Course
19

Plant-Based Diets

Overview
Design a complete plant-based nutrition plan that meets protein needs via smart food pairing, while preventing common nutritional gaps and managing anti-nutrients.
Format
Online
Units
13
Recommended for
  • Vegan
  • Vegetarian
  • Plant-based
  • Nutrient deficiencies
  • Low iron
Plant-Based Diets

The learning framework

1
Why plant-based diets require functional assessment
Plant-based diets are increasingly adopted for health, ethical, and environmental reasons,and when well-planned, can support cardiovascular health, metabolic function, and longevity, yet they present unique nutritional challenges when implemented without understanding nutrient bioavailability, protein quality, micronutrient gaps, anti-nutrient compounds, and individual physiological variation.
2
The risks of dogmatic or dismissive dietary guidance
Most practitioners either promote plant-based diets uncritically without addressing deficiency risks, or dismiss them entirely without acknowledging their potential benefits, leaving clients without balanced, evidence-based guidance to navigate protein adequacy, iron and zinc absorption, vitamin B12 requirements, omega-3 conversion limitations, calcium and iodine sufficiency, and the impact of phytates, oxalates, and lectins on nutrient absorption and gut integrity.
3
A balanced framework for plant-based nutrition
The Plant Based Diets module trains you to evaluate plant-based nutrition through a functional, non-dogmatic lens,understanding both advantages and limitations, identifying nutrient gaps with precision, optimising bioavailability through food preparation methods, and supporting clients in building sustainable, nutrient-dense plant-forward approaches that align with their values without compromising metabolic, hormonal, cognitive, or reproductive health.

What you'll learn

By the end of this module, you will be able to:
Understand the spectrum of plant-based dietary models
Differentiating between vegan, vegetarian, pescatarian, and flexitarian approaches, recognising each model's nutritional implications and deficiency risks.
Assess protein quality and amino acid adequacy
Understanding that plant proteins lack one or more essential amino acids, require combining throughout the day, and have lower digestibility,calculating adequate protein intake and applying food pairing strategies to ensure complete amino acid profiles.
Identify common micronutrient deficiencies in plant-based diets
Recognising high-risk nutrients including vitamin B12, iron, zinc, calcium, iodine, omega-3 EPA/DHA, vitamin D, vitamin A, and vitamin K2,understanding bioavailability differences between plant and animal forms.
Understand iron bioavailability and optimisation strategies
Recognising that non-heme iron from plants is poorly absorbed compared to heme iron from animal foods,applying vitamin C pairing, avoiding inhibitors, and using soaking and sprouting to enhance absorption.
Assess vitamin B12 requirements and supplementation
Understanding that B12 is absent from plant foods, making supplementation essential for vegans and often necessary for vegetarians,recognising deficiency signs and applying evidence-based dosing.
Understand omega-3 conversion limitations
Recognising that plant-based ALA converts poorly to EPA and DHA, requiring algae-based supplementation to ensure adequate long-chain omega-3 status for brain, cardiovascular, and anti-inflammatory health.
Assess anti-nutrient compounds and mitigation strategies
Understanding how phytates, oxalates, lectins, and tannins reduce mineral absorption and may irritate gut lining,applying soaking, sprouting, fermenting, and cooking to reduce anti-nutrient load.
Correlate plant-based nutrition with hormonal, mental, and metabolic health
Recognising when inadequate protein, iron, zinc, B12, omega-3s, or calories impair thyroid function, menstrual regularity, fertility, mood stability, cognitive performance, and metabolic health.
Build optimised plant-based protocols
Prioritising nutrient-dense whole foods, strategic supplementation, food preparation techniques to enhance bioavailability, and regular monitoring of B12, iron, vitamin D, zinc, and omega-3 status.

Why this matters

The ability to serve a growing population
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Increasing numbers adopt plant-based diets and need practitioners who provide balanced, evidence-based guidance beyond ideology.
Confidence in identifying and preventing deficiencies
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You'll recognise early warning signs and intervene before symptoms become severe or irreversible.
Better client outcomes
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Supporting well-planned plant-based diets allows clients to honor their values while maintaining optimal energy, hormonal balance, cognitive function, and long-term health.
Professional credibility through balanced expertise
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Practitioners who discuss plant-based nutrition objectively are trusted across dietary perspectives.
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Plant-Based Nutrition
Vegan Diet
Vegetarian Diet
Flexitarian
Protein Quality
Vitamin B12
Iron Deficiency
Zinc Deficiency
Omega-3
Nutrient Bioavailability
Your path to becoming a Certified Practitioner

How to get started

1st Step
Submit your Application
Apply online in just a few minutes. Our team will review your experience, education and goals to ensure this certification aligns with your professional path.
2nd Step
Join the IOH community
Once accepted, you’ll gain instant access to our global network of practitioners, mentors and resources that support your learning from day one.
3rd Step
Begin your first module
Start your studies inside the IOH learning portal — with guided mentorship, live calls, and access to the Oracle AI system that turns knowledge into action.

Expand your knowledge

All Courses
What does an Integrative Nutritional Therapist do?
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An Integrative Nutritional Therapist utilises the latest evidence-based research to create an integrative approach to optimising each client’s health and wellbeing.

They design bio-individual nutrition plans, personalise supplementation where appropriate, and interpret functional laboratory data, including blood work, to gain deeper insights, achieve better accuracy and tailor every intervention to the individual.

How is functional medicine different from conventional medicine?
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Conventional medicine often waits until a disease is clearly present before intervention begins. Treatment is focused on managing or suppressing a diagnosed condition.

Functional medicine looks upstream. It assesses the early drivers of dysfunction and works to prevent disease from developing in the first place, or restore balance in the body. It uses a whole-systems view of the body, then applies personalised, preventative nutrition and lifestyle interventions to support long-term health rather than only reacting once things have gone wrong.

What will be my scope of practice after completing this certification?
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After completing the certification, you will be recognised and insured as a Integrative Nutritional Therapist inclusive of Nutritional Therapy and Functional Blood Work, with a clearly defined scope of practice.

You will be trained and insured to:

  • Design bio-individual nutrition plans
  • Recommend and prescribe over-the-counter supplementation up to safe, optimal intake thresholds
  • Utilise functional blood work from a wellness perspective to guide your reasoning and recommendations
  • Collaborate with and refer to medical professionals when red flags, pathology or out-of-scope conditions are identified

Our scope of practice has been aligned with nutritional therapy standards and externally audited, so you can work with confidence and clarity.

Is your course accredited?
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Yes. Our certifications are accredited by multiple independent professional bodies, including the International Institute for Complementary Therapists (IICT) and the Complementary Medical Association (CMA).

To receive these accreditations, our curriculum undergoes forensic external auditing to ensure every component is up to date, evidence-informed, ethically delivered and aligned with recognised Nutritional Therapy and Functional Health standards. This includes rigorous evaluation of our academic content, assessments, delivery methods and scope of practice frameworks.

This external oversight gives you confidence that the qualification you are investing in is credible, robust and widely recognised within the industry, with clear pathways for insurance, professional membership and global practice.

Will I be able to practise internationally?
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Yes. Our graduates are eligible for insurance through IICT that is recognised across 36 countries, including:

Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden & United Kingdom.

This allows you to work with clients internationally, including in online practice, provided you respect local regulations and the scope of practice defined by your insurer and professional associations.

Need help?
Get in touch with us
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