they may have. Balance can then be restored through the use of Ayurveda and the many appropriate treatments that are available within this system of medicine.
Ayurveda will enable you to find the cause of a problem or disease and to formulate a highly individual treatment protocol using diet, herbs and lifestyle management for each patient.
Open to all qualified practitioners regardless of therapy: nutritionists, herbalists, traditional Chinese medicine practitioners, acupuncturists, osteopaths, chiropractors, homoeopaths, medical doctors, etc.
10 weekends (dates to be arranged)
CNM London, 41 Riding House Street, London W1W 7BE (Tube: Oxford Circus)
Please contact our registration advisors for exact course pricing, discounts, and financing options.
Tags: ayurveda, postgraduate course
Colon hydrotherapy – the therapeutic use of water internally in the colon – could be one of the most important naturopathic modalities available today. Many people are becoming toxic throughout their bodies, suffering from unexplained symptoms such as skin complaints and headaches, due to impaired colon function resulting from deficient diet, hydration and exercise. As a natural medicine practitioner, you and your patients will benefit from adding colon hydrotherapy to your therapeutic armoury.
Colon hydrotherapy is the most powerful method available for restoring optimum bowel function, yet is at the same time both gentle and rejuvenating. After a colon hydrotherapy session, most people report feeling lighter and more refreshed, with renewed energy and appetite for life.
The postgraduate course in colon hydrotherapy at CNM will equip you to help many patients whose modern lifestyles are compromising the activity of this most important and yet often neglected organ.
(4 days)
(5 days)
Open to all qualified therapists with relevant clinical experience, including TCM practitioners, acupuncturists, herbalists, homeopaths, osteopaths, chiropractors, massage therapists, medical doctors, etc.
Good knowledge of anatomy and physiology is required, and potential students who do not have experience of hands-on therapy must take a short certificate in body-based treatment prior to enrolling on the course. Courses in Holistic Massage, Reflexology and Kinesiology are offered by CNM and would be suitable.
Module 1: 25 - 28 November 2010
Module 2: 17 - 21 January 2011
Module 1:
| Course | Times | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | 10am - 6pm | 25 November 2010 |
| Day 2 | 10am - 6pm | 26 November 2010 |
| Day 3 | 10am - 6pm | 27 November 2010 |
| Day 4 | 10am - 6pm | 28 November 2010 |
Module 2
| Course | Times | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | 10am - 6pm | 17 January 2011 |
| Day 2 | 10am - 6pm | 18 January 2011 |
| Day 3 | 10am - 6pm | 19 January 2011 |
| Day 4 | 10am - 6pm | 20 January 2011 |
| Day 5 | 10am - 6pm | 21 January 2011 |
CNM London, 41 Riding House Street, London W1W 7BE (Tube: Oxford Circus)
Please contact our registration advisors for exact course pricing, discounts, and financing options.
Successful graduates of the Colon Hydrotherapy course can join The Association & Register of Colon Hydrotherapists (ARCH).
Tags: colon, colon hydrotherapy
Ear Acupuncture or auricular therapy is a gentle yet powerful and surprisingly versatile therapy, based on the holistic philosophy of Traditional Chinese Medicine. In Ear Acunpucture, the human body is mapped to the structure of the outer ear, which has its own acupuncture points that can be treated with acupuncture needles for acute problems or in the longer term using ‘ear seeds’. It is a useful therapeutic tool for general conditions like tension headaches, pain and for complaints in specific areas, such as the digestive system, central nervous system, reproductive system, etc.
In order to accommodate students with different levels of knowledge, the CNM Ear Acupuncture course is split into a Certificate course and Professional modules.
The Certificate course, over 4 days, covers philosophy, protocols and practice of Ear Acupuncture and gives the student a thoroughly practical grounding in the subject. It is aimed at students with no prior training in acupuncture. The course qualification allows successful graduates to practice.
For graduates of the Certificate course and qualified acupuncturists with experience in Ear Acupuncture, there are the professional modules. Professional modules are designed as self-contained units, each comprising of 2 days’ intensive teaching on the use of Ear Acupuncture for a different body system. Lessons follow exactly the same format in every module, with students benefiting from a ‘tried and tested’, hands-on teaching formula.
