Lydia

Lydia is a single mom of four fabulous boys, on a mission to share her passion for whole, healthy, real foods with the world! She enjoys living life one day at a time, from the inside out! Lydia believes that health is a choice, a right and a gift that we cannot take for granted, and in this day and age, unfortunately, must fight for!

Lydia started this blog to log her  journey with food and evolving food philosophies, along with her own personalized recipes. Along the way shifting over to a more traditional, real foods way of eating and incorporating the most natural, organic, nature intended foods possible. Thus ultimately leading to a more nourishing way of life!

The Mission of Divine Health

• to create a resource for others who are seeking to transition to consuming real foods, including how to properly prepare foods and include traditional food practices into your regime
• to offer wholesome gluten free recipes that steer clear of packaged/processed methods and avoid the use of numerous starches and carbohydrates to help with overall healing of the gut after years of damage from consuming gluten
• to share nutritional information and articles to create awareness regarding health issues we all may face
• to help families as they seek to nourish their kids with healthy foods and give fresh ideas to keep meal plans fun and exciting
• to offer e-books with recipes and menu plans, as well as consultation services.

Lydia’s Bio

For much of my adult life I have been very interested in health and nutrition. I read every book I could get my hands on. I sought many paths towards health and wellness, but none of them led me where I truly wanted to go. It was about 4 1/2 years ago that I discovered ‘Nourishing Traditions’ by Sally Fallon and that was the missing link for me. After that I discovered there was a whole wide world of people out there that think outside of the box. Through folks like the Weston A. Price Foundation, Nora Gedgaudas, Carolyn Dean, Julia Ross, Mark Sisson and many others, I have come to enjoy greater health by implementing what I have gleaned. I have learned that you can reverse many health maladies by simply consuming real nutrient dense foods and avoiding processed cheap foods. Thus discovering that the saying holds true, ‘You are what you eat!’ It has only been in the past few years that I have fully shifted my family over to real foods and away from processed foods completely. It has been a pleasure!!

After having completely eliminating processed foods, I have seen a lot of transformation health wise for myself. I no longer suffer from intense menstrual pains and cramps each month, nor the pain of mittelschmerz each month during ovulation. I also no longer suffer from random severe body aches and pains all up and down the right side of my body. Sinus infections used to plague me regularly, and I used to have to blow my nose constantly and produced a lot of mucous, but not anymore. I used to get migraines and headaches constantly and popped ibuprofen like it was candy. Now, I take ibuprofen once in a blue moon. I have seen my asthma symptoms dissolve, as well as seasonal colds and allergies. After having struggled with asthma since I was 12 I have learned how to manage any possible flare up through natural alternatives to inhalers. I also learned how to overcome adrenal fatigue, a malady that plagues most Americans today. Additionally, in early 2010, I learned I needed to stop consuming gluten, with this transition I have experienced many wonderful benefits as well. Overall, I have way more energy, lost 20 pounds and generally feel great in my own skin. I am no longer a slave to my cravings. I find great freedom in that alone.

In reflection of all of this I realize I lived much of my adult life encumbered by some sort of illness. At one point my illness became chronic and a due to an extremely intense season of challenge in my life I threw my hands in the air and said, ‘Enough is enough!’ I knew deep down that this was not how life should be and I took it upon myself to heal my weary soul and body. It wasn’t long before I was experiencing major health breakthroughs. This is what I long to share with others as well, that you don’t have to subsist in chronic ill health.

Fitness is also important to me. Gone are the days when people work physically hard, walk to school/work, and labor on the farms (well for the majority of us at least). I find that exercise is not the more crucial element in a healthy lifestyle, but it is a very important one. I love to push my body physically and benefit from the results. I also believe in the importance of rest when needed, as well as focusing on quality sleep. I thoroughly enjoy yoga, bike riding, kettlebells, dance and hope to one day join Cross Fit or take up martial arts.

I am currently enrolled in the Nutritional Therapy Association to become certified as a Nutritional Therapist. Additionally, I am a co-chapter leader for the Weston A. Price Foundation in Delaware County, Pa. (Find the group here on Facebook). I am also a member of the Nourished Living Network and had the chance to attend the Wise Traditions conference annually hosted by the Weston A. Price Foundation in the fall of 2010. Additionally, I attended the Holistic MBA Live training program in November of 2011 in Philadelphia.

In the Media

The Daily Times

Interview with Joey Fortman on Ben Fm Radio

Sharing Health & Wellness Column for Fig

 

Feel free to contact me with any thoughts or questions and I will be happy to oblige you in any way I can. Subscribe to my feed and never miss a post!