Being hailed as “Sex and the City for Food,” The Food Heals Podcast brings together experts in the field of nutrition, health and healing to teach you the best-kept natural secrets to being a hotter, healthier, happier YOU!
The Food Heals Podcast is hosted by Allison Melody and Suzy Hardy- two self proclaimed natural chicks who will rock your world and change your beliefs about health! This sexy, savvy duo provides eco-friendly advice on a variety of issues- from picking the best non-toxic makeup and getting rid of wrinkles naturally to learning about the benefits of a plant-based diet and the healing power of nutrition.
The podcast shares stories of people who have changed their lives in incredible and inspiring ways. Guests include some of the most amazing people in the health and healing industry who cover a wide range of topics including alternative medicine, detoxing, beauty tips, healing yourself. Allison, Suzy and their guests will share tips on creating a better life- whether it be how to be your authentic self, how free yourself from toxic emotions, let go of judgements and anything holding you back in life and even how to quit your job and start your own business- living you passion and getting paid for it. The point is to inspire you- That you are in control of your life and whatever is happening today does not have to be happening tomorrow. When you become aware of what’s not working in your life you then have the power to let that go and adopt new habits, new belief systems, and take the action steps to live the life you want to live!
Today my fellow Podcaster’s Paradise Podcaster Alison Melody is here to share her story about her healthy food journey and how she got involved with the organic movement.
Tell us a little about yourself.
So we host the Food Heals Podcast and it’s really all about helping people get healthier mind, body and spirit. We’re not trying to change anyone we’re trying to give people the tools that they need to help change themselves and make the healthiest decisions that they can for themselves… whether it’s changing their
- diet
- lifestyle
- getting out of a toxic relationship
- job
- really following their dreams
We just really want to be a place of encouragement, enlightenment and education!
I have listened to your podcast and it is really inspiring and very informative and you really rock it and have lots of fun there!!
I was listening to your podcast as well, you said you were looking to have people from different states and I live in California but I am from North Carolina which is one of the states you were looking for.
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arkansas
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Louisiana
- Maryland
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Mexico
North Carolina- North Dakota
- Oklahoma
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- West Virginia
My story and how I discovered the reason we need to eat well and nutrition and a complete wake up call, growing up having a garden with dad, business… original idea!
I grew up composting, grew up gardening … I didn’t know that not everyone did that, we had our trash can, recycling bin, and our composting pile, I remember separating everything. And it’s very trendy today to do that, it’s very green to do that, but back then it was just a part of our lives, so I do find that interesting.
So IDK how old I was … I was young, my entire childhood, … maybe I stopped being a part of it… My dad always had a tomato garden … we had these giant beatuiful sunflowers that would grow so tall …. I remember I would run away from the bees… it was a really really great interesting.
We didn’t grow all of our food, we lived in a small town, Chapel Hill, NC. It was a college town so there were lots of grocery stores and restaurants nearby. It was a combination of going to what we had there the Food Lion, and the Harris Teeter and those were our grocery stores … and also eating fresh vegetables out of the garden.
You know growing up that way, I went away from it to eating processed, for a long time to eating processed food and restaurant fare. And then back to what I ate when I was younger. So it’s full circle and interesting how it come to eating the most organic local fare that I can.
Wow That sounds lovely gorwing up in Chapel Hill. That’s a college that’s really well known right Chapel Hill?
UNC is really well known for a lot of things, one of them, Tar Heels, Michael Jordan, basketball culture…
It’s a interesting town, it’s very liberal and very wealthy. So I kind of grew up in a bubble and the rest of the time, in the south they say “what’s up Ya’ll?”
So I didn’t know … So it was an interesting childhood so now I have seen more of the world … some of the people I Chapel.
and how things work
I’m grateful
I didn’t grow up in a tiny
I grew up in a great house with a garden
lake across the street and a waterfall… It sounds fancy and we played in the creek growing up, and I was always surrounded by nature, and there were animals that ran around in the creek. And it was just normal.
So then how’d you end up in LA….
That is quite a long story… the reason that I ended up with LA, really coincides interview with coming back to more aware of my food… eating organic … it all happened at the same time.
I was in North Carolina and my mother suffered from MS for many years and it just progressively got worse and worse and she was unable to work and she was taking so many medications and was unable to work
She just spent her days, she was at the beach, they moved to Wilmington on the beach … she would sit at the ocean ina longing and a sadness, just watching tv and taking her pills, pill after pill, …. every hour and write it down and make sure that pill didn’t give a side effect… eventually she got diagnosed with cancer… we had no awwareness of what we were eating… and we had moved away from the gardening, they had moved tot he beach and they were eating whatever was close by a to of restaurant food … not eating healthy food… just eating processed food from the grocery store … I had no idea that food healed or food mattered ….
now the name of my podcast
So when she was diagnosed with cancer…
I remember speficially asking the doctor… does food matter, does what she eat matter for her health?
