Afya Ibomu: Certified Holistic Health Counselor, Entrepreneur, and former personal Nutritionist for Erykah Badu talks with us about healthy living & healthy alternatives:

ymib: What are some of the biggest misconceptions that you have heard about becoming a vegetarian or vegan, and how do you usually respond to these misconceptions?

Afya: One of the most common misconceptions is that vegetarians only eat “rabbit food”. I understand why people think that. Most people are used to the propaganda that health food tastes dry, bland and bad. I usually respond with: “well do you like red beans and rice, collard greens, cornbread, candied yams, and corn on the cob?” That’s what I mean by health food. Keeping some of the traditional food that we all love but making it healthy and tasty.

ymib: What was your inspiration behind pursuing a career in holistic health?

Afya: I battled with my own health from birth. I had asthma, allergies, irritable bowl syndrome and a temperature problem as a child. I was on about 7-8 different medications that I had to take 3 times a day. At a certain point I began to throw a little out at a time (of course not telling my mother) because I felt that it was not working and I was tired of being experimented on. When I turned 15, I was having terrible migraines, and my mom found a “specialist”. He told me that my migraines might be caused by the foods I was eating. I was very shocked because after all of these years I spent in and out of the doctor’s office, I never heard that. Then rapper, KRS-ONE, also had a song called “beef” out at that time. That song talked about the health risks associated with eating meat and vegetarianism. So at 15 I stopped taking my medication and became a vegetarian. My health improved. At 22 I became a vegan. That is when I really began to see a drastic improvement in my health. A few years later my mother was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. She battled with it for 2 years, doing what the doctors told her to do. After seeing her health decline, I could not take it and I convinced her to try a holistic way of healing and she did. Her health improved 90% and is no longer on any medication. That is when I decided to go to school to become a Certified Holistic Health Counselor.

So many black people are dying from diet related illnesses and I can’t just sit back and not try to help. The need in our community motivates me to be on this path.

ymib: How do you feel about vaccinations, and what are some healthy alternatives that we can give to our children and ourselves to keep our immune systems healthy and strong?

Afya: Well, I have a 4-year-old son, who was born at home and has not been vaccinated. I think that your body has a natural immunity that can be built up through fighting “childhood viruses” and by being given the proper tools. We as parents must regulate what our children eat and be examples of good health. Our children’s eating habits begin in the womb. The healthier we eat, the healthier our children will eat.

Some of the tools to obtain and maintain a healthy immune system are:

1. Water

2. Fresh fruits and vegetables

3. Whole grains, beans, nuts seeds

4. Herbs and seaweed

5. Rest and relaxation

6. Love

ymib: There are a lot of products out there that promote colon cleansing and detoxing, do you have any recommendations or recommended foods/mixtures that you would suggest to those who are looking to cleanse their colon or detox? And are there any ingredients or procedures that we should not pursue for these purposes?

Afya: Your colon becomes clogged from, eating too much processed foods (white rice, white bread, sugar, cookies, candy, etc.), meat, fast food, fried food, and not drinking enough water or eating enough fruits and veggies.

The first way to begin the colon cleansing process is to improve your diet and drink more water. Doing a detox either once a month, or once a season helps your body to naturally clean your colon out and begin to heal other areas of your body.

You can also utilize whole food products like fresh green vegetable juice, whole aloe juice, and herbs like senna to do a light colon cleanse. Please do not rely on powders or pills to clean you out. They are no substitute for a healthy diet.

Colonics are a good way to remove old impacted waste, but do not overuse them or depend on them to keep your colon healthy. They clean you out, but a healthy balanced diet along with detoxing will renew and regenerate your colon and keep it working properly.

ymib: What are some key herbs that we should always keep around the house and what are they good for?

Afya: When people ask me what supplements do I use I always say – herbs. Herbs are a whole food with so many vitamins, minerals, and necessary nutrients and all you have to do is drink a cup of tea. There are many controversies on herbs reacting negatively with prescription medicine. Healing with herbs is a science, so please consult a natural health care practitioner before adding healing herbs to your life.

