I want to spend my life 00:00:01.36\00:00:07.54 Mending broken people 00:00:07.57\00:00:12.34 I want to spend my life 00:00:12.37\00:00:18.68 Removing pain 00:00:18.71\00:00:23.59 Lord, let my words 00:00:23.62\00:00:29.96 Heal a heart that hurts 00:00:30.03\00:00:34.53 I want to spend my life 00:00:34.56\00:00:40.24 Mending broken people 00:00:40.27\00:00:45.74 I want to spend my life 00:00:45.77\00:00:51.21 Mending broken people 00:00:51.25\00:00:55.82 Hello and welcome to 3ABN Today. 00:01:10.70\00:01:12.60 My name is CA Murray, 00:01:12.63\00:01:14.14 and thank you for joining us today 00:01:14.17\00:01:15.80 in what should be an interesting 00:01:15.84\00:01:17.51 and informative time together 00:01:17.54\00:01:19.37 as we talk about health and wellness, 00:01:19.41\00:01:21.81 and as my guest says, 00:01:21.84\00:01:24.81 food as medicine along with a number of other things. 00:01:24.85\00:01:29.18 Thank you for sharing your time with us. 00:01:29.22\00:01:31.22 Thank you for the 33 years plus of support 00:01:31.25\00:01:34.26 as together we lift up the mighty 00:01:34.29\00:01:36.16 and matchless name of Jesus. 00:01:36.19\00:01:37.96 My guests are Dr. Dona Cooper-Dockery. 00:01:37.99\00:01:42.83 Thank you so much for having me here today. 00:01:42.86\00:01:45.27 Good to have you here. 00:01:45.30\00:01:46.63 She of the Cooper Wellness Center, 00:01:46.67\00:01:48.00 she is the founder of Cooper Wellness Center 00:01:48.04\00:01:50.71 and Executive Chef. 00:01:50.74\00:01:52.94 We're going to talk about that 00:01:52.97\00:01:54.31 but that's not just a title thrown together, 00:01:54.34\00:01:55.81 you had to work your way to that. 00:01:55.84\00:01:57.81 It's her. 00:01:57.85\00:01:59.38 See, he's got my voice. 00:01:59.41\00:02:00.75 We were talking about that before, 00:02:00.82\00:02:02.15 I wanted that voice years ago when I was praying for a voice. 00:02:02.18\00:02:03.99 That's the voice I wanted. 00:02:04.02\00:02:05.69 That's where my voice went. 00:02:05.72\00:02:07.06 I was wondering who got my voice, 00:02:07.09\00:02:08.42 you got my voice. I did. I did. 00:02:08.46\00:02:10.63 This is Edgar... 00:02:10.66\00:02:11.99 And I got do this right, Aguinaga. 00:02:12.03\00:02:14.13 Yes, sir, you got it right. Okay, praise the Lord. 00:02:14.20\00:02:16.33 He is the Executive Chef for the Cooper Wellness Center. 00:02:16.36\00:02:20.14 We're going to talk about what that is, 00:02:20.17\00:02:21.50 and what that does, 00:02:21.54\00:02:23.51 and how that has benefit to our walk here on this earth 00:02:23.54\00:02:27.08 as we prepare to make our way to heaven. 00:02:27.11\00:02:29.51 But before we go to our music, I wanted to spend a little time 00:02:29.54\00:02:31.85 because I picked up very early 00:02:31.88\00:02:34.45 on that that's a Jamaican accent. 00:02:34.48\00:02:35.85 Yes, I'm from Jamaica. Praise the Lord. 00:02:35.88\00:02:37.69 Where on the island? 00:02:37.72\00:02:39.05 I am from the western side, Westmoreland, 00:02:39.09\00:02:42.19 a tiny little place called Truro. 00:02:42.22\00:02:44.93 I don't know Truro, but I do know Westmoreland. 00:02:44.96\00:02:47.00 Westmoreland. 00:02:47.03\00:02:48.36 I know that area and having been there 00:02:48.40\00:02:49.73 many, many times and enjoyed the people, 00:02:49.76\00:02:51.53 enjoyed the food, 00:02:51.57\00:02:52.90 and enjoyed the ambience there, 00:02:52.93\00:02:55.97 having preached many, many times in Jamaica, 00:02:56.00\00:02:58.44 a lovely place to be. 00:02:58.47\00:02:59.81 Beautiful. 00:02:59.84\00:03:01.18 And we're happy that you made your way to the States. 00:03:01.21\00:03:02.54 Thank you so much. And praise the Lord. 00:03:02.58\00:03:05.25 We're going to talk about that 00:03:05.28\00:03:06.85 but I want to ask you just a couple things, 00:03:06.92\00:03:08.25 good doctor, were you born in an Adventist home? 00:03:08.28\00:03:10.59 No, I was not at all. 00:03:10.62\00:03:13.19 Actually I was grown up with my grandparents. 00:03:13.22\00:03:16.46 They were Baptists, didn't like the Adventist Church at all. 00:03:16.49\00:03:19.76 Is that so. 00:03:19.79\00:03:21.13 But fortunately, I was sent to an Adventist High School. 00:03:21.16\00:03:25.20 That's where I learned about the message, 00:03:25.23\00:03:28.80 and at age 12, I was baptized. 00:03:28.84\00:03:31.81 Praise the Lord. 00:03:31.84\00:03:33.17 But you know what happened after I was baptized? 00:03:33.21\00:03:35.31 My grandfather asked me to leave the home at age 12 00:03:35.34\00:03:38.95 because he didn't want an Adventist living in his house. 00:03:38.98\00:03:41.75 Uh-huh. Uh-huh. 00:03:41.78\00:03:43.15 But my loving grandmother realized that 00:03:43.18\00:03:44.69 where is she going to go, you know. 00:03:44.72\00:03:46.76 Yes, yes. 00:03:46.79\00:03:48.12 So then she pleaded with him and I remained at home, 00:03:48.16\00:03:51.73 finished my high school, and I was fathered, 00:03:51.76\00:03:55.80 my spiritual father then, by a lovely family, 00:03:55.83\00:03:59.67 lovely gentleman by the name of David Thompson. 00:03:59.70\00:04:03.41 Uh-huh. 00:04:03.44\00:04:04.77 And there I learned more about the Adventists message. 00:04:04.81\00:04:07.58 We worshiped in a tiny little garage 00:04:07.61\00:04:09.94 for many years doing God's work. 00:04:09.98\00:04:13.42 Then we had a church, 00:04:13.45\00:04:14.78 I became an Adventist at age 12, 00:04:14.82\00:04:17.49 then I moved on to University of Montemorelos. 00:04:17.52\00:04:21.42 Actually, first I went to West Indies College. 00:04:21.46\00:04:23.83 Oh, yes. There I did my bachelor's. 00:04:23.86\00:04:27.40 Now Northern Caribbean University, 00:04:27.43\00:04:29.80 then I went to Montemorelos, and there I did medicine, 00:04:29.83\00:04:33.94 and I did my specialized training 00:04:33.97\00:04:35.57 in New York, 00:04:35.60\00:04:36.94 and then I went to the valley to work. 00:04:37.01\00:04:39.27 I see. 00:04:39.31\00:04:40.68 The idea of doing medicine was that something 00:04:40.71\00:04:42.88 that always occurred to you 00:04:42.91\00:04:44.25 or did you kind of just move into that? 00:04:44.28\00:04:45.98 Well, initially I said, I wanted to do nursing 00:04:46.01\00:04:48.88 and my mother said, "When you were born, 00:04:48.92\00:04:51.55 your father wanted you to be a doctor, 00:04:51.59\00:04:53.36 so you can't be a nurse." 