The Sourdough School

Learn to bake the healthiest bread in the world

Based in rural Northamptonshire, within the walled gardens of Dr. Vanessa Kimbell's beautiful Victorian home; we'll teach you to make the healthiest bread in the world. We offer a range of bread making courses, both online and in person, including personalised bread, specifically tailored to suit your lifestyle, gut health, and unique genetics.

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Nutrigenomic Testing & Bespoke Bread Development

£749.00 – £899.00

This step-by-step process includes an initial consultation, genetic testing recommendations, custom bread recipe development, 12 weeks of symptom tracking, progress check-ins, and a final feedback session. Achieve better health through evidence-based nutritional strategies.

How Nutrigenomics can be used to bespoke your bread:

  • Feel less bloated: Nutrigenetics will identify how we can personalise bread with ingredients tailored to your genetic ability to digest certain fibres and carbohydrates.
  • Improved gut health: A nutrigenetic test will help me identify the grains and specific fermentation methods that align with your genetic predispositions, optimising your microbiome.
  • More energy: Based on your unique results, we can design your genetic profile to support efficient energy metabolism and balanced blood sugar.
  • Sleep better:  We can ensure your bread contains nutrients that support neurotransmitters linked to restful sleep and use the process to lower cortisol and help balance your hormones.
  • Improve overall health: By aligning how you eat your bread and the bread composition with your genetic needs and fibre requirements, we can enhance nutrient absorption and reduce inflammation.
  • Reach a healthy weight: By tailoring bread and understanding your specific responses, we can make bread and design how you eat it to help regulate appetite and metabolism, working in harmony with your genetic blueprint.

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Methylation & Nutrient Core Report: The foundational reports to healthy bread

I use Nutrigenomic testing from Lifecode GX, which provides me with personalised insights into your genetic makeup and how it influences your body’s response to bread and different nutrients. By working with you and understanding your unique genetic variations, I build comprehensive knowledge about your metabolism, nutrient needs, and potential risks of health problems and create healthy bread for you.

This personalised information, along with building an understanding of your digestion and lifestyle, means that I can create an approach to your bread that aligns perfectly with your body’s specific requirements because it is tailored to your unique genotype.

The extra tabs show the two main reports that we use; however, I will sometimes recommend additional reports following a consultation. Please see the additional Reposts tab for more information.

Why personalise your bread?

Most people have never even considered whether the bread they eat is healthy for them. When you consider how much bread you eat over decades, its nutritional profile takes on much more significance. A lifetime of consuming nutrient-poor, ultra-processed bread contributes little more than empty calories. In contrast, optimised bread:

  • Supports Gut Health: The high fibre content and diverse ingredients nourish beneficial gut bacteria, improving digestion and reducing inflammation. A healthy microbiome is increasingly linked to reduced risks of chronic conditions like diabetes, obesity, and even mental health disorders.
  • Promotes Energy and Brain Function: B vitamins, especially folate and B12, are critical for brain health and preventing fatigue. Regular intake through bread ensures consistent support for energy and cognitive function.
  • Reduces Long-Term Health Risks: Fibre-rich bread can lower cholesterol, improve blood sugar control, and reduce the risk of heart disease and colorectal cancer.
  • Aligns with Preventative Health: By incorporating functional ingredients, such as omega-3-rich seeds or prebiotic fibres, optimised bread actively contributes to preventative healthcare.

What is considered healthy bread for one person may not be healthy for another.

However, when you look at bread and its impact on a person’s health, what is considered healthy bread for one person may not be healthy for another. Each individual’s nutritional needs and tolerances vary, meaning that bread designed to benefit one person could be unsuitable—or even harmful—for someone else. Bread is not a one-size-fits-all solution; breads healthiness depends on aligning its ingredients and preparation methods with the unique biology and dietary requirements of the individual. Here are some examples of students who I have worked with:

Iron Absorption vs. Anti-Nutrient Sensitivity:
For a menstruating woman for example with anaemia, nutrigenomic insights might reveal genetic variations (such as polymorphisms in HFE or TMPRSS6) that affect iron metabolism. Bread enriched with ingredients and fermented longer for extra iron bioavailability to neutralise anti-nutrients like phytates could support her needs. Conversely, someone with haemochromatosis, often linked to HFE mutations, requires bread low in iron to prevent dangerous overload, showcasing how personalised bread can adapt to genetic predispositions.

