Eat raw when possible: Most fruits and vegetables have higher nutritional value when eaten raw. If raw doesn’t appeal to you, try steaming your vegetables al dente instead of boiling them, as boiling can cause you to lose many water-soluble nutrients.
Inan era dominated by pharmaceutical solutions, there is a rising consciousness about the incredible healing and preventive powers of food. As the age-old saying goes, “Let food be thy medicine, and medicine be thy food.” But how does this translate in today’s world? Can we really use nutrition as a potent tool against sickness and disease? How does one curate a diet that supports health, longevity, and wellness? In this series, we are talking to nutritionists, dietitians, medical professionals, holistic health experts, and anyone with authoritative knowledge on the subject. As a part of this series, we had the pleasure of interviewing Elizabeth (Beth) Inman.
Elizabeth (Beth) Inman is COO of Love a Wholistic Life Inc., which she co-owns with her sister Christen Kaplan. Her extensive business background with JP Morgan Chase was foundational in preparing her for her role as COO. Beth is an AFPA Certified Holistic Nutritionist and Weight Counselor and is furthering her education with an AFPA Supplementation Certification. Beth is deeply dedicated to ongoing learning in the health and wellness industry; the more she knows the more she can offer her clients on their health and wellness journeys.
Thank you so much for joining us in this interview series! Before we dive into the main focus of our interview, our readers would love to “get to know you” a bit better. Can you tell us a bit about your childhood background?
Hithere. Thank you so much for having me. I’m excited to be here and share my passion for nutrition and wellness with you and your readers!
Let me start by saying…It’s amazing how, as we become adults, we can look back at our childhood with a clearer lens. As I think back, things I thought were normal back then, I now see were anything but. I truly wish I knew then what I know now about lifestyle disease. Maybe things would have been different.
While other mothers in our neighborhood were Girl Scout leaders, homemakers, and members of the PTA, my mother spent her days bedridden and addicted to prescription medications. I know that sounds harsh, but there is no gentle way to say it.
As the oldest daughter of six kids, much of our mother’s care fell on me. I can remember my sister and I rushing home from school every day to give our mother her pain shot and drain whatever bedsores she had in a meager attempt to keep her comfortable. This was followed by endless attempts to try to keep my younger brothers quiet so as not to bother our mother. Have you ever tried to keep four young boys quiet? It’s like trying to herd cats! To us, it was just a normal day in the Hill household: eat, sleep, go to school, take care of our mother, and repeat.
As a child, it’s hard to watch your mother fall deeper and deeper into addiction. After a while, I started to wonder if somehow it was my fault. Maybe if I were a better daughter, did more chores or got better grades, maybe she would love me enough to want to fight to get better. As an adult, I now understand that her burdens weren’t mine to carry and that no amount of chores or good behavior was going to fix what was broken inside my mother.
Throughout my childhood, I thought of our father as bulletproof. This man carried ALL the responsibility for our family on his shoulders with few complaints. He would work all day, come home, assist in the care of our mother, help with chores and homework, and still find the energy to fix dinner and make sure we all had clean clothes to wear the next day.
You can imagine the amount of pressure that comes with all these responsibilities. This immense pressure manifested itself as excessive drinking and obsessive overeating, eventually leading to his weight climbing to over 600 pounds. By the time he was 40, my father was a type 2 diabetic and was suffering from heart and kidney disease.
And if that wasn’t enough, my older brother Mike, who was the mirror image of my father, practiced the same poor lifestyle choices, and at 52 would die of complications due to (you guessed it!) type 2 diabetes, heart disease and kidney failure. You see, my parents didn’t intentionally choose these poor lifestyle habits. It was a gradual process that unfolded over the years. They certainly didn’t understand the emotional challenges their choices would impose on their children. As I always say, “You simply don’t know what you don’t know.”
What or who inspired you to pursue your career? We’d love to hear the story.