00:04:53.39\00:04:56.39 Of course, you know, I fell in love in science, 00:04:56.42\00:04:59.16 fell in love in the idea to help the sick and the needy. 00:04:59.19\00:05:03.10 But most importantly, that gentleman David Thompson, 00:05:03.13\00:05:07.94 he died right in my presence. 00:05:07.97\00:05:11.07 He had a stroke and we were living in Jamaica 00:05:11.11\00:05:14.38 and I thought that he didn't have to die. 00:05:14.41\00:05:18.18 But because we didn't have all the medical necessities 00:05:18.21\00:05:21.35 that he needed, 00:05:21.38\00:05:22.72 I became very angry, and I said, 00:05:22.75\00:05:24.42 "I'm going to be a doctor 00:05:24.45\00:05:26.39 because no one needs to die like this." 00:05:26.42\00:05:28.69 Wow. 00:05:28.72\00:05:30.06 So my idea of becoming a doctor was then, 00:05:30.13\00:05:33.26 you know, put more into force. 00:05:33.29\00:05:35.33 I became more focused because I wanted to save lives. 00:05:35.36\00:05:37.97 Yes, bless your heart. 00:05:38.00\00:05:39.33 So I want to thank the Thompsons 00:05:39.37\00:05:40.74 for really guiding me here, 00:05:40.77\00:05:42.40 of course, with the help of the Lord. 00:05:42.44\00:05:43.91 With the help of the Lord, yes, yes. 00:05:43.94\00:05:45.51 At what point in your life, 00:05:45.54\00:05:47.08 because were you fully convicted 00:05:47.11\00:05:49.58 and converted at 12, 00:05:49.61\00:05:51.18 or did you sort of grow into that, 00:05:51.21\00:05:53.05 or did you kind of plant your flag at that early age? 00:05:53.08\00:05:55.55 You know, I think I did at that early age. 00:05:55.58\00:05:57.79 At age 12, I knew, I loved the message, 00:05:57.82\00:06:01.06 and I wanted to walk that path. 00:06:01.09\00:06:03.96 And I did not look back at all. 00:06:04.03\00:06:06.46 I kept focus. 00:06:06.49\00:06:08.46 You went to the school on the hill? 00:06:08.50\00:06:09.90 That's right. 00:06:09.93\00:06:11.27 I've held meetings there, preached a lot in Jamaica, 00:06:11.30\00:06:14.54 and I really appreciate the discipline 00:06:14.57\00:06:17.01 that is given at then West Indies College, 00:06:17.04\00:06:20.31 now Northern Caribbean University, 00:06:20.38\00:06:22.18 so that set your path. 00:06:22.21\00:06:23.85 Having matriculated at Montemorelos, 00:06:23.88\00:06:26.08 and you've got a fairly good handle on Spanish. 00:06:26.11\00:06:28.05 I do. I do some, some. 00:06:28.08\00:06:32.19 You see, in the Rio Grande Valley, 00:06:32.22\00:06:34.39 90% of the population speak Spanish. 00:06:34.42\00:06:37.53 So then you're forced to speak more Spanish and more Spanish. 00:06:37.56\00:06:40.70 Yes, yes, yes. 00:06:40.73\00:06:42.06 Now I need to let it slip out 00:06:42.10\00:06:43.43 that you've been doing some cooking here, 00:06:43.47\00:06:44.87 you did some cooking on yesterday. 00:06:44.90\00:06:46.40 Yesterday. 00:06:46.43\00:06:47.77 What an amazing experience, it was difficult. 00:06:47.80\00:06:50.24 And an amazing experience for our crew also. 00:06:50.31\00:06:53.11 This good lady knows her way around the kitchen. 00:06:53.14\00:06:55.94 She is a great vegan vegetarian cook, 00:06:55.98\00:06:59.68 has a cookbook and we'll talk about in just a little bit. 00:06:59.71\00:07:01.85 So she has many, many talents. 00:07:01.88\00:07:03.72 She can heal you many, many ways. 00:07:03.79\00:07:06.79 Thank you. Thank you. 00:07:06.86\00:07:08.36 And do a wonderful job. 00:07:08.39\00:07:10.53 The crew... 00:07:10.56\00:07:12.59 You can kind of tell, if the food that you prepare 00:07:12.63\00:07:15.10 disappears shortly after you finished, 00:07:15.13\00:07:17.37 that's a testament to your work 'cause... 00:07:17.40\00:07:19.63 Well, thank you so much. 00:07:19.67\00:07:21.50 I think you guys ate up all the food, most of the food. 00:07:21.54\00:07:23.51 Precisely. 00:07:23.54\00:07:24.87 That is high praise around here. 00:07:24.91\00:07:26.24 Thank you. 00:07:26.27\00:07:27.61 And we praise the Lord. 00:07:27.64\00:07:28.98 Edgar, I want to talk to you just a little bit 00:07:29.01\00:07:30.35 because you are an Executive Chef. 00:07:30.38\00:07:32.18 Yes, sir. 00:07:32.21\00:07:33.55 Now before we go into that, walk me through that 00:07:33.62\00:07:35.45 because you gave me kind of the progression 00:07:35.48\00:07:38.49 that one goes through to become an executive chef, 00:07:38.52\00:07:40.89 that's a very specialized title. 00:07:40.96\00:07:42.29 Yes, sir. 00:07:42.32\00:07:43.66 Well, as a chef, studying for culinary arts, 00:07:43.69\00:07:47.13 you get the title "chef." 00:07:47.20\00:07:48.80 Yeah. 00:07:48.83\00:07:50.17 But you have to keep on with your studies. 00:07:50.20\00:07:51.77 And as you go on with your studies, 00:07:51.80\00:07:53.97 you have to take tests in order to higher your rank. 00:07:54.04\00:07:57.51 So the more studies, the higher the rank you are. 00:07:57.54\00:08:00.01 Now who administers those tests? 00:08:00.08\00:08:01.54 The ACF, that's the American Culinary Federation, so. 00:08:01.58\00:08:04.38 Uh-huh. 00:08:04.41\00:08:05.75 It's nationwide and it's a very not standardized test 00:08:05.78\00:08:11.25 but a very difficult test as well. 00:08:11.29\00:08:12.72 Uh-huh. Uh-huh. 00:08:12.75\00:08:14.09 Do you have to actually cook things 00:08:14.16\00:08:15.49 or answer questions? 00:08:15.52\00:08:16.86 Both. 00:08:16.89\00:08:18.23 It's a paper, you have to know your temperatures, 00:08:18.26\00:08:19.59 you have to know little things that go here and there, 00:08:19.63\00:08:23.00 but also you have to know your food and cooking. 00:08:23.03\00:08:27.24 Uh-huh. 00:08:27.27\00:08:28.60 So when we say Executive Chef, those in the industry know that 00:08:28.64\00:08:31.57 you've reached a certain level of attainment. 00:08:31.61\00:08:33.14 Correct. 00:08:33.17\00:08:34.51 Yeah, it's not just a title we just kind of slap on. 00:08:34.54\00:08:35.88 Right. You worked your way to that. 00:08:35.91\00:08:37.25 Right. So praise the Lord. 00:08:37.28\00:08:38.61 And then we're going to find out 00:08:38.65\00:08:40.02 how you two guys met and how you're working together 00:08:40.05\00:08:42.25 through Cooper Wellness Center. 