Author Bernie Bohan tells Patricia Westonhow she took her health into her own hands by changing her diet and creating her own alternative prescription
Do you keep fit?
Yes I keep fit. I use the trampoline with my 12-year-old daughter Julie. I also have a rebounder that I use indoors when it's raining. I think jumping is a wonderful way to keep fit.
It's great for getting the heart and lymph system going and it really shakes things up around the body.
I also lift weights at home to fend off osteoporosis. I bought a set of dumbbells and I have a DVD to work to. I'd do that a couple of times a week. I also do a lot of walking and cycling with Julie.
I do yoga too and I love that, I think it's great for stretching the body and calming the mind.
Is exercise important for you?
Yes you really have to enjoy exercise and you have to make it fun. I exercise with Julie and she's great fun to play with because children have no inhibitions.
Tell us about your diet?
I had cancer seven years ago, when I was 33. For 12 years I had been in remission and then it came back. I decided to take my health into my own hands and created my own alternative prescription, while undertaking conventional treatments.
When your back is against the wall you have to do something so I changed my diet in the past seven years.
I got into juicing because it's an effective way of healing the body. I eat dehydrated foods. When you heat food above 43 degrees you destroy the enzymes. I have a drying machine that pulls moisture out of the food; it's great and very effective.
I also eat lots of disease-fighting foods like sprouts, garlic and broccoli and I don't touch sweets or chocolate or coffee.
Are you a fan of alternative remedies?
Oh yes, big time. I don't take any medication. I use homeopathy and I like to experiment with different things.
I think you have to do your bit too rather than hand over the responsibility of your body to a health practitioner; you have to look after your own health.
Patricia Weston recommends:
Here are some of Bernie's diet principles that have helped change her life for the better.
Juice:Juicing "enables you to consume large quantities of raw fruits and vegetables. These juices are very easily assimilated by the body and provide large amounts of nutrients," she says.
Water:It's important to drink water throughout the day to cleanse your system, it's also important, according to Bernie, to ensure the water you are drinking is clean and purified.
Essential fats:The body does not produce essential fats so it is important to consume them.
Contrary to popular belief, according to Bernie, "essential fats do not make us fat, excess of carbohydrates make us fat."
Fats balance hormones, keep your skin and hair healthy, are great for the brain and improve joint mobility.
Enzymes:These convert foods into nutrients for the body. Bernie dehydrates foods to keep their enzymes in tact. She recommends an enzyme supplement to improve digestion and nutrient absorption.
Probiotics:"Probiotics enhance the immune system and prevent unfriendly organisms from gaining a foothold in the body," she says.
She recommends taking probiotic supplements which should be broken open and used on food to keep the immune system strong.
Bernie Bohan is the author of The Choice, The Programme. It is a practical and easy-to-read guide, outlining the simple four-step plan that she says helped save her life.
For more information on Bernie and her programme, visit www.changesimply.com
Patricia Weston is an NCEHS fitness instructor, personal trainer and Pilates teacher.
•Consult a physician or qualified healthcare provider before embarking on any exercise regime and stop exercising if you feel nauseous or dizzy.