Module topics cover the musculoskeletal system, women’s health, mental health, and the digestive system, and as with the Certificate course, successful graduates can practice immediately.
Certificate Course: Open to anyone who has a recognised qualification in anatomy and physiology – including those with relevant ITEC diplomas, e.g. massage – and to qualified practitioners regardless of therapy: nutritionists, herbalists, traditional Chinese medicine practitioners, acupuncturists, osteopaths, chiropractors, homeopaths, medical doctors, etc.
Professional Course: Open to graduates of the CNM Ear Acupuncture Certificate Course and to qualified acupuncturists with prior experience of Ear Acupuncture. All equipment required for the course will be supplied.
The Certificate course is 4 days. Each Module of the Advanced course is 2 days.
Certificate:
| Course | Times | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 & 2 | 10am - 6pm | 13 & 14 November 2010 |
| Day 3 & 4 | 10am - 6pm | 15 & 16 January 2011 |
Professional:
| Course | Times | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Musculoskeletal System | 10am - 6pm | 9 & 10 October 2010 |
CNM London, 41 Riding House Street, London W1W 7BE (Tube: Oxford Circus)
Please contact our registration advisors for exact course pricing, discounts, and financing options.
Successful graduates of the Ear Acupuncture course can join the Ear Acupuncture Register of the Association of Naturopathic Practitioners (ANP), obtain insurance and practise professionally.
Article by Magda Taylor of The Informed Parent on the subject of vaccination.
The iris of the eye is comprised of many thousands of individual fibres, amongst which are located nerve endings linked directly to the brain. In iridology, every part of the body that is supplied with nerves has its corresponding reflex area on the iris of the eye, allowing us to assess the organs and tissues in that sector. Iris signs can be interpreted by the trained iridologist to provide indications as to the patient’s general constitution and their genetic susceptibility to particular conditions, and whether their organs and tissues are inflamed, toxic or under stress.
Iridology is a useful tool to the practitioner wishing to provide a truly personalised and holistic service to their patients. By helping to reveal a person’s underlying constitution, information displayed in the iris can suggest especially useful therapies, or help to avoid inappropriate treatments that may be ideal for another patient with the same symptoms but a different constitution. Not only that, but iridology can be a vital tool for differential diagnosis: if a patient has an issue with their skin, for example, iridology can help to pinpoint whether it originates from a digestive problem, liver weakness or stress. The same applies to symptoms such as headache, generalized pain, and sleep problems. An iridologist is a facilitator of a patient’s journey toward perfect health, who can inform them of their innate strengths and weaknesses and empower them to work within those limits.
Iridology is used as part of the diagnostic repertoire that can complement both natural and orthodox medicine. Iridology is safe, gentle, and non-invasive, requiring none of the inconveniences of, say, undressing or drinking unpleasant fluid.
A CNM Professional course in Iridology – analysis of the eye’s coloured iris – could throw open the curtains to a new level of diagnostic insight for you and your patients.
The Basic Iridology course, over 3 weekends, covers philosophy, protocols and practice of Iridology and gives the student a thoroughly practical grounding in the subject.
The Advanced Iridology course is held over 3 weekends and is open to all graduates of the Basic Iridology course.
Basic Iridology (3 Weekends): Open to anyone who has a recognised qualification in anatomy and physiology, and qualified practitioners regardless of therapy: nutritionists, herbalists, traditional Chinese medicine practitioners, acupuncturists, osteopaths, chiropractors, homeopaths, medical doctors, etc.
Advanced Iridology (3 weekends): Open to all graduates of the Basic Iridology course.
Basic Iridology: 24 July - 22 August 2010. The course is 6 days and is held on weekends.
Advanced Iridology: 25 September - 21 November 2010. This is also 6 days and is held on weekends.
Basic Iridology:
| Course | Times | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 & 2 | 10am - 6pm | 24 & 25 July 2010 |
| Day 3 & 4 | 10am - 6pm | 14 & 15 August 2010 |
| Day 5 & 6 | 10am - 6pm | 21 & 22 August 2010 |
Advanced Iridology:
| Course | Times | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 & 2 | 10am - 6pm | 25 & 26 September 2010 |
| Day 3 & 4 | 10am - 6pm | 30 & 31 October 2010 |
| Day 5 & 6 | 10am - 6pm | 20 & 21 November 2010 |
CNM London, 41 Riding House Street, London W1W 7BE (Tube: Oxford Circus)
Please contact our registration advisors for exact course pricing, discounts, and financing options.
