Buch lesen: «Wellness by Instinct. The Power of Discipline and Intuition»

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Editor-in-Chief: M. E. di Cervini

Managing Editor: E. Dorogova

Senior Proofreader: B. Monk

Chief Copy Editor: N. Kurchanov

Lead Photographer: E. Basyrova

Photographer: E. Davies

No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the copyright owner.

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Acknowledgements

I want to give my deepest thanks to my parents. From a young age, you both set the example of loving food and enjoying cooking, while also teaching me to be independent. Your passion in the kitchen started my own journey into wellness.

To my children, Mickey, Maxie, and Mark, thank you for teaching me patience and understanding. You remind me every day of the importance of balance and the beauty of caring for others.

To my husband, Pavel, thank you for your constant support and for always asking about my progress. Even though you’ve heard me talk about health for so long, your excitement – real or not – kept me motivated to keep writing.

A big thank you to my friend and publisher, Marina Eugenie di Cervini. Your support and guidance throughout this process have been invaluable.

Lastly, to my amazing girlfriends, thank you for pushing me to write this book. Without your belief in me, it wouldn’t exist today. This is as much your book as it is mine.

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Introduction

• I’m just like you
• How it started for me

I’m just like you. Not a doctor. Not a scientist. Just someone who loves to learn and share what I’ve picked up along the way – be it from books, my studies at nutrition school, and my culinary training at Le Cordon Bleu. Insights from health giants like David Sinclair and other leading figures in the field have also been instrumental. It’s been quite the journey, and if there’s anything I’ve learned, it’s that sharing our stories can sometimes light up the path for someone else. That’s what I hope to do for you.

Ever since I was a little kid, I’ve had this special thing with food. Growing up in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, I was sur-rounded by the vibrant flavours and aromas of my parents’ cooking. By the time I was 7, I was already putting together full meals by myself! My love for cooking all started with my dad teaching me the basics. Both of my parents were wizards in the kitchen, and I cherished every moment spent by my dad’s side, feeling like a mini master chef. Those times in Tashkent, surrounded by the smells of my mum’s cooking, are super precious to me.

I remember walking around the kitchen, feeling really grown-up and essential, like my family’s happiness de-pended on me and the meals I made. My parents even trusted me to head out to the bazaar to buy vegeta-bles, fruits, and grains. Oh, those days at the bustling Eastern bazaar in Uzbekistan, with its mountains of grains and spices! Choosing rice for plov from 10–20 different varieties was my specialty, and boy, was I good at it. I turned selecting the perfect rice into an art form, much to the delight of my mum, who would always laugh at my serious dedication to the task.

I’m here to chat, like a friend over coffee, though I must confess – I’m more of a green tea fan. We’ll dive into all the twists and turns that have led me to some pretty cool insights about health, happiness, and everything in between. It’s not just about eating your veggies or getting a good night’s sleep – though those are part of the picture. It’s about finding a balance, where intuition meets science, and where you can be kind to yourself and the planet too.

Join me on a journey where making smart choices leads to healthier living, and every meal brings us one step closer to feeling great. Through my adventures in cooking and health coaching, I’ve seen just how much what we eat affects our wellbeing. Like you, I’ve looked through lots of diet trends and confusing nutrition advice.

This book isn’t just a collection of ideas; it’s a reflection of my life’s work, merging the art of cooking with the science of healthy living. I’ve moved through the tough recovery from three C-sections, managed the challenges of raising three kids, and balanced the demands of a busy household while trying to make healthy choices. Along the way, I’ve experimented with various diets – veganism, raw eating, pescetarianism – you name it.

“Here’s the thing: wellness isn’t just about avoiding illness. It’s about thriving.”

This book is my heart on a plate, sprinkled with everything I’ve learned from my studies, countless books, people I consulted and chats with food lovers just like you. My goal? To help you on your journey to feeling great, in body, mind, and spirit.

I’ve sometimes pushed myself too hard, striving for more while being too tough on myself. But through it all, I’ve learned how to love and appreciate my body. Over the years, I’ve accumulated a vast amount of health knowledge that began to feel overwhelming, like a swamp. This book is my way of turning that swamp into a flowing stream, making sense of the clutter and sharing it in a way that can be easily understood.

After I finished my studies at Le Cordon Bleu in 2013, things took a bit of a twist. I loved working in a restaurant, but when I got pregnant with my third son, the long hours and tough conditions in the kitchen just didn’t work for me anymore. But, life has a way of opening new doors when others close. A few years later, I started teaching my own cooking classes in London’s Covent Garden. At the same time, I got to help out a healthy café by creating menus for them and other new places getting ready to open.

My adventure didn’t stop at cooking. I dived into learning about nutrition too, studying at CNM and then at the Institute for Integrative Nutrition (IIN), where I learned how food can be good for your whole self, not just your body. In 2014, I decided to go fully vegan, after being vegetarian for a while. My classes turned entirely to focus on plant-based eating, and I’ve loved every second of sharing what I know and love about this way of cooking and living.

I don’t claim to have all the answers, and I’m not always at peace or at ease. Life is a process, and we’re al-ways learning. But let me show you what I’ve learned along the way. This book is for you – whether you’re making big changes or small adjustments. If it shifts your perspective, introduces a new habit, or simply makes you feel understood, then it has succeeded. Your success is my success. Let me help you. Let’s begin this journey to better health, together.

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