Optimum Nutrition (The Institute for Optimum Nutrition)

Jenny Tschiesche is perhaps best known for her bestselling air-fryer cookbooks, but before that she was known primarily as a lunch guru - which is why she's called the Lunchbox Doctor. In the first episode of a brand new series of the Optimum Nutrition podcast, journalist Hatty Willmoth talks to Jenny about lunches. Do we undervalue lunch in Britain? Should we learn to give the midday meal a little more thought - and even think outside the box? What makes a great lunch nutritionally? And how can parents best cope with making lunchboxes for picky eaters, under time and budget constraints?

To start the episode off, Jenny also explains her journey into nutrition, including how she found her time at the Institute for Optimum Nutrition (ION).

If you enjoyed this episode, follow us on social media at @ion_nutrition and follow Jenny @jennytschiesche too.

Interested in learning about nutrition yourself? Check out www.ion.ac.uk to find out more.

Katie Shore is a nutritional therapy practitioner and ION lecturer who specialises in fertility, pregnancy, and women’s reproductive health. In this episode of the recently relaunched Optimum Nutrition podcast, Katie focuses on fertility. She busts myths and addresses misconceptions about why it might be more difficult for some people to get pregnant, joined by host Hatty Willmoth, a journalist and communications officer at ION. Is it true that a woman’s fertility drops off a cliff when she turns 35? Are conditions such as PCOS and endometriosis mean you just won’t have kids? Should overweight women prioritise getting slimmer before trying for a baby? Which supplements make a difference? And what role do lifestyle factors, like stress and pollutants, play?

This episode includes references to female anatomy and discussion of heavier themes such as trauma and baby loss. Listener discretion is advised.

If you enjoyed this episode, follow us on social media at @ion_nutrition and follow Katie at @katie_intuitivewellbeing too.

Interested in learning about nutrition yourself? Check out www.ion.ac.uk to find out more.

Sam Feltham is the founder and director of the Public Health Collaboration (PHC), a charity dedicated to improving public health and saving the NHS money through better lifestyle information. The PHC largely focuses on tackling the UK’s diabetes crisis by promoting ‘real food, low carb’ lifestyles. In this episode of the recently relaunched Optimum Nutrition podcast, Sam Feltham discusses carbohydrates with journalist Hatty Willmoth, exploring the link between carbs, blood sugars, and health. What is a carbohydrate? How do fluctuating blood sugars affect the way we feel? And why do factors such as fibre content, time of day, and age make a difference?

If you enjoyed this episode, follow us on social media at @ion_nutrition.

You can also find out more about the PHC at www.phcuk.org and contribute to The Lifestyle’s Club’s study with the University of Surrey at www.gofundme.com/tlcstudy

Interested in learning about nutrition yourself? Check out www.ion.ac.uk to find out more.

Amy Pamment is a nutritional therapy practitioner and ION lecturer who specialises in chronic fatigue syndrome, children’s health and neurodiversity. In this episode of the recently relaunched Optimum Nutrition podcast, Amy discusses her own experience with chronic fatigue syndrome, and the steps she took to get well, as well as CFS more generally. Hosted by journalist and communications officer Hatty Willmoth, this episode tries to get to the bottom of what CFS actually is; a condition with no single cause and no single cure, that looks different for each person. Why do doctors struggle to address CFS? Why is it so difficult to treat? And how can tools used by nutritional therapists, such as functional testing and nutrigenomics, help?

This episode discusses psychological trauma. Listener discretion is advised.

If you enjoyed this episode, follow us on social media at @ion_nutrition.

Interested in learning about nutrition yourself? Check out www.ion.ac.uk to find out more. 

Layla Gordon is a nutritional therapy practitioner based in Poole, Dorset, who graduated from ION back in 2021. In this episode of the Optimum Nutrition podcast, Layla explains healthy fats in conversation with host Hatty Willmoth, a journalist and communications officer. Together they explore the different types of fats and how they interact with every cell in the body. Starting with the basics, this episode asks, is fat bad? Does eating more omega fats mean better health? How can vegans get enough omega-3? It also covers beneficial foods, supplementation and functional testing.

If you enjoyed this episode, follow us on social media at @ion_nutrition and Layla at @laylagordonnutrition.

Interested in learning about nutrition yourself? Check out www.ion.ac.uk to find out more. 

