The Nutritional Supplement

What Course(s) did you graduate from at CNELM and when did you graduate?

I completed the BSc in Nutritional Science and graduated in 2015. I originally started the therapy degree, then switched halfway through to science. I am currently doing the MSc and the NTPD and I am due to finish in 2018.

What did you do before doing this course?

I started studying interior design but struggled to find time to do it with three small children. I decided to have a break and go back to studying when my youngest daughter started primary school.

Meanwhile I had developed an interest in nutrition, partly because of my kids and partly because I was reading a lot of articles about food and health and I was curious to find out more about it. I wanted to attend and meet people and I was all set to start at Westminster, but then they stopped the nutrition degree completely and I was so disappointed. One of the tutors there, Heather Rosa, pointed me to CNELM. I loved the flexibility that CNELM offered.

Why did you switch from Nutritional Therapy to the science degree?

CNELM phased out the therapy course and so we were offered an option of completing the therapy degree or switching to science and completing the Practice Diploma separately. I thought that having the science degree plus the NTPD would give me more choice, even though I always wanted to practice.

What made you decide to embark on this course of study and what attracted you to doing both the BSc and the MSc?

I think part of it is that I always thought I would do the MSc as well, but also when I finished the BSc I felt that I still needed to know more. I now realise I will never know it all and it’s really practise that makes you gain knowledge.

Did you use your dietary educator’s certificate after the first year of study or undertake any other nutrition work alongside studying at this time?

I didn’t use my dietary educator’s certificate but I did a bit of research volunteering with a CNELM graduate, Helene Patounas.

I would like to volunteer and get involved in therapy in some capacity and be present at consultations to gain some exposure to it so I am currently trying to find a way to do this. 

Were you working alongside studying?

I studied full time and I didn’t officially work. However, I have 3 kids and that is a full time job! After the BSc I went straight into the MSc. 

How did you get involved with BANT?

I started in July 2016 after I saw an advertisement in BANT newsletter looking for student volunteers. I had been a member since starting the degree, but I didn’t engage with BANT or the membership benefits initially. I wanted to learn more about BANT and about our profession. I also wanted to meet more likeminded people.

What does your student volunteer position with them involve?

I’m part of a Student Network Team and we are responsible for organising monthly student webinars, sourcing appropriate speakers and all associated administration.

We get various speakers to cover different topics of interest to students – this ranges from talking about the benefits of the Mediterranean style diet to talking about the role of nucleotides in human health. Michelle Barrow is going to talk in February about the importance of research in practice.

Tell us a little more about your involvement with BANT:

BANT recruited new members to set up a new Student Network Team in June as many of the current team were graduating; I am one of the 7 current members. The first few months required hard work and I found time management tough. However, there is plenty of support and the amount of time I dedicate to BANT is varied. It’s all flexible and done within my own spare time and now it usually takes a few hours a week.

BANT student webinars are free to student members and they are a great source of information. They are all recorded for those who can’t attend and the recordings can be found in the student area under the webinar section.

https://bant.org.uk/members-area/student-area/previous-webinars/

You can also email speakers questions, or ask them during the webinar so it is really great to take an advantage of that. It’s such a fantastic resource for students. 

BANT student network is trying really hard to engage student members to take advantage of BANT membership benefits. We all know studying takes up such a huge amount of time, particularly when juggling with families, jobs and a personal life. However, many resources such as access to the Natural Medicines database, webinars, Local Networks and CPD opportunities are great to dip into when studying and are available to fit around your schedule. The Local Networks enable students to network with other students and qualified practitioners.

BANT is almost exclusively run by volunteers, mainly professionals from different backgrounds with different skills who all contribute in a different way. However BANT is also keen for members to get something out of volunteering. Many students don’t go into practice after graduation and sometimes it is because they lack confidence or contacts within the profession and they just don’t know where to start.

Volunteering for BANT gives students opportunity to engage with the nutritional therapy profession, understand the industry, and build confidence and network with like-minded people. 

BANT believes that graduates are more likely to succeed when they are involved with other nutritional therapists within the profession.

A lot of CNELM students live overseas, but this is not an issue as many BANT volunteers also live abroad. Many volunteer roles are supported by members remotely from their own home, so anyone can get involved. It has been such a fantastic experience and I am so glad that I got involved to learn about my profession and meet other nutritional therapists.

Is there anything you wish you’d known before finishing your studies that you might have prepared for differently?

I think that one of the things I wish I’d known is how important it is to learn the basics. For example, the physiology module is so important, learning how the body works so that you can join the dots when learning about mechanisms.

What or who has most inspired you in your work?

I listen to a lot of podcasts, summits and webinars. I love Dr Mark Hyman and Chris Kresser. We also had some amazing teachers at CNELM and it is always inspirational to learn how they developed a successful practice.

I am also really grateful to Kate Neil. She has been a great support throughout my studies; she is so approachable and always available to help the students.

Do you have any tips, hints, things you’d have done differently...?

As above – get a solid foundation of basics under your belt and try to get involved with BANT!