What exactly is a naturopathic doctor, and how did you become one?
Naturopathic doctors are trained as primary care providers who diagnose, treat, and manage patients with acute and chronic conditions while addressing disease and dysfunction at the cellular level. I became a naturopathic doctor in 2002. The catalyst was my own personal health journey where I had horrible eczema and gut issues which prompted me to see a naturopathic doctor for my own health. It was the only form of assessment and treatment that made sense where I was being looked at holistically: I changed my diet, lifestyle, and took nutritional supplements. I knew it was my calling as I always wanted to be in healthcare taking care of people, but I wanted to be in a career that was fulfilling and got to the root cause versus the symptom drug approach.
What can someone’s skin tell you about what’s happening inside their body? Which chronic illnesses can you ID just from the way someone looks?
A patient’s key is the window into what might be happening on the inside of the body. Hormone imbalances, food intolerances, malnutrition, and eating the wrong types of foods that include gluten, dairy, sugar, and wine can trigger inflammation in the body. I created the four faces of aging: gluten, dairy, sugar, and wine to explain what these foods and drinks do to our body and skin.
Once you diagnose someone with an autoimmune disorder, what kind of treatment regime do you typically tend to put together?
I look at in-depth blood work using various autoimmune markers and diet and lifestyle changes to turn the autoimmune around, which happens once the patient changes diet, lifestyle, and exercise.
How is the gut related to your overall health, and why do you think such an important link often gets overlooked?
The gut makes up most of the immune system, so disease and cure starts in the gut. Managing the gut by correcting imbalances, clearing out bacteria and parasites, and repairing the intestinal mucosa is key to optimizing the health and wellbeing of my patients.
“I knew naturopathy was my calling as I always wanted to take care of people, but I wanted to be in a career that got to the root cause versus the symptom drug approach.”
Which foods will make you look and feel younger, and which ones are on the Dr. Talib Do Not Touch List?
Eating the rainbow: rich orange coloured vegetables, purple vegetables and fruit, and deep green vegetables make up the strong antioxidants that help our cells repair and our skin glow.
You’ve said that your book, Reverse the Signs of Ageing, isn’t just an anti-aging plan, but a life plan. What do you mean by that?
Anti aging is something we all want but it’s more about living a life where we feel optimal and that this plan is truly a life plan that encompasses the wellbeing of the mind, body, and spirit.
Is it true that lifestyle changes such as diet and exercise can actually replace things like fillers and cosmetic surgeries?
Nothing can really replace fillers or cosmetic surgeries; those are harsh adjustments to the foundation of a patient’s skin and bone structure. But optimizing your diet and lifestyle can create glowing and clear skin.
Your patients have included everyone from Penelope Cruz to Kate Bosworth to ordinary people. What’s the funniest anecdote you can tell us about working so close to the klieg lights of Hollywood?
All my patients are in some ways like my children whether they be celebrities, mothers, fathers… they all want the same thing: optimal health and wellbeing, and I’m always there to coach them, mentor them and support their health goals.
“We spend the first half of our lives trying to get wealthy and the second trying to get healthy. Don’t take your health for granted—once it’s gone it’s hard to get back.”
What do people get wrong about beauty, health, and anti-aging that you wish you could make them understand better?
That beauty starts from within. Supplements you take and food you eat will determine how quickly you age and how healthy your body is. We cannot get all our nutrients from food, so nutritional supplements made well can give you healthy skin, hair, and nails as well as a strong immune system.
How has Sollis been able to support your healthcare journey?
Sollis has given me peace of mind that in case of emergency, I have a team of doctors and nurses who will care for me with cutting edge imaging and acute care.
Any good words to live by?
We spend the first half of our lives trying to get wealthy and the second trying to get healthy. Don’t take your health for granted as once it’s gone it’s hard to get back.
