So glad you asked! I recently had the absolute pleasure of interviewing Dr. Terry Wahls. If you have a read and think: Wow! which of course you will, the show is live and you can click through from the show notes.
Terry is firstly a clinical professor of medicine at the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine in Iowa, U.S.A. There she teaches internal medicine residents in their primary care clinics.
Alongside her teaching work, Terry Wahls is a respected and prolific clinical researcher over 60 peer-reviewed scientific abstracts, posters, and papers published. The real claim to fame for this incredible doctor is her own personal health story.
Her Story
Terry was diagnosed with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (a chronic and increasingly progressive disease) in 2000. She underwent all the state of the art medications available for MS, and also did chemotherapy and was eventually using a wheelchair due to weakened back muscles. It was only a matter of time before she would be wheelchair bound, a devastating reality for a once elite athlete.
She began to search for answers, combining her incredible scientific background in clinical research with a newfound interest in functional medicine (namely the aspect of vitamin supplementation) to create a list of nutrients which would slow the decline of her body, potentially quieten her disease symptoms and support her brain health.
Changing her diet
With this research came the epiphany that essential brain nutrients could be garnered from foods rather than just relying on supplements – always best whenever possible and when gut health is ok, given foods will give you the greatest bioavailability possible. She adapted the hunter-gatherer diet mentality to create her own personalised way of eating alongside medical techniques like neuromuscular electrical stimulation, to turn things around for herself. In December 2007, seven years after her diagnosis Terry began what is now known as the Wahls Protocol™. Within a year, Terry Wahls was able to walk through the hospital without a cane and even complete an 18-mile bicycle tour! An absolutely incredible transformation.
Check her out
If you want to see more of Terry Wahls then here are some awesome resources.
- My podcast with Terry where we talk about her journey with MS, her thoughts on autoimmune diseases, the latest science and The Wahls Protocol.
- You can catch her Ted Talk here, currently watched by 2 million + viewers.
- If you’re in Australia, Terry Wahls is on tour! Terry is visiting both Sydney and Melbourne sharing her health journey and The Wahls Protocol™. Click on the link to purchase tickets.
- Visit her website for access to her books, resources, programs, articles and more.
Have you heard of Terry Wahls? What do you think of the Wahls Protocol™? Would love to hear your thoughts.
Real Food. Happy Bodies. Happy Planet.
