What if the food you consume did more than just nourish your body? What if it could heal, uplift, and elevate your energy, shaping your life from the inside out? In a recent episode of the Healthy Point of View podcast, Sam Tejada, CEO and founder of Liquivida®, invited Celebrity Chef Lauren Vanderpool and Corey Jacobs, CEO and founder of Winnergy, for a fascinating conversation on health, food as medicine, and the power of energy in healing.
Lauren, a celebrated chef and holistic health expert, has worked with some of the most recognizable names on the planet, including Serena Williams and Michelle Obama. Her approach to food goes beyond just nutrition; it’s about infusing meals with energy and positive intention. As she shares, food is not just fuel; it’s medicine.
The #1 Biohack You’re Missing | Lauren Von Der Pool & Corey Jacobs | Ep. 39
The Power of Food as Medicine
Lauren’s journey into the world of holistic health began with her great-grandmother, a medicine woman from Guyana who inspired Lauren’s love for food and healing. She was introduced at a young age to the benefits of herbal treatments, such as cascara sagrada and castor oil. But it was a life-altering incident during her teenage years that truly awakened her understanding of the body’s resilience and the power of food. That pivotal moment pushed her to reevaluate what she was putting into her body—and more importantly, why.
This epiphany was further ignited when she stumbled upon the book, Heal Thyself for Health and Longevity by Queen Afua, which deepened her understanding of how food can be used as medicine.
At the age of 15, Lauren switched to a raw food diet and a vegan lifestyle as part of her quest for health. Making dietary changes was only one aspect of her journey; another was discovering a stronger bond with her purpose and self.
Healing Energy: The Mind-Body Connection
The energy required to prepare food is as important as the ingredients. Food prepared with resentment or unpleasant feelings can directly affect the experience of the people who consume it. All of our actions involve energy, and eating is no different.
To center herself and make sure her energy is in line with joy, thankfulness, and positive intention, Lauren does breathwork and meditation before cooking, turning the food she is about to prepare into a therapeutic encounter. She feels that by bringing positive energy into her meals, food may be used as a medicinal tool to improve the body, mind, and spirit.
Intuitive Cooking and Personalizing Diets
As a chef, Lauren is not a fan of conventional recipes. Instead, she cooks intuitively, drawing inspiration from the energy surrounding her and her strong bond with the ingredients. She approaches cooking like an artist creating a work of art. She believes she can access information from another place by harmonizing with the correct energy, making cooking seem like a divine download.
Lauren also underlined the significance of customized diet plans. She employs kinesiology testing to identify the ideal ingredients for each individual based on their own body requirements. For Lauren, attaining maximum health requires knowing each person’s requirements and developing personalized diet programs.
The Role of Sound and Environment in Healing
Herbs and food alone are not enough to heal; the environment and sound are crucial to the healing process. Lauren sets the mood for her work and her clients’ healing experiences by using tuning forks and singing bowls to produce the ideal vibrations. She explains that every element in the environment—from the energy of the space to the sounds present—contributes to the overall effect of the food and wellness practices.
The energy of the environment impacts everything, and by creating a space filled with positive vibrations, healing is amplified, not just for the food but for everyone who enters it. Lauren says this practice is crucial for creating a comprehensive healing experience that supports the body and the soul.
Fasting and Wellness
Fasting, which Lauren began doing at the age of 16, is another component of her holistic approach to wellness. She advises the proper way to fast, starting with a three-day cleanse and working your way up to juices and coconut water. She recommends using herbs like wormwood and sarsaparilla during fasting to aid the body’s self-cleansing process.
According to Lauren, fasting is about paying attention to the body and letting it heal itself, not just about avoiding food. She makes it very evident that if the body is given the correct conditions, nourishment, and intention, it can repair itself. Fasting may reset the body and enable it to function at its best when done intentionally and consciously.
The Importance of Self-Care for Healers
One of Lauren’s most profound lessons is the importance of self-care for those who dedicate their lives to helping others. In their efforts to care for others, healers, caregivers, and those working in the wellness industry frequently overlook their own needs. Lauren, who has personally experienced this, stresses the importance of taking a moment to reflect, refocus, and refuel before continuing to offer.
Her message is clear: to heal others, you must first heal yourself.
Gratitude and Healing: The Path to Renewal
Lauren highlights the importance of happiness and thankfulness, particularly for struggling people. “Gratitude can change your energy and give you the clarity you need to get through difficult times,” she says. It gives people a fresh sense of strength and purpose.
Her path is one of fortitude and self-determination. She has triumphed against hardship to become a pioneer in the field of holistic wellness and health, demonstrating that mental and spiritual well-being are just as important to genuine healing as physical well-being.
She is currently writing her first culinary memoir, which will tell her story and the lessons she has discovered along the way.