00:08:42.28\00:08:43.62 I think we want to go to our music now 00:08:43.69\00:08:45.02 and then come back, 00:08:45.05\00:08:46.39 and sort of loose them, and let them go 00:08:46.42\00:08:47.76 because they've got a lot to say 00:08:47.79\00:08:49.12 and you've got a lot to learn as we talk about wellness 00:08:49.16\00:08:52.23 and what this center is doing. 00:08:52.26\00:08:53.90 Our music today is coming from the Brady Trio. 00:08:53.93\00:08:56.80 They were here just a bit ago. 00:08:56.87\00:08:58.20 Tim Parton is a part of that trio. 00:08:58.23\00:09:00.47 And they are going to be singing The Love Of God. 00:09:00.54\00:09:04.01 The love of God is greater far 00:09:17.65\00:09:23.83 Than tongue or pen could ever tell 00:09:23.86\00:09:29.63 It goes beyond the highest star 00:09:29.66\00:09:35.34 And reaches to the lowest hell 00:09:35.37\00:09:40.98 The guilty pair, bowed down with care 00:09:41.01\00:09:47.02 God gave his Son to win 00:09:47.05\00:09:53.96 His erring child He reconciled 00:09:53.99\00:10:00.00 And pardoned from 00:10:00.03\00:10:03.47 His sin 00:10:03.50\00:10:07.04 Could we with ink the ocean fill 00:10:21.95\00:10:28.76 And were the skies 00:10:28.79\00:10:31.49 Of parchment made 00:10:31.53\00:10:36.10 And every stalk on earth a quill 00:10:36.13\00:10:43.07 And every man a scribe 00:10:43.10\00:10:47.51 By trade 00:10:47.58\00:10:52.28 To write the love 00:10:52.31\00:10:57.79 Of God above 00:10:57.82\00:11:00.76 Would drain the ocean dry 00:11:00.79\00:11:07.40 Nor could the scroll contain the whole 00:11:07.43\00:11:13.13 Though stretched from sky 00:11:13.17\00:11:16.50 To sky 00:11:16.54\00:11:22.24 O love of God, 00:11:22.28\00:11:28.05 How rich and pure 00:11:28.08\00:11:30.92 How measureless 00:11:30.99\00:11:34.56 And strong 00:11:34.59\00:11:38.03 It shall forevermore endure 00:11:38.06\00:11:43.87 The saints' and angels' 00:11:43.90\00:11:48.27 Song 00:11:48.30\00:11:52.54 It shall 00:11:52.57\00:11:55.58 Forevermore endure 00:11:55.61\00:12:00.92 The saints' and angels' 00:12:00.95\00:12:05.22 Song 00:12:05.25\00:12:09.59 How wonderful, how marvelous 00:12:09.62\00:12:15.20 This precious love 00:12:15.23\00:12:20.74 Of God 00:12:20.77\00:12:22.70 The precious love 00:12:22.74\00:12:26.41 Of God 00:12:26.44\00:12:33.42 Thank you, Jim Brady Trio, The Love of God, well done. 00:12:37.95\00:12:41.16 I'm here with Dr. Dona Cooper-Dockery 00:12:41.19\00:12:43.73 and Edgar Aguinaga. 00:12:43.76\00:12:46.53 And I don't know why that name is bothering me 00:12:46.56\00:12:48.06 because I'm fairly good with Spanish names, 00:12:48.10\00:12:51.10 that is one of the more complex ones I've heard 00:12:51.13\00:12:53.13 but we can work our way through it. 00:12:53.17\00:12:55.44 We did not talk about Edgar before. 00:12:55.47\00:12:57.97 Your upbringing, 00:12:58.01\00:12:59.81 did you grow up in an Adventist home? 00:12:59.84\00:13:02.38 Not really. 00:13:02.41\00:13:03.75 When I was a four-years-old, 00:13:03.78\00:13:05.11 my father got baptized in a Kenneth Cox Crusade. 00:13:05.15\00:13:10.49 Twenty two years later, the whole family is baptized, 00:13:10.52\00:13:13.59 my wife is baptized, my mother-in-law is baptized. 00:13:13.66\00:13:16.83 And now we're working on my wife's family 00:13:16.86\00:13:20.40 and giving them Bible studies as well. 00:13:20.43\00:13:22.13 Praise the Lord, okay. 00:13:22.16\00:13:23.50 So 22 years, we have been in the church. 00:13:23.57\00:13:27.04 We're all working together. 00:13:27.07\00:13:28.47 We have helped found different churches around the area. 00:13:28.50\00:13:31.94 So... 00:13:31.97\00:13:33.31 Yeah. 00:13:33.38\00:13:34.71 So you could say fairly I have been growing up in a... 00:13:34.74\00:13:36.08 Yeah, pretty much. 00:13:36.11\00:13:37.45 Where was that Kenneth Cox Crusade held? 00:13:37.48\00:13:38.95 In McAllen, Texas. Uh-huh. 00:13:38.98\00:13:40.52 For a month long. Yeah. 00:13:40.55\00:13:41.88 My father went two days. 00:13:41.92\00:13:43.39 After the second day, he was like, "I cannot miss." 00:13:43.42\00:13:46.89 And my mother was mad 00:13:46.96\00:13:48.49 because my youngest brother was born during that crusade. 00:13:48.52\00:13:52.26 My father went to the hospital, 00:13:52.29\00:13:53.63 left the hospital to go to attend. 00:13:53.70\00:13:56.36 It was that good, you cannot miss out. 00:13:56.40\00:13:58.60 That is quite a story. 00:13:58.63\00:14:00.27 I'm sure Kenneth Cox will be proud to hear that. 00:14:00.34\00:14:05.41 Praise the Lord. 00:14:05.44\00:14:06.78 Now when did the bug, sort of, hit you to work with food 00:14:06.81\00:14:11.68 and to, you know, to go into that line? 00:14:11.71\00:14:13.72 It had always bugged me seeing my grandmother in the kitchen. 00:14:13.75\00:14:19.29 My father's mom in Mexico, in her home, in her town, 00:14:19.32\00:14:25.43 nobody ever went hungry. 00:14:25.46\00:14:27.20 If she saw somebody hungry, 00:14:27.23\00:14:29.06 "Hey, we have cattle, we have corn, we have..." 00:14:29.10\00:14:32.17 Whatever there is vegetables on the ground, 00:14:32.20\00:14:34.37 she cooked whatever she had to cook 00:14:34.40\00:14:35.74 and nobody ever went hungry. 00:14:35.77\00:14:37.11 So this kind of thing was in your DNA. 00:14:37.14\00:14:38.47 Exactly. 00:14:38.51\00:14:39.84 It was already engraved since birth. 00:14:39.87\00:14:41.21 So me seeing her feeding other people 00:14:41.24\00:14:43.58 and them just seeing, 00:14:43.65\00:14:44.98 you know, seeing her made them happy. 00:14:45.01\00:14:48.25 I said, "I want some of that." 00:14:48.28\00:14:49.62 Okay. Yeah. 00:14:49.65\00:14:50.99 Okay, praise the Lord. 00:14:51.02\00:14:52.35 Good doctor, the wellness center now, 00:14:52.39\00:14:53.76 you studied in Montemorelos, made your way to New York. 00:14:53.79\00:14:55.62 How did you get from New York back to Texas? 00:14:55.66\00:14:57.89 Interesting, you know, 00:14:57.93\00:14:59.26 because I started in Montemorelos, 00:14:59.29\00:15:00.73 I wanted my kids to speak Spanish. 00:15:00.80\00:15:03.97 So God worked it out where one of my tutors, 00:15:04.00\00:15:07.04 my teachers from medical school was working there in McAllen, 00:15:07.07\00:15:10.84 and he invited us down to McAllen, 00:15:10.91\00:15:13.48 and that's where... Uh-huh. 00:15:13.51\00:15:15.08 it began. Uh-huh. 00:15:15.11\00:15:16.44 Was it always your goal, 00:15:16.48\00:15:18.31 your desire to do wellness type medicine 00:15:18.35\00:15:21.18 which is more presentative 00:15:21.22\00:15:22.55 and a little more broad based than just passing out pills 00:15:22.58\00:15:24.55 and kind of fixing the stuff? 