People from all over the country have come to The Optimal Wellness Center to learn about how to improve their health. One of the tools that I use, and cannot speak highly enough about, is nutritional typing.

Knowing your individual nutritional type allows you to learn and understand what types and amounts of macronutrients (proteins, fats and carbohydrates) fit your own body's metabolism and help you to prevent disease.

If you are interested in taking back control of your health, please take the time to read through the New Patient Tour--it could be your first step toward optimal health. However, if you cannot make it to The Optimal Wellness Center, I suggest you check out my new book, Dr. Mercola's Total Health Program, where you can get the full details on this essential principle and learn how to assess your nutritional type, or at the very least look through my nutrition plan.

Below, Colleen K. tells how the program has made her into a new person.

By Colleen K.
Illinois

About six years ago I was going through some personal issues that were going to cause me to have surgery, which I didn't want to have. At that point in my life, after seeing doctor after doctor, I just got fed up with all Band-Aid drugs out there. I wanted to do whatever I could to avoid the surgery and go through everything naturally and for that very reason, I decided to put my faith into natural health. And, for those six years I did, however, I wasn't truly satisfied with the results.

My turning point was when my sister Trish, who is very into health and nutrition, told me about The Optimal Wellness Center (OWC). She found out about Dr. Mercola by doing research on the Internet. I immediately checked with my insurance provider and was thrilled to find out that the OWC took my insurance. Within days I pulled up the Web site, and four days later I was at the OWC. During this time, everybody was telling me how healthy I was and looked, but I felt something wasn't clicking--I still had horrible allergies I couldn't get rid of along with asthma. So, that is the main reason why I went to see Dr. Mercola, and thank God I did!

In October 2003, I walked into Dr. Mercola's office and that same month is when I started on his nutritional typing program. I was put on the program to generally overcome my allergies and asthma; weight loss was a side note but never a primary goal. However, by eating for my nutritional type I ended up going from 155 pounds down to 135 pounds, which is a huge plus!

I overcame my allergies by eliminating grains and soy. I stopped eating dairy because of my asthma, and I am now eating raw diary. I thought that I relied on sugar and grains, but I soon learned that I didn't. I became so tuned in to how I felt when I was eating sugar and grains and I didn't like it. I hated the way it made me feel. I now drink raw egg shakes and I just started eating fruits again. My favorite raw egg shake is nuts, berries, one raw egg, coconut oil and flaxseed. I just love it!

I also stopped taking supplements that were causing problems for me. Some of the supplements I was taking made me not crave vegetables. So, once I stopped taking them, I started to crave them again and I increased my intake of fresh vegetables. I also don't eat anything sweet--I just don't have the cravings anymore.

I love vegetable juicing. I used to use fruit only but now I understand the importance of vegetable juicing. I use spinach, broccoli and carrots. I would be in heaven if I could do it everyday and that is my goal.

I noticed myself changing rather quickly due to following the program. I travel a lot for my job, and when I first started the program I went to Hawaii for four weeks. Everything you eat there is all about carbs and sugar. I tried the best I could to avoid the foods that were wrong for my nutritional type. I noticed that while I was there, I was viewing everything differently. I wasn't focusing on the "bad" foods but on the healthy and good foods for my nutritional type.

I would have to say my major change emotionally happened three weeks after I started Dr. Mercola's program. My cravings for certain foods went from habit to actual thoughts, such as chocolate. nutritional typing has been key. I am trying to get my sisters into it. I have referred five friends to come in. They have their own problems, but I know that the OWC can help them as it did for me.

I have also found EFT to be a major tool in my recovery process. I had doubts at first but I soon learned that EFT would help me substantially with my job. I manage 250 people, which can be very stressful, and using EFT helps me overcome the stress issues. I can now manage my stress, which I never knew how to before this experience. EFT helps me deal with my family and now I can view them as "that is the way they are" and it is OK.

EFT also helps me deal with my food cravings. I have never been a light eater, but now I never let myself get caught in a situation where I need food. I always bring food with me so I don't have to go the cafeteria at work and eat the food there.

I have noticed a subtle but important change since the day I first started Dr. Mercola's program. There is a peace. I have learned about nutrition in a whole new light. I have energy constantly. I have no more highs and lows. Everyone around me notices something different about me. I don't have cravings for certain foods. I look at work in a whole new light also. I walk 45 minutes everyday and I do yoga. I used to do yoga for exercise but now I do it for relaxation. I don't need the energy from yoga because food gives me the energy I need.

The thing about Dr. Mercola and the OWC is that they took 100 percent interest in me in helping me to overcome everything! They were the first who took me seriously. That is why I trust them.

For anyone who starts this program, my advice would be that you have got to plan. You need to incorporate convenience into the plan. I go to the grocery store twice a week to get the freshest organic foods. I am direct and focused, and when I go to the grocery store I am in and out in 15 minutes. That way I don't shop around. I also always pack extra food when I go into work, so I can avoid eating the cafeteria food.

Since the beginning of this, I have never been tempted to go off the program. Why would I ruin it? I am not forced to be on it, I just want it. I am here for the long haul--and I feel good!

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