DR ANDREW WEIL, INTEGRATIVE MEDICINE EXPERT INTERVIEW WITH ELIZABETH IRVINE
Dr Andrew Weil Interview with Elizabeth Irvine
"As a practitioner and teacher of integrative medicine for the last thirty years, it has been my personal mission to drive research, education, and clinical practice to advance a philosophy of health that addresses mind, body and spirit. I believe that integrative medicine is the future of medicine and health care." ANDREW WEIL, M.D.
The man has been an inspiration to my work for two decades. He offers endless information for healthy living based on the philosophy of integrative medicine through his numerous books, on line resources, and newsletters. Dr. Weil is an internationally recognized expert for his views on leading a healthy lifestyle, his philosophy of healthy aging, and future of medicine and health care. His site is a resource for education, information, products, services and philanthropic contributions based on the principles of integrative medicine.
I had the privilege to ask him about his daughter, nutrition, and our health care crisis. And I am thrilled and honored to share our conversation with you!
PERSONAL STORY
Elizabeth: I understand we both have daughters of a similar age. I often use my children as “material” in applying examples. Can you give me one example/story about your personal experience with your own daughter in creating health and well-being? Something you recall about either of you living in a healthier or happier way? Something that made you think- this concept or intervention really helped.
Dr Weil: Diana’s mother and I were committed to optimal prenatal nutrition, and so you could say I was very involved with Diana’s health and welfare long before she was born. We used a hypnotherapist to correct a potentially serious breech presentation, and also chose to have her birth at home, without chemical intervention, which I believe bonded us in immeasurable ways. In addition, I was vigilant about her avoiding dairy products in her early years, and am proud to say that she never suffered a single middle ear infection, a problem prevalent in her siblings and peers.
GLOBAL NUTRITIONAL WISDOM
Elizabeth: I admire your knowledge enhanced from studying and incorporating other culture’s methods and experience in creating health and well-being. Your Asian/ Med fusion at True Food Kitchen is an example of this concept. I just read OPRAH invested in True Food Kitchen. Nutritionally speaking, a sign hanging in your kitchen (as a reminder to create a healthier kitchen)– would say?
Dr Weil: Good health begins in the kitchen!
HEALTH CARE CRISIS
Elizabeth: Spontaneous HeaIing is one of my all time favorite books of yours and I just enjoyed, Why Our Health Matters, and agree that our health care system is on the verge of collapse. America, as a developed country deserves to have a national system of health care that works. Living in England for 15 years, I understand how Europe embraces integrative medicine, how does integrative medicine begin to become more mainstream here in America? What is one piece of advice to inspire others to make this shift happen?
Dr. Weil: Start with yourself by becoming a role model for healthy living. Most people want to be in command of as much of their life as possible, and while many things seem beyond our control, good health is not. The vast majority of chronic disease is lifestyle related and, therefore, preventable. Commit to making healthy changes in your diet and lifestyle like these:
Don’t smoke, and if you do, quit.
Enjoy an anti-inflammatory diet that emphasizes a wide variety of fruits and vegetables, cold water fish and plant-based protein, healthy fats and slow-digesting carbohydrates.
Supplement with vitamin D3 (2,000 IU daily), molecularly distilled fish oils (2 grams of the essential fatty acids EPA and DHA), and a good multivitamin.
Drink clean water and green tea.
Get at least 7 hours of sleep a night.
Practice healthy means of stress management including breath work, meditation, and regular exercise, and maintain a strong social network of close family and friends.
I also recommend getting involved in the movement to reform our system of health care. Visit my web site, DrWeil.com to learn more, if people begin to demand these changes, I believe we will start to see meaningful improvements in the system.
Join me in utilizing Dr. Andrew Weil’s numerous resources for health and healing. His life’s work as a Harvard grad M.D. has been dedicated to teaching others how to prevent illness and reclaim the healing wisdom within our own body.
AFFIRM: I HOLD THE CHOICE TO BE HEALTHY AND VIBRANTLY ALIVE.