I would be lying if I said that my childhood didn’t play a part in my decision to make nutrition a career. Losing my brother was a hurt no family should have to experience, and the fact it was preventable makes it even more heartbreaking.
However, I didn’t make nutrition a career until I lost a bet…
I always considered myself healthy. When I would gain a little too much weight, I would just cut out sweets, and limit my portion sizes, and the weight would come off. Then menopause hit me like a freight train. All the tricks I had used before menopause weren’t working, and my weight skyrocketed. I found myself pre-diabetic, depressed, emotional, and bigger than I’d ever been. I was eating Tums like they were TicTacs, and due to chronic acid reflux, I would go weeks without a solid night’s sleep. This went on for years.
One morning, after yet another sleepless night, I found myself sitting at the end of my bed, exhausted and emotionally drained. Something had to change. I couldn’t keep living like this. If I couldn’t take care of myself, how would I ever take care of my family? After many tears and some self-reflection, I finally decided to call in the big guns — my sister, Christen. With over 20 years of experience as a nutritionist, wellness coach, and supplementation expert, I knew if anyone could help me, it was her.
During our phone call, she let me unload all my emotional baggage while she sat quietly listening. After I was done, she simply said, “Let’s make a bet, Sis. If I can get rid of your acid reflux in three days, you need to stop making excuses, quit your job, go back to school, and come work with me. If I can’t, you can have anything you want.” What an interesting proposition! I could use a new outfit or a cute pair of shoes. Her confidence was both comforting and motivating, and for the first time in a long while, I felt a glimmer of hope.
After I accepted her bet, I hit the grocery store and started making the dietary changes needed to address my acid reflux. And you know what? Those small changes cured my acid reflux in two days and that night I had the best sleep I’d had in years. I couldn’t believe it! So true to my word, since a bet is a bet, I quit my job, returned to school, and am now an author, certified nutritionist, wellness coach and co-owner of Love A Wholistic Life. All of this from a friendly bet between two sisters. It’s amazing how a simple challenge can lead to such a profound life change. Now, I’m passionate about helping others transform their lives through proper nutrition; just like my sister helped me.
It has been said that our mistakes can sometimes be our greatest teachers. Can you share a story about the funniest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?
No amount of education or experience will move you forward in your career if you are not mentally focused. My first client was a sweet gentleman in his mid-60s suffering from high blood pressure and high cholesterol. While asking the many questions associated with his personal assessment, I tried to multitask and carry on a text conversation with my best friend simultaneously. Halfway through the questions, I asked this poor gentleman if he had ordered the newest bra set from Victoria’s Secret yet. — a question that was meant for my friend and not him. I was horrified when I realized what I had done! He just laughed and said, “Nope. Not yet!” Note to self: multitasking isn’t my strong point.
This experience taught me the importance of being fully present and focused with each client, ensuring they receive the attention and care they deserve. Needless to say, that never happened again!
You are a successful leader. Which three-character traits do you think were most instrumental to your success? Can you please share a story or example for each?
I would say perseverance is the first trait. Building a business from the ground up isn’t an easy task. We have had our share of ups and downs and there were times in the first few years we were tempted to give up. But Christen and I aren’t quitters and with over 70% of the population fighting lifestyle disease, quitting just wasn’t an option for us. Helping others take back their health really is our passion and life purpose.
I also feel that good communication skills are key in any business. The ability to communicate with our clients in a way they understand and can absorb is a quality I have learned through experience and try to perfect daily. We believe everyone has a right to know what is going on inside their body and being able to explain their health issues in a way that makes sense to them is a beneficial tool. We all can’t be doctors right?!
Compassion is probably the most important and most widely used trait I practice as a nutritionist and wellness coach. Every client is unique and their life journey is too. Showing true compassion and leaving judgment at the door shows them they are safe with us. Our clients know they can trust us with not only their physical well-being but their emotional well-being as well.
What are some of the most interesting or exciting projects you are working on now? How do you think that might help people?
