“Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food” -Hippocrates.
With an increasing incidence of chronic illness and rising healthcare costs, individuals are searching for natural ways to restore their health and wellness. Similarly, businesses are deeply concerned with improving their performance and lowering expenses. As a solution, I started a health coaching practice to teach people how to prevent and reverse disease with healthy food and lifestyle choices, offering personalized, one-on-one coaching as well as group programs. I am a licensed physician in Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio and previously practiced anesthesiology. As a lifelong Chicagoan, I obtained my training at the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and continued my medical education by acquiring a certificate in plant-based nutrition from eCornell.
Over the years, working inside various hospitals, I witnessed the vast resources we spend treating preventable diseases. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), per capita national health expenditures were $9255 in 2013 versus $2855 in 1990. Notably, this amount is expected to surpass $10,000 in 2015. Burned out doctors and weary patients are frustrated with costly medications and surgical procedures that only address symptoms without halting the progression of underlying disease.
In The China Study, T. Colin Campbell, PhD and Thomas Campbell II, MD document the linkage between food and a number of chronic degenerative diseases, particularly heart disease, cancer, stroke, diabetes, elevated cholesterol, high blood pressure, and Alzheimer’s disease. As its acronym suggests, the standard American diet (SAD), primarily consists of large quantities of meat, dairy, processed junk food, fat, sugar, and salt. Although this high-calorie, low-nutrient food is exceedingly tasty, we are now experiencing major health repercussions from these products. By consuming the wrong type of fuel, our bodies are in a constant state of inflammation, struggling to maintain normal cellular functions. Rather than searching for a magical pill, I teach people that the most powerful solution is to rethink what they do for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Given the right type of food, the human body has a remarkable ability to heal itself. Researchers have determined the most healthful foods are fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and legumes, along with small amounts of nuts and seeds. These plant-based, nutrient–rich, whole foods protect and repair blood vessels and tissues, reducing inflammation and increasing blood flow, so people look and feel better. A well-nourished body is incredibly responsive and capable of reversing chronic disease. As a result, people who once resigned themselves to taking prescription medications for the rest of their lives now look forward to having their medications reduced or even eliminated.
I am excited about hosting my new clients in the Amata workspace environment. In this attractive setting, I am inspired and enthusiastic about helping others make a fresh start and improve the quality of their lives.
Carla R. Hightower, MD
Living Health Works LLC
www.livinghealthworks.com
chightower@livinghealthworks.com