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Kinsale woman to reveal how she ‘cured' herself of Crohn's disease

March 15th, 2016 9:55 PM

By Southern Star Team

Cork nutritionist Karen Ward who will be appearing at this year's Mind, Body, Spirit and Yoga Festival taking place in the RDS in Dublin.

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Kinsale nutritionist Karen Ward will reveal how diet helped her cure her virulent Crohn’s disease when she speaks at  the Mind, Body, Spirit and Yoga Festival in Dublin

KINSALE nutritionist Karen Ward will reveal how diet helped her cure her virulent Crohn’s disease when she speaks at Ireland’s biggest well-being event – the Mind, Body, Spirit and Yoga Festival in Dublin, later this month.

The nutritional therapist, whose experience is now part of a Cork University linked research project, credits healthy eating with her recovery from an extreme form of the inflammatory gut disease.

‘At one stage I needed life-saving surgery and doctors told me a lifetime on medication was my only option but I have eaten my way back to health and feeling well again,’ said Karen, who is from Oysterhaven.

Karen, who has a clinic in Clonakilty, will be speaking about her journey and how diet can help people treat and prevent illness.

The young mum-of-two was working as an industrial psychologist when the illness that totally changed her life struck seven years ago.

‘I was told that as an auto-immune disease, Crohn’s has no cause and no cure, so I  began researching it intensively. From my studies and experience I know diet is the key and I now say I don’t have Crohn’s anymore. We have lost sight of food as medicine. What is on your plate determines your health. People don’t want to be digging their graves with their forks,’ she says.

There will be 75 talks by top Irish and international experts, plus exhibits by over 150 complementary and healing practitioners, at this year’s Mind, Body and Spirit expo.

Health scientist Dr Ailis Brennan will be exploring what motivates people into healthy eating, while nutritionist Alan Flanagan will show how 21st century lifestyles are making us seek fattening foods and how we can beat the bulge. UK stress expert Sandy Newbigging will provide the latest in stress-busting techniques with his mini-meditation master classes.

With over 150 stands visitors can explore everything from angels and aromatherapy to Reiki and reflexology, with sound therapy, massage, meditation, bio-energy healing, crystals, chakra tools, Tibetan bowls and yoga therapy.

The live stage will feature free entertainment with a lively mix of 45 performances including music, dance, drumming and yoga demonstrations, taking place over the three-day event.

And the Wellbeing studio offers the chance to enjoy sample classes and tasters of a wide variety of complementary and holistic therapies.

The Mind, Body, Spirit and Yoga Festival is on from March 18th-20th at the RDS in Dublin.

Tickets are €12, a three-day day pass is €30, and children are free. www.mindbodyspirit.ie

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