KDHamptons

KDHamptons: Please describe your occupation for KDHamptons readers?

Kathy Freston: I’m an author of 6 books on health and wellness, most recently, The Lean:  A Revolutionary 30 Day Plan for Healthy, Lasting Weight Loss. I believe that well being is holistic, meaning that we are multi-dimensional creatures…we can’t feel truly well if we are only physically healthy.  We have to feel emotionally charged up and geared toward personal growth if we want to be fulfilled and happy.  I talk about nutrition, healing, consciousness, relationships, and being game changers in a fast moving world. 

KDH: In your opinion, what is the best diet for women?

KF: A plant-based diet which is full of whole grains like brown rice and quinoa; beans and legumes such as lentils, chickpeas and black beans; veggies and fruits.   There are tons of phytonutrients in those foods that heal and energize the body on a deep level.  And by the way, what’s good for women is also really good for men and kids, too!  The Academy for Nutrition and Dietetics (formerly known as the American Dietic Association) says that, “appropriately planned vegetarian diets, including total vegetarian or vegan diets, are healthful, nutritionally adequate, and may provide health benefits in the prevention and treatment of certain diseases. Well-planned vegetarian diets are appropriate for individuals during all stages of the life cycle, including pregnancy, lactation, infancy, childhood, and adolescence, and for athletes.”

KDH: What are the great advantages of going vegan?

KF: On the health front, by the end of the first week of eating vegan, your weight is dropping.  By the second week, your blood pressure and blood sugar have gone down.  And by the third week, your cholesterol will have gone down significantly.  You might be interested to know that cholesterol is found only in animal foods and is significantly associated with living a shorter life, whereas fiber, which is found only in non-animal foods, is significantly associated with living longer.  Yep, only animals (humans included) produce cholesterol.  Eat them (not humans, I mean), eat their cholesterol.  Eat plant-based food and you get tons of fiber to clean you out, no cholesterol, and tons of super healthy phytonutrients! Beyond that, though, when you are eating things that are grown in the ground or on trees, you tend to feel good in your soul knowing that you aren’t eating things that came by way of suffering or pain.  When I look at meat, dairy, and eggs, I think of the animals who were caused great pain and fear as they became part of the food system, so those foods no longer hold sway over my cravings.

KDH: What is your favorite Hamptons restaurant?

KF: I like grabbing a bite at Golden Pear or Provisions (they have an amazing vegan tempeh Reuben) for lunch, and I like Almond for dinner.  I know I can get delicious healthy food at those places because the Wellness Foundation has given them menu ideas and their stamp of approval!  (It’s the  big “W” that I always look for!) I also love Nobu because they have fabulous tofu dishes (Tofu New Style is my fave), artichoke salad (hold the cheese), roasted cauliflower, and tomato ceviche.

KDH: What is your little secret about the Hamptons?

KF: My secret is Soft Serve Fruit Co; you can get it at Golden Pear and Hampton Coffee Co. I love the creamy banana..it the BEST non guilty guilty pleasure!

KDH: Describe your perfect Hamptons day in detail for KDHamptons readers?

KF: Well, I’d bring a thermos of coffee down to Gibson beach and watch the surfers catching some waves in the early morning.  Then I’d take a long, brisk walk and return home for a spelt muffin from Provisions.  After reading the papers on my iPad out on the porch, I’d read some emails and work on one of the writing projects I’ve started.  Even though it’s supposed to be vacation time, I love writing when things are relaxed and I don’t have a deadline.  I’d invite a few friends over for a big pasta with veggie sausage and a colorful salad from all the lettuces & fruits picked up at the stand on the way home from the beach.  After enjoying some Soy Delicious ice cream after lunch and saying goodbye to friends, I’d go upstairs to my room and meditate for a half an hour.  Then out to the pool to make phone calls while sitting in the shade, and catch up on my favorite book of the moment.  When it cools down enough, I’d do some yoga, followed by a shower to get ready for dinner.  Even though it’s the Hamptons and things are casual, I still like putting on a dress and some heels to go out for a festive dinner with some chilled Rose!

KDH: I know you promote a mind/body/spirit approach to health and happiness.  What is your advice in achieving a balance between the three?

KF: There is nothing that’s good for your body that’s not also good for your soul.  So if something doesn’t sit right with you at the heart level, you can be pretty sure it’s not good for your health either.  Listen to your inner voice; it knows!

**Kathy’s work has been featured on Dr. Oz, Ellen, Oprah, Good Morning America, and in the Huffington Post.