The last few years have been incredibly busy. We have published two books, a weight loss journal, developed a 6-week online nutrition course, and are now writing our third book, The Lies Your T.V. Tells You.
We want to be able to meet people where they are in their health journey and giving them various options is a great way to do that. If our clients aren’t ready to commit to the 6-week online course, we invite them to check out our books Turn Your Heart Around, Defeat Type2 Diabetes, and Love A Wholistic Life Wellness and Weight Loss Journal to get them started.
We have also discussed introducing a post-pregnancy online course for our new moms out there. We both understand how challenging it can be to bounce back after having a baby. Our goal is to support new moms by helping them regain their health, strength, confidence, and overall well-being.
Ok, thank you for that. Let’s now shift to the core focus of our interview about cultivating wellness through proper nutrition and diet. To begin, can you tell our readers why you are an authority on the topic of nutrition?
Sure! Our clients are an amazing testament to how proper nutrition can not only change your life but sometimes save it. We’ve had clients who had one foot in the grave make positive dietary and lifestyle changes, effectively stopping the Grim Reaper in his tracks. I know it’s possible because I see it every day. We are blessed to walk them through their health journeys, celebrating their wins and supporting them when they stumble. Witnessing their transformations is incredibly rewarding, and it reinforces my belief in the power of nutrition and a healthy lifestyle. Each success story is a reminder that with the right guidance and support, anyone can achieve better health.
Beyond my education and experience, I also live it every day. I spent years neglecting my health, and I know firsthand the toll poor nutrition and lifestyle choices can take on every facet of your life. I’ve witnessed the damage these choices cause, not just to the individual, but to their family as well. Prioritizing proper nutrition is how I took back my health and reclaimed my life.
We all know that it’s important to eat more vegetables, eat less sugar, etc. But while we know it intellectually, it’s often difficult to put it into practice and make it a part of our daily habits. In your opinion, what are the main blockages that prevent us from taking the information that we all know, and integrating it into our lives?
That is an excellent question. I feel there are several reasons why it can be hard to break poor nutrition and lifestyle habits, but here are just a few.
From Amazon overnight deliveries to DoorDash, we now live in a country that has been programmed to expect immediate gratification with little effort. We can even stream movies the day they hit the theatres from the comfort of our living room. The days of practicing patience to see results seem to be a thing of the past. That’s the problem with most fad diets. They promise a quick fix, but they don’t deliver (or the results are only temporary), people get discouraged, give up, and fall right back into those same poor habits. I get it — I’ve been there and bought the T-shirt! That’s why it’s so important to arm our clients with not only the tools needed to combat lifestyle diseases, but also the understanding of what’s happening inside their bodies when they suffer from these conditions. It’s much harder to push your health to the wayside when you understand the damage these health conditions are causing. By educating our clients, we empower them to make informed decisions and maintain long-term healthy habits.
Another speed bump on the road to a healthy lifestyle is the economic reality that it often requires at least two incomes to keep the average household afloat. This busy lifestyle makes it harder to find time to cook healthy meals, making a quick trip to the nearest fast-food restaurant much more appealing. I can’t tell you how many people have told me they simply don’t have time to commit to healthy lifestyle changes due to work and family commitments. The problem with that mindset is that you can either be proactive and make those necessary changes now or be forced to after the damage to your health has begun. The truth is, we need to remember that anything worth having is worth prioritizing and working for, and our health is a prime example of this.
From your professional perspective, do you believe that nutrition plays a pivotal role in supporting the body’s natural healing processes and overall well-being, particularly in cases of chronic diseases? We’re interested in hearing your insights on the connection between a holistic approach to diet and its benefits for individuals facing health challenges.