Successful graduates of the Advanced Iridology course can apply to join the Guild of Naturopathic Iridologists. The Diploma and registration enables graduates to obtain insurance and practice professionally.
Tags: iridology, post graduate course
For documents relating to the talks delivered by Gosia Desmond in June 2010, please click the link below:
Tags: CNM London special event
For documents relating to the talks delivered by ‘Sproutman®’, Steve Meyerowitz in April 2010, please click the link below:
Tags: CNM Birmingham special event, CNM London special event, CNM Manchester special event
For documents relating to the talks delivered by Janey Lee Grace on 11 March please click the link below:
Tags: CNM London special event
For documents relating to the talks delivered by Gosia Desmond on 3 - 7 February please click the link below:
Tags: CNM Birmingham special event, CNM Brighton special event, CNM Bristol special event, CNM Edinburgh special event, CNM London special event
Research Director of the CNM, Mrs. Gosia Desmond was on the radio last week. She was interviewed by Pat Kenny on RTE Radio 1.
The interview is available for you to listen to here: Gosia Desmond on RTE 1
Tags: gosia desmond
Are you interested in using herbs for natural healing in your everyday life?
In this practically based course you will be introduced to Herbal Medicine and Naturopathy and gain valuable tools to help you and your family.
During your studies you will learn how to make your own herbal first aid kit, mixtures, teas, ointments, and much more.
“It exceeded my expectations. I learnt a lot more than I thought I would”
“I loved the amount of different things we got to learn about in such a short space of time.”
“It was just what I hoped for and more, everything that I am interested in, so I learnt a lot and have new motivation for recipes and eating better.”
“The lecturer is outstanding. Her enthusiasm for the subject was infectious and has encouraged me to go on and study further.”
No prior study required
London
6 October 2010 to 2 February 2011
Wednesday evenings (12 sessions)
6.30-9.00pm
Brighton
2 October - 7 November 2010
Saturday & Sunday
10.00am-6.00pm
The course consists of 3 modules:
London
| Course | Times | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Evenings 1 - 4 | Wednesday evening | 6 to 27 October 2010 |
| Evenings 5 - 8 | Wednesday evening | 10 November to 1 December 2010 |
| Evenings 9 - 12 | Wednesday evening | 12 January to 2 February 2011 |
Brighton
| Course | Times | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 & 2 | Saturday & Sunday | 2 & 3 October |
| Day 3 & 4 | Saturday & Sunday | 6 & 7 November |
London: CNM London
Brighton: CNM Brighton
Please contact our registration advisors for exact course pricing, discounts, and financing options.
Tags: herbal medicine for everyday living, short course, short courses
CNM were covered in a Daily Mail article in February 2009. This article can be read here: health-10th-feb
Tags: article, daily mail, graduate
The Principal of CNM, Mr. Hermann Keppler was on the radio last week. He was interviewed by Hannah Murray for Radio Europe Mediterraneo.
The interview is available for you to listen to here: Hermann Keppler on REM fm
Tags: HERMANN KEPPLER, radio
CNM have been covered in a Daily Express article in February 2009. The article can be read here: CNM Daily Express article February 2009
College of Naturopathic Medicine Research Director Gosia Desmond reveals the secrets of the anti-ageing lifestyle
In our youth-oriented culture, senility, disability, grief and despair follow old age as inescapably as death and taxes.
Press, TV, celebrities promote new anti-ageing quick-fixes on a daily basis and we spend millions on youth-promoting cosmetics or treatments, believing the miracles (which never happen).
The great news is that according to the latest advances in medical science, we do not need to spend a fortune to get the best anti-ageing treatment available. Rather, scientists are now advocating that we can significantly slow down the metabolic ageing process and live up to a decade longer in good health simply by adopting a healthier lifestyle - eating the right diet, exercising regularly and effectively managing stress in our lives.
