Welcome back to Kenko Chat!
Today we have a special guest for our semi-monthly Kenko Chat feature: Amy Crawford from The Holistic Ingredient.
Amy is a wellness therapist who dedicates herself in helping people to improve their life, health and happiness. She is a real-life experience from the journey of fighting Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, redefining herself and living a healthier and happier lifestyle.
Amy is here today to share with us about her story, her passion and her mission to motivate others to achieve a better health, but also the positivity and happiness in life.
She will share with us her top tips to live a content life and her delicious, healing, whole food recipes as well. You can learn more about Amy and her inspiring works atThe Holistic Ingredient.
Now, it’s enough of my ramblings. Let us hear from Amy.
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Can you tell us about yourself and your website The Holistic Ingredient?
The Holistic Ingredient is a blog and business I founded in 2012 following my return to health from Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. It started very simply as a home built blog, a means by which I could share all the tips and tools I utilized during my recovery to transform my life. In turn I hoped to inspire improved health and happiness in others.
It has since evolved into so much more than I could ever have predicted and is now a culmination of all the things I am most passionate about – whole foods, clean living and boundless energy.
On my website you’ll find hundreds of scrumptious whole food recipes, all gluten and refined sugar free. You’ll also find plenty of tips to detoxify your life, mind and your body, amongst many other interesting topics!
It has been a busy few years since my recovery. I have authored 4 whole food eBooks in theA Nourishing Kitchen series. I am now a qualified Health Coach, Reiki Master and practitioner of hypnosis, EFT, NLP and the 2 hour life transformationalCombined Therapy Cocktail session (CTC).
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What sparked or inspired you to be a wellness therapist?
Without question it was the CTC session I had 4 years ago. I walked into this two-hour session without any comprehension of how transformational it would be – I was in fact slightly skeptical. It is in fact ultimately what freed me of CFS and every other thing holding me back from feeling amazing (including a paralyzing fear of public speaking, a fear of spiders, a need to please, the feeling of being stuck, the feeling of not being good enough – the list went on!).
Know that at this point I had been chronically ill for 4 years and I had left behind 18 years in the recruitment industry, recruitment was all that I knew and I had no idea what I was going to do with the rest of my life.
Within 3 months of my CTC session, The Holistic Ingredient was born. It was so utterly transformational that I encouraged the founder of the therapy to create a practitioner course so that I too could transform the lives of others. I now see clients face to face or via Skype all over the world. It continues to blow my mind, every single day.
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You've mention that a whole food diets is the best medicine for your body and soul. What is your favorite recipe(s)?
Yes, I believe that what you put on the end of you fork each day is THE most significant and important choice you will make in your day, for the sake of your body, your health and the environment.
Whole foods are not a set of numbers or calories, they’re full or properties designed to heal your body, quite unlike the pill you’ll find at the bottom of a pill bottle. Disease goes away as a by-product of getting healthy.
Choosing a favorite recipe is somewhat challenging, there are many! I must say, I’ve always loved my signature dish, theSweet Cinnamon Breakfast Omelette. It’s so super easy to make, in less than ten minutes!
TheCrispy Skinned Salmon with Strawberry, Basil, Pistachio Salsa is a personal favourite, as are theseSalted Peanut Butter and Chocolate Banana Bites.
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You have written about matcha’s health benefits, what’s your favorite way to use matcha?
Like many, I love a matcha latte however I got a bit creative recently and designed a super easy (and very delicious) recipeMatcha Pistachio Coconut Balls. All you need is a food processor and you’re good to go!
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Do you have any tips to lead a positive and healthy lifestyle you would like to share with us?
I have many (many!) tips but these would be my very top tips:
- Always prioritize your health. Feed your body the goodness it deserves and nourish it with things that make you feel good. To help you along the way, every time you put something in your mouth ask yourself whether it’s adding to or detracting from your life.
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Slow down. Make time to rest and do the things that bring you joy.Life is a journey; it’s not a race. If you can, learn to meditate.
- Mindset is everything. Never think about that which you don’t want. Everything we think, say or feel becomes our reality - believe you can and you will!
- Do what FEELS right for you. If an opportunity comes your way (whether it be a promotion, a relationship etc) and your body tenses or your mind frets, let it go. Trust your intuition.
- Be YOU. Live your truth, speak your truth, be your truth. Follow your heart and your dreams; life is so much easier when all you have to do is be you.
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Thank you so much for your chat with us, Amy. Thank you for the story, tips and recipes you share with us. They are really helpful, meaningful and inspiring.
It’s great to know you and learn more about what you are doing to help people. We hope you all the best with your mission and hope to meet you again!
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