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.

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Proving it ...

BALM CASE STUDIES

Welcome to the BALM case studies library, where we have compiled a collection of case studies that showcase the impact of Baking as Lifestyle Medicine (BALM) on people's lives. We don't just make claims about the health benefits of Diversity Bread and The BALM Protocol—we prove them.

Through years of dedicated research and comprehensive case studies, we've lived, worked, and breathed our nourishing approach to bread. The evidence is phenomenal: here we share how our methods not only enhance physical health but also improve mental well-being. Discover the real-world impact of our groundbreaking work here.

Our work is evidence-based, (meaning that the insights and teachings we share are grounded in real-life experiences and outcomes.)  We have gathered these case studies over the years to illustrate how our approach to baking can have profound effects on health and well-being, particularly for individuals who may have struggled with mental health issues and noncommunicable diseases or digestion issues in the past.

Disclaimer: We’ve made this library available to see and give you an overview of some of the studies and examples to showcase the work we do at the Sourdough School.  However, the full case studies in this category are only accessible to members. If you'd like to learn more about our work, please get in touch.

Case Study: Charlotte Hardie

Case Study: Andrew Weston – small drop in blood pressure & weight & increase in Akkermansia

Case Study Karl: weight loss & positive changes in blood pressure

Case Study: Sourdough Baking & Caring For Someone With Alzheimers

Case study: Sourdough, Improving Social Anxiety & Making Social Connections

bread protocol sourdough health

Case Study: BALM protocol & improvement in gut microbiome, stress levels and bloating

IBS Case Study: the longer the fermentation period the better the digestibility

Case Study: Sourdough & Anaemia

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