In a society obsessed with appearances, ageing is often associated with wrinkles and grey hair. In actuality, the ageing process is much more complex and affects all of our internal organs, our immune system, our nervous system, and our mental processes.
We know now, that the choices we make during our lives will have a profound effect on how young we are both on the outside and on the inside.
Lessons in Longevity
There are some populations around the world where people consistently embody health, well-being and vitality until the very end. Residents of Okinawa, the Hunza Valley, and Seventh-day Adventists from Loma Linda in California, live longer and healthier lives than just about anyone else on Earth.
The three leading killers in the West: coronary artery disease, stroke, and cancer-occur in the elderly Okinawans with the lowest frequency of any population of elders thoroughly studied by modern science!
They are 85% less likely to die from breast cancer, 88% less likely to die from prostate cancer; 70% less likely to die from ovarian and colon cancer.
Seventh-Day Adventists mens’ mortality from coronary heart disease and cancer of all sites is 70% and 50% lower in comparison to their Non-Adventist US counterparts respectively.
These groups produce a high rate of centenarians that enjoy full health late into their lives.
The Secrets of Healthy Centenarians
The Seventh-day Adventists and Okinawans that have given researchers the best opportunity to answer fundamental questions about human health and longevity, as other residents of California or Japan with the same ethnic background live shorter and ‘sicker’ lives when compared with their Adventist or Okinawan neighbours.
Two major research programmes conducted over the last 40 years by the Californian Loma Linda University on 24,000 and 34,000 Californian Seventh-day Adventists (funded by the US National Institute of Health) along with the 34-year-old Okinawa Centenarian Study conducted by the Japan Ministry
of Health and Welfare have given us detailed insight into the secrets of long and healthy life.
Apart from their extraordinary low incidence of heart disease and cancer, the studies show that Seventh-day Adventists and Okinawans live 5-10 years longer than average and have a much lower rate of diabetes, arthritis, hypertension, osteoporosis and dementia.
Moreover, it is no accident -most of those spectacular health results are not down to their good genes! Experts say that only 30% of the actual ageing process is down to inherited good genes; the rest is good habits!
What do they know that the rest of us do not?
It turns out, that there are 3 crucial elements to anti-ageing lifestyle: healthy diet, regular physical activity and stress reduction.
This is no news to anybody; however what might be surprising, is the extent to which these 3 rules are applied by the healthy centenarians.
Essentially, for nearly 140 years, Seventh-day Adventists have been encouraged to follow an unrefined, plant-based diet, avoid meat and consume 5-9 servings of fruits, vegetables along with nuts in their diets on a daily basis. The Adventists men report 50% more ‘sweaty exercise’ sessions per week than their non-Adventists US neighbours.
Apart from being physically active all day long, the elderly Okinawan centenarians consume two-to-three times as much fruits and vegetables than us, and up 10 times less meat and dairy products. None of them consumes any refined foods like biscuits, cakes, etc.
In addition, both Okinawans and the Adventists have larger network of social support by being more involved in an organization with a significant social function and share tremendous respect for the elderly.
The Science Behind a Plant-Based Diet
As the studies of the Seventh-day Adventists show, through a combination of healthy diet, regular exercise and positive mental attitude, we can actually slow the metabolic ageing process. Looking at diet alone, how does an unrefined, plant-based diet work at increasing longevity?
1. High Nutrient Density
Fruit and vegetables contain not just vitamins and minerals but also phytochemicals (e.g. carotenoids and flavonoids). Through their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, they may provide the necessary protection to prevent a number of ageing parameters. The antioxidants neutralise free radicals, which are highly reactive substances that damage cells, contribute to ageing and encourage many serious diseases, such as heart disease, dementia and cancer. Moreover, plant phytochemicals can boost our internal detoxification system and plant phytonutrients can have direct effects on neuronal communication, boosting our mental power.
2. Low Caloric Density
Excess calories produce numerous metabolic disturbances within the body that can contribute to degenerative diseases such as diabetes and cancer. Additionally, excessive caloric intake is thought to be one of the most important factors in the ageing process. In unrefined form, we can eat as much fruit and vegetables as we like without consuming excess calories, and at the same time providing our bodies with all the valuable nutrients and antioxidants that slow down the ageing process. Fruit and vegetables are the most important food components in a healthy weight loss.