I firmly believe that nutrition plays a pivotal role in our health — I believe it’s the most important thing we can focus on. You have the choice to either feed your body foods that help it thrive and heal or set it up for failure by consuming foods that can lead to health conditions such as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, heart disease, and many more. We’ve witnessed firsthand the positive effects a healthy, balanced diet can have on these conditions. Our clients’ numbers regulate and the weight falls off when they are diligent and driven.
Most lifestyle conditions are interconnected. For instance, if you have type 2 diabetes, the odds are you also suffer from (or are on your way) to having high blood pressure, high cholesterol, leaky gut syndrome, and fatty liver disease. The good news is that a healthy whole-food diet is a key component in addressing all of these health issues. Think of it this way; if you put good in, you will get good out!
Based on your research or experience, could you share with us five examples of foods or dietary patterns that have demonstrated remarkable potential in preventing, reducing, or managing specific health conditions? If you can, it would be insightful if you could provide real-life examples of their curative properties.
Sure. I would love to!
1.) Fruits and berries are not only tasty, but they also provide our bodies with the key vitamins, antioxidants, and dietary fiber needed to help maintain daily health. The antioxidants found in fruits and berries also act as a force field and protection for the body’s organs and cells. Apples, blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, strawberries, lemons, oranges and avocados are superfruits that when eaten regularly, can aid in lowering the risk of chronic inflammation responsible for cardiovascular disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, and other dangerous health conditions.
2.) Fresh garlic is a staple in many dishes. Although often used as a spice or herb, it is botanically considered a vegetable due to its bulb, tall stem, and long leaves. Garlic is packed with arginine, an amino acid that helps relax blood vessels, and sulfur compounds that stimulate liver enzymes, aiding in the removal of toxins. Additionally, garlic boasts antifungal and antibacterial properties, boosts the immune system, and has anti-inflammatory effects. These benefits can be helpful for those suffering from fatty liver disease and other lifestyle diseases associated with type 2 diabetes. If you ask me, this little white bulb packs more of a punch than Mike Tyson!
3.) Broccoli can be an acquired taste. However, this dark green superfood is incredibly good for you! Just one cup of broccoli sprouts houses as much as 1200 milligrams of sulforaphane, (an anticancer agent that can aid in the prevention of lymphoma, prostate, and breast cancers). Eating this low-calorie, high-fiber cruciferous vegetable regularly can also help treat high cholesterol and high blood pressure. Just a ½ cup of broccoli contains over 110 micrograms of Vitamin K, calcium, potassium, and magnesium. Eating broccoli daily can help reduce inflammation in the colon, in turn improving and protecting digestive health and is also a great addition to any weight loss plan.
4.) Beans are an incredibly nutritious food that comes in a variety of forms, including kidney, black, pinto, navy, and chickpeas, to name a few. Naturally low in saturated fat and sodium, and completely cholesterol-free, beans are not only excellent for heart health but also a powerful aid in weight management. Packed with plant based protein, fiber, and antioxidants, beans have been found to help manage blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol levels. Regular consumption of beans can also aid in the prevention of heart disease and type 2 diabetes.
5.) Nuts and seeds may be tiny, but they are mighty, delivering protein, fiber, and nutrients in every bite. Regularly eating nuts and seeds can lower inflammation levels related to heart disease and diabetes, and even improve artery health. These tasty snacks are packed with antioxidants and omega-3s, which help keep the body healthy and functioning optimally. Additionally, nuts and seeds are a great source of healthy fats, which are essential for brain health and can help maintain a balanced diet. While there are many types of nuts and seeds, the most common include walnuts, almonds, cashews, peanuts, pistachios, pecans, flaxseeds, pumpkin seeds, and chia seeds. Incorporating a variety of these into your diet can provide a wide range of health benefits, making them a versatile and delicious addition to your daily meals and snacks.
Quick tip: Although all of these superfoods are beneficial to your health, incorporating regular exercise and maintaining a healthy lifestyle are essential for achieving and sustaining optimal health. Regular physical activity complements the nutritional benefits of nuts, seeds, and other superfoods by improving cardiovascular health boosting mood, and enhancing overall well-being.
