Speaking to the ‘user friendly’ aspect of the body, give the body the tools it needs and it will build a healthy, strong body! Simply put, these tools are nutrient dense foods, clean water, clean air and exercise. Yes, it’s really that simplistic, but not that easy for most people. With all the fad diets, opposing exercise theories and general misinformation, it is confusing to sort through what is beneficial for each individual: which diet? which exercise program? which vitamin? more protein or less protein?….on and on swirls the confusion.

Some of the greatest authors regarding food and health are Dr. Joel Fuhrman, Dr. Thomas Rau, Colin Campbell, Dr. Russell Blaylock and Dr. Ben Lerner, to name a few. While non-traditional, each simplifies the complexities of the body, teaches the reader to understand the body and where to find the proper tools to build the kind of wellness of our dreams. Education leads to knowledge and knowledge to power. Once we have the knowledge, we have the power to change our lives, to reverse and prevent disease; we have the power to take charge of our lives and our well being. Fast food has become an acceptable norm, along with donuts and sugar laden cereals for breakfast. The majority of diseases in the United States are lifestyle related, which translates into; they’re within our control and within our power to change.

My goal and my passion are to share my knowledge, thereby empowering my clients to make lifestyle changes that save lives. I combine all the best of what I have learned from every book, every class, and every mentor, and formulate a program that allows me to share that knowledge in a way that is easy to understand and easy to put into practice.

Dr. Thomas Rau, author of The Swiss Secret to Optimal Health explains, “When you nurture your internal body, you optimize the rebuilding power that lies within every human being. As I have already explained, all living tissues renew within a certain period of time. If you have an organ that is sick, slowly degenerating, or not functioning as it should and you want to improve your health you need to create a new organ that functions better. You do this by nourishing the internal environment that surrounds and sustains that organ, so that over time, cell by cell, you grow a better body, essentially optimizing your natural potential for healing.” So now the big question: how is the internal body nurtured?

Healthy gastrointestinal function is essential to overall health and well being. Each section of the gut has a different function. These functions are not limited to digestion and elimination; but rather include the immune system, nervous system and hormonal function. Greater that 70% of serotonin is produced in the gut and 80% of the immune system lies in the gut lining. Problems, such as leaky gut, Candida, parasites and food sensitivities can cause damage to the gut lining. This damage creates minor, isolated symptoms and even systemic symptoms and diseases. Some symptoms or diseases that may not appear to be related to the GI tract but actually are directly related may include arthritis, skin eruptions, headaches, infertility, etc. The 4R’s to gut health, which translates to whole body health, are remove, repair, restore and replace. Scientists at the Institute of Functional Medicine describe the 4R approach as; remove stressors, antigens and toxins (food related as well), repair damaged lining mucosa, restore beneficial bacteria and replace inefficient digestive secretions such as digestive enzymes and hydrochloric acid.

Whether the goal is maximized health or weight loss, the path to success is the same. The Get Lean Weight Loss Program and the Prescription for Wellness Program are founded on the 4R approach with hands on individual, weekly coaching and support with muscle testing for individual sensitivity and nutrient assessments. Also included is a program specific cookbook, bi-monthly group meetings and educational materials.

Related posts:

1. Preventative Care: The Benefits of Detoxification
2. Grow Older, Feel Better, Live Wiser
3. Constipated nation: Colon therapy and proper diet – detoxification and prevention to the rescue.

“A lot of damage”, – answers Denise Souza, a certified Colon Hydrotherapist, who holds a  Degree in Holistic Nutrition, – “Poor food choices lead to poor digestion , inadequate absorption, slow elimination and potentially constipation.”

And if you think that constipation is just one of the minor annoying facts of life, you might want to reconsider.

“The large intestine is where all the toxins and debri from the food and body functions end up. There is a part of colon where toxins can be reabsorbed back into the blood stream. It happens when the waste sits in the colon for too long. It goes back into the blood stream, and back into the liver. The liver becomes overworked, its function becomes sluggish and it can not clean our bodies as efficiently as it would under the normal circumstances. Inadequate elimination also allows the bad bacteria to proliferate.  By choosing a poor diet you slowly poison yourself and have absorption issues.”- explains Denise, a founder of Body Symmetry.

Poor dietary choices and improper elimination have been linked to various symptoms like bloating and headaches through diabetes and heart disease.

“In an ideal situation, my clients would not come to me in crisis, but rather for prevention and maintenance. Many people do come for colonics as a preventative once a month or with the changes of the season (3-4 colonics sessions).”

What is Colon hydrotherapy? The large intestine is bathed with warm, filtered water; the pressure and temperature are regulated by a trained Colon Hydrotherapist. There are various systems, Denise prefers the closed system. The water inflow is separate from the out flow of waste and the waste is always contained with in the equipment.

As North Carolina does not license Colon Hydrotherapist yet it is important for consumer to check credentials. I-ACT, the International Association for Colon Hydrotherapy provides certification and requires various levels of training for therapists.

Denise Souza also coaches her clients in a proper diet. As without proper diet any detoxification process is absolutely pointless.

She starts her consultation with setting achievable goals and muscle testing for food tolerance.

“Not everybody is the same, but we all eat the same. The point of food tolerance testing is to find out if our body properly processes the food we eat? I sit with the client and find what works best, we put together a plan. Sometimes the changes are too overwhelming, so I set up the plan where transition is made gradually. We start with food groups or meals. And after the client sees results we make more changes to the diet”

Who might benefit from colon therapy and diet consultations:

• People who went through chemotherapy – to eliminate toxins and get back in shape
• People who are overwhelmed by food restrictions imposed by their doctors
• Those who want to maintain a healthy weight
• People with digestion problems
• People who are looking for a healthy lifestyle
• People who need detoxification
• And even people with liver disorders like Alagille syndrome can keep their biliary in check with proper colonic maintenance and diet

And for those who are too stressed to make any dietary changes, Denis makes house calls where she shows how to cook tasty meals in a new way with new food.

“My passion is to educate people. I do cooking classes for small groups, for those who want to find new healthy ways to cook. I bring food, cook, clean, and give handouts.”

Denise Souza can be reached at:

919-600-8840

Free classes every 3^rd Monday at Earth Fare.

Related posts:

1. Detoxification with Colon Hydrotherapy
2. Alternative Approaches to Colon Cancer and Colitis
3. Colon Hydrotherapy: Significant Health Benefits