Giulietta Durante is a menstrual cycle nutritionist, registered nutritional therapy practitioner, and podcaster who lives and breathes her specialist subject: the menstrual cycle. In this episode, Giulietta explores why she feels it’s so empowering to embrace every phase of the menstrual cycle, with all the challenges and opportunities each brings. Joined by host Hatty Willmoth, a journalist and communications officer at ION, she addresses the misconception that we should aim to feel the same every day, arguing that we should build fluidity into our diet and lifestyles. How can we adapt what we eat to support our bodies throughout the cycle? What does it mean to be a cyclical being living in a linear world? How can we embrace our periods?

If you enjoyed this episode, follow us on social media at @ion_nutrition and follow Giulietta at @hormones_in_harmony too.

Interested in learning about nutrition yourself? Check out www.ion.ac.uk to find out more. 

Dr Kirstie Lawton is a nutritional therapy practitioner and ION lecturer who specialises in paediatric nutrition, i.e. nutrition for children. In this episode of the Optimum Nutrition podcast, Kirstie addresses common questions and misconceptions about how best to support a child’s health with nutrition, particularly focusing on how to help them develop a healthy relationship with food that will serve them for life. In conversation with host Hatty Willmoth, a journalist and communications officer, this episode tries to shed light on some difficult conundrums that parents might face. Is it ever okay to put a child on a diet? Should children be allowed to snack? What is the best way to handle picky eating? And should any foods be off-limits for children?

This episode was recorded during a busy day in the office, so there is some background noise. Apologies!

If you enjoyed this episode, follow us on social media at @ion_nutrition and Kirstie at @drkirstielawton.

Interested in learning about nutrition yourself? Check out www.ion.ac.uk to find out more.

Catherine Sharman is a nutritional therapist and founder of Après, formerly a hit London restaurant and now a healthy ready-meal company. In this episode, Catherine explains how she uses the principles of functional eating – a concept instilled in her while studying at ION – in her food, making little changes to food she loves in order to better support health. Joined by host Hatty Willmoth, a journalist and Communications Officer at ION, Catherine starts by explaining her long professional journey before turning to functional eating. Catherine is adamant that healthy food does not have to be boring. On the contrary, she says, the key to a sustainably healthy diet is eating beautiful, nourishing food that you love; joyful food that just so happens to be healthy. So, what's the difference between a regular chicken satay dish and Catherine’s? What sets apart a 'functional' shepherd's pie from any old version? And what can fish-and-chip lovers do to improve their meal of choice?

If you enjoyed this episode, follow us on social media at @ion_nutrition, follow Après at @apresfoodco, and take a look at their website (www.apresfood.com) for more information.

Interested in learning about nutrition yourself? Check out www.ion.ac.uk to find out more.

Catherine Jeans is an experienced nutritional therapist, and founder of The Family Nutrition Expert, based in Norwich. Jeans graduated from the Institute for Optimum Nutrition and has since lectured for ION and runs her own private practice which has helped over 2,000 clients from around the world.

Through her online nutrition courses, private coaching programmes, and live workshops her aim is to educate and inspire families to live a healthy, happy way, every day.

Jeans holds professional certificates in NLP and life coaching, as well as being a YTT200 hour Functional Yoga Teacher. She is a member of the British Association for Nutrition and Lifestyle Medicine (BANT) and registered with the Complementary and Natural Healthcare Council, the UK regulator for complementary health care practitioners.

Racing the Rainbow, Jeans’ first children’s book, co-written with Rachel Holmes, presents healthy ways of eating in a fun and engaging way. Packed with facts, activities, and easy recipes, this fun-fuelled publication aims to feed a child’s imagination. Available on Amazon.

Interested in learning about nutrition yourself? Check out www.ion.ac.uk to find out more.

In the second episode of our third series ION graduate VJ Hamilton, aka The Autoimmunity Nutritionist, discusses her career shift from chartered accountant to nutritional therapy. She reflects on her journey of self-discovery and how she turned to nutrition after suffering with chronic fatigue and alopecia. VJ has lived symptom free for more than eight years. 

VJ Hamilton is a Registered Nutritionist (BANT) and an expert in autoimmune disease. VJ combines her knowledge from her medical science degree in Biochemistry & Immunology with Nutritional Therapy to offer a thorough and personalised approach to support her clients based on the most current scientific research. VJ runs a virtual and in-person nutritional therapy and functional medicine practice, The Autoimmunity Nutritionist, specialising in gut skin and immune health. 

If you enjoyed this episode, follow us on social media at @ion_nutrition

Interested in learning about nutrition yourself? Check out www.ion.ac.uk to find out more.

In this latest episode we delve into the world of obesity with our guest, Dr Natascha (Tasch) Van Zyl, who has dedicated her career to helping individuals living with obesity achieve their best lives. 

