Helen Shair-Singh
Paola Henderson is a mother of two whose interest in nutrition was piqued by the health problems of her elder child, Tommy, who suffers from a rare congenital disorder known as Alagille Syndrome, which affects the functioning of his liver.
In 2011 Paola wrote and published a children's book, simply called "Tommy", about her experiences, with the intention of helping other families in similar situations, as well as to educate children about accepting others who may have been born "a little different."
In a quest to find the best way to manage Tommy's condition, Paola visited many doctors and health facilities, in both the US and South America, but was left confused and unsure about exactly what to do. She felt instinctively that his diet was a major factor, but the only advice she received from doctors wasto reduce his fat intake, which led to an unsuccessful experiment with low-fat foods.
Finally deciding to follow her instincts, Paola took her son to a holistic doctor in Barbados, who immediately advised her to change Tommy's diet to gluten-free, sugar-free, dairy-free and soy-free.
Paola decided to try this approach, although she describes the first few weeks as being "hell", since her son, at this time six years old, was used to eating everything. However she and her family immediately noticed drastic improvements in her son � the colour of his skin cleared up, his skin was not as itchy, he had more energy, and was less susceptible to the flu. Even Tommy's teachers began commenting on how much more alert and attentive he became at school.
This astonishing improvement inspired Paola to increase her knowledge of nutrition, and she enrolled in an online program at the Institute for Integrative Nutrition, based in New York City, to become a Health Coach.
Aside from using the knowledge gained from the program to improve her son's life, she has now decided to make this her career, as she sees so many Trinidadians battling with chronic disease, poor eating habits, stress, low energy and unhappy day-to-day lives. Her focus is on busy women and moms struggling with preparing quick, easy meals for their families, while also taking care of themselves. She hopes to target schools by specifically changing the concept of 'tuck shop' meals to healthy, delicious whole foods and healthy snacks, instead of processed, packaged foods.
A Health Coach, while focusing on food and nutrition, also uses a holistic approach to their client's life, examining relationships, career and spirituality. After Paola sees clients for an initial consultation, they commit to meeting with her twice a month for six months, so that she can really make an in-depth assessment of their health needs, and thus a long-term difference in their lives.
For further information, visit Paola's website at www.paolahenderson.com, email her at healthcoach@paolahenderson.com.
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