What Is A Plantrician? - a podcast by Michael Lingard BSc. DO. M.DOC Cert.WPNut. Orthopath Buteyko Educator Plantrician

Hi, I’m Michael Lingard, Orthopath, Buteyko Educator and Plantrician presenting podcast number ten entitled “What is a Plantrician?”

Although I have been in practice as a therapist for over 35 years I only began including nutrition screening and advice three years ago. This was not because I didn’t believe nutrition to be one of the most important factors underpinning good health, far from it, I had decided twenty years ago that health was founded on good structure, good diet, good breathing, good mind as well as a good supportive environment from birth, but I had not been able to find any substantial scientifically based nutritional advice to give my patients.

Only when I read “The China Study” by Dr. T Colin Campbell that detailed the research that began with the largest epidemiological study in nutrition ever conducted. This was the information I had been looking for all those years, superbly presented and backed by many years of clinical research as well.

My next step was to enroll on an intensive eCornell University Course over the internet called “ Plant Based Nutrition”. Once again I was given an educational feast from the leading doctors and practitioners in this field.

Very soon afterwards I added “The Food Connection” to my website and began introducing this work to all my patients. By this time I had been in close communication with the founders of the 4LeafSurvey, Dr. Kerry Graff & J. Morris Hicks, exchanging my research on the connection between diet and breathing, and began using this simple but effective questionnaire routinely with every patient.

Since then I have been doing whatever I can to promote the use of this simple screening for doctors and other heath workers who want to offer sound nutritional advice to their patients as part of their practice service.

It takes just a few minutes for the patient to complete the questionnaire, just one minute for the practitioner to mark their results with a guide to changes to be made over time, backed up with an A4 information sheet plus, in my practice, access to a substantial library of cook books the patient may borrow, giving them the guidance they need to get started towards a better nutritional lifestyle.

What I find so rewarding is that I now know I can help every patient I see with sound nutritional advice that is simple to understand but not always so easy to follow. Whether they decide to make changes in their dietary habits is their decision but at least they now have the information how to change for the better if they so choose.

Only two nutritional supplements may be suggested, B12 if they make all the advised changes to their diet or if blood tests indicate a need for this supplement, and Vitamin D in winter for some, again if there is any concern a blood test will clarify whether this is needed or not.

Any patient on medication from their doctor is advised to have this checked out as they make substantial changes to their diet, often improved nutrition leads to reduced need for medication.

So a Plant-ri-cian is a physician or clinician empowered with knowledge of the benefits of whole food plant-based nutrition.

I can most strongly recommend the Plant Based Nutrition eCornell University Course to every doctor or therapist who wants to give good guidance on diet to their patients. For me it was the best value educational training I have ever had, based on the study time involved and the benefits derived.

For more information visit my website “thefoodconnection.org.uk” or “theplantricianproject.org”

Further episodes of Your Health in Your Hands!

Further podcasts by Michael Lingard BSc. DO. M.DOC Cert.WPNut. Orthopath Buteyko Educator Plantrician

Website of Michael Lingard BSc. DO. M.DOC Cert.WPNut. Orthopath Buteyko Educator Plantrician