The Sourdough School

BALM – Proven as one of the healthiest approaches to bread in the world.

Based in the walled gardens of Dr. Vanessa Kimbell's beautiful Victorian home in rural Northamptonshire, UK, we tutor individuals and train bakers and healthcare professionals in Baking as Lifestyle Medicine (BALM). Personalising bread to your lifestyle, gut microbiome, and unique genetics for optimal health—tailoring fermentation, fibre, and diversity so that your daily bread becomes the foundation of your health.

+44(0)7813308301
[email protected]
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Why personalisation of bread is non diagnostic

In our practice of personalising bread at The Sourdough School to support health and well-being, however it’s crucial to clarify our position regarding the diagnosis of medical conditions. Our approach is fundamentally rooted in working collaboratively with healthcare professionals and their patients to personalise bread in a way that supports their diagnosed health conditions. We adhere to a strict protocol that prioritises the safety and well-being of individuals seeking to integrate personalised bread into their lifestyle for health benefits.

Here’s why we do not diagnose:

Professional Boundaries and Expertise

Our expertise lies in the intersection of nutrition, gut microbiome health, and the art of bread making, not in diagnosing medical conditions. Diagnosing is a complex process that requires medical training and a thorough understanding of the human body, symptoms, and diseases. It is beyond the scope of our knowledge and practice. We respect the boundaries of our professional expertise and the critical role of healthcare professionals in diagnosing health conditions.

Collaborative Approach with Healthcare Professionals

We operate on a model that involves collaboration with healthcare professionals. This ensures that any personalisation of bread or dietary recommendations we make are informed by a comprehensive understanding of the individual’s health status, as diagnosed by a qualified professional. This collaborative approach allows us to tailor our recommendations more effectively and safely, complementing the medical care plan established by healthcare providers.

Use of Gut Microbiome Analysis and Nutrigenetics

While we utilise tools like gut microbiome analysis and nutrigenetics to inform our personalisation process, it’s important to note that these are not diagnostic tools. Instead, they are used to optimise nutrition and support overall health through a preventative approach. These areas require specific expertise and qualifications, and our use of them is grounded in the latest evidence-based research to support well-being. They are powerful tools for understanding how individual differences can inform dietary choices and lifestyle changes but are not used to diagnose health conditions.

Focus on Prevention and Nourishment

Our core philosophy centres on using bread as a vehicle for lifestyle medicine, aiming to nourish and prevent disease or support optimal health through a nutrigenetic approach to baking. This is based on the principle of providing the body with the nutrients it needs to maintain health and prevent disease, rather than diagnosing or treating medical conditions. Our approach is preventive, aiming to contribute positively to an individual’s health journey by enhancing the quality of their diet and leveraging the health benefits of sourdough fermentation and diverse, nutritious ingredients.

Evidence-based Support for Well-being

Our recommendations and the personalisation of bread are always grounded in the best available evidence to support well-being. We are committed to a responsible and informed practice that respects the complexity of health and nutrition. By focusing on prevention, nutrition, and collaboration with healthcare professionals, we aim to contribute meaningfully to the health and well-being of those we work with, without overstepping our professional boundaries into the realm of medical diagnosis.

In summary, while our work in personalising bread is deeply connected to health and well-being, we maintain a clear distinction between our role and that of diagnosing medical conditions. Our focus is on enhancing health through nutrition and lifestyle changes, within a framework that respects the expertise of healthcare professionals and the individual needs of those we serv

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