This course...
is: an online live course
is for: Nutritional therapy practitioners, nutritionists, dieticians, naturopaths, other health care providers and final year nutrition students interested in applying functional medicine approaches to bone health and osteoporosis (i.e. exploring how nutrients, foods and lifestyle factors influence bone metabolism at any age and how to apply findings with a person–centred approach that recognises individuals’ unique differences and needs)
is led by: Maria Rigopoulou
spans: 1 day
provides: ION CPD 5 hours, BANT CPD 5 hours, NNA CPD 5 hours
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This course aims to help practitioners to gain confidence in recognizing early signs of bone loss.
Explore osteoporosis beyond calcium, addressing regular and advanced testing. Investigate diet trends, exercise, as well as the emotional drivers of bone loss. Designed for clinical practice, it will allow you translate complexity into impact.
It will take a deep dive into the multifactorial nature of osteoporosis, exploring bone as a dynamic and responsive tissue affected by diet, hormones, stress, exercise, and more.
Through a functional lens, it gives practitioners a clinical framework for working with bone density across the lifecycle, especially during menopause and ageing.
Many practitioners may not recognise contributing factors and early signs of knowledge or lack confidence in interpreting bone scans and tests, advising on suitable nutrition plans, exercise or supplements, or personalising support for bone loss in the presence of gut, autoimmune, or hormonal issues and other conditions.
This course provides clarity, structure, and case-based insight to help practitioners avoid common pitfalls and develop impactful, evidence-informed plans in any case beyond menopause.This course will walk through diagnostic tools like DEXA, REMS and other tests, benefits and limitations, then explore the root causes of bone loss using a functional approach.
It will cover key nutrients, lifestyle and exercise interventions, fasting and popular diets, hormonal influence, and trauma/stress links.
Examples of the questions it will answer
- Should clients avoid gluten or dairy?
- What’s the risk of intermittent fasting or weight loss drugs on bones?
- How do we support fracture recovery with nutrition?
- What is the role of genetics in bone loss?
- Are women only at risk?
Finally, it will share practical clinical strategies, client motivation tips, and individual program guidance
By the end of the course, you will be able to
• • Confidently understand and interpret bone scans and bone test markers.
• Design targeted bone health protocols using nutrition, supplementation and lifestyle strategies
• Personalise recommendations for clients following vegan, fasting, or restrictive diets (usually due to co-existing conditions)
• Identify early nutritional, hormonal, emotional and stress-related triggers of bone loss.
• Motivate and empower clients to adopt long-term, bone-supportive habits.
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About the presenter:
Maria Rigopoulou, Nutritional Therapist, Functional Medicine practitioner, Yoga & Breathwork instructor MSc, DipION
Maria is a Nutrigenomics and Anti-aging expert specialising in bone health based in London and Athens (Greece). Maria’s holistic approach addresses physical, mental, and emotional imbalances to optimise health. She was diagnosed herself with osteoporosis in her 30s and has been passionate about raising awareness for this often misunderstood and misdiagnosed condition ever since. She is actively engaging in bio-hacking forums, seminars, and personalised wellness retreats. In addition to her clinical work, Maria mentors practitioners in building thriving practices and has delivered insightful talks and presentations for nutrition students, colleges and organisations and global health communities on bone health, functional nutrition and longevity.
- Section 1 | Understand the foundations of bone physiology and clinical diagnostics
- Section 2 | Nutrition, Diets, and Nutrigenomic Insights
- Section 3 | Exercise, hormones and lifestyle interventions in practice
- Section 4 | Integrate emotional health, motivation, injury support and program planning
Maria is a Nutrigenomics and Anti-aging expert specialising in bone health based in London and Athens (Greece). Maria’s holistic approach addresses physical, mental, and emotional imbalances to optimise health. She was diagnosed herself with osteoporosis in her 30s and has been passionate about raising awareness for this often misunderstood and misdiagnosed condition ever since. She is actively engaging in bio-hacking forums, seminars, and personalised wellness retreats. In addition to her clinical work, Maria mentors practitioners in building thriving practices and has delivered insightful talks and presentations for nutrition students, colleges and organisations and global health communities on bone health, functional nutrition and longevity.