Blood Sugar Management vs. High Energy Needs:
A menopausal woman aiming to stabilise blood sugar might benefit from low-GI bread crafted with wholegrain barley or legumes, as well as specific ingredients like resistant starch to improve insulin sensitivity—especially if she has polymorphisms in TCF7L2 or FTO that increase diabetes risk. Meanwhile, an athlete with variants in PPARG or PGC1A might require bread richer in omega-3s, anthocyanins from purple grains, and slower energy release options to optimise recovery and performance. Fermentation can also play a role here by improving digestibility for those with overlapping IBS, and research on athletes’ gut shows many athletes have gut health issues.

Gut Health vs. FODMAP Sensitivity:
For someone with a healthy gut microbiome, nutrigenomic insights might highlight variations in FUT2, which influence microbiome diversity and response to dietary fibre. Bread enriched with fibre and prebiotic ingredients could enhance gut health. However, an individual with IBS and FODMAP sensitivity might require longer, slower fermented sourdough made from specific grains to reduce problematic sugars and ease digestion, aligning with their genetic profile and key micronutrients that helps to support methylation.

Calcium Absorption vs. Oxalate Risk:
For individuals with genetic predispositions to osteoporosis (e.g., VDR or GC variants), bread fermented to improve calcium absorption and enriched with calcium-rich seeds could support bone health. However, for someone prone to kidney stones and sensitive to oxalates, understanding the interplay between chelating compounds and oxalate metabolism is critical—tailored bread could balance these risks by incorporating low-oxalate grains.

Omega-3s vs. IBS or Intolerance:
Bread enriched with flaxseeds or chia seeds, high in omega-3s, could be beneficial for someone with PPARG or APOEpolymorphisms linked to inflammation or cardiovascular health. Yet, for an individual with IBS or seed intolerances guided by variations in IL6 or TNF, the same bread could exacerbate their symptoms, requiring substitutions or fermentation techniques to improve tolerance.

These examples highlight the complexity of tailoring bread to individual needs. What’s “healthy” for one person could be problematic or harmful for another. Personalised bread offers a solution by aligning ingredients with unique health profiles.

Disclaimer

The genetic insights provided through these reports are designed to support personalised nutritional and lifestyle recommendations. They are not intended to diagnose, treat, or cure any medical condition. Instead, they serve as a tool to optimise health by aligning dietary choices, including bread recipes, with your unique genetic blueprint.

While these reports offer valuable guidance in understanding how your body processes nutrients, responds to stressors, and supports metabolic functions, they should be used in conjunction with advice from a qualified healthcare professional.

The focus of this approach is nutrigenetics—the science of tailoring nutrition to individual genetic tendencies. It does not replace medical advice, and any concerns about health conditions or symptoms should always be discussed with your doctor or a licensed medical practitioner.

By exploring how food can work with your biology, these reports aim to empower you with knowledge to make informed, supportive choices for your overall well-being.

 

Additional information

Reports

Basic Package – Methylation & Nutrient Core Report, Methylation & Nutrient Core + 1 from The Additional Reports List

Nutrient Core Report

Nutrient Core Report: Understanding Your Genetic Blueprint for Health

Your body’s relationship with food is as unique as your genetic code. The Nutrient Core Report delves into the genes that influence how you process nutrients, respond to specific foods, manage energy, and regulate inflammation. By identifying your genetic predispositions, this test offers insights into the intricate ways your body interacts with diet and lifestyle, helping you make informed choices to optimise your health.

What Does This Test Cover?

The Nutrient Core Report analyses genetic variants that impact critical aspects of your well-being, such as:

  • Food Response: Identifies predispositions to gluten (coeliac) and lactose intolerance, helping you tailor your diet to avoid discomfort or adverse effects.
  • Caffeine Sensitivity: Determines how your body metabolises caffeine, whether you’re a fast metaboliser who can handle a strong espresso or someone more sensitive to its effects.
  • Microbiome Diversity: Explores genetic markers linked to gut health, highlighting your body’s capacity to cultivate a diverse and resilient microbiome.
  • Vitamin Needs: Evaluates your genetic requirements for key vitamins, including A, B9 (folate), B12 (cobalamin), C, D, and K, to ensure you’re meeting your body’s unique demands.
  • Blood Pressure Regulation: Assesses sensitivity to sodium and potassium balance, providing insights into your risk for salt-sensitive hypertension.
  • Detoxification: Examines your ability to produce glutathione, the body’s master antioxidant, crucial for combating oxidative stress and clearing toxins.
  • Metabolism: Looks at genes involved in blood sugar regulation (insulin sensitivity) and appetite control, offering clues to your metabolic efficiency.
  • Inflammation: Identifies predispositions to systemic and specific inflammatory responses, shedding light on how your immune system reacts to stressors.
  • Circadian Rhythm: Determines whether your genes predispose you to be an early bird or a night owl, which can influence energy, focus, and productivity.

