“Optimum nutrition is the medicine of tomorrow.”

Professor Linus Pauling, PhD, Nobel laureate

The Institute for Optimum Nutrition (ION) is a higher education institution founded in 1984 by Patrick Holford with the support of twice Nobel Prize winner Professor Linus Pauling. It is one of the most respected training bodies of its kind in Europe. 

Our flagship Nutritional Therapy courses educate students to become registered Nutritional Therapists on accredited professional qualification programmes. We champion our graduates and the wider nutrition and healthcare industry with our professional CPD courses. Our nutrition clinic and magazine Optimum Nutrition support the public to make a positive impact on their lives with food.

Coronavirus Covid-19 

A message from ION during Coronavirus Covid-19 crisis

Courses and services

Study nutritional therapy

ION courses are designed with flexibility in mind and provide outstanding support. There are courses for everyone: from people with no previous experience, to qualified nutritional therapists, to allied healthcare professionals ready to add personalised nutrition to their practice. As one of the most respected training bodies of its kind in Europe, find out about studying at ION.

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Short courses / CPD

Discover exciting opportunities to deepen your knowledge and support your professional development through a range of short nutrition courses, short health courses, practitioner CPD events and Food Demo Days.

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Open events

Register for an open event, join us online for a webinar (our in person open events are currently on hold) or book a one-to-one appointment phone call.

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Optimum Nutrition magazine

Optimum Nutrition is published four times a year and brings you the latest news, research, updates, forthcoming events, healthy recipes and much more... Sign up today for free digital access.

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Optimum Nutrition Clinic

Our fully qualified Nutritional Therapists work with people every day to improve health and wellbeing, whatever your issue, they will help you find out how to improve your health naturally and safely.

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Online webinars

Latest articles

  • Calf’s liver with creamy wild mushrooms

    Try this nose-to-nail recipe from registered nutritional therapist and ION graduate Victoria Hamilton Read more

  • Five minutes with Professor Sarah Bridle

    We chat with Professor Sarah Bridle, from the School of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Manchester and author of Food and Climate Change without the Hot Air, about simple hacks for eating more sustainably this January Read more

  • Home schooling survival guide

    If the thought of home schooling has left you staring into the next few weeks with a look of horror, Olga Preston, a registered nutritional therapist at ION’s Brain Bio Centre, offers her advice for managing stress and optimising your wellbeing over Read more