3. Low in Saturated Fat
Excess saturated fat ages our arteries and our immune system. It can lead to increased insulin levels in the body and can also increase our levels of AGEs (Advanced Glycation End-products), which are powerful promoters of ageing, especially skin ageing. Lastly, high fat diets can age our brain, contributing to cognitive decline.
4. High in Fibre
Fibre helps to minimise the process of AGE (Advanced Glycation End-products) formation, decreases the levels of insulin, keeps our cholesterol down and helps to reduce inflammation! It is a truly powerful anti-ageing diet component.
Following an unrefined, plant-based diet, taking regular physical exercise and encouraging a positive mental attitude can work miracles. This lifestyle does not only work for Seventh-day Adventists – rather, it has been proven in numerous scientific experiments to reverse advanced coronary artery disease, to control/reverse diabetes (type 2) and most recently at Harvard University to reverse the growth of prostate cancer by altering the genes responsible for tumour growth.
In a study published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, it was even shown to reverse the age of the heart by 15 years!
The evidence for the efficacy of a plant-based diet is increasing all the time. In fact, the American Institute for Cancer Research have launched a campaign to challenge the current food pyramid and to convince Americans to adopt a more plant-based diet. Its anti-ageing properties are well-known to celebrities like Demi Moore, Tiger Woods, Brad Pitt and Clint Eastwood, all of whom follow this diet and lifestyle.
Five Top Tips for Implementing the Anti-Ageing Way of Eating
1. Increase your fruit and vegetable intake – remember 9 is the new 5!
2. Minimise intake of red meat and meats in general, explore pulses as your source of protein
3. Avoid all processed meats
4. Be careful with oils – even plant oils should only be taken in moderation
5. Replace refined grains in your diet with whole grains
6. Consume processed foods on very special occasions only
Gosia Desmond (BSc Nutritional Med, M.BS.,MA,) is head of nutrition research at the College of Naturopathic Medicine. She will be hosting a seminar on the role of nutrition and lifestyle in the prevention of cancer on the 27th March. More details at www.naturopathy-uk.com.
– — –
Wilcox BJD et al (2001a) The Okinawa Program: Learn the Secrets to Health and Longevity. Three Rivers Press.
Fraser GE. (2003) Diet, Life Expectancy and Chronic Disease. Oxford: Oxford University Press
Fraser GE. (2003) Diet, Life Expectancy and Chronic Disease. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Fraser GE. (2003) Diet, Life Expectancy and Chronic Disease. Oxford: Oxford University Press.; Wilcox BJD et al (2001a) The Okinawa Program: Learn the Secrets to Health and Longevity. Three Rivers Press.
Murphy FG, Gwebu E, Braithwaite RL, Green-Goodman D, Brown L. (1997) Health values and practices among Seventh-Day Adventists. Am J Health Behav 21:43-50.
Wilcox BJD et al (2001a) The Okinawa Program: Learn the Secrets to Health and Longevity. Three Rivers Press.
Roth GS, Ingram DK, Jospeh JA. (2007) Nutritional Interventions in Ageing and Age-Associated Diseases Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences 1114: 369-371.
Yu BP, Kang CM, Han JS, Kim DS. (1998) Can antioxidant supplementation slow the ageing process? Biofactors 7(1-2):93-101
Barnard ND, Weissinger R, Jaster b, Kahan S, Smyth C. (2007) Nutrition Guide For Clinicians. Washington: Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine.
Roth GS, Ingram DK, Jospeh JA. (2007) Nutritional Interventions in Ageing and Age-Associated Diseases Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences 1114: 369-371.
McCarthy MF (2004) Chronic activation of AMP-activated kinase as a strategy for slowing ageing. Medical Hypotheses 63(2):334-9.
Esposito K, Giugliano D. Diet and inflammation: a link to metabolic and cardiovascular diseases. Euroepan Heart Journal 2006; 27:15–20. Barone J, Hebert JR, Reddy MM. (1989) Dietary fat and natural killer cell activity. American Journal of Clinical Nutritrion 50:861–7.