And he was like no, it doesn’t matter at all, she can eat an ice cream sundae or an apple, it doesn’t matter.
And she continued these treaments and she withered away and passed away. first time I started to question life? Why are we here? Why is she and? What is the purpose of life? What is her purpose? I was having an existential crisis.
I picked up a book … it was all about food and how it affects the body. The premis of the book, if you ate everything you wanted to eat… if you ate the organic version instead of the conventional gmo food you would be healthy! That was my first step. It blew my mind. I had no idea our food was being manipulated. I had no idea what a GMO, I had no clue of what global warming was. I had no clue of what was going on environmentally!
I started to change my habits … I had gained weight … I used to be an active soccer player … IDK … I used to be healthy and by that time and going through the pain of losing my mom … not caring what I ate, I was uncomfortable in my body.
I switched my food to all organic, things started to get better, I felt more vibrant, I had more energy! I lost weight, felt more…. and I was like wow Food matters!
I tried to switch my father, but he did not believe that he was diagnosed with cancer! I could not believe this was happening again. I started giving him organic food! I started giving him vegetables on his plate, I read that garlic kills cancer. And so I was making green garlic smoothies!
and no sugar
My dad said, you know what, “honey I love you but I wanted to drink my whiskey, drink my beer, smoke my cigars and die my way… ” And tjhat was the ahardest ghing I had to accept, I wanted to save his life
Do you think he wanted to be with your mom?
they say that when a spouse dies, that the other one … he wanted to be with my mom, he was heartbroken… he had a lot of tragedies … his brother had been run over by a car when he was young, his dad killed himself, his wife dies … I mean …. he was a broken man .. there’s a lot of emotional components.
I learned a lot about how important it is and that you need to be really conscious of your emotions
who do you need to forgive, what do you need to let go of, and who you need to honor in your life. So you asked how I got to LA? this is how I got to LA, I graduated….
I wanted to be a film a film maker and make films that matter
social justice
foods about film and all the things I was learning!
and why we need to organic
So I moved to fill and started working with an organization that worked with food deserts… where they had no access to California food, we healthy to interview people in south LA
What’s a carrot, our carrots are started, we don’t eat no vegetables!
This is Cheetos w e have
chronic why diseases that we’ve never seen before I moved to LA to pursue my passion
work with this organization
that helps
living in LA is a great place before there is a lot of education ain because information but whether there eis a huge need for this info
my video production company
and help people change their lives and go organic
we’re really all about eating vegan and vegetarian
and
One thing I there wanted to say, isn’t it crazy that doctors say…. I had a doctor say healthy people get cancer too it doesn’t matter if you eat sugar and a friend who had throat cancer so his doctor told him to drink milkshakes… because eventually his esophagus closed up and he had to eat out of …
I was responding to what you said about your doctor… I knew you cou; the hear me…
I know I was talking about my friend who had cancer and they were just like drink milkshakes… then he had a long dint quality of life and got extended when he started seing a nutritionist and he started drinking wheat grass and he ended up having a nice quality of life and hiking…
Its so sad, so many doctors are not trained in diet … we listen to them and they are trained by drug companies and pharmaceuticals… I’m glad he could live a good quality of life at the end…
I’m sorry your dad didn’t try that way.
Do you want to talk about your nutrient environmental movies?
The main one I’m working on now is called Food Heals, it follows these people who have healed their bodies… it’s not anti western, Michael More gotta … it’s how people have done it… we had a woman who had ovarian cancer, the dr said we need to get you into nutrition sugary and get you into radiation immediately… so she decided to do a cleanse
if after 4 months she would do the surgery
she was able to completely reverse her disease by juicing sugary by eating fruits and vegetables only… she also got out of a toxic marriage… learning to love herself and take care of her body…
and were shocked
a new Drs. doctor was like you didn’t have cancer you were misdiagnosed… they couldn’t’ understand that fruits and veggies could heal your body
a really
a couldn’t whether in California… it’s a city
it’s this big music concert
really possible
100s of 1000s of farm workers, that are feeding California, that are feeding the rest of the US
they are treated horribly,
they live in unsanitary conditions
have arsenic in their drinking in their water… they have diseases all over their bodies… there are children suffering
no one
undocumented farm worker
city and govt said it’s gonna cost millions of dollars to get healthy drinking so they did nothing… so these non-profits came together and they got water filters for 27k dollars instead of millions… so now are implementing these filtrations systems
farm workers that are feeding us
putting foods
same access to quality water
a lot of other issues
things like that that are happening in our backyards and we are completely unawares. I like to bring awareness…
there are so many food deserts
unaware people who don’t have access … or cannot afford healthy food
partner with so many campaign sand try to help healthy food into school lunch programs
so many what my films are social justice and activism
document the work, that these that’s amazing community members are doing.
