What is personalised nutrition?

Personalised nutrition is an underlying principle of nutritional therapy, recognising that every individual is unique.

Rather than adopting a one-size-fits-all approach, a registered nutritional therapist will consider a client’s health journey and health goals, and develop a programme tailored to them.

Functional tests may inform recommendations based on each person’s unique biology. This could include genetic predispositions to nutrient deficiencies, food allergies or hormone imbalances, as well as factors such as life stage, sex, ethnicity, or religious backgrounds that dictate particular diets. The individual’s environment is also important, for example exposure to mould, pollutants or stress.

Because the title is not protected by law, anyone can call themselves a nutritional therapist. A registered nutritional therapist, however, will have completed a minimum of three years, evidence-informed training, and is a member of both the professional register, the Complementary and Natural Healthcare Council (CNHC), and the professional regulatory body, the British Association for Nutrition and Lifestyle Medicine (BANT).

BANT states that “only registered nutritional therapy practitioners and registered dieticians are trained and qualified in clinical practice to meet national standards and work in a one-to-one setting”.

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About ION:

ION is a leading provider of accredited nutritional therapy training, established in 1984. ION’s BSc (Hons) Nutritional Therapy is validated by the University of Portsmouth. Be part of a growing community of nutritional therapists and build a rewarding, flexible career helping others to make positive lifestyle changes.

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Key facts

Award
Certificate

Duration
7-9 months

Study time
10-17 hours per week and Touch point sessions

Course code
ED200PTD (online learning), rNTSAC

Entry dates
October: ED201PTD
January: ED202PTD
May: ED203PTD

Tuition fees
£2,900

Key facts

Course codes
C0502FTD (full-time)
C0502PTD (part-time)

Award
Graduate Diploma

Credits
120

Duration
1 year full-time
2 years part-time

Study time
20 hours per week full-time
10 hours per week part-time

Entry month
February

Tuition fees*
£7,875 full-time
£3,940 part-time

£200 per 20 credits RCPL (certified)
£375 per 20 credits REPL (experiential)

£475 registration fee

* For 2022/23 academic year. Fees for subsequent years may increase in line with inflation

Key facts

Entry:
September and February

Location:
Online with optional attendance activities

Duration:
4.5 years part-time or
3 years full-time

Course code:
C0503PTD (part-time)
C0503FTD (full-time)

Fees part time:
£5,250 - per year, years 1-4
£2,625 - year 5

Fees full time:
£9,250 - per year

Awarding body:
University of Portsmouth

* Fees may increase in line with inflation

Key facts

Course codes
C0503PTD (online)

Award
BSc (Hons)

Credits
120

Pathways
Qualified nutritional therapist

Duration
1.5 years part-time

Study time
15-20 hours per week plus time to watch lectures

Entry dates
September, February

Tuition fees*
£5,950 per year
£2,625 year 5

* For 2023/24 academic year. Fees for subsequent years may increase in line with inflation