Learning Objective
The combined learning objective of The Sourdough School's BALM 'Personalisation of Bread Module' and 'Bake for Health Module' is to provide healthcare professionals with comprehensive knowledge and practical skills in using bread as a tool for health and wellbeing improvement. It includes understanding the varied health impacts of different bread types, mastering long, slow fermentation techniques, and applying this knowledge in clinical practice. The objective is further extended to empower professionals to confidently prescribe BALM, develop tailored bread recipes aligned with specific health goals, and effectively present these recipes and related case studies, showcasing the practical application of BALM theories.
The Sourdough School Diploma is about understanding how to personalise bread.
You will learn to personalise bread for many health and social reasons.
Baking as Lifestyle Medicine is about helping people avoid lifestyle diseases by empowering them to bake, eat, and share bread. When applied as Lifestyle Medicine, it is a practical and achievable way to improve health.
Throughout the course, you will:
- By participating in “The Personalisation of Bread Module,” you will learn to personalize bread for many health and social reasons, and you will also be able to prescribe BALM to your patients.We believe that in doing so, you become an activist, helping people avoid lifestyle diseases by empowering them to bake, eat, and share bread. Lifestyle Medicine is an effective and achievable way to improve health. Throughout the course, you will:
- Learn how to personalise Bread and use this to prescribe Baking As a Lifestyle medicine to comply with NHS social prescribing guidelines.
- Understand Long, Slow Fermentation: Learn the mechanisms of how this process transforms bread and enhances gut microbiome and mental health through the Sourdough School Bread protocol.
- Impact of Mass-Produced Bread: Explore how low-quality bread and baked goods negatively affect health.
- Gaining Insight through Biome Testing: Assess the impact of the BALM Protocol on gut microbiome and health by conducting biome tests and consulting with Research and Medical Directors.
- Appraise Case Studies: Review Sourdough School case studies showcasing improvements in physical and mental health outcomes.
- Apply Knowledge in Clinical Practice: Medical professionals can obtain a practitioner’s license to prescribe BALM as part of their practice.
- Professional Skill Enhancement: Engage in continuous learning through workshops, seminars, and research on Baking as Lifestyle Medicine.
- Build Supportive Networks: Connect with healthcare professionals and bakers to share experiences and collaborate on health-promoting baking projects.
- Positive Community Impact: Understand how BALM can enhance community health through initiatives like the ‘bake two, share one’ principle.
- Recognize Social Prescription as Activism: Learn how prescribing BALM is a powerful form of health activism.
- Create and Share Case Studies: Develop and share a case study and a bread or cake recipe demonstrating the BALM Protocol.
- Prescribe BALM: At the end of the module, prescribe BALM based on a successful, ethically compliant case study.
- Weekly Baking Application: Use scientific knowledge from the syllabus to guide weekly baking and recipe creation.
- Mentoring Opportunities: Optionally mentor a young healthcare professional in the principles of BALM.
Transforming the simple act of baking, eating and sharing bread into a powerful tool for personal health management.
The Sourdough School’s BALM ‘Personalisation of Bread Module’ offers healthcare practitioners an in-depth understanding of utilising bread as a tool for various health and wellbeing goals. Here’s how different bread aspects can be relevant:
- Preventive Health: Understanding the impact of bread types, such as the fibre content in whole grains, on gut health can inform dietary recommendations for conditions like bowel cancer or cardiovascular disease.
- Lifestyle Diseases: The glycaemic index of bread is crucial for managing blood sugar levels, aiding in the prevention and management of conditions like Type 2 Diabetes, obesity, and hypertension.
- Mind and Body Wellness: Different bread types can influence the gut-brain axis, affecting mental well-being and cognitive functions.
- Neurodiverse Needs: Tailoring bread consumption can play a role in dietary management for individuals with ADHD or autism spectrum disorders.
- Nutritional Goals: Bread’s nutritional composition, including fibre, vitamins, and minerals, is key for gut health and overall nutrition.
- Weight Management: Choosing the right type of bread can be integral to a balanced diet for weight control.
- Digestive Health: Specific bread types can help manage conditions like IBS, gas, bloating, Crohn’s Disease, and Diverticulitis.
- Immune System Support: High-nutritional-value bread can bolster the immune system, aiding recovery from illness or inflammation.
- Gluten Sensitivities: Understanding how different breads affect gluten sensitivity or wheat intolerance is crucial for dietary choices.
- Specific Diet Support: Bread choices can complement dietary needs like vegetarian, vegan, or paleo diets.
- Dietary Management for Medical Conditions: Bread type is important for blood sugar control in diabetes management.
- Medical Treatment Support: Certain breads may be more suitable for patients undergoing chemotherapy or radiation therapy treatments.
- Clean Eating Goals: Organic and naturally sourced breads align with reducing exposure to pesticides and herbicides.
- Mental Wellbeing: The gut-brain axis influenced by bread consumption can impact mood balance, anxiety, and depression.
- Performance Enhancement: The right type of bread can support athletic performance and endurance.
This module is also the foundational knowledge for healthcare practitioners to use bread as a personalised tool for enhancing health and well-being, aligning with individual patient needs and health objectives for social prescribing baking as lifestyle medicine.
Learning Outcome
Learning Outcome
Upon completing the BALM 'Personalisation of Bread Module' and 'Bake for Health Module' at The Sourdough School, graduates will possess a comprehensive understanding of the role of bread in health and wellbeing. They will be skilled in personalising bread to meet diverse health needs, applying long, slow fermentation techniques, and understanding the impact on both gut microbiome and mental health. Graduates will be adept at socially prescribing BALM, contributing to community health, and engaging in continuous professional development. The culmination of their learning will be demonstrated through a practical application: creating a bespoke recipe and presenting a case study with a live bread-sharing session, showcasing their mastery of the BALM theory and its application in real-world scenarios.