Do experts generally agree that merely choosing healthy foods isn’t sufficient, but that understanding how to consume them is key to unlocking their full health benefits? (For example, skins on/off, or cooked/raw, or whole grain/refined grain) Could you provide advice on how to approach this and sidestep common errors or misconceptions?
I believe most experts would agree that knowing which foods are most beneficial to a healthy diet is the first step. However, you can’t just stop there. People also need to understand the health benefits of the foods they are eating and find ways to incorporate these foods into their daily diet. Here are a few tips:
1.) Eat raw when possible: Most fruits and vegetables have higher nutritional value when eaten raw. If raw doesn’t appeal to you, try steaming your vegetables al dente instead of boiling them, as boiling can cause you to lose many water-soluble nutrients.
2.) Prepare broccoli properly: After cutting fresh broccoli heads into pieces, let them sit for 45 minutes before cooking. This allows the broccoli to create sulforaphane, a compound that elevates this superfood to a whole new nutritional level.
3.) Incorporate a rainbow of colors: Include a variety of colorful fruits and vegetables in your diet to ensure you get a wide range of nutrients. Each color provides different health benefits. Many fruits and vegetables are much more nutrient-dense when you keep the skin on. For example, apples, cucumbers, and potatoes are far more nutritious with the skins intact.
4.) Add healthy fats: Add sources of healthy fats, such as avocados, nuts, and seeds, to your meals. These fats are essential for brain health and can help you feel full longer.
5.) Try to eat multi grains when possible: Multi grains retain more nutrients and fiber, which are beneficial for digestion and overall health. Just one slice of multi-grain bread contains magnesium, folate, iron, Vitamin B, zinc, and calcium.
With the recent prominence of nutrition’s integration into healthcare, what’s your perspective on the collaborative approach between medical professionals, health coaches, and nutrition experts when it comes to delivering holistic patient care? Can you please explain?
Proper nutrition is the first step. With over 80% of chronic diseases caused by lifestyle factors such as poor diet and a sedentary lifestyle, incorporating qualified nutritionists and health coaches into the healthcare system only makes sense. When utilized appropriately, these professionals can help bring down healthcare costs and help save lives by addressing the core cause of lifestyle diseases. By providing personalized dietary guidance and support, nutritionists and health coaches empower individuals to make healthier choices, manage chronic conditions, and help prevent disease. This proactive approach not only improves individual health outcomes but also reduces the burden on the healthcare system, leading to a healthier and more prosperous society.
It has been suggested that using ‘food as medicine’has the potential to reduce healthcare costs by preventing disease severity. However, there’s concern about the affordability of healthier food options. What solutions do you believe could make nutritious choices accessible to everyone, ensuring that food truly becomes a form of medicine for all?
Food hubs, community gardens, and farmers markets are excellent ways to access healthy fruits and vegetables at more economical prices. There is a definite need for more of these, and adding incentives should encourage further growth. These initiatives not only make healthy food more accessible but also support local farmers and strengthen community bonds.
Increasing awareness and expanding access through government programs can also significantly address this issue. For example, initiatives such as SNAP Healthy Incentives encourage healthy eating by providing coupons, discounts, and bonuses. The programs make nutritious food more affordable and accessible to the larger population.
Additionally, adding adult and student educational programs that cover topics such as the nutritional benefits of healthy foods, meal planning, and cooking techniques can equip individuals with the knowledge needed to make healthier food choices. These programs can be integrated into schools, community centers, and online platforms, ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to learn about and adopt healthier eating habits.
Everyone’s body is unique, and what works for one might not work for another. How does one navigate the vast array of nutritional advice available today to curate a diet tailored to individual needs, ensuring health and longevity?
