Sunday VegMed talks
Meditation and Breathwork with Simone Venner
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 diets and health outcomes: from evidence to nutrition recommendations
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.
Improving women’s health using a plant-based lifestyle approach
- Rohini Bajekal (Chair)
- Dr Nitu Bajekal
- Lisa Simon, RD
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.
Lifestyle medicine in practice
- Dr Laura Freeman (Chair)
- Dr Jane Kostelnik
- Dr Matthew Hawker
- Dr Ifeoma Monye
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.
Sports, exercise and musculoskeletal health
- Rajiv Bajekal (chair)
- Dr Minil Patel
- Kate Dunbar
- Niko Rittenau, RD
- Rosie Martin, RD
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.
Preserving our vital organs for healthy ageing
- Claire Lynch (chair)
- Angeline Taylor RD
- Dr Emma Copsey
- Dr Alicja Baczynska
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.
Bringing cooking into education and the community
- Sarah Bentley (Chair)
- Dr Hayley Tait
- Sharon Gardner
- Marisa Heath
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.
Plant-based menus in public sector catering
- Dr Laura-Jane Smith (Chair)
- Colette Fox
- Samantha Morgenstern, RD
- Dr Richard Twine
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.
Protein and nutrition essentials for older adults
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.
Conference summary and close
Shireen Kassam