McCarthy MF (2005) The low-AGE content of low-fat vegan diets could benefit diabetics - though concurrent taurine supplementation may be needed to minimize endogenous AGE production. Medical Hypotheses 64(2):394-8. Pageon H, Asselineau D. (2006) An in Vitro Approach to the Chronological Ageing of Skin by Glycation of the Collagen: The Biological Effect of Glycation on the Reconstructed Skin Model. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences 1043: 529 – 532.
Greenwood CE, Winocur G. (2005) High-fat diets, insulin resistance and declining cognitive function. Neurobiology of Ageing 1(S):42-5.
Heber D. (ed.) 2006 Nutritional Oncology. San Diego: Elsevier Academic Press. Barnard ND, Weissinger R, Jaster b, Kahan S, Smyth C. (2007) Nutrition Guide For Clinicians. Washington: Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine.
Ornish, D., Brown, S.E., Scherwitz, L.W. (1990), Can lifestyle changes reverse coronary heart disease?. The Lancet, 336: 129-33. Ornish D, Scherwitz LW, Billings JH, Gould KL, Merritt TA, Sparler S, Armstrong WT, Ports, TA, Kirkeeide RL, Hogeboom C, Brand RJ. (1998), Intensive lifestyle changes for reversal of coronary heart disease. Journal of the American Medical Assocation 280:2001-2007. Ornish D, Weidner G, Fair WR, et al.(2005) Intensive lifestyle changes may affect the progression of prostate cancer. Journal of Urology 174:1065-1070. Ornish D, Magbanua MJ, Weidner G, Weinberg V, Kemp C, Green C. et al. (2008) Changes in prostate gene expression in men undergoing an intensive nutrition and lifestyle intervention. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 115 (24): 8369-8374. Barnard ND, Weissinger R, Jaster b, Kahan S, Smyth C. (2007) Nutrition Guide For Clinicians. Washington: Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine.
American Institute for Cancer Research (AICR) (2008) The New American Plate [online]. Available at: www.aicr.org.
Tags: Add new tag, age, metabolic aging
Greeba Skinner - CNM Graduate
A group of CNM’s herbal medicine students (2004-2006) plus a student from the ACNM in Australia visited Kerala for 3 weeks. We studied the fundamental principles of Ayurveda endorsed by the Sanjeevani Ayurveda Foundation.
As a group we wished to extend the basic knowledge of Ayurvedic medicine and lifestyle that had been imparted to us at the CNM. We were truly not disappointed with the level of knowledge and hospitality that the Nair family of Nemom in Triuvananthapuram shared. We all returned to the UK enriched and inspired by the practical, verbal and non-verbal teachings experienced.
The course was 108 hours in length with approximately half of the time being theory and the other half practical. We were taught mainly by Dr Vinod Nair and his close friend and colleague Dr Krishna Kumar who both studied Ayurveda under the ancient Gurukala system of 1 to 1 education whereby you live and learn with a Master. Their degrees were obtained from the largest and oldest Ayruveda college and hospital (1889) in the world in Triuvanathapuram which took approximately 7-8 years of study.
Obviously you can not learn Ayurveda in the 3 weeks we had, however, the fundamental principles that were shared with us were invaluable and when truly grasped revealed golden nuggets of wisdom. The course imparted an ancient scientific template which can be applied to all aspects of life demonstrating that Ayurveda is a universal principle and language.
The five primordial principles – the Panchaboothas – were discussed: Ether; Air; Fire; Water and Earth and the Tridosha theory was also discussed. We were very much encouraged to apply these principles in exploring our own traditional usage of herbs and foods.
The practice of Panchakarma (Ayurvedic cleansing programme) was discussed and also observed on many occasions. The treatments initially involve an application of oil to the whole body with massage and/or if necessary sweating therapy i.e. stream or sauna baths to excite and release toxins (ama) in to the circulation of the body. Then the suitable eliminatory treatment according to the individual case i.e. enema to reduce pitta is carried out to balance the dosha and to remove any ama.
This ancient formula of cleansing is a firm guide for treatment protocols and gave the group plenty of food for thought for our future practices as Naturopaths and Herbalists.