First, always remember that if a diet seems too good to be true, it probably is! Achieving healthy long-term nutrition and lifestyle changes requires persistence and determination to obtain the desired results. A qualified nutritionist should conduct a thorough personal assessment to gather the necessary information to create a dietary program tailored to the client’s needs. Understanding any present and past health issues is crucial as this information may influence and modify the dietary program to ensure it is sustainable, safe, and effective. I always recommend doing your research on any dietary program you are interested in before making a final decision. It will be time well spent.
As our understanding of the intricate link between food and health continues to evolve, we’re curious to know which emerging trends or breakthroughs in nutritional science excite you the most. How do you envision these advancements shaping the future of healthcare?
The connection between proper nutrition and cancer research is an important topic to me. With U.S. cancer cases skyrocketing, the need for continued research couldn’t be more necessary. Understanding how diet impacts cancer prevention and treatment is crucial. By continuing to invest in research, we can uncover the ways in which proper nutrition can reduce cancer risk, support treatment, and improve overall outcomes for patients. Researchers are exploring the potential role of inflammation in various aspects of cancer, including the spread of the disease within the body and the resistance of tumors to treatments. Researchers consider inflammation a hallmark of cancer and have found evidence suggesting inflammation may both promote and constrain tumors. This would be groundbreaking research and could change the entire trajectory for cancer patients. Though more research is needed, this is an exciting discovery, and I look forward to learning more as new information becomes available. Addressing childhood obesity is also a popular trend I can get behind. As approximately 33% of youths ages 10 to 17 are overweight to obese in the U.S., school-based programs and initiatives like “Let’s Move” are focused on combatting childhood obesity. These efforts focus on increasing daily physical activity, improving nutrition in educational settings, and supporting federal nutrition programs. These advancements can not only improve the lives of many but could help alleviate the high healthcare costs associated with these lifestyle conditions.
How can we better educate the public about the medicinal properties of food, and what role do professionals like you play in this educational journey?
In a perfect world, replacing the multitude of pharmaceutical drug advertisements with advertisements promoting proper nutrition and a healthy lifestyle would be a great start! (This issue is a massive trigger for me and we will be addressing this topic in our next book The Lies Your T.V. Tells You.) Social media platforms have also become an entertaining and innovative way to share healthy recipes and food options. Some influencers and content creators are using these platforms to inspire healthier eating habits and make nutritious food more appealing and accessible to more people than ever before. I truly believe that knowledge is power. That is why my sister and I have designed our six-week online course to address critical lifestyle diseases in a way that is easy to understand, providing every tool necessary to ensure sustainable success. This approach also allows us to serve hundreds of clients simultaneously, rather than limiting our outreach to a smaller number of individuals. By empowering individuals with the knowledge and resources they need, we aim to inspire lasting changes that lead to improved health and a higher quality of life for our clients. Together, we can create a healthier future, one healthy choice at a time.
How can our readers further follow your work online?
My sister Christen and I invite you to check us out at www.loveawholisticlihfe.com and follow us on TikTok and Instagram. Your readers can also reach out to us via email at elizabeth@loveawholisticlife.com and christen@loveawholisticlife.com.
Thank you for these excellent insights, and we greatly appreciate the time you spent with us. We wish you continued success and good health!
Thank you so much for the opportunity to share my passion for nutrition with you and your readers. I truly believe that the more we discuss these important topics, the more people we will reach and the more lives we can positively impact. By spreading awareness and knowledge, we can inspire others to make healthier choices.
About the Interviewer: Wanda Malhotra is a wellness entrepreneur, lifestyle journalist, and the CEO of Crunchy Mama Box, a mission-driven platform promoting conscious living. CMB empowers individuals with educational resources and vetted products to help them make informed choices. Passionate about social causes like environmental preservation and animal welfare, Wanda writes about clean beauty, wellness, nutrition, social impact and sustainability, simplifying wellness with curated resources. Join Wanda and the Crunchy Mama Box community in embracing a healthier, more sustainable lifestyle at CrunchyMamaBox.com.
