DFN Health in Nutrition Conference 2023 By Peter Barclay
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"The first step to make is probably, dealing with your nutrition. I've come across something called whole food plant-based nutrition; it's about…" Dr Martyn Williamson on talking to patients.
lant-based physicians and health professionals from across the globe gathered in Melbourne last month for an intense, two-day conference covering the wide-ranging benefits of whole food eating. Organised by registered charity Doctors For Nutrition, the conference featured a venerable line-up of recognised international guests and a strong contingent of local practitioners from Australia and New Zealand. As an organisation, Doctors for Nutrition focuses on medical and health professionals. However, as a lay observer, I was surprised at how much of the information presented would be easily understood by the general public. After the event, Dr Martyn Williamson of Alexandra remarked that this was a "great conference with some useful presentations from experts", so it was also reassuring to know that medical professionals found something to chew on too. This conference contained a massive amount of worthwhile information, and comments made by Dr Williamson at the event provide a useful access point to drill into its detail. Firstly though, let's consider the theme that drew everyone together. This was billed as the Nutrition in Healthcare Conference. Its title implies practicality. At the same time, it raises obvious questions like, what do we mean by nutrition in healthcare? How do we make it happen if it isn't already there? The title is almost an oxymoron because you'd think nutrition would be a normal part of healthcare, wouldn't you?
A challenging discussion
Well, therein lies a significant and often quite challenging discussion. Strict whole food plant-based eating means life without all animal products, fish, sugar, oil, salt, highly refined products, dairy and alcohol. It's an awkward message for doctors to communicate and for patients to comprehend, especially in the space of a 15-minute consultation. Often, the easy answer for both sides is a pill. A casual observer at such a conference might be forgiven for thinking there is another message to be 'sold' or told here, but on that point, Dr Williamson is very clear. "I don't sell anything to anybody, and I've given up telling people what to do. It's probably the most ineffective way of helping someone make a change," he explained in a discussion panel on the final afternoon. The GP panel drew together the most critical elements of the conference and opened up that burning question - how do you actually explain it to your patients? Dr Williamson continues: "I don't sell, and I don't tell. Nor do I persuade, because if you do help someone change through persuading them, you kind of force them into actions that they wouldn't normally have done. I inspire."
10 wholefoodliving.life | Autumn 2023
The following article covers a small segment of the Doctors For Nutrition Conference held in Melbourne, Australia, February 17-19, 2023. If you are interested in developing a deeper knowledge of plant-based nutrition, we recommend checking out the conference videos, which can be accessed at the web address below until June 30, 2023.
www.doctorsfornutrition.org/nihc
Panel chairperson Dr Luke Wilson: "Suppose then, you have a patient whom you know would benefit substantially from dietary change – how do you suggest we go about conveying this to them?" Dr Williamson answered it by referring to the experience of conference MC Clint Paddison, who recovered from severe Rheumatoid Arthritis using a plant-based diet. "Let's say Clint comes in to see us. We know he has had this diagnosis; we want to enquire, we want to connect. I might say to Clint, tell me what impact it's had on you of being given this diagnosis of Rheumatoid Arthritis. I might give him a little prompt by saying, I guess it came as a shock; I guess you have a sense of loss of physical activity and other losses in life. "He will either nod and agree if I've got that right, but I don't have to get it right; I just have to show him that I'm thinking about what it might be like. Then he'll share his story of loss and what it means to him, the impact and probably most important, it's affecting his ability to have a family. If you really hit the marker, then it might bring a tear to their eye, and it might bring a tear to your eye too. "Once you've heard that, then you'll know what's important to that person, so I might then say to him, Clint, my role here is to give you the best possible chance with the best course you could possibly have with this diagnosis, so that, maybe you could turn this around through things that you can do - I'm wanting to empower you to make a difference to your health. "If I've expressed that correctly, then 99 times out of 100, you are going to get someone who is really interested in what you have to say because you've given them hope and you are talking about empowering them. Then what I would say is the first step to make is probably dealing with your nutrition. I've come across something called whole food plant-based nutrition; it's about… and I might explain a little bit and say, if you're interested, watch a documentary called Forks Over Knives, and it'll tell you a lot more. If you are interested and you think it is something you want to give a try, then come back and see me. That conversation
