TESTIMONIALS

I have been a yo yo dieter most of my life so can truly say I have tried every diet ever invented. So its no wonder I got to a stage where I was completely confused about was I was meant to be eating, with the focus always being weight loss, weight loss, weight loss.
I also got to the stage where I just felt unwell and clearly my body wasn't working as it should be. I had no choice but to trust Alison's advice as I had quite literally 'hit a wall' and for the first time ever it wasn't about weight loss, but concern for my health.I quite literally needed someone to say, this is what you should be eating.From the very start I loved the food choices I was making, I was eating like a queen and for the first time in my life was not on a diet or feeling deprived of the forbidden foods I would normally be craving for.
After 6 months my energy was at an all time high and my health the best its been in years. (I have the blood results to prove it)
Who would have thought that NOT dieting would also pay off, as since meeting Alison less than a year ago I have lost 20 kilos. And while its not ever been about the weight loss I can totally understand why I am at a healthy weight now. Its simply because I am not starving my body of the foods it needs to function properly so I am never hungry and never feeling like I am on a short term program. This is for life and I have never felt better!                                  

 Louise Parsons - Napier

While working as a Staff Nurse at Hastings Memorial Hospital, I fell ill with ME (Myalgic Encephomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome) in September 1991. I returned to Northern Ireland where I was bed-ridden and housebound for three years and had to be looked after by my parents.
In October 1995 I returned to Hawkes Bay and continued some sort of recovery until about the Millennium when my illness began to worsen again with migraines, lack of energy and bad digestion being the major symptoms. Over the next eight years, three medical consultants, several GP's and many alternative practitioners failed to diagnose what was causing my migraines and other symptoms. Because I had ME the doctors simply put me in the 'too hard' basket and didn't even investigate the possibility that something else might be the cause of my problems. The medical profession failed me totally. For the past two years the frequency of the migraines were as often as three days a week and diarrhoea an almost daily occurence. I had no energy and lived a very restricted and miserable existance feeling absolutely terrible. Thankfully in January 2009 it was suggested that I see nutritionalist Alison Cowell and at the first consultation,where I was tested for food intolerances, Alison found that I was intolerant to yeast, wheat, dairy produce, eggs, tomatoes, sugar and even my favourite fruit bananas. I was stunned. These were the ingredients which made up my very healthy (that is for other people) bland diet and foods which I liked and chose. Alison told me that in six years of testing people for food intolerances mine were the worst results. No wonder I felt nearly dead. As of that date I went gluten free and cut out all the foods Alison diagnosed I was intolerant to. Within a week I noticed an improvement and within ten days I had phoned my family in Northern Ireland to tell them that I had been given the key to unlock the illness and had grasped it with both hands. Two months later I am 'living' again and walking up to 2 miles a day. Before I could barely make it to my mailbox. The headaches have gone, the 'foul head' has gone, the muscle weakness has gone, the joint pain has gone and I am also sleeping better. My digestion still needs to improve but I am assured that that will happen over the next few months. It has been a revelation and I am so thankful I took up the suggestion to see Alison. I am convinced that a huge number of people could improve their health by identifying how food may be affecting them as many doctors are uninformed at just how ill people can become if they have developed food intolerances.

Jessica

Havelock North
(Jessica was so pleased with her recovery, she wanted to raise awareness and help others so she reported her story to the newspaper. The article appeared in Hawke's Bay Today, 30th March 2009)

Prior to seeing Alison I had been suffering from a painful and distressing medical condition for 5 years. I’d been covered in itchy spots on my legs, backs and arms. Large nasty holes that I would rip open especially while I slept, they itched so badly. Specialists diagnosed a dozen different ‘ailments’ over the years. I took assorted antibiotics – sometimes for as long as 6 months. I drank potions to treat it internally. I tried creams and lotions – you name it. The medical profession had NO idea what to do about it. Meanwhile I was becoming more and more distressed AND scarred as the holes got larger and nastier.

Under Alison’s guidance, I altered my diet and the spots started to heal up WITHIN DAYS. By day 7 of my new healthy eating plan I was itch free and did not have a single ‘open’ spot.....I could sleep without scratching, wear close-fitting clothes without them rubbing and irritating my skin and I could hug my boyfriend without needing to pull away and scratch! The scars are healing well some 6 weeks later. I struggle to find adjectives to explain the relief and delight this brings me after so many years of what I can only describe as hell.

