Institute for Optimum Nutrition

Founded in 1984 by Patrick Holford, the Institute for Optimum Nutrition (ION) is a leading educational establishment in the United Kingdom for training and supporting nutritional therapists, and one of the most respected and accredited bodies of its kind in Europe. 

Our mission is to educate and enthuse, instilling optimum nutrition as the foundation of health for all.  

We specialise in professional courses for adult learners seeking to change professions or add nutrition to their current practice. 

ION offers flexible routes to professional qualifications in personalised nutrition. All our courses are delivered online. Optional in-person enhancement days are available for case study workshops and meeting industry partners.  

Our courses include a BSc (Hons) Nutritional Therapy and a Graduate Diploma in Integrative Functional Nutrition. We offer a range of credit bearing short courses for continuing professional development. Certain credits may also be ‘stacked’ to achieve a higher award. All modules of the Graduate Diploma can be taken as individual credit bearing short courses as well as modules from the degree.  

All courses are delivered online giving a stimulating, challenging, and rewarding learning experience.  We provide a unique fusion of education, professional practice and research. Our staff bring their professional practice experience, varied backgrounds and talents to build our creative global learning community.  

Our aim is to nourish, empower and transform people through our education and equip them to be able to make informed choices around nutrition and lifestyle decisions.