CI Level 6 (UK) Diploma in Personalised Nutrition and Therapeutics

This course begins with an outline of current nutrition and lifestyle government guidelines and an overview of how they have evolved over the last 50 years. Students will also begin to explore the factors that influence our nutrition and lifestyle choices on a daily basis. In the first section of the programme student will also learn about two important skills, critical and creative thinking: what are they, why are they important and simple strategies to develop them.

The second section of the programme details the building blocks of a Functional Medicine intervention: therapeutic diets, functional foods, supplements and lifestyle recommendations. Students will explore research on the benefits and controversies associated with these building blocks and will also have the opportunity to develop the ability to assess what safe practical recommendations can be drawn from this research.

In the third section of the programme, students will learn about the mechanism of action of Functional Medicine nutrition and lifestyle interventions for clinical imbalances: assimilation, biotransformation & elimination, defence & repair, and communication. They will then practically apply this information and create staged therapeutic plans.

Finally students will explore more detailed research on therapeutic diets, functional foods, supplements and lifestyle recommendations for Metabolic Syndrome. The will further develop their research skills so that they are in a strong position to make good decisions in practice.

• Learn about the Functional Medicine Approach to Addressing Clinical Imbalances
  This programme will provide you with the opportunity to learn about the Functional Medicine nutrition and lifestyle interventions to addressing clinical imbalances. You will learn how to create staged therapeutic plans and comprehensive diet and lifestyle recommendations
• Constantly updated material. All units have a unit leader responsible for them. The role of the unit leader is to continually update the material delivered in lectures, student notes and online, set and mark assignments and to answer student queries on the unit forums. This keeps IHS material up to date using evidence based research and the very latest theories in healthcare.
• Comprehensive and well structured study material supplied. Including presentation slides, case studies, video clips, quizzes, short answer questions and opportunities to reflect on your knowledge – all designed to make the learning experience as interactive as possible
• Dynamic and interactive lecture weekends (in-class students only). Designed to suit all learning types and engage students in the learning process. Lecture weekends include a mixture of formal lectures, group discussion, group exercises, role play and case studies
• Expert lecturers. Lecturers for the Diploma in Personalised Nutrition and Therapeutics include individuals with PhDs in Biochemistry, Degrees in Nutritional Therapy, Master Degrees in Chemistry, and Functional Medicine practitioners and education experts.
• Flexible study options. Students can study in-class, solely online or a combination of the two (blended learning)

Nutrition & Lifestyle Interventions in Modern Healthcare

• Historical context of nutrition and lifestyle guidelines
• Factors which influence nutrition and lifestyle choices and interventions
• Concepts of Personalised Nutrition and Lifestyle Medicine

Critical and Creative Thinking in Education & Healthcare

• Importance of critical and creative thinking in chronic disease management
• Challenges and strategies to develop critical and creative thinking skills
• Developing advanced research and evaluation skills

Contemporary Trends in Therapeutic Diets

• Historical context of therapeutic diets
• Composition of therapeutic diets
• Perceived health benefits and considerations for use of therapeutic diets
• Creating meal plans for therapeutic diets

Introduction to Therapeutic Foods, Functional Foods and Supplements

• Categories of functional foods, supplements and medications
• Regulation of labelling of functional foods, supplements and medication
• Principles of pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics
• Possible side effects and contraindications of functional foods, supplements and medication

Theories of Lifestyle Choices and their Connection to Chronic Disease

• Historical and cultural use of complementary therapies and lifestyle choices
• Analysis of health benefits of lifestyle choices
• Analysis of health benefits and controversies associated with complementary therapies
• Exploration of the role of spirituality, psychology and community in health and chronic disease management

Principles of Functional Medicine Interventions: Assimilation and Immune imbalances

• Pathophysiology of chronic diseases
• Mechanisms of Functional Medicine interventions
• Creating a therapeutic plan for Functional Medicine imbalance

Critical Analysis of Complex Integrative Pathologies: Metabolic Syndrome

• Evaluation of therapeutic diets and lifestyle interventions in the management of Metabolic Syndrome
• Critical analysis of supplements and therapeutic foods in the management of Metabolic Syndrome
• Critical analysis of the potential role of the Functional Medicine Model in applying the principles of Personalised Nutrition

Nutritional Therapy Clinical Practice

• Pre Consultation Preparation
• Information Gathering
• Explanation of a Findings
• Co creating a Set of Recommendations

• In-class (Dublin). Starting in September and with 6 lecture weekends, this is the most popular way of completing the Diploma in Personalised Nutrition and Therapeutics.
• Online. Studying online gives the flexibility to study wherever you are.

As of September 2019, online students may attend as many lecture weekends as they wish, for no extra cost.

This diploma is a lifelong learning course and students are accepted on to this course through a combination of academic qualifications and relevant life experience.

Normal minimum entry requirements

The minimum academic entry requirement for this course is a qualification at UK level 5 (Irish level 6/7) or international equivalent.  A nutrition based qualification at UK level 4 (Irish level 6) is required, as well as an understanding of functional medicine

Prior Learning and Prior Experiential Learning

Applicants with Prior Learning and Experiential Prior Learning will also be considered. All knowledge, skills and competencies accumulated through life and work experience will be considered.

All applicants will be interviewed to determine their suitability for the course