Episode 76: Special Edition: IPM Congress Unpacked!
“Listen, Lara, you are preaching to the converted there because that is one element that helped me with my recovery,” shares Helen Perks, a registered nutritional therapist, during her captivating conversation with Lara Salyer on the Catalyst Podcast. The duo delves into their experiences at the International Precision Medicine (IPM) Congress in London, which brought together diverse thought leaders in the field of functional medicine. In this exciting three-part episode, the co-hosts unravel fascinating anecdotes, inspiring talks, and the value of connecting with like-minded professionals to explore cutting-edge knowledge in nutrition, breathwork, and holistic health.
The three-day IPM Congress in London turned out to be a captivating experience for Helen and Lara. From heartwarming anecdotes about navigating the London Tube system with suitcases to attending thought-provoking talks by distinguished speakers, the event left a lasting impression on both hosts. The second day featured sessions about cultivating resilience, managing stress, and exploring the art of storytelling in medical practice. Dr. Rangan Chatterjee’s keynote on the “Wellness Prescription for the 21st Century” resonated deeply, emphasizing the importance of personalized medicine and empowering patients to take charge of their health.
The final day of the IPM Congress focused on “Food on Prescription,” highlighting the connection between real food and overall health. Dr. Venetia Patel, a pediatrician, emphasized the significance of a whole-child approach to health, while Dr. Ouma Naidu discussed the impact of food on mood. Throughout the event, Helen and Lara emphasized the power of breathwork in supporting health and well-being. They both expressed their passion for sharing knowledge and collaborating with professionals worldwide, underscoring the importance of attending the IPM Congress for networking, learning, and reigniting one’s passion for functional medicine.
About Helen Perks, BSc. Nutritional Medicine:
Helen is a highly accomplished health & wellness strategist, nutrition and lifestyle medicine practitioner, and registered nutritional therapist with a BSc. in nutritional medicine with over 10 years of clinical experience.
Helen has studied with the Institute for Functional Medicine, and her mission is to empower and enable people who are seeking a more effective approach to optimising their health. As a result, they can live the life they should, without interruption to their wellbeing.
Helen’s expertise lies in effectively guiding doctors and patients through the NHS system, resulting in significant time and cost savings while swiftly identifying and resolving root causes.
Her transformative approach to health optimisation revolves around her 7-step ‘RESPECT’ model of health and wellbeing, which has yielded remarkable results for her clients in as little as a few weeks.
Helen supports government food, health, and wellness strategies by developing innovative initiatives, including her latest global initiative, ‘Food for Thought: The Ultimate Children’s Pathway to Healthy Eating for Life.’
Helen features in ‘The Truly Epic Book of Vegpower’: a collection of recipes and stories including other contributing celebrated chefs such as Jamie Oliver, Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall, and Michelin starred chefs, aimed at encouraging children to eat healthy, and her achievements have garnered recognition in notable media outlets including, The Times, The Metro, Healthline Publications, and The Huffington Post.
An avid cook and traveller, she’s always searching for her next culinary adventure, and drawing inspiration from previous trips to countries such as Italy, Switzerland, and Lebanon.
In This Episode We're Talking About:
- The inspiring transformation from a patient with a challenging health condition to a committed Registered Nutritional Therapist and functional and lifestyle medicine practitioner, demonstrating the power of nutrition and lifestyle changes in reclaiming health
- The impact of the RESPECT model in addressing the root cause of health issues, offering a holistic, preventative, and empowering approach to health, with the individual at the center of their health journey
- The importance of continuous learning and networking, highlighted by experiences at the IPM Congress, to refine practices, stay up-to-date with cutting-edge insights, and provide the best possible care to patients
Quotes:
- “The IPM Congress was a fantastic experience. I got to meet like-minded professionals from around the globe, and the energy of curiosity and playfulness was palpable throughout the event.” (04:12 | Lara Salyer)
- “Being at the IPM Congress really helped me reignite my passion for functional medicine and stay up to date with the latest trends and research.” (07:12 | Helen Perks)
- “For me, the first step towards good health is taking responsibility for our health, which forms part of my respect model of health and wellbeing.” (1:02:50 | Helen Perks)
- “It’s just incredible to see that all of these topics, no matter what day they centered on, there’s elements of similarity that food and nutrition is paramount.” (1:03:15 | Lara Salyer)
- “I felt like if I had planned better, I could have organized my time better. I felt very much like I wanted to go here, but then what about this one, and so my organized brain would have liked a clear pathway.” (1:06:20 | Lara Salyer)
Here are the "Awards" for all the people mentioned:
MOST FOMO: IPM Congress: https://www.ipmcongress.com/
MOST INTERESTING: TreeTop Man: https://www.youtube.com/@treetopmanfit6314
MOST RELEVANT TO AGING: Animal Moves: (Primal Play) https://www.primalplay.com/books
MOST FOMO: IPM Congress: https://www.ipmcongress.com/
MOST RELEVANT TO WISCONSIN, USA: Armin Labs: https://arminlabs.com/en
MOST EXCITED ABOUT: Sentia Spirits: https://sentiaspirits.com/
MOST FRIENDLY AND EMBRACING: British College of FxMed: https://www.bc-fm.org/home
MOST LIKELY TO TRAIN WITH: Metabolic Terrain Institute for Health (cancer): https://mtih.org/
MOST FLAVORFUL: Pukka Tea: https://www.pukkaherbs.com/uk/en/
MOST LIKELY TO HELP BURNOUT: Dr. Reena Kotcheka’s work: https://drreenakotecha.com/mindful-in-healthcare-course/
MOST ENDEARING: Dr. Miguel Toribio-Mateas “getting over yourself is key to happiness” https://www.drmiguelmateas.com/
MOST GLOBALLY IMPACTFUL: Food for Mood by Dr. Uma Naidoo
MOST REALISTIC: Dr. Ayan Panja’s Integrative Approach in a Standard GP Consultation http://www.drayan.co.uk/
MOST GREEN: Dr. Lucy Loveday’s Green Prescription with Nature immersion https://www.pulsetoday.co.uk/working-life/working-life/an-immersion-in-nature/
MOST GROUNDED: Sophie Trew’s breathwork break https://www.sophietrew.com/
MOST AUTHENTIC: Dr. Cristina Bjorndal https://drchristinabjorndal.com/
MOST BUSY: Kirkland Newman’s MindHealth360 https://www.mindhealth360.com/
Links for this Episode:
Connect with Helen Perks:
Website: www.helenperks.com
Instagram: @helenperks.bsc
Facebook: Helen Perks BSc.
Threads: helenperks.bsc
Connect with Dr. Lara Salyer:
Website: https://drlarasalyer.com
Catalyst Kit: https://rightbrainrescue.com/p/catalyst_kit
Instagram: @drlarasalyer
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drlarasalyer
Linked-In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drlarasalyer/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/DrLaraSalyer
TikTok: @Creativity.Doctor
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About The Catalyst Host, Dr. Lara Salyer:
I worked as a family physician for 15 years until burnout changed the trajectory of my career. I realized I wanted to start a holistic functional medicine practice in my rural hometown and made it happen. In addition to practicing functional medicine, I now mentor practitioners who are looking to change their paths in healthcare by using what I refer to as the “Catalyst Roadmap”. I share each step of this framework with listeners so that they may apply it to their careers, relationships, personal goals, and projects.
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