According to Tasch, it’s not just about losing weight or fitting into a smaller frame, but about maximising health outcomes through sustainable lifestyle changes. 

With a focus on compassion, care, and acceptance, she explores how to support those with health conditions by working within their possibilities and reducing stigma through open, honest conversations. Tune in as we discuss the challenges and triumphs in the journey towards better health and wellbeing. 

Tasch is a health psychologist and lifestyle medicine specialist who combines her skills in a person-centred and goal-focused approach to support clients in achieving their goals.

She is a Senior Teaching Fellow in Health Psychology at the University of Portsmouth. Previously, she headed the Graduate Diploma in Integrative Functional Nutrition, led year six of the Nutritional Practice qualification (BSc), and led the Behaviour Change Module (BSc & Grad Dip) at the Institute for Optimum Nutrition (ION). Tasch writes articles for healthcare publications and academic journals, and hosts her own radio show called Health Naturally.

www.drnataschavanzyl.com

If you enjoyed this episode, follow us on social media at @ion_nutrition

Interested in learning about nutrition yourself? Check out www.ion.ac.uk to find out more.

Welcome to our latest episode where we dive into the world of marathon running and sports nutrition with nutritional therapist Janie Perry. From solicitor to a 20-time marathon runner, Janie transformed her career and life, now dedicating herself to offering holistic and sustainable solutions for weight management and sports nutrition. 

Janie shares her journey and her mission to help women achieve health, energy, and happiness through nutritional therapy and homeopathy.  

Topics we explore include: 

• The vital role of carbohydrates in marathon training and performance. 
• Why women need to be more mindful of low-carb diets. 
• Balancing carbs, protein, and healthy fats during training. 

https://www.janieperry.co.uk/ 

If you enjoyed this episode, follow us on social media at @ion_nutrition

Interested in learning about nutrition yourself? Check out www.ion.ac.uk to find out more.

In our latest episode we chat to Kate Cook, a trailblazer in health and nutrition, with over 20 years of expertise transforming lives and workplaces. 

As a nutrition and wellness expert, author and keynote speaker, Kate has worked with more than 7,000 clients, including corporate giants like JP Morgan and Pret a Manger, to create healthier, happier teams.

Her journey began in her late twenties, leaving the art world to pursue nutritional therapy and founding The Nutrition Network to unite practitioners. With a Master’s degree in Anthropology of Food, Kate views nutrition as both science and soul, championing its transformative power.

A TEDx speaker and author of seven books, Kate leads a movement proving age is no barrier to wisdom, energy, or impact. Her work continues to redefine wellness in businesses and beyond.

In this candid episode she reflects on her career, how to be sensational at 60, and why the personal touch matters more than ever. 

https://katecook.biz/

If you enjoyed this episode, follow us on social media at @ion_nutrition

Interested in learning about nutrition yourself? Check out www.ion.ac.uk to find out more.

The Optimum Nutrition Podcast is a weekly interview series brought to you by the Institute for Optimum Nutrition (ION) - one of Europe’s longest established nutritional therapy training providers. Join us for lively conversations with guests from the world of nutrition. We’ll be delving into their health journeys and touching on some common health conditions, with the aim of inspiring you to be your happiest and most optimally healthy self.

*Make sure you subscribe so that you don't miss an episode*

Find out more about ION’s course, clinic and magazine at: ion.ac.uk 
Follow ION on social media:  @ion_nutrition

Nutritional therapist and former Head of Clinics at the Institute for Optimum Nutrition, Nicola Moore discusses how we can cut through the conflicting messages around what and how we should eat, and build healthy and positive relationships with food.

For more information about nutritional therapy, including ION's magazine, courses and clinic, visit ion.ac.uk

Daniel O’Shaughnessy is a Certified Functional Medicine Practitioner with over 10 years of clinical experience. In this episode, he discusses the “lightbulb moment” that led him to specialise in LGBTQ+ health and nutrition and why this community can have specific dietary and health needs; from IVF and fertility support to steroid use, and from nutritional support for HIV diagnosis to transitioning and hormones. He also discusses his upcoming book, Naked Nutrition, an LGBTQ-focused guide to good health and diet.

To find out more about nutritional therapy, whether you are looking to work one-to-one with a practitioner or study to become a nutritional therapist yourself, visit ion.ac.uk

Ojarike Udu has been a practising nutritional therapist for over 10 years, having given up a career in finance to retrain at the age of 40. Today's episode focuses on diversity and inclusion within nutritional therapy, particularly in terms of why men are less likely to seek out nutritional support. OJ also discusses barriers to good nutrition for those from lower socioeconomic backgrounds, as well as how the industry can become more racially diverse. 

