Food as medicine -- and healer

Rising interest in the field of holistic nutrition and wellness education has led the Institute for Integrative Nutrition, the world’s largest nutrition school, to increase class size. After four years at Jazz at Lincoln Center in the Time Warner Building, the school is moving classes to a larger space to accommodate overwhelming interest in the school’s unique approach to addressing and preventing modern health concerns. Starting in January 2009, Integrative Nutrition classes will be held in Avery Fisher Hall at Lincoln Center in New York City.

“In previous years we have had to turn away more than 500 prospective students due to space constraints,” says Joshua Rosenthal, founder and director of Integrative Nutrition. “It’s a good problem to have. Now we are ready to provide our unique program to many more students looking to start their careers as professional health counselors or to improve the lives of themselves and their families”

Integrative Nutrition teaches a way of eating and living that synthesizes the best of more than 100 different nutrition and dietary theories from Atkins to veganism and philosophies influenced by Eastern and Western traditions. The school teaches that no one perfect way of eating works for everyone and invites the who’s who of nutrition and wellness to speak at the school. Guest lecturers such as Deepak Chopra, Andrew Weil, MD, Mehmet Oz, MD, David Wolfe and 30 other leading health and wellness authorities provide numerous perspectives on nutrition.

Students come from varied backgrounds including business professionals such as accountants and attorneys, aligned professionals such as chiropractors and massage therapists, and medical professionals such as MD’s and nurses. Nearly 5,000 students have graduated from the Institute since its inception 15 years ago, reflecting steadily increasing enrollment. In 1992, the first class had 15 students while this year’s class has more than 1,200.

In the new facility, Avery Fisher Hall, Integrative Nutrition expects more than 2,000 students. “We are excited and honored to hold classes at such a prestigious venue,” Rosenthal said. “Now we can provide more students with the opportunity to teach others how to get on a clear path to healthy living.”

The Institute for Integrative Nutrition is the largest nutrition school in the world, offering access to the world’s foremost authorities on health and nutrition, and a comprehensive education that will help students launch a career as a health counselor.