00:15:24.59\00:15:25.92 The lifestyle medicine we call it. 00:15:25.95\00:15:27.46 Not necessarily. 00:15:27.49\00:15:28.82 I left medical school, 00:15:28.86\00:15:30.19 we were taught traditional medicine. 00:15:30.23\00:15:31.56 Yes, yes. 00:15:31.59\00:15:32.93 Diagnosed and you treat with medication. 00:15:32.96\00:15:35.43 But in 2010, a friend of mine, 00:15:35.46\00:15:39.60 Dr. Bryce had a conference in McAllen, 00:15:39.63\00:15:43.17 at the time I was a vegetarian. 00:15:43.20\00:15:45.74 At the time, I was 25 pounds overweight. 00:15:45.77\00:15:49.58 And after the presentation, 00:15:49.61\00:15:51.28 I thought then moving away 00:15:51.31\00:15:56.55 to another lifestyle will be healthier. 00:15:56.58\00:15:58.52 So I became a vegan, I lost 25 pounds, 00:15:58.55\00:16:02.72 and I felt amazing. 00:16:02.76\00:16:05.49 Beautiful blood pressure, everything was normal. 00:16:05.53\00:16:07.30 And I decided then to change my practice 00:16:07.33\00:16:11.20 to lifestyle medicine 00:16:11.23\00:16:12.57 because at that time, in 2011, 00:16:12.60\00:16:15.44 McAllen, where I live and practice medicine 00:16:15.47\00:16:18.64 was the fattest city in the United States. 00:16:18.67\00:16:22.41 And, of course, with obesity comes diabetes 00:16:22.44\00:16:25.55 and heart disease. 00:16:25.58\00:16:26.92 So then I opened the lifestyle medicine center 00:16:26.95\00:16:30.32 and I just changed my focus 00:16:30.39\00:16:31.82 to lifestyle medicine or wellness. 00:16:31.85\00:16:34.86 Define for me, if you are, for those who may not know 00:16:34.89\00:16:37.76 the difference between vegan and vegetarian? 00:16:37.79\00:16:40.73 Well, vegan just mean that that person is plant-based. 00:16:40.80\00:16:44.17 There's no animal product, no dairy, no eggs in the diet 00:16:44.20\00:16:48.94 and it's just a healthier way of living. 00:16:48.97\00:16:52.11 So just that relatively, 00:16:52.14\00:16:53.98 and I say relatively small change 00:16:54.01\00:16:55.71 brought that kind of weight results. 00:16:55.74\00:16:57.18 Absolutely, just that change, getting away from the fats, 00:16:57.25\00:17:01.35 eating more consciously plant-based 00:17:01.38\00:17:03.99 where plants are more calorie, low-calorie 00:17:04.02\00:17:08.49 and more nutrient-dense. 00:17:08.52\00:17:10.63 Uh-huh. 00:17:10.66\00:17:11.99 So you could eat a lot and still lose a lot of weight. 00:17:12.03\00:17:15.60 And not only weight 00:17:15.63\00:17:16.97 but you're going to bring the blood pressure down, 00:17:17.00\00:17:18.83 the sugar down, cholesterol down. 00:17:18.87\00:17:21.10 It's amazing way of living 00:17:21.14\00:17:22.90 and that is why I've introduced my patients 00:17:22.94\00:17:26.27 to that type of lifestyle, that type of medicine 00:17:26.31\00:17:29.81 because we all know that food is a number one risk factor 00:17:29.84\00:17:33.55 for many diseases. 00:17:33.62\00:17:34.95 Sure. 00:17:34.98\00:17:36.32 So therefore, if food is the problem, 00:17:36.35\00:17:38.52 why treat it with a pill? Yes, yes. 00:17:38.55\00:17:40.39 Treat it with food. 00:17:40.46\00:17:41.79 Am I not right? 00:17:41.82\00:17:43.83 Well said, if food is your problem, 00:17:43.86\00:17:45.53 treat it with food. 00:17:45.56\00:17:46.90 There you go. That makes sense. 00:17:46.93\00:17:48.26 The idea of a wellness center, 00:17:48.30\00:17:49.83 when did it actually germinate in your brain 00:17:49.86\00:17:51.60 and how did that start? 00:17:51.63\00:17:53.44 Probably in 2010. 00:17:53.47\00:17:55.87 And then, I had an employee who joined us at that time 00:17:55.90\00:18:01.78 and he was focused on health ministries. 00:18:01.81\00:18:06.55 And therefore, coming together, 00:18:06.58\00:18:08.65 we decided to open this lifestyle medicine center, 00:18:08.68\00:18:12.95 this wellness center away from my practice. 00:18:12.99\00:18:16.09 I have two clinics in McAllen. 00:18:16.12\00:18:17.86 Uh-huh. 00:18:17.89\00:18:19.23 And then I opened another building 00:18:19.26\00:18:21.10 where I have a kitchen, classroom, a gym, 00:18:21.13\00:18:25.30 and all the facilities to have an outpatient lifestyle center. 00:18:25.33\00:18:28.67 Uh-huh. Uh-huh. 00:18:28.70\00:18:30.04 And, you know, it had brought joy to my heart 00:18:30.11\00:18:32.44 because so many of my patients 00:18:32.47\00:18:34.41 who have come in to this program 00:18:34.44\00:18:36.98 have done so well. 00:18:37.05\00:18:39.11 Patients have lost 50 pounds, 90 pounds, 00:18:39.15\00:18:43.15 have reversed their diabetes, decreased their blood pressure, 00:18:43.18\00:18:46.99 and are doing so well. 00:18:47.06\00:18:48.89 And that is why my focus now has somewhat shifted 00:18:48.92\00:18:53.09 to lifestyle medicine, 00:18:53.13\00:18:54.70 getting to the root cause of the problem 00:18:54.73\00:18:57.17 and see the patient as a patient 00:18:57.20\00:18:59.50 who has multiple dimension, not only physical but mental, 00:18:59.53\00:19:04.41 social, and spiritual. 00:19:04.44\00:19:06.27 So we not only address the physical, 00:19:06.31\00:19:09.88 but we also teach them how to love God. 00:19:09.91\00:19:12.58 Uh-huh. Uh-huh. 00:19:12.61\00:19:13.95 And, you know, from that we've had baptism from my office, 00:19:14.02\00:19:16.12 from the wellness center. 00:19:16.15\00:19:17.49 God is wonderful. 00:19:17.52\00:19:18.85 Praise the Lord. Praise the Lord. 00:19:18.89\00:19:20.26 Now I think I'm hearing something 00:19:20.29\00:19:21.62 a little bit different. 00:19:21.66\00:19:22.99 When you think wellness center, 00:19:23.02\00:19:24.36 you tend to think of a retreat type atmosphere. 00:19:24.39\00:19:25.73 That's right. 00:19:25.76\00:19:27.10 Somewhere out in the woods or out in the mountains 00:19:27.13\00:19:28.46 where you're going away. 00:19:28.50\00:19:29.83 But am I hearing that you're doing this 00:19:29.86\00:19:31.20 on an outpatient basis? 00:19:31.23\00:19:32.57 Outpatient basis. Uh-huh. 00:19:32.60\00:19:33.94 So the patients, what I do, 00:19:33.97\00:19:35.60 I select the patient who are at high-risk. 00:19:35.64\00:19:38.61 Yes. 00:19:38.64\00:19:39.97 Those that have blood sugars, that are not controlled, 00:19:40.01\00:19:42.34 those that are on a lot of medication, 00:19:42.38\00:19:43.75 they might be overweight and so forth. 