Here is a list of herbs that I always keep in my house:

Astragalus is basic immune building herb. It is similar to Echinacea but can be taken continuously. (Do not give if there is a fever present.)

Alfalfa is high in iron and calcium. It is great for anemia, bones, joints and skin.

Nettle, or stinging nettle, is great for helping to relieve allergies. (Do not give to children under 4)

Aloe- a great laxative and soothes and heals the skin after it’s been burned.

Tea tree oil- I use tea tree oil for so many things. From mosquito bites, cleaning a wound, to brushing my teeth. It is basically a disinfectant and helps heal skin disorders. (Do not swallow or take internally)

ymib: How important are eating healthy foods to having a healthy sex life?

Afya: I have been blessed to be in a 13-year relationship. My relationship helps motivate me to stay healthy and feel good. Having a healthy lifestyle can improve your sex life by building your self-esteem, and stamina. It also keeps your blood flowing and free of toxins. Eating processed foods, trans fats, and junk food can contribute to sexual health issues such as yeast infections, uterine fibroids and cyst, breast and prostate cancers.

ymib: Women deal with so much stress in their lives, what healthy ways can we de-stress?

Afya: Exercise: is such a wonderful stress reliever. If you find a time and type of exercise that is right for you, it really helps. As your life changes, so will your work out routine. I used to take martial arts 3 days a week, four hours each class. I am a mother now and that doesn’t work for me any more. Now, I jog in the mornings before I begin my workday. Find what’s right for you and do it. Don’t give yourself any excuses.

Take time for yourself: even if it is just 5-10 minutes a day. Lock yourself in the bathroom, take a walk, or take the long way home and play your favorite music. Do something that is going to put your mind at ease and allow you to focus on only you (eating a pint of ice cream does not count).

ymib: A lot of our children suffer from allergies and sinus irritation, especially during the summer. Besides intaking plenty of water, what are some other ways that we can help our kids with allergies?

Afya: Reduce processed foods:(bread, cookies, sugar), artificial ingredients (food coloring, msg), eliminate or reduce dairy products, and increase their fruit and vegetable intake.

ymib: Can you recommend any herbal teas, foods, or products that are great for boosting our iron and energy level, and for aiding in the relief of cramps during their menstrual cycle?

Red raspberry leaf tea- cramps

Alfalfa- iron and energy

Ginseng- energy

Sometimes you need to rest. Take a 20-30 min nap if you can. Go to bed 30 min-1hr earlier when it’s that time of the month.

And eating plenty of fruits and vegetables.

ymib: What is one of your favorite live-food / holistic recipes?

Afya: I am foodie so I enjoy all types of cuisine. I am currently working on a vegan cookbook so it’s hard for me to choose my favorite recipe. This brother, Aris Tham, made my favorite live food recipe; he works with that vegesoul tour in Jamaica. He made a pie with plantain, avocado, olive and this crazy nut crust. The best I have ever had!

ymib: Favorite affirmation or inspirational quote?

Afya: I used to say, “I sure hope things will change”, then I learned that the only way things are going to change for me is when I change - Jim Rohn

ymib: Any Additional Comments or Advice?

Afya: live life!

About Afya

Afya is a Certified Holistic Health Counselor, Author, and Entrepreneur. She was the personal nutritionist for Erykah Badu on the World Wide Underground Tour and has been a Columnist in the San Francisco Bay View Newspaper. She produced, directed and starred in a local cable show in Brooklyn, NY called Mind, Body and Soul food. Afya has been a vegetarian for 16 years and a vegan for 9 of those years. Afya has a Crochet pattern book that will be release November 2006, called Get Your Crochet On! To contact Afya, please visit: www.nattral.com.

To purchase Vegetarian Sources of Protein, by Afya, please visit: www.bossupbu.com/veg.htm