An Ounce of Prevention
by Bonnie KramerDirector, Nutritional Services
Preventive Medicine Center
A few months ago, Larry King interviewed Madonna on his CNN show. While not a particular fan of celebrity interviews, I was eager to see this show. I happened to know that Madonna and her family had adopted the macrobiotic lifestyle for the past 18 months, and I was interested in observing any changes in her appearance and to hear about the changes she had experienced over this time. I also happed to know the private cook she hired, Mayumi Nishimura, one of the best cooks and cooking teachers at the Kushi Institute in Becket, Mass. I had had the privilege of studying under, and cooking with, Mayumi several years ago at the K.!., and I was in awe of her consistent, calm demeanor, along with the fabulous meals she prepared. The energy of the cook is as important as the quality of the food, and it became immediately clear to me that Mayumi had been giving Madonna her best.
From the onset of the show, Madonna had a peaceful, yet radiant aura about her. She talked openly about the inner peace she had acquired, her contentment in marriage and motherhood, and the profound spiritual connection she had developed. When Larry King pressed her about how making a lot of money must have made her happy, she sincerely said that money can buy a lot of things, but inner peace and true happiness were not among them. The Material Girl found the spirituality that had eluded her for so long, and she stated she had never felt so happy as she does now.
Mr. King eventually moved on to Madonna's macrobiotic choice of eating. "I understand you eat macrobiotically now." "Yes, I do," she replied. I was ready for the coming question that reveals the common misperception many people have when inquiring about macrobiotic foods and laughed when he asked, "So what do you eat, rice and seeds?" And I applauded her calm but firm reply, "Larry, do I look like all I eat is rice and seeds?" Of course, he had to say, "No, you don't," and then Madonna went on to explain some of the many wholesome foods she and her family consume to maintain their nutritional balance. In a few short minutes, Madonna enlightened millions of people about the values of a wholesome diet. She articulated well, and also exemplified it through her healthful appearance and gentle, spiritual demeanor. She went on to say how thrilled she is to have the strength and energy to perform in her grueling world tour shows, quite a feat for someone in her 40's.
Rumor has it that Madonna was inspired towards macrobiotics by her husband, Guy Ritchie, and her close friend, Gwyneth Paltrow, both practitioners of the macrobiotic lifestyle. While people often adopt macrobiotic foods for ill-health reasons, a great many celebrities have done so to maintain their health, appearance, and abilities to perform. They have teamed the art of Preventive Medicinebalancing one's diet, exercise, work, and play to maintain the health and energy they value, while striving to prevent the onset of life-altering illnesses.
In essence, celebrities like Madonna have adopted the principles of the Preventive Medicine Center, achieving remarkable results. And so can you. We are happy to encourage our readers to contact the West Hartford Yoga Center for complementary classes in Yoga and lectures with Bill Spear and Tom Monte. And of course, our program would not be complete without our fabulous cooking class series instructed by our K.1. trained teachers. Please see our coming schedule in this newsletter and give our office a call. Spring will be here soon, and class size is limited, so don't miss this opportunity to reserve your place.
An ounce of prevention really is worth a pound of cure. We look forward to seeing you this Spring.