00:19:43.78\00:19:45.58 And I direct them to this office and there, 00:19:45.61\00:19:49.68 I treat the patients there. 00:19:49.72\00:19:51.12 So they know that they're going to be there for 12 weeks 00:19:51.15\00:19:54.72 or 8 weeks coming in on a weekly basis 00:19:54.76\00:19:58.03 or twice a week basis, 00:19:58.06\00:20:00.00 where they're going to sit with a group of workers, 00:20:00.03\00:20:04.60 the doctor, 00:20:04.63\00:20:05.97 the one who educates them on health and wellness, 00:20:06.00\00:20:09.24 the person who does the cooking demonstration, 00:20:09.27\00:20:12.17 and someone who does the physical medicine, 00:20:12.21\00:20:15.44 exercise with the patient, 00:20:15.48\00:20:17.15 the same that you'd probably have in inpatient 00:20:17.18\00:20:20.92 or residential style lifestyle center. 00:20:20.95\00:20:24.29 But this is an outpatient, patients are at home. 00:20:24.32\00:20:27.76 Yeah. 00:20:27.79\00:20:29.12 But they come in to that center once or twice per week 00:20:29.16\00:20:32.53 for an extended duration. 00:20:32.56\00:20:34.10 Uh-huh. Uh-huh. 00:20:34.13\00:20:35.46 Here's what turns the light on for me. 00:20:35.50\00:20:39.33 The idea that, and it is not in all cases, 00:20:39.37\00:20:42.90 but many times, you go away to a retreat. 00:20:42.94\00:20:45.71 And the setting is, 00:20:45.74\00:20:48.04 and I'm a going to use this term "artificial" 00:20:48.08\00:20:50.15 because you're in a controlled situation, 00:20:50.18\00:20:52.41 your meals are controlled, they're done for you, 00:20:52.45\00:20:54.82 your amounts are controlled for you, 00:20:54.85\00:20:56.62 get up is controlled for you, 00:20:56.69\00:20:58.05 go to sleep is controlled for you, 00:20:58.09\00:20:59.82 then you leave that bubble, return to your work-a-day world 00:20:59.85\00:21:04.76 and everything kind of goes out the window. 00:21:04.79\00:21:07.00 Yes. 00:21:07.03\00:21:08.36 But what you're doing is healing, training, 00:21:08.40\00:21:10.27 educating, indoctrinating in a real-world setting 00:21:10.30\00:21:13.44 where they go home every night and they get a chance... 00:21:13.47\00:21:15.84 not get a chance, 00:21:15.87\00:21:17.21 they are forced to inculcate those things 00:21:17.24\00:21:19.47 into the everyday life without coming out 00:21:19.51\00:21:21.98 and then going back in there all the time. 00:21:22.01\00:21:23.68 I think that's a better way... 00:21:23.75\00:21:25.08 Yes. to do it. 00:21:25.11\00:21:26.45 You know, both, you know, 00:21:26.48\00:21:27.82 have their disadvantages and advantages 00:21:27.85\00:21:29.18 but we're keeping the patient, as you said, 00:21:29.22\00:21:30.55 in their real-life settings. 00:21:30.59\00:21:31.92 Yes. Right? 00:21:31.95\00:21:33.29 So they're forced now to fight with their inner mind to see, 00:21:33.32\00:21:38.29 "Okay, am I going to really do what the doctor says? 00:21:38.33\00:21:40.80 I'm at home, I have all these foods, 00:21:40.83\00:21:43.40 what am I going to select?" 00:21:43.47\00:21:44.80 You know, and patient will come and say, "Hey, Doc, 00:21:44.83\00:21:48.30 I went downstairs last night, and I opened the refrigerator, 00:21:48.34\00:21:50.94 and I could see your face on the door. 00:21:50.97\00:21:55.11 And therefore I could not eat, I could not open the door." 00:21:55.14\00:21:58.08 You know, and they say, "Doc, 00:21:58.11\00:21:59.45 I throw out all of the meats that I have or whatever it is, 00:21:59.48\00:22:02.32 all of the bad foods 00:22:02.35\00:22:03.69 I've taken out of my refrigerator, 00:22:03.72\00:22:05.05 I've donated it or whatever." 00:22:05.09\00:22:06.86 So, you know, we have had significant 00:22:06.89\00:22:10.46 positive success stories. 00:22:10.53\00:22:12.16 Excellent, excellent. 00:22:12.19\00:22:13.53 Now Mr. Executive Chef, 00:22:13.60\00:22:15.53 how did you two come to meet and begin working together? 00:22:15.56\00:22:19.30 It's a very divine intervention story. 00:22:19.33\00:22:23.51 We were at our training at one of our churches, 00:22:23.54\00:22:27.28 both the Hispanic Church 00:22:27.31\00:22:28.64 and the English-speaking Church came together 00:22:28.68\00:22:30.15 and we were doing trainings. 00:22:30.18\00:22:31.51 Uh-huh. 00:22:31.55\00:22:32.88 Different Sabbath schools 00:22:32.91\00:22:34.25 and Sabbath school for children, different areas 00:22:34.28\00:22:37.19 and one area was the health. 00:22:37.22\00:22:40.56 So I was looking for an area to go. 00:22:40.59\00:22:42.82 Me being a chef, I was like, "Where could I go?" 00:22:42.86\00:22:46.33 And my pastor had said, "You know, 00:22:46.36\00:22:47.83 I want you to go to the Sabbath School 00:22:47.86\00:22:49.66 so you could help me out and make it more dynamic." 00:22:49.70\00:22:53.54 But I went to the Sabbath School 00:22:53.57\00:22:54.90 and it was already filled, it was already full. 00:22:54.94\00:22:56.71 And then my brother said, "Why don't we go to the health? 00:22:56.74\00:22:59.84 You might learn something to put into your area." 00:22:59.87\00:23:04.81 So we went in. 00:23:04.85\00:23:06.28 And Dr. Bryce, he was leading the lecture. 00:23:06.31\00:23:08.68 He asked a question, he said, "Why are you all here?" 00:23:08.72\00:23:11.42 Only two of us raised our hand. 00:23:11.45\00:23:12.79 I was one, I said, "Well, I'm here, I'm a chef, 00:23:12.82\00:23:15.66 and I want to learn more about health 00:23:15.69\00:23:17.93 to implement it into my field." 00:23:17.96\00:23:20.53 That led to Dr. Cooper. 00:23:20.60\00:23:22.93 She heard chef, and at the end of the lecture, 00:23:22.96\00:23:26.77 she said, "Can I speak with you?" 00:23:26.84\00:23:28.17 And we spoke, and she was like, "I have a wellness center, 00:23:28.20\00:23:31.71 I want to do this, I want to teach people how to cook, 00:23:31.74\00:23:34.71 how to eat healthier. 00:23:34.74\00:23:37.71 Would you like and come into work?" 00:23:37.75\00:23:39.48 And I said, "You know, the funny thing is 00:23:39.51\00:23:41.05 I am looking for a job." 00:23:41.08\00:23:43.59 So at the perfect time, 00:23:43.62\00:23:45.49 at the perfect place, in God's time. 00:23:45.52\00:23:47.59 Praise the Lord. 00:23:47.66\00:23:48.99 Were you already on the road as far as healthy cooking 00:23:49.02\00:23:53.29 or was that something that came along 00:23:53.33\00:23:54.86 with the good doctor? 