Genes Analysed in the Nutrient Core Report

This comprehensive analysis includes the following genetic markers:

  • Food Response: HLA-DQA1, HLA-DQB1, LCT
  • Caffeine Sensitivity: CYP1A2, ADORA2A
  • Microbiome Diversity: FUT2
  • Vitamin Needs: BCO1, MTHFR, FUT2, TCN2, SLC23A1, COL1A1, GC, VDR, VKORC1
  • Blood Pressure Regulation: ACE, AGT
  • Detoxification: GSTM1
  • Metabolism: FADS1/2, FTO, TCF7L2, PGC1A, LEPR
  • Inflammation: TNF, IFNG
  • Circadian Rhythm: CLOCK, PER1

Why This Test Matters

Understanding your genetic predispositions isn’t about labelling limitations—it’s about empowering smarter choices. For example, knowing your genes influence gluten or lactose sensitivity could guide dietary adjustments that support digestion. If your caffeine metabolism gene reveals sensitivity, a switch to herbal tea might reduce restlessness or anxiety. And insights into vitamin needs could help prevent deficiencies, ensuring your diet truly fuels your body’s needs.

This test serves as a foundational assessment, offering a snapshot of how your body interacts with its environment. It can also indicate whether deeper exploration—such as tests for methylation or microbiome health—might be beneficial for more tailored guidance.

How We Use These Insights at The Sourdough School

At The Sourdough School, we take this genetic information one step further. By combining these results with nutritional science, we create tailored strategies to optimise your diet. Whether that’s through bespoke bread recipes or broader nutritional recommendations, the aim is to align your food choices with your unique genetic blueprint.

Imagine bread enriched with ingredients that address your genetic predispositions—grains and legumes to boost folate, probiotics to support your microbiome, or lower glycaemic components to stabilise blood sugar. This isn’t just about understanding your body; it’s about nourishing it, one bite at a time.

The Nutrient Core Report is your starting point for personalised health. It bridges the gap between your genes and your daily choices, helping you live in harmony with your biology.

Methylation Report

Methylation Pathway Genetic Test: Personalised Nutrition Meets Everyday Life

Did you know your body performs billions of biochemical reactions every second, all coordinated by a process called methylation? This intricate system adds tiny chemical tags—methyl groups—to molecules, acting like a molecular switch that fine-tunes everything from energy production to brain function, detoxification, and DNA repair. It’s the backbone of how your body keeps running smoothly.

But what happens when methylation goes awry? For some, it slows down; for others, it speeds up too much. Either imbalance can lead to health challenges such as fatigue, heart disease, mood disorders, or cognitive decline. The good news? By understanding your unique genetic makeup, we can optimise these processes and provide practical solutions tailored to your biology.

What is Methylation, and Why Does It Matter?

Methylation might sound technical, but it’s at the heart of how your body works. Think of it as a recipe with precise instructions: the right ingredients, timing, and balance are essential. This process regulates:

  • Energy production
  • Detoxification of harmful substances
  • DNA repair and gene regulation
  • Neurotransmitter balance for mood and cognition
  • Immune system performance

When this recipe is thrown off—whether by genetics, environmental stress, or poor nutrition—it can ripple into chronic issues like depression, infertility, or premature ageing.

What Does This Test Measure?

At The Sourdough School, we examine five key pathways that influence methylation and your overall metabolic health. These pathways work like interconnected cogs in a machine:

  • Folate Cycle: Processes folate (Vitamin B9) for DNA repair and methylation.
  • Methionine Cycle: Produces SAMe (S-adenosylmethionine), your body’s primary methyl donor.
  • Neurotransmitter Cycle: Regulates serotonin, dopamine, and other brain chemicals essential for mood and cognition.
  • Transsulphuration Cycle: Manages sulfur metabolism and supports detoxification.
  • Urea Cycle: Eliminates toxic ammonia, a by-product of protein metabolism.

Each of these pathways relies on cofactors like B6, B9 (folate), B12, magnesium, and zinc—and must navigate potential blockers such as environmental toxins or stressors. The test pinpoints where inefficiencies may lie and provides the key to supporting these processes effectively.

