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A review of microbiome-friendly foods, fermented foods, and the gut-immune connection.
NOTE: Program students within their certification period or active with PRCO+ have free access to this webinar!

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*Please note that many of the associations listed under ‘CEUs/PDAs’ do not formally pre-approve online courses for credits, and thus require the student to track their own online course hours to submit for approval for their annual CEU/PDA requirements.

Dr. Carrie Watkins has been a licensed and registered Naturopathic Doctor for more than 15 years. She is a passionate educator and has extensive experience in both teaching and clinical practice. Dr. Watkins graduated from McGill University with Bachelor of Science with focus on Wildlife and Plant Biology and received her Naturopathic medical training from the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine in Toronto. She was the owner and operator of a busy clinical practice in Toronto for several years before fulfilling a dream to live closer to the ocean. For over a decade now, Dr. Watkins has lived and practiced on beautiful Vancouver Island. Dr. Watkins loves to learn and explore how psychology intersects with health, access to resources and how we experience our lives. She has spent many years leading health education and wellness programs in hospital, community and corporate settings. For over 10 years, they has held a faculty position at Pacific Rim College teaching many core classes in biomedical sciences, anatomy and nutrition. In addition to being a Naturopathic Doctor, Dr. Watkins is an instructor in the movement and yoga community with many years of experience and advanced training. She believes in offering practices that support more agency, knowledge and personal growth. This has led to the development of her passion projects: Conversations with the Nervous System, Conversations with the Breath, the Science of Embodied Yoga and Experiential Anatomy. When she is not teaching, you can find Dr. Watkins outside. Her deepest pleasure is spending time in the wildness of Vancouver Island and the never-ending process of growing and learning in her garden.
*This webinar will be live on December 10th at 10:00 AM (PST)/1:00 PM (EST). You will find the recording on your student dashboard within 24 hours of the live webinar. Program students and PRCO+ students can also register for free on their student dashboard.
This class will explore how the gut and microbiome in our bodies work together to support our immune system, nervous system and digestive health. We will discuss how microbiome can be disrupted in our modern times including the common signs and symptoms. You will learn the key differences in fiber types and the basic science of fermentation. We will discuss how to incorporate foods for microbiome in a balanced way, including modifications for common digestive conditions.
List of plants/foods that will be covered in the class:
Soluble versus insoluble fibers
Resistant starches
Commonly used fermented products: kefir, sauerkraut, kombucha
Probiotic supplements
“The science of gut health provides a foundation for understanding digestive wellness, but applying this knowledge effectively requires personalization. Each individual presents a unique combination of genetics, microbiome composition, lifestyle factors, and health history that influences their digestive function and response to interventions.” – Jennifer Lindsey: Gut Health Beyond Basics
6 points about what the students will learn:
1. Have a basic understanding of gut structure and function and how this relates to the immune system;
2. Learn about the role and regulation of microbiome in our bodies;
3. Understand the difference between probiotics and prebiotics;
4. Learn about which conditions may benefit from more or less fermentation support;
5. Learn which foods can be used to support microbiome and how to incorporate them;
6. Introduce some common diets used to reduce fermentation if needed.