That’s imporatnt getting their sotyr out there… that’s an important part.. I feel like I am just honored to share… you’re one of them the great work that ou are doing?
Do you have a garden at all?
Don’t judge me, we have a yard… I havent’ started the garden…
we haven’t
rosemary and mint
we have not started yet, I work in the film industry and my husbands a producer, and we both work too much… I know that’s a terrible reason, I really want to make that
You totally don’t have to apologize. .. if it was up to me we wouldn’t have anything… my husband does it all. My brother’s in the film industry… he worked on like Law and Order and Damages and no he’s started working on some show called the blind spot and he works like for 6 months and then he gets some time off… I would never judge you… I have all to do to grow my own lettuce… part of my show Mike said I’ve been in the garden more then ever… a lot of my guests have shared tips to make it easier and less time intensive.
I’m on the important and I don’t have a garden!
I’m gonna go back and get Organic Gardener inspired!
You’re the one who had the idea to reach out to Organic Gardener Podcast and get some gifts and things to get more reviews on itunes… do you want to talk a little bit about sponsor billions for people?
I love talking about business, I love being an entrepreneur and the swag bags… I did this fundraiser… to raise money for foothills
sponsor who came Everyone a swag bag…
that forced me to reach out to companies that were brands that were organic
face creams and mascaras
and a seed company
that were in alignment get with our mission, donated these products… it was a great learning experience… then I was able to carry it over
one of the things we learn in podcasters paradise is we have to keep getting our ratings and reviews so itUnes keeps us in the top 10 and top 20 in our category
so people like Jackie and I help more people… so to incentivize!
I don’t go on yelp and
if the restaurant said hay we’re gonna give you free meal
I’d say I’d be happy to, I love your food, and I’m gonna come back so here’s your review! So we put together 10 swag bags, we absolutely love your refreshing spray and rose oil
we would love to tell our listeners about it… here’s a little bit about them they all want to be healthier versions of themselves
put together 10 swag bags
full of amazing luscious
We just said on the podcast, hey guys just leave us a review and you’ll be entered into to relieve a swag bag
loved their show
giving them a voice as well
then we would read our favorites on the podcast and then people would have to tweet us or
it worked in our benefit
to get us in iTunes to keep us on the top of the list….
it was a great to connect and send 10 of them free swag bags … it’s a great thing to get stuff in the mail so it’s a win win for everyone! Plus it built a relationship with those companies we reached out to…
One of them was the global healing center and I use their products all the time and love their products and now they’ve becoming one of our sponsors so by reaching out and offering them something of value… instead of being like Hey do you want to pay to sponsor your show?! They’re like , we don’t know who you are? No… Instead we established a report with them, we established this is what wed’er doing,
and this is how we can help you! We offered them something of valuable first before asking for asking of something of value in return? So it’s really a win – win situation …
It was so fun, the first time I saw this box. I thought I was reaching out to Nutiva, I got this PR company in NY and she was like we Everyone handle all three of these! it was so fun to get this box full of stuff. And to be sharing with my listeners at first I was like handle they’re gonna post itunes reviews? But they were so sweet and I could tell they’d been listening. You see your stats on Libsyn etc but to actually hear from listeners was so wonderful and makes you get
You get people who are like I would love to tell them about your show.
I’ve been a little slow getting my May/about winners out… and I’ll get that posted and my June/Summer contest that is extended to Sept 20, 2016.
Anything with business. Cause I’m not a business type
If anyone is wondering how to start?
how can you get more vegetables on your plate
find out if they are organic as local as possible
The numbers mean something a 9 at the front on the produce sticker means it’s organic and a 4 means it is grown conventionally
- 9 means it’s organic and a
- 4 means it is grown conventionally
Blend them in a smoothie, June fruits are great… make sure if there’s a 9 in front…. if you can go to a local farmer’s market.
I asked this questions the other day… but I can eat veggies all day long but I struggle to eat fruit, my big problem is it’s messy and I eat a lot in my car…
Best way to get Organic Gardener Podcast sulfites in is make smoothies… suffrages smoothies every single day
full of toxic and substances
eating at home or outside as you can
best way to get fruits in
make smoothies
every single morning
sometimes I make the for dinner
I also have fruit for dessert instead of sugar,
I always want cookies, and candies and cake ,
force myself to eat
don’t think I’l ever get rid of that craving…
I actually really enjoy fruit…
I’m mostly vegan, cause dairy causes inflammation
it’s the first source of any type of Make sickness or disease, we really want to suffrages reduce our reduce…
some people are allergic
coconut inflammation yogurts
another way to get the creaminess, surprisingly is avocado….