Why Take This Test?

Unlike one-size-fits-all dietary advice, this test dives into your DNA to uncover bottlenecks in how your body processes nutrients. With these insights, we can recommend personalised strategies that work with your unique biology. This test helps to:

  • Identify genetic bottlenecks slowing critical pathways.
  • Optimise your nutrient intake for energy, mental clarity, and resilience.
  • Provide practical, actionable solutions for better health—whether through diet, lifestyle, or supplements.

Where Bread Becomes Personalised Nutrition

Here’s where it gets truly exciting. At The Sourdough School, we don’t just stop at the science—we transform it into delicious, everyday food. Bread is more than a staple; it’s an opportunity. By applying these genetic insights, we create bespoke bread recipes designed to support your specific needs.

Imagine your results show an inefficiency in processing folate. Your bread might include folate-rich grains, legumes, or naturally fermented ingredients to make this vital nutrient more bioavailable. If your sulfur metabolism needs support, we might incorporate sulfur-containing compounds or mineral-rich flours. Each loaf becomes a tool for health, crafted to harmonise with your body’s unique pathways.

This isn’t just bread; it’s personalised nutrition, blending cutting-edge science with the timeless tradition of baking. And every slice nourishes you in ways that align with your biology.

Ready to Transform Your Health Through Bread?

The Methylation Pathway Genetic Test offers more than insights—it’s a way to optimise your health, one bite at a time. With results in hand, you’ll unlock the potential to create a personalised approach to nutrition that’s as practical as it is transformative.

It’s time to turn bread into more than just food. Let it become your partner in wellness.

Additional Reports

Metabolics Report: Unlocking Your Body’s Energy Potential

Metabolism is the engine that powers your body, orchestrating billions of chemical reactions every second. It balances anabolism (building essential molecules like sugars and proteins) with catabolism (breaking down substances for energy). This delicate interplay is the foundation of energy regulation, cell health, and longevity.

The Metabolics Report dives into over 40 genes and 50 SNPs that influence key pathways driving metabolism. These insights provide a window into your unique metabolic individuality, from how your body regulates appetite and processes sugar and fat to how it handles cholesterol, bile, and inflammation. The report also explores mitochondrial function—the powerhouse of your cells.

Pathways Analysed:

  • Appetite Regulation: Genes like FTO and LEPR reveal how your body signals hunger and satiety.
  • Nutrient Sensing: PGC1A and SIRT1 impact how your body detects and responds to nutrients.
  • Sugar Metabolism: Genes such as TCF7L2 play roles in blood sugar regulation and insulin sensitivity.
  • Fat Metabolism: Genes like PPARA influence how your body processes fats for energy.
  • Cholesterol and Bile: LDLR and CYP7A1 regulate cholesterol transport and breakdown.
  • Mitochondria and Inflammation: Genes like TNF and SOD2 reveal your body’s efficiency in energy production and managing inflammation.

This report provides actionable insights to optimise energy levels, improve metabolic health, and support long-term vitality.

Detoxification Report: Supporting Your Body’s Natural Defence System

Every day, your body encounters toxins—whether from food, air, medications, or the environment. Detoxification is the body’s way of neutralising and eliminating these substances, relying primarily on the liver and supported by organs like the kidneys, lungs, and intestines. However, detoxification efficiency varies from person to person.

The Detoxification Report examines the genes that influence how your body processes toxins, from the Phase I enzymesthat prime toxic molecules for deactivation to the Phase II pathways that prepare them for elimination. It also assesses how well your body manages oxidative stress caused by toxic intermediates.

Pathways Analysed:

  • CYP450 Enzymes: Key Phase I enzymes like CYP1A2 metabolise medications and environmental toxins.
  • Glutathione Pathways: GSTM1 and GSTT1 reveal your body’s capacity to neutralise free radicals.
  • Alcohol Metabolism: Genes like ADH1B determine how effectively your body processes alcohol.
  • Oxidative Stress (ROS): SOD2 and GPX1 play critical roles in reducing oxidative damage.
  • Glucuronidation: UGT1A1 genes support detoxification of hormones and medications.
  • Antiporter Systems: ABCB1 genes regulate the transport of toxins in and out of cells.

Understanding these pathways helps tailor nutritional and lifestyle strategies to enhance your body’s natural detoxification abilities.

