Plant-based dietary patterns with a high intake of whole plant foods and less red and processed meat have been associated with several health benefits and lower planetary health impacts. Dr Dagfinn Aune will cover the current evidence, where the gaps in knowledge lie, how methodological issues impact results from epidemiological studies, the role of ultra-processed foods in the chronic disease epidemic and how nutrition recommendations align with planetary health concerns.

Welcome to a rejuvenating 30-minute morning meditation and breathwork session with Simone. Relax and activate the parasympathetic nervous system, finding calm amidst a jam-packed weekend of learning. Whether new to meditation or a returning practitioner, Simone’s expertise shines as she shares simple yet effective breathing exercises to set you up for the day ahead. Embrace this empowering opportunity to cultivate mindfulness and find inner balance, setting a harmonious tone for your day. All levels of experience are welcome.

Plant-based nutrition is a key pillar of lifestyle medicine. Positive dietary changes combined with other healthy habits help us to achieve optimal health. This session will showcase pioneering plant-based lifestyle medicine programmes from around the UK.  Speakers will share their successes and challenges, inspiring you to incorporate lifestyle medicine into your clinical practices, and the principles into your own lives.

In addition, we will hear a global perspective from the President of the World Lifestyle Medicine Association who will share insights into the adoption of lifestyle medicine in the global south.

Can you reach optimal fitness on a plant-based diet?  Are there nutrients that require extra attention?  What about bone health?  In this session these questions will be answered by expert dietitians, and showcased by individuals who are themselves thriving on a plant-based diet.

Delicious, healthy plant-based meals should be the centrepiece of public sector catering. Yet, the transition away from meat-based offerings seems slow and challenging.  This session will offer hope and inspiration by sharing case studies from New York and the UK where plant-based meals are becoming front and centre in both hospitals and educational institutions.  The session will also address the current barriers and the societal changes needed for more wide-spread adoption and acceptance of plant-based diets.

Teaching the skill and art of cooking is essential to improving diet quality and providing accessibility for all. This session will share how community cooking projects and teaching culinary medicine can empower both health professionals and the public to embed healthy eating into their everyday practice. The discussion will address cultural and financial barriers and showcase how plant-based diets can be adapted to every cuisine at an affordable price.

In addition, policy initiatives and legislative changes required to ensure healthy and sustainable diets are accessible to all will be discussed.

With the rising global burden of cancer, understanding dietary interventions for prevention and living well after a cancer diagnosis are key.  Nutrition is also crucial in supporting treatment, recovery and remission.  This session will cover the role of nutrition and lifestyle factors in solid and haematological cancers, the emerging knowledge around the health of the gut microbiome for  improving cancer outcomes and explore the role of integrative oncology.

Coming all the way from the Netherlands, two pioneers in the field of plant-based nutrition, Wendy and Carlijn, will bring you new data from their groundbreaking research on treating people who are living with rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis with a plant-based lifestyle approach.  This session will also discuss the work of the Overcoming MS programme, and their long-standing dietary approach to supporting people living with MS. This will include an inspiring patient story from someone who is successfully managing their multiple sclerosis using this lifestyle.

Can plant-based diets support healthy living across all ages and stages of life? Can we safely raise our children on just plants?  This session will give you the confidence you need to support yourselves, your families, and your patients, to thrive on plants. Three experts will discuss the evidence to  support this way of eating, along with nutrient requirements, nutrients of focus, and those of abundance.  They will then take a practical look at how these can be incorporated into our everyday diets.

Brenda Davis, the world’s most influential vegan dietitian, will tackle the much-debated topic of nutrition adequacy for older adults. She will use the latest scientific data to provide recommendations for optimising dietary protein and other key nutrients, supporting older adults to reap the benefits of a plant-based diet.

Supporting people to make positive changes to their dietary and lifestyle habits is crucial when putting knowledge into practice and truly effecting a change in the trajectory of people’s health.

In this session a research expert will cover the latest science and give us practical advice regarding the impact of diet on the gut microbiome. This will include findings from the famous PREDICT study which looks at people’s personal responses to food. We will then hear how two expert clinicians support their patients to overcome barriers and regain their health using personalised approaches.  They will share some action points that we can take into our own personal lives and clinics.

Dr Tammy Tong will provide an update on the health outcomes of vegetarians and vegans from the EPIC-Oxford and UK biobank studies, including nutritional status and biomarker findings.

Risk factor modification is key to preventing long term chronic conditions such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke and dementia.  This session will discuss the evidence around how a plant-based diet can positively impact common metabolic risk factors, including the latest research around the potential role of plant-based meat alternatives.  The session will also discuss ethnic disparities in risks and outcomes and dispel some common myths around foods and dietary patterns that can help or hinder disease risk and management.

A transition to a plant-based food system is now considered essential to address the climate and ecological crises. This session will discuss the key components of a sustainable diet – what does this look like, and why?  Recent research that has highlighted the changes needed to country-based dietary guidelines to support this transition will be shared; and an expert in the field of sustainable agriculture will take a practical look at what a farming system for a plant-based future entails.

Women’s health is finally getting the attention it deserves. Experts in the field with vast clinical experience and knowledge will discuss using a holistic approach to managing endometriosis, PCOS and menopause. This session will also include practical advice on improving fertility and  maintaining a plant-based diet throughout pregnancy.

Healthy ageing is vital to ensuring optimal physical and mental well-being whilst preserving quality of life and extending healthy lifespan. Kidneys, heart and brain require special attention. In this session our three speakers will share evidence-based practical information on how to use a plant-based diet and other healthy habits to preserve the health of our vital organs for as long as possible.

The conference will open with an overview of the work of Plant-Based Health Professionals UK and Physicians Association for Nutrition. Dr Kassam will then bring the audience up to date on the current status of plant-based nutrition as applied to clinical practice, setting the stage for a weekend of science, research and practical application.