00:23:54.90\00:23:56.23 Well, a little bit of both. 00:23:56.26\00:23:58.50 I had always known how to cook healthy 00:23:58.53\00:24:03.94 but not the way the doctor does it. 00:24:04.01\00:24:07.38 But now with the doctor teaching me new things, 00:24:07.41\00:24:10.25 new secrets, I'm always up to learning. 00:24:10.28\00:24:13.42 So now, working together with a doctor, 00:24:13.45\00:24:16.48 we are doing very, very plant-based meals and that is, 00:24:16.52\00:24:20.66 it has been a blessing to many. 00:24:20.69\00:24:24.33 Was it jarring to your sensibilities 00:24:24.36\00:24:27.00 or your training to, kind of, make this left turn 00:24:27.03\00:24:30.57 or it's actually a right turn into... 00:24:30.60\00:24:32.70 Better, better, not left turn. 00:24:32.73\00:24:36.50 Right turn into healthy cooking 00:24:36.54\00:24:38.41 or did that, kind of, naturally go with your evolution 00:24:38.44\00:24:40.68 as far as what you are trying to do in your life? 00:24:40.71\00:24:42.68 It naturally went because of my beliefs. 00:24:42.71\00:24:45.18 Uh-huh. Right. 00:24:45.21\00:24:46.55 So knowing the health message and my beliefs 00:24:46.58\00:24:50.82 and working with somebody who has my same beliefs, 00:24:50.89\00:24:54.56 it just felt perfect. 00:24:54.59\00:24:56.06 It felt so God divine that He led the way, 00:24:56.09\00:24:59.26 and now our thoughts are the same, 00:24:59.29\00:25:01.60 our message is the same, 00:25:01.63\00:25:02.96 and the way we work is the same. 00:25:03.00\00:25:05.43 Praise the Lord. Praise the Lord. 00:25:05.47\00:25:07.04 You can get all of the nutrition, 00:25:07.07\00:25:09.27 all of the things that the body needs to correct itself, 00:25:09.30\00:25:12.14 to keep itself going without meat in your diet, 00:25:12.17\00:25:15.64 is that your statement? 00:25:15.68\00:25:17.05 Exactly. Absolutely. 00:25:17.08\00:25:19.88 Is one of the more important things that you try to do 00:25:19.91\00:25:22.55 is take people off of meat as a matter of choice 00:25:22.58\00:25:26.19 for your lifestyle, 00:25:26.22\00:25:27.66 is that that important to wellness 00:25:27.69\00:25:29.89 and prevention? 00:25:29.92\00:25:31.66 It is important to prevention. 00:25:31.69\00:25:34.30 We tend to teach the patient why, 00:25:34.33\00:25:37.87 why should they walk this path, 00:25:37.90\00:25:40.37 why should they consume this in their diet, 00:25:40.44\00:25:42.97 not so much of why is it so wrong, you see. 00:25:43.00\00:25:46.37 I like that. 00:25:46.41\00:25:47.74 So we will discuss, for example, 00:25:47.78\00:25:49.91 we'll discuss protein, many people believe that 00:25:49.94\00:25:52.51 if they're now a plant-based whole food person, 00:25:52.55\00:25:56.48 they're not going to have enough protein. 00:25:56.52\00:25:58.39 So then we have to sit and discuss, okay, 00:25:58.42\00:26:01.06 you can have enough protein 00:26:01.09\00:26:02.66 just consuming this, this, or that. 00:26:02.69\00:26:04.33 Uh-huh. 00:26:04.36\00:26:05.69 You stay away from these things, 00:26:05.73\00:26:07.10 for example, processed foods and processed meats 00:26:07.13\00:26:09.53 because of these and we give them the choice. 00:26:09.56\00:26:13.07 We lead them gently. 00:26:13.10\00:26:15.27 Not only that, we prepare the meals there at the center. 00:26:15.30\00:26:20.08 So we teach them how to cook 00:26:20.11\00:26:21.78 because a lot of people believe that 00:26:21.81\00:26:23.14 if they were to just forget all the meat 00:26:23.18\00:26:25.28 and all the processed food, then they'll be starving 00:26:25.31\00:26:29.02 and they will not be having a delicious meal. 00:26:29.05\00:26:31.32 Yes, yeah. 00:26:31.35\00:26:32.69 So we show them how to convert from this type of food 00:26:32.72\00:26:37.66 to delicious healthy food. 00:26:37.69\00:26:40.20 And when they change, they'll come back and say, 00:26:40.23\00:26:42.03 "Hey, Doc, I feel more energetic, 00:26:42.06\00:26:45.10 my mind is clearer, 00:26:45.13\00:26:46.87 I've lost this amount of weight, look at my sugar." 00:26:46.94\00:26:49.57 You know, I had a patient who walked into my office, 00:26:49.60\00:26:52.37 diabetic, hypertensive, high cholesterol 00:26:52.41\00:26:54.48 and he said, "Doc, I don't want to be on medication. 00:26:54.51\00:26:57.71 What do I do?" 00:26:57.75\00:26:59.08 I said, "Okay, now I'm going to sit with you. 00:26:59.11\00:27:00.85 We're going to talk and I will give you this meal plan." 00:27:00.92\00:27:06.32 He came back happy in two weeks, 00:27:06.35\00:27:07.89 "Hey, Doc, look at my sugars and my blood pressure," 00:27:07.92\00:27:10.73 you know. 00:27:10.76\00:27:12.09 So they are appreciating the fact 00:27:12.13\00:27:14.80 that they don't have to be in all this medication 00:27:14.83\00:27:17.80 and they can stay healthy and well. 00:27:17.83\00:27:19.63 Yes. 00:27:19.67\00:27:21.00 So you advocate in favor of the notion 00:27:21.04\00:27:22.67 that pre-diabetes, diabetes can be reversed? 00:27:22.70\00:27:25.07 Absolutely. Type 2 diabetes. 00:27:25.11\00:27:26.98 Yes, yes. 00:27:27.01\00:27:28.34 Ninety percent of patients with type 2 diabetes 00:27:28.38\00:27:30.55 can get off medication. 00:27:30.58\00:27:31.91 Wow. 00:27:31.95\00:27:33.28 And getting off and staying off 00:27:33.31\00:27:34.65 if they focus on healthy nutrition, exercise, 00:27:34.68\00:27:38.25 stress management, and spiritual renewal. 00:27:38.29\00:27:41.12 Yes. 00:27:41.16\00:27:42.49 All these things go together to get the patients healthy. 00:27:42.52\00:27:45.03 Now, my good doctor, I pay you now this compliment. 00:27:45.06\00:27:47.73 If Edgar cooks like you cook, 00:27:47.76\00:27:51.00 then you guys are doing pretty good. 00:27:51.03\00:27:52.37 Edgar is a great chef, come on. 00:27:52.40\00:27:54.14 The compliment goes to Edgar. 00:27:54.17\00:27:56.34 You know, Edgar has a story. 00:27:56.37\00:27:58.47 You know, when Edgar came after two weeks 00:27:58.51\00:28:01.81 of being in the wellness center, 00:28:01.84\00:28:03.18 cooking and teaching patients, 00:28:03.21\00:28:04.55 "Hey, Doc, I lost 15 pounds." I said, What? 00:28:04.58\00:28:06.51 You lost 15 pounds? 