Practically we studied and practiced deep tissue massage and pulse taking most days.
A day was spent learning how to prepare and make medicated pastes, powders and oils by hand. We ground all of the herbs in a large pestle and mortar and prepared the oil on an open fire learning the 3 stages of preparation. This open fire method is one which we all observed in the Ayurvedic college and hospital where there were at least 9 large vats of medicinal oil being processed. As genuine students of natural medicine Dr Nair fortunately managed to organise this visit as ‘tourists’ are not allowed which also meant that we could not take any pictures.
The college is adjoined to the hospital and all herbal preparations and food are made on site for the patients. There is a very busy dispensary within the grounds with the hospital supplying an impressive government dispensary and others throughout the city.
Ayurveda has many branches of medicine which are all catered for at this hospital’s various departments such as: General Surgery; ENT & Ophthalmology; Obstetrics and others. We even visited their separate Toxicology Unit which treated snake bites according to the snake’s dosha! We also visited the separate Women’s and Gynaecological Unit where we observed case taking and Panchakarma treatments such as douching and leaching.
Yes this public hospital is a little unkempt in comparison to the privately run clinics, however, MRSA was not an issue; the patients ate freshly prepared food, and even those in poverty received much needed treatment. In the west we undoubtedly pay a lot of money for complementary medicine and in many respects we felt behind the times that day and all shared the desire for such a government run hospitals in Britain.
We also visited the breathtaking Tropical and Botanic Garden and Research Institute (TBGRI) where conservation and sustainable utilisation of the plant biodiversity of India, particularly of Kerala is the focus.
The Ethnopharmacological investigations conducted at this institute initiated by the traditional plant knowledge of the tribes’ people has lead to saleable medicines with 50% of the profit being given back to their communities. This benefit sharing model was truly inspiring and a strong contrast to native relations in other countries where traditional healing knowledge has been exploited and valuable medicinal plants being destroyed.
So all in all a wonderful journey where we made sincere friends and great contacts for life. We were made to feel most welcome and the Nair family looked after us as they would their own family.
Throughout the year there are occasions when groups of students or interested parties can go and study when there are no patients staying for treatments at their home in Nemom. Browse the Kerala International website as set out below and contact Mala Nair on 0044 116 2622195 to check available dates. This invaluable learning experience may contribute towards 10% of your required clinical hours subject to agreement with the CNM.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
With thanks to – Hermann Keppler Principal of CNM, Dr. V. Gopakumar Nair, Dr. V. Nair, Dr T.S. Krishnakumar, Mala Nair, Dr M.R.V. Namboothiri MD (Ayurveda) Principal of Triuvananthapuram’s College of Ayurveda, Prof.(Dr.) P. Pushpangadan UN Equator Initiative Laureate Former Director, MBRI, Lucknow Director General and Dr Abzena.
LINKS
Kerala International – www.keralainternational.co.uk
Tropical and Botanic Garden and Research Institute – www.tbgri.in
CNM - The College of Naturopathic Medicine UK
Tags: herbal medicine, kerala
Debbie Cotton Ad.Dip.Nat - CNM Lecturer
What is a vegetarian / vegan?
The term vegetarian is most commonly used to mean someone who does not eat animal flesh – beef, lamb, pork, chicken and fish. Vegetarians usually eat dairy produce and eggs. Sometimes they may eat fish, although strictly speaking this would be termed pescatarian. Generally vegans do not eat animal flesh, neither do they eat eggs or dairy. They may also avoid honey and gelatine, and may even choose to opt for a completely vegan lifestyle, avoiding leather/wool products and any items containing animal ingredients, including some alcohols and many cosmetics and household goods.
Why?
People choose to become vegetarian for various reasons; the poor treatment of animals, the environmental impact of meat and dairy farming, the global socioeconomic implications of high meat consumption, and some for religious reasons. Some may choose a vegetarian diet because they believe it is more healthy, which it can be, when properly planned.
