fold and miso provides healing probiot- ics for the intestines,” he explains. Dee Harris, a registered, licensed dietician/functional nutritionist and certified diabetes educator, associated with the Perlmutter Center for Health, in Naples, has
Dee Harris
discovered that many of her patients appreciate having their journey to a healthier lifestyle demystified. “People who have just recognized the very first step—‘I don’t feel as good as I think I could’—generally don’t know where to start,” says Harris, who takes the mys- tery out of what to do first using blood chemistry work. “One step at a time leads clients to eventually laugh at how they once thought fruit roll-ups—pro- cessed, faux food in a box—were real food,” she enthuses. Sometimes, “Start here,” is as simple as replacing soda with a refreshing homemade drink of mint, lemon and lime slices, steeped in a container of water.
Harris has compassion for begin- ners, and tries to help them realize they aren’t giving up things that are good for them. “It’s why I have them focus on the positive: what they can eat, rather than what they can’t,” she says. Carol Roberts, a medical doctor also associated with the Perlmutter Cen- ter for Health, notes that every person is an individual, with a history and a per- sonal belief system
Carol Roberts
rooted in misconceptions about health. “Like Dee, I show patients evidence from lab tests and talk about what they need to do first,” says Roberts, whose goal is to raise her patients’ level of awareness about the connection be- tween diet and health. “Most patients I see don’t know about health food stores, what books to read or where to search on the Internet for information. They are confused, and want to turn to someone with a medical degree who can tell them which incremental steps to take,” she advises. Ursula Kaiser, author of My
Journey to Wellness: How I Beat Cancer Naturally, lectures locally on alterna- tive healing mo- dalities such as easy cleanses, detoxing practices, nutrition, supplements and
Local Resources Help You
Take the First Steps Ursula Kaiser
the metaphysical basics, all protocols she used to heal herself of cancer. Like Harris and Roberts, Kaiser meets a lot of confused audience members looking for answers. “My diagnosis happened before I had a computer, which is why I had to read books and do my research at the library,” says Kaiser, who today directs seekers to the Internet and rec- ommends a list of movies for viewing. “After watching Forks Over Knives, Food Matters, and Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead, people are often motivated to learn how to transition to a whole-foods, plant- based diet, which can take a while for your taste buds to get used to,” she says. Online comments from Yelpers are helping to replace the “tasteless healthy food” stigma. An inspired labor of love regularly transforms healthy ingredi- ents into delicious and nutritious food at local cafés such as those at Food & Thought 100% Organic Farm Market and Whole Foods Market, in Naples; For Goodness Sake Organic Market- place & Café, in Bonita Springs; and Chef Brooke’s Natural Café, in Fort Myers. Individuals that relish whole- some food and helpful information appreciate these venues’ scrumptious meals, local organic produce and edu- cational classes, such as For Goodness Sake’s How to Transition to a Healthier Lifestyle, to be held March 29. Shifting to new ways of eating and increasing physical activity to enjoy better health are achievable, if chal- lenging, goals and like every worth- while journey, begin with a first, small step. Southwest Florida’s health practi- tioners and marketplaces offer a helpful guidepost: Start here.
For more information about the Fit- Friendly Southwest Florida Initiative, contact Diane Holm, Healthy Commu- nities Healthy People Coordinator, at the Lee County Health Department at 239-332-9561. Also visit
LeeCHD.com.
Axis Natural Medicine, 7680 Cambridge Manor Place, Suite 100, Fort Myers; 239-288-0900.
AxisNaturalMedicine.com.
Bala Vinyasa Yoga Studio, 6200 Trail Boulevard North, Naples; 239-598-1938.
BVYoga.com.
Better Choices Health Coaching, Deborah Lee, Ph.D.; 239-580-7333.
BetterChoicesHealthCoaching.com.
Chef Brooke’s Natural Café, 1850 Boy Scout Drive, Fort Myers; 239-332-2433.
ChefBrookeOnline.com.
Food & Thought 100% Organic Farm Market, The Gateway of Naples, 2132 Tamiami Trail North, Naples; 239-213-2222.
FoodAndThought.com.
For Goodness Sake Organic Marketplace and Café, 9118 Bonita Beach Road, Bonita Springs; 239-992- 5838; and Berkshire Commons, 7211 Radio Road, Naples (Marketplace only; no café); 239-353-7778.
ForGoodnessSake123.com.
Health Artisan, Reid Frauen; 239-297-0883.
HealthArtisan.com.
Perlmutter Health Center, Carol L. Roberts, M.D., ABIHM and Dee Harris, RD, LD/N, CDE, 800 Goodlette Road North, Suite 270, Naples.
PerlHealth.com.
Tina’s Table, Tina Bland; 239-403- 9860 or
Tinab27@Comcast.net.
Ursula Kaiser, 239-594-1201.
UrsulaKaiser.com.
Whole Foods Market, The Mercato, 9101 Strada Place, Naples; 239-552-5100.
WholeFoodsMarket.com/stores/naples. natural awakenings March 2012 33
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