00:28:06.55\00:28:08.32 Now he lost 15 pounds just tweaking his lifestyle 00:28:08.35\00:28:11.65 and eating differently. 00:28:11.69\00:28:13.15 I had to put it to a test. 00:28:13.19\00:28:16.42 My wife and I talked and she said, 00:28:16.46\00:28:17.93 "Well, now you're going to be spreading this health message. 00:28:17.96\00:28:21.00 But you're a chef and look at you." 00:28:21.03\00:28:22.90 Yeah. 00:28:22.93\00:28:24.27 I was kind of overweight, well, not kind of, 00:28:24.30\00:28:25.87 I was really overweight. 00:28:25.90\00:28:27.24 And I said, "Let's make a change." 00:28:27.27\00:28:30.34 We changed our fridge, we changed our pantry. 00:28:30.41\00:28:33.38 Fifteen pounds later, in two weeks, 00:28:33.41\00:28:36.14 just by changing my diet. 00:28:36.18\00:28:37.68 Yeah. 00:28:37.71\00:28:39.05 Now I'm exercising, now I'm eating healthier, 00:28:39.08\00:28:41.02 and the weight is just dropping. 00:28:41.05\00:28:42.72 Yeah. 00:28:42.75\00:28:44.09 And I'm getting the same protein from plants 00:28:44.12\00:28:46.09 that I would from meats or even more. 00:28:46.12\00:28:48.39 So if we were going to contextualize that change, 00:28:48.42\00:28:51.36 let's grab three items 00:28:51.39\00:28:53.26 that came out of your refrigerator, 00:28:53.29\00:28:54.63 came out of your pantry, what are we talking about? 00:28:54.66\00:28:57.47 Milk, eggs came out, and the cheese came out. 00:28:57.50\00:29:01.17 And cheese came out, okay. 00:29:01.20\00:29:03.81 All right, praise the Lord. 00:29:03.84\00:29:05.17 Meats were not much in our diet at home. 00:29:05.21\00:29:08.71 My wife doesn't like meats and red meats at all 00:29:08.74\00:29:12.85 and white meats, it's okay. 00:29:12.88\00:29:15.25 So those were no problem getting rid of. 00:29:15.28\00:29:17.85 But the dairies, we got those out. 00:29:17.89\00:29:19.92 Yeah. 00:29:19.95\00:29:21.29 Now we're amazed by the results. 00:29:21.32\00:29:24.16 Yeah, a lot of people have problem 00:29:24.23\00:29:25.59 with getting the cheese out 00:29:25.63\00:29:27.00 and we live in South Texas, you know, come on. 00:29:27.03\00:29:31.97 Cheese is in everything. It's in everything. 00:29:32.00\00:29:33.84 On top of everything. 00:29:33.87\00:29:35.20 See there's a challenge, even with my patients, 00:29:35.24\00:29:37.51 the cheese is a problem. 00:29:37.54\00:29:38.87 We show them how they can tweak that 00:29:38.91\00:29:40.24 and make cheese sauce and without the cholesterol. 00:29:40.28\00:29:43.55 And that's what we cooked a lot of that for you, 00:29:43.58\00:29:46.08 you know, yesterday... Yes, yes, 00:29:46.11\00:29:47.45 on the show. and it was all quite good. 00:29:47.52\00:29:49.32 Let me ask you this, good doctor, 00:29:49.35\00:29:50.79 because you're in an area, talk to me, if you will, 00:29:50.82\00:29:54.16 about the impact on the local community. 00:29:54.19\00:29:56.56 As you said, you're living and working in a fat town. 00:29:56.59\00:30:00.73 Yes. 00:30:00.80\00:30:02.63 Are you getting buy-in from the community 00:30:02.66\00:30:05.43 around your center 00:30:05.47\00:30:06.84 as to the kinds of things you're doing, 00:30:06.87\00:30:08.20 is it a tough sale? 00:30:08.24\00:30:09.57 Well, I'm very, very, very busy in my community. 00:30:09.60\00:30:12.11 Everybody knows me as the healthy doctor. 00:30:12.14\00:30:15.31 What do I do? 00:30:15.34\00:30:17.08 First of all, I know that to reach the community, 00:30:17.15\00:30:19.88 I needed to multiply myself. How would I do so? 00:30:19.91\00:30:23.39 So I started a Get Healthy Magazine. 00:30:23.42\00:30:26.89 And this magazine is published every quarter. 00:30:26.96\00:30:30.13 So and it's placed all over the city, 00:30:30.16\00:30:32.83 hospitals, pharmacies, just about everywhere. 00:30:32.86\00:30:35.50 So people will read that. 00:30:35.53\00:30:37.10 I also started the local TV show, 00:30:37.17\00:30:39.47 Get Healthy With Dr. Cooper, 00:30:39.50\00:30:40.84 where I just discuss lifestyle medicine. 00:30:40.87\00:30:43.27 I discuss over eight laws of health plus rest 00:30:43.30\00:30:47.91 and, you know, why you should see the doctor. 00:30:47.94\00:30:52.35 People see me and they see health and wellness. 00:30:52.38\00:30:55.38 Yeah. 00:30:55.42\00:30:56.79 I had a pharmaceutical rep who walked into my office 00:30:56.82\00:30:59.02 and he said, "Hey, Dr. Cooper, I lost 30 pounds." 00:30:59.05\00:31:02.72 I said, "How did you do that?" 00:31:02.76\00:31:04.43 He said, "Hey, I picked up one of the magazines 00:31:04.46\00:31:07.10 and that's where it began. 00:31:07.13\00:31:08.70 I lost 30 pounds and my three-year-old daughter 00:31:08.73\00:31:12.30 is asking for kale smoothie." 00:31:12.33\00:31:15.30 Can you imagine that? I love it. 00:31:15.34\00:31:18.54 So everyone knows 00:31:18.57\00:31:20.41 that if they want to change lifestyle 00:31:20.48\00:31:22.68 and get off medication, 00:31:22.71\00:31:24.05 maybe you should probably look for Cooper Wellness Center, 00:31:24.08\00:31:27.25 find Dr. Cooper so they'll watch the program. 00:31:27.32\00:31:29.48 We also do a Facebook live once a week. 00:31:29.52\00:31:32.42 Wow. 00:31:32.45\00:31:33.79 So we have patients or people from all over the world 00:31:33.86\00:31:35.79 calling in or making comments, 00:31:35.82\00:31:38.33 we cook for one hour in the show, 00:31:38.36\00:31:40.53 the chef and I and that has been amazing. 00:31:40.60\00:31:43.67 So it's an amazing ministry. 00:31:43.70\00:31:45.03 Okay, so you've got a television face, 00:31:45.07\00:31:46.47 you've got an internet face, 00:31:46.50\00:31:47.90 which you need to sort of multiply 00:31:47.94\00:31:49.27 your reach and your impact. 00:31:49.30\00:31:52.14 I'm coming to you 00:31:52.17\00:31:53.71 and I've got any number issues including I'm overweight. 00:31:53.78\00:31:57.75 How much time should I expect to commit to you 00:31:57.78\00:32:01.78 to try to, and I'm saying we live in a society 00:32:01.82\00:32:03.99 where everything is instant, folk want it now. 00:32:04.02\00:32:05.89 How much time are we talking about, 00:32:05.92\00:32:08.26 well, I need to in my mind commit to you 00:32:08.29\00:32:10.53 before we can begin to rearrange 00:32:10.56\00:32:12.33 some of this stuff? 00:32:12.36\00:32:13.70 What do you mean how much time to commit? 