1/2 or 1/4 avocado I always put banana or avocado….
banana will make it sweeter
avocado will make it creamy
I have so many smoothie recipes Idk where to start…
so
- blend up some ice
- pick a couple of berries
- avocado
- banana
- fruit
- kale
- powders – Vitamin C or vegan protein
- dates if you have a sweet tooth
- liquid – almond, coconut milk or water
we subscribe to a CSA program
deliver farm fresh vegetables to our door
package
blueberries
wintery foods and vegetables in the winter.
I just make it up as I go along
subscribe, banana
fruit
kale
vitamin c
vegan protein
pea protein
sweeten
it with dates, not like sugar….
extremely sweet but don’t make you crash
love dates
blend it up with some liquid, water, connect, or almond milk
It’s all about doing your best…. progress over perfection
go extreme or too cold turkey, and then they are miserable.
I can only eat vegetables
The more vegetables the better your gonna feel
the health of your family or our
what little change you make
You had those brothers on, one thing they said that I really liked, was that subscribe even if you only go vegan for one day you’re gonna save an animals life. So that was really encouraging, if I can start incorporating a day here and a day here….
it’s interesting one of the big things I got from John’s Freedom Journal even didn’t go as well as I could do to make it better, is I NEED TO PLAN MORE, I think my body is a part of that, cut up what fruit ahead of time,
if you fail to plan, you plan to fail….
OK sunday’s my cooking time, from between pm is I’m cooking for my family. Business is the same way…
If you have a business to you have any advice for our listeners about how to sell extra produce or get started in the industry?
if you fail to plan you plan to fail… if sunday
between 2-5 o’clock
for me, its like I’m working for my business
so some business is not paying yet, I have to schedule time
if you had business, and you had a meeting or you were meeting with friends, you wouldn’t cancel, so don’t cancel on yourself
I love the Freedom Journal for that,
It makes you be accountable
Final question- if there was one change you would like to see to create a greener world what would it be? For example is there a charity or organization your passionate about or a project you would like to see put into action. What do you feel is the most crucial issue facing our planet in regards to the environment either in your local area or on a national or global scale?
I think there are so many issues, the one that really comes forward to me at this moment… is factory farming and the detrimental effects
and the heath of the animals
I’m not saying go watch a bunch of PETA
factory farming is one of the most unsustainable things we do on the planet. We are clearning out the rainforests that have the potential to heal cancer and other diseases….
habitat
rainforests that are keeping our rich and alive and beautiful
statistics are staggering,
What you said about eating one vegan meal a day saves one animal and that comes from the film Cowspiracy
if you want to learn more about what I’m talking about
factory
destroying our ecosystem quickly
they are so abusive to animals it will make you cry. If your kids go to the zoo
they are actually the food on our plate, if we can’t tell them doesn’t that mean there is something we care doing wrong?
factory s
ag gag laws
for example
you can’t film inside of a factory farm, for the very reason they know it will expose the injustice to the animals
the people working there, lose all sense of themselves
terrible factory for the factory farm workers its also destroying our planet, our ecosystem, our rainforest… Just watch Cowspiracy! That’s all I have to say…
I like the way you talk about the workers who work there, that’s really empathetic, it’s really nice visionary because, most people only talk about the animals and not many people talk about what it’s like if you work there. What if that was the only job you had and you had to go there every day even if you didn’t approve of it.
Can you imagine? It would destinies you and makes you uncompassionate yourself…
They say that the biggest link to psychological damage is how uncompassionate treats an animal…. Let’s finish on a positive note. You’re a rockstar milenial right? I think there is definitely something about the people who are between 30-40 years old in 2016!
I love millennia’s! I definitely count you in there! Keep on Rockin! So I am women definitely gonna encourage everyone to check out definitely food heals podcast and they have great guests that I know my listeners are interested in…. Thank you for being with us today! Tell everyone how to connect with you.
Instagram, Twitter,
@ the
@allisonmelodytv On Snapchat
spirituality and business
Foodheals VIP club, we we are teaching classes hosting private classes.. food heals…
spirituality, nutrition and business!
Our show notes are at Foodheals.com
teaching private classes
FOODHEALSVIP.com
might have to have you come back just to talk about the VIP club.
I’m super excited to follow you on Snapcahat! I love Snapchat. I think I’m OrganicGPodcast.
Thank you so much!
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