Are We What We Eat & Drink?

Let me begin with a story, one that might make you smile—a tale of our golden retriever, a flame-colored bundle of love. When he first came into our lives, we were told to feed him a specific brand of food, a requirement for his "health warranty" to remain intact. Assurances were made: this was the finest nourishment, crafted for his well-being.

Yet, as days passed, his soft golden coat masked a silent struggle. The itching began—an unrelenting discomfort. We sought answers from the vet, but our worries were brushed aside, reduced to a passing phase. "He’ll outgrow it," they said. But we watched. We listened. His body spoke in welts and restless nights.

Concern deepened, and we sought another voice, another set of eyes willing to truly see. A different vet, a woman with a gentle hand and an open heart, looked beyond the surface. She heard his story. She gave us remedies, but more importantly, she was totally open to a discussion on changing his diet. And so we did.

From our own hands, we prepared his meals—wholesome, nourishing, true food. Slowly, his suffering softened. The itching faded. His coat gleamed richer, his spirit shone brighter. What was masked in illness revealed itself in health.

And so, something we had always believed revealed itself with our beautiful puppy. Two things shone brightly—food does matter to our health and well-being and to that of our furry friends, and we must never be afraid to seek out someone who will listen to our story and truly see.

We are no different from our four-legged companions. What enters us shapes us—our strength, our clarity, our very essence. Healing begins with awareness, with the simple, sacred act of choosing well.

But change is not always easy. I have seen it in those I’ve guided—how the body, accustomed to artificial comforts, cries out when denied them. Addiction is not just in substances illicit and feared; it lives in processed sugar, in fizzy sodas, in the deceptive embrace of packaged convenience.

So, pause. Look to your pantry with new eyes. What do you reach for without thought? What truly nourishes, and what merely fills? Take it slow—replace, restore, renew.

Sometimes, the busyness of life and the distractions around us push our bodies beyond what is healthy. Take a moment to listen. Listen to your body as it will “coach you”. Listen, and just as we did for our beloved pup, seek those who will listen to you. Through our own healing journey—and that of our beloved dog—we’ve learned that not every healer truly listens, and not every expert truly sees. But your story, your body, and your health do matter. And so does the health of those you have under your loving care.