Joan

Hastings

"Alison has changed the way I think about food completely. Over years and years I have been on and off fad diets with no luck, I now understand doing a lot more harm than good!! I have always suffered with constipation and lack of energy. I was thinking I was being healthy by making "healthy salad sandwiches" but Alison identified that I was intolerant to yeast and cheese so for me it wasn’t healthy at all. She cut them out of my plan, which has worked wonders for my health and my life too. I now have much more energy and very rarely suffer with constipation (only if I get a bit slack on the plan).

Alison is an inspirational woman, and no-one could do the job she does with such care and devotion. I have recommended her to many friends (and strangers too!) and will carry on doing so as she has changed my life for the better."

Donna

Greenmeadows

"I had a rash appear around my lips and went to my doctor. She gave me some ointment but it didn't work. When I went back she gave me another prescription for more ointment which also didn't work, so I went back again and the process was repeated. When that didn't work, she recommended a skin specialist and I had to wait 4 months to see him. He advised he had no idea what it was but gave me a prescription for yet another ointment, plus a course of antibiotics for a month. I did start this regime then thought how silly it all was. Luckily I heard Alison speak and booked an appointment right away. She did her analysis, identifying some food intolerances I had and made several suggestions on what to eat plus some supplements to take. My lip cleared up in about 3 wks. I can highly recommend Alison she is very good at what she does and is happy to answer questions after her initial visit as well."

Viv

Napier

"Growing up with a mother who is a chef and having a keen interest in food myself, I'd never really thought too more about what happened after I ate it!! Alison really opened my eyes to my own digestive "personality". I soon discovered that there was a reason why I was tired and bloated after certain food and having eliminated them from my diet, (by choice) I bounce out of bed in the morning and I haven't been sick in more than a year!!"

Maxine

Taradale

"Having suffered with psoriasis for many years, I had resigned myself to the fact that it was something I just had to put up with – until I met Alison. She explained that my digestive system was not working efficiently and identified that I was very intolerant to tomatoes. I followed the eating plan she prepared for me and watched my skin get better each day. I cannot thank her enough for the change this has made to me."

Graham

Hastings

"I have been overweight since having my children and tried lots of diets over the years. When I heard one of Alison’s talks, it struck me that she focused on being healthy rather than losing weight so I made an appointment. She told me in simple language how my body works and what might be making me put on weight. The eating plan I had from her was simple and full of food that I can easily eat. I lost 10kg over a year and it is still coming off. I would like to say thank you to Alison and I have recommended her to my family and friends."

Gay

Napier

"Have noticed a huge improvement in my digestion, have lots more energy, haven’t had any headaches, lost bloated feeling as well as some weight. When I don’t stick to the plan I really notice it afterwards."

Claire

Napier

"Alison is an inspiration! Her bright humour and bubbly personality make it easy to talk to her and she understands what your problems are. I have never enjoyed such good health since meeting her. My cholesterol is lower than it has been for many years, even my doctor was surprised."

Nigel

Havelock North

"I had really bad stomach pains before I saw Alison but I do not get them now. Thanks to Alison I have tried eating many different new foods which has not only helped me but also my family. We are all feeling healthier and have more energy. I especially liked the recipes at the back because I had got into a rut and kept making the same meals over and over again."

Mary

Clive

"What I like best about Alison’s approach is that she simply tells you what’s good for you and what’s bad (I was intolerant to eggs, yeast and nuts). Her plan is great, full of personal and informative information, allowing you to choose what and how you eat, knowing it will help you. She even said I can still drink red wine! I have noticed a difference in my skin – the reason I went to see her - and I don’t feel anywhere near as sluggish as I did, plus I have lost weight which is a nice bonus."

Jane

Bay View

The eating plan has been a life-changing experience, that's for sure. I've
lost 5kg in a month, my sugar cravings have pretty much gone, and I'm
feeling so much better it's just amazing . My
blood sugar levels have normalised - I no longer get hungry or shaky. I'm
feeling a lot better about life, and just incredulous that the sugar
cravings have gone - how lucky that I found your ad!!!
Alison was great, and I think this wonderful service is such value for
money! I now have an extensive eating plan and food list to help my system out, and am so much more in touch with how I can help my body work properly. Alison was extremely thorough and her sessions really helped put a name to all the niggling problems I had. Thank you so much, Alison!

Liz

Taradale

If you have any feedback or comments from the services you have received, please email info@healthyeating.net.nz or write to P.O.Box 7308, Taradale, Napier 4141 thank you.