Suzanne Lockhart
AN INTERVIEW
Once in a while a book comes along that can change your life and we think we’ve found that very book - Mad Diet. Don’t be fooled by the title, its author Suzanne Lockhart isn’t another health guru peddling yet another new diet. Suzanne is a woman on a serious mission, and is genuinely concerned about the catastrophic road we’re all heading down with our health.
As a food scientist, she’s worked in the food industry for 20 years, ultimately becoming VP of a global organisation. What’s perhaps even more significant is that she’s used her knowledge and experience to heal herself from chronic depression and ill health via food and nutrition. Suzanne tells me, “I wrote the book because people need to know what’s going on and there’s too much censorship in the media”. We feel that what she’s written is a revelation.
“I started by self–publishing the book” she explains, “and then suddenly all these letters started to come in from women, telling me that I’d changed their life!” “Some brought a tear to my eye, but made me jump off that cliff and dedicate my life to building awareness and warning people of what’s happening”. Having been on the front line, Suzanne has seen what goes into food - and the way large corporations are influencing government policies. “People aren’t aware of the micronutrient deficiencies within the Western Diet, and the authorities aren’t going to change any time soon”, she continues, “we have to start at the grass roots, women sharing information to change their own lives, good old-fashioned word- of-mouth”
Single mother Suzanne thinks it’s time we took back responsibility for our own health, and that’s exactly what she did herself. Having suffered for years from mental-health problems with depression and being an “unhealthy size 24”, she fed herself healthy food, with additional nutritional supplements. No longer reliant on anti-depressants, she’s a healthy size 14, and neither she nor her converted 19-year-old son have visited a GP for years.
In the book Suzanne explains, in straight-talking language, what we should and shouldn’t be eating. Read how to make simple healthy adjustments, to avoid unhealthy chemicals which, as she puts it, will make you “mad, fat or both”. She also explains the importance of the “big 4” nutrients in our diet: magnesium, vitamin B complex, pro-biotics and omega 3 - and if you head over to the Mad Diet website, you can get what you need.
To put it simply, if you care about your health or anyone else’s for that matter, we think you can’t afford not to read this book. Suzanne is a pioneer for an overdue change in our health system. We’re sure Mad Diet will be the beginning of a very positive change for ourselves and ultimately everyone else. Isn’t it time we took responsibility for our own health, to consider prevention instead of cure?
We asked Suzanne our 5 Beautiful Thinking questions and wish her the very best with her book!
1. What’s the best thing about getting older?
Experience and wisdom, plus the confidence I didn't have as a kid.
2. Who is your female inspiration and why?
I have been inspired by many men and women (alive and dead) - it's impossible to pick just one.
3. What’s your top tip for growing old gracefully, perhaps one beauty tip?
I use the 80/20 rule. 80% is what we put in our bodies and 20% what we put on it. Nutrient rich food is a must, topping up with specific micronutrient supplements as required - like The Big 4. Organic toiletries and skincare products is important too. Getting enough sleep and taking time out to relax is an important factor too.
4. What would your younger self say to you now?
Stay curious and question everything. Every experience - good and bad - will take you to where you are meant to be - just go with it and enjoy the ride.
5. What are your dreams for your future?
Taking the Mad Diet message global to help other women overcome mental illness through nutritional intervention - just as I did.