Nervous System Report: Balancing Neurotransmitters for Mental Health

The nervous system is your body’s communication network, transmitting signals between the brain and body to help you navigate the world. Neurotransmitters like serotonin, dopamine, and GABA ensure this system functions smoothly, balancing excitatory signals (that stimulate) and inhibitory ones (that calm).

The Nervous System Report analyses genetic variants that influence neurotransmitter production, metabolism, and regulation. This includes serotonin for mood stability, dopamine for motivation, and GABA for relaxation. Imbalances in these pathways can manifest as mood disorders, attention difficulties, addictive behaviours, or heightened stress responses.

Key Neurotransmitters Analysed:

  • Serotonin: Genes like HTR1A regulate mood, sleep, and emotional well-being.
  • Dopamine: Genes such as COMT and DRD2 influence reward-driven behaviour and focus.
  • GABA: GAD1 and GABRA2 regulate calming signals to reduce anxiety and stress.
  • Endocannabinoid System: Genes like FAAH impact the regulation of other neurotransmitters.

By understanding these pathways, this report offers targeted nutritional strategies to support mental clarity, resilience, and emotional balance.

Thyroid Balance Report: Aligning Energy and Metabolism

The thyroid gland is a master regulator of metabolism, influencing how your body uses energy and responds to stress. Producing hormones like T3 and T4, it impacts everything from heart rate and digestion to temperature regulation and mental clarity. However, thyroid function can be disrupted by genetics, stress, and environmental toxins.

The Thyroid Balance Report explores the genes involved in every stage of thyroid hormone production, transport, activation, and metabolism. It also examines genetic predispositions to autoimmune thyroid conditions like Hashimoto’s or Graves’ disease, as well as inflammation and nutrient sensitivities that can affect thyroid health.

Pathways Analysed:

  • HPT Axis: Genes like TSHR and TG regulate thyroid hormone production and feedback loops.
  • Autoimmunity: HLA-DQA1 and CTLA4 reveal susceptibility to thyroid-specific autoimmune disorders.
  • Activation and Transport: DIO1 and SLCO1B1 genes control hormone activation and delivery to tissues.
  • Inflammation: TNF and IL6 highlight links between inflammation and thyroid dysfunction.
  • Cofactor Processing: Genes like VDR and BCO1 affect absorption and utilisation of key nutrients like iodine and selenium.

This report helps pinpoint imbalances and provides recommendations for nutritional and lifestyle adjustments to optimise thyroid health.

These additional reports are tools for deeper insight and are designed to complement the Core Nutrition and Methylation Pathway tests. Together, if needed, they provide a more comprehensive picture of your body’s unique needs, enabling us to craft bread and nutritional strategies that align seamlessly with your biology.

Step by step - how to book, get your tests and develop your bread

Step by step

  1. Book a Consultation with Dr Kimbell
    Before you can select your reports, you will need to book a consultation with Dr Kimbell.
  2. Recommendation of Genetic Testing
    Based on your consultation, we will recommend one of the genetic testing combinations below.
  3. Purchase and Select Tests
    We will ask that you select the recommended tests and buy the tests from the appropriate option below. (Please be sure to select the combination recommended.)
  4. Cheek Swab Sent via Post
    Once you have purchased your tests, you will receive an automated email asking for your postal address and phone number. A cheek swab will then be sent to you in the post via Royal Mail. You will normally receive it within 1-3 days of receiving your details (although allow up to 7 days or more if you are abroad).
  5. Lab Processing and Report Generation
    Once the lab receives your swab, your reports should be back within 4-6 weeks (this is dependent on lab processing times).
  6. Schedule Your Video Consultation
    Only once your tests are back, make an appointment using the Calendly link found in your email for your video consultation.
  7. Genetic Analysis and Custom Bread Recipe
    Dr Kimbell will analyse your key genetic markers and translate the science into actionable nutritional strategies. We will integrate high-quality, diverse ingredients that cater to your health goals, along with a technique, blend, and process for your optimised bread. You will be sent a recipe with recommended flour and ingredients to follow.
  8. Begin 12-Week Symptom Tracking and Baking
    In your first feedback session, we will ask that you keep a 12-week symptom tracker and start baking your custom bread formula based on your genetic profile.
  9. Progress Check-ins (Three 15-Minute Sessions)
    Over the following 12 weeks, we will ask that you attend a scheduled 15-minute session three times to check in on progress. We will work with you to ensure the final product aligns with your preferences, health needs, and lifestyle.
  10. Final Feedback and Recommendations
    Your last session is a 45-minute session to consolidate the learning and impact on your health. We will recommend any follow-ups if required.

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