To find out more about nutritional therapy, including ION's courses, clinic or magazine, visit ion.ac.uk

Dawn Waldron is a registered nutritional therapist and life coach who has been specialising in breast cancer for almost two decades. A twenty-three-year survivor of breast cancer herself, today’s discussion focuses on integrated care and how nutritional therapy can work alongside other healthcare disciplines to provide a powerful approach to those going through breast cancer treatment and beyond. She also introduces the concept of nutrigenetics and how this could play a role in the future of cancer care.

If you enjoy the episode, don’t forget to subscribe and leave a review. To find out more about nutritional therapy, including ION’s courses, clinic and magazine, visit ion.ac.uk

A graduate of the Institute for Optimum Nutrition, Olga Preston has over 20 years of experience in the healthcare industry. She developed an interest in mental health after the effect that good nutrition had on family and friends affected by mental health conditions. She now focuses on using her passion for nutrition to support people with their mental wellbeing at ION’s Brain Bio Centre. In this episode, she discusses how biochemistry can influence mental health, and shares tips for building your mental resilience through food.

If you enjoy the podcast, don’t forget to subscribe and leave a review. To find out more about nutritional therapy and the Brain Bio Centre visit: ion.ac.uk

Ryan Carter is a registered nutritional therapist, PT, health coach, breathwork coach and the founder of Live Vitae. In today’s episode, he discusses his ancestral approach to wellbeing; from nose to tail eating to ‘downloading’ in nature. Ryan also shares how he approaches nutrition with an influence, having gained a following of over 450,000 on Instagram.

Views expressed by guests are not those of ION, nor does ION endorse any third party products mentioned.

Find out more about ION and its highly-reputable nutritional therapy courses here.
View episode information here.

Registered nutritional therapist and former barrister Katie Shore discusses the positive impact that nutrition and lifestyle interventions can make before, during and after pregnancy; from helping couples to conceive, to supporting mothers through their fourth trimester.

She also debunks some common myths around fertility. Is your fertility determined by the eggs you were born with? Does your fertility 'drop off' after 30? And is morning sickness something women simply have to suffer through? Read more

If you enjoy the episode, make sure you subscribe to the show and leave a review.

Discover more about the Institute for Optimum Nutrition here. 

Registered dietician and certified food addiction counsellor David Wolfe joins The Optimum Nutrition Podcast to discuss how to overcome a food addiction, including how to recognise the signs and symptoms of addiction and whether abstinence is the best recovery path. He also discusses whether there’s a place for sweeteners when recovering from a sugar addiction, why he believes community is an important component in recovery, and gives his tips for enjoying a healthier relationship with food.

Views expressed by guests are not those of ION, nor does ION endorse any third party products mentioned.

Visit ION's website to find out more about nutritional therapy.

Registered nutritionist and women’s health specialist Le’Nise Brothers joins The Optimum Nutrition Podcast to dispel some of the common myths around periods, including whether people should experience pain and cramping, and exactly what a 'normal' period looks like. She also discusses the four stages of the menstrual cycle, and how nutrition and lifestyle can be used to harness the benefits of each stage and enjoy a happier period.

Le'Nise Brothers is the founder of Eat Love Move.

Views expressed by guests are not those of ION, nor does ION endorse any third party products mentioned.

To discover more about nutritional therapy, visit ION's website.

Registered nutritional therapist and author Jackie Lynch joins The Optimum Nutrition Podcast to dispel the stigma surrounding menopause, and discusses how nutrition and lifestyle can help to manage symptoms. 

She explains how a women’s hormones begin to change when she enters midlife, and why this can lead to specific symptoms such as hot flushes, mood swings and joint pain. Jackie also provides lots of practical tips for specific foods and nutrients that can target symptoms, and explains why eating well should continue long after your periods have stopped.

Registered nutritional therapist Kirsty Cullen discusses the personal connection that inspired her to specialise in chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS)/ME. She discusses research that may have led to some of the stigma around CFS, as well as potential triggers of the condition, and the similarities and differences between CFS and long Covid. She also talks about The Optimum Health Clinic’s integrative approach to managing CFS, and evidence surrounding current medical recommendations such as Graded Exercise Therapy and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy.

Click here for more information & show notes.

Dr Alex Richardson discusses the role of nutrition and diet in ADHD; from conception through to adulthood. As well as unpacking what we mean by the label ‘ADHD’, she explains why the condition often overlaps with other neurological conditions. She also discusses her research into omega-3 fats and brain development, as well as other nutrients that may help to manage symptoms of ADHD, and foods that should be avoided.