Nutrition
The most important thing to remember is that junk food is still junk food, even if it is vegetarian! If you have a busy life and tend to eat on the run most of the time, the chances are that you are not getting proper nutrition regardless of whether you are a carnivore or vegetarian. However, living on fast food as a vegetarian may leave you more vulnerable to health issues like anaemia. Here is some basic information on nutrition to bear in mind when planning your diet:
Protein - If you’re already vegetarian, you’re probably used to people asking where you get your protein from! It’s not as difficult as carnivores imagine, but you do need to put some thought into it. Almost all foods contain protein, but some more than others. The following are vegetarian sources of protein; nuts and seeds, pulses (beans and lentils), whole grains, soya products, eggs and dairy products.
It is also important to know about the quality of the protein. Proteins are made up of amino acids, and some sources suggest that you need these amino acids in equal amounts. Egg yolks contain equal amounts of the essential amino acids and are therefore high quality. Dairy, quinoa and soya products are also fairly high quality. You can improve the quality of protein sources by mixing them, for example pulses and whole grains together provide good quality protein.
There’s no need to feel daunted by this information, if you follow these simple guidelines, you will be eating plenty of good quality protein:
Whole grains - Refined grains (white bread, white rice, white flour) have lost most of their nutrients in the refining process. Whole grains, however, are a good source of B vitamins and minerals. The following are whole grains; wholemeal, spelt, rye and sprouted wheat bread, wholewheat pasta, brown rice, oats, quinoa, buckwheat, millet.
Iron – Iron can be lacking in a poorly planned vegetarian diet. Dairy is not a good source of iron. Ensure to eat plenty of the following sources of iron; whole grains, pulses, leafy green vegetables. You can also include smaller amounts of seaweeds, dried fruit and black molasses.
Essential Fatty Acids (EFAs) - EFAs are fats that we have to eat in our diet because our bodies cannot make them. Currently we know that there are two main types of EFA – omega 3 and omega 6. If you eat plenty of fresh uncooked nuts and seeds, you will get enough omega 6. The best source of omega 3 is fish, so unless you’re eating fish about 3 times a week, you need to include more omega 3 oils everyday from the following sources; ground linseed or linseed oil (Biona is a tasty brand), Udo’s Choice Oil, pumpkin seeds and pumpkin seed butter, hemp oil. Store these products in the fridge and don’t cook them or you will damage the EFAs.
Vitamin B12 – This vitamin is found in meat, eggs and dairy, and there is no other reliable food source. Research suggests that we cannot manufacture this vitamin in our body and deficiency symptoms are serious (irreversible nerve damage). So if you’re vegan, you need to take a supplement. We need around 2.5mcg daily, although there is no evidence to prove that much greater intakes cause any damage.
Vitamin D – This vitamin is found in meat, eggs and dairy products, but can also be synthesised in the skin in sunlight. For vegans who live in cloudy northern climates it may be wise to supplement this vitamin in the winter. The Recommended Nutrient Intake is 10mcg.
Vitamin E – You do not need to worry about this vitamin if you are eating plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables and fresh nuts and seeds.
Iodine – This mineral is mainly found in meat, dairy, fish and seaweed. If you are vegan you need to include some seaweed in your diet, either small amounts added to food or take a supplement each day. The RNI is 150mcg, and it is important not to go over 600mcg daily.
Calcium – You do not need to worry about calcium if you are eating plenty of green leafy vegetables, nuts and seeds, and smaller amounts of seaweed, dried fruit and black molasses.
Soya products – Much of the soya currently produced is GM, so check the packaging well. Soya products are quite convenient and with such a good range of products it is easy to eat too many, which may increase your changes of creating a food intolerance, so don’t eat too many. Bear in mind also that many soya products are highly processed.
Peanuts – These are a high source of protein, but contain toxins and moulds that many people react to badly. Don’t eat too many.
Dairy - Milk is essentially food for baby mammals, which may explain why there is such a high rate of dairy intolerance in adults. Dairy has been linked to certain types of cancer and modern dairy products are concentrated sources of hormones and pesticides. These act as toxins and disrupt the body’s own hormone balance and immune system function. Over-consumption may therefore lead to degenerative disease, so the best advice is to use organic produce in limited amounts.
For further information check out www.vegsoc.org and www.vegansociety.com.
CNM - The College of Naturopathic Medicine UK
Tags: vegan, veganism, vegetarian, vegetarianism