00:32:13.73\00:32:15.06 As far as the program, how long I'm going to see you, 00:32:15.10\00:32:17.50 how many months, how many weeks, 00:32:17.57\00:32:18.90 how long are we going to be in contact, 00:32:18.93\00:32:20.37 in touch with each other to try to get me back 00:32:20.44\00:32:23.20 where I need to be? 00:32:23.24\00:32:24.57 Well, there is a 14 days to wellness program 00:32:24.61\00:32:26.91 which is transitioning, transition from this lifestyle 00:32:26.98\00:32:30.15 to a healthier lifestyle. 00:32:30.18\00:32:31.91 Then I have 12 weeks to wellness program 00:32:31.95\00:32:35.18 where we set and we go through the program, 00:32:35.22\00:32:38.09 you know, weekly for 12 weeks. 00:32:38.12\00:32:39.75 The longer the patient is in contact 00:32:39.79\00:32:42.86 with health and wellness coaching, 00:32:42.89\00:32:44.36 the better it is. 00:32:44.39\00:32:45.73 Yes. 00:32:45.76\00:32:47.10 I've noticed that patients 00:32:47.13\00:32:48.46 who have been in and out of the office 00:32:48.50\00:32:49.83 tend to do better than patients 00:32:49.86\00:32:52.47 who we see just once in a while. 00:32:52.50\00:32:56.81 So it's somebody 00:32:56.84\00:32:58.37 who is living somewhere out of Texas, 00:32:58.41\00:33:01.51 if they need this information 00:33:01.54\00:33:03.85 they can just communicate with me. 00:33:03.88\00:33:05.35 I have online program too. 00:33:05.38\00:33:07.52 So I can reach them anywhere in the world 00:33:07.55\00:33:10.39 with the online health and wellness program. 00:33:10.42\00:33:13.66 Praise the Lord. 00:33:13.69\00:33:15.02 Edgar, do you just cook for them 00:33:15.06\00:33:17.63 or do you instruct in cooking? 00:33:17.66\00:33:19.69 I noticed many of the things 00:33:19.73\00:33:21.20 that Dr. Dona was doing yesterday, 00:33:21.23\00:33:24.40 fairly simple programs but well done 00:33:24.43\00:33:27.80 and they don't consume a lot of time. 00:33:27.84\00:33:30.11 Is that what you're going for in your instruction 00:33:30.14\00:33:32.87 and the cooking that you're doing? 00:33:32.91\00:33:34.28 Correct. Yeah, that's what we do at the center. 00:33:34.31\00:33:36.95 People come, they do the gym, they do the lectures, 00:33:36.98\00:33:40.22 and then they come to the kitchen. 00:33:40.25\00:33:41.82 And we give them a recipe, every time they come in, 00:33:41.85\00:33:44.09 it's a different recipe. 00:33:44.12\00:33:45.45 So in that recipe, they get the ingredients 00:33:45.49\00:33:47.26 and step by step process 00:33:47.29\00:33:48.79 but not only that, we show them how to do it. 00:33:48.82\00:33:52.33 So they get to read along, see me do it, 00:33:52.36\00:33:56.13 and then they get to taste as well. 00:33:56.16\00:33:57.57 Uh-huh. Uh-huh. Uh-huh. 00:33:57.60\00:33:59.27 Well done. 00:33:59.30\00:34:00.64 When you're in an inpatient kind of setting, 00:34:00.67\00:34:02.80 you've got them for 24 hours a day basically. 00:34:02.84\00:34:05.87 When I come to you each time, each day, 00:34:05.91\00:34:08.08 how long am I going with you, several hours? 00:34:08.11\00:34:10.18 No, two hours. Two hours, okay. 00:34:10.25\00:34:11.58 So they come into the center, they're with us for two hours. 00:34:11.61\00:34:14.55 Usually in the regular doctor's office, 00:34:14.58\00:34:16.79 it's 15 minutes half an hour. Yes. 00:34:16.82\00:34:19.02 So you can spend all the time you need to explain to them 00:34:19.05\00:34:22.89 why they should change lifestyle. 00:34:22.92\00:34:24.69 So at this office, 00:34:24.73\00:34:26.19 this lifestyle medicine wellness center office, 00:34:26.23\00:34:28.56 we spend two hours with a patient. 00:34:28.60\00:34:31.10 So half an hour, 45 minutes is spending educating 00:34:31.13\00:34:35.20 on food, or sleep, or whatever the subject is. 00:34:35.24\00:34:39.61 Another 45 minutes or an hour is spent in the gym 00:34:39.64\00:34:43.14 with the fitness person. 00:34:43.18\00:34:44.51 Uh-huh. Uh-huh. Okay? 00:34:44.55\00:34:46.05 And then the rest of the time is spent in the kitchen 00:34:46.08\00:34:49.55 with the chef and with the food coach. 00:34:49.58\00:34:53.25 So we go through step by step. 00:34:53.29\00:34:55.92 What are the calories in this food. 00:34:55.96\00:34:59.03 Why should you eat this way. How should you read your label. 00:34:59.06\00:35:03.60 Then how do we prepare this, taste this, here is the recipe, 00:35:03.67\00:35:07.97 take it home. 00:35:08.00\00:35:10.01 And that's how we're getting, 00:35:10.04\00:35:11.54 making an impact on the patient's lives 00:35:11.57\00:35:14.41 locally and in the Rio Grande Valley. 00:35:14.44\00:35:17.35 Let me throw a bit of a curve and ask you one of those 00:35:17.38\00:35:20.05 high concept ontological question 00:35:20.12\00:35:22.02 we ask every now and again. 00:35:22.05\00:35:23.89 Because what is a good question? 00:35:23.92\00:35:25.95 What to do, do this don't, do that, eat this, 00:35:25.99\00:35:27.92 don't do that. 00:35:27.96\00:35:29.32 I've heard you say or at least hint too many times, 00:35:29.36\00:35:31.99 why, why is a better question. 00:35:32.03\00:35:35.50 You can tell somebody don't do that, don't do this, 00:35:35.53\00:35:39.13 if you do this, this is going to happen. 00:35:39.17\00:35:40.64 But when you take that next step and go to why, 00:35:40.67\00:35:44.01 then you justify for them. 00:35:44.04\00:35:46.88 The reasons I'm telling you this, 00:35:46.91\00:35:49.38 talk to me about the importance of why 00:35:49.41\00:35:51.45 and how patients respond to why even more than what 00:35:51.48\00:35:54.25 because that's what seems to be woven into everything 00:35:54.32\00:35:56.32 that you're doing. 00:35:56.35\00:35:57.69 Right. Why do we do this? 00:35:57.72\00:35:59.05 The thing is, as physician, we tend to tell patients 00:35:59.09\00:36:03.29 don't do this, take this medication for this. 00:36:03.32\00:36:06.06 Precisely. That's the what. Yeah. 00:36:06.09\00:36:08.50 We empower our patients through educating them, 00:36:08.53\00:36:12.60 why is it that you have this disease. 00:36:12.63\00:36:18.41 We tend to look at the root cause 00:36:18.44\00:36:20.48 and we allowed them to think, 00:36:20.51\00:36:22.28 "Tell me, why is it that you're overweight? 00:36:22.31\00:36:24.78 How long have you been overweight? 00:36:24.81\00:36:26.45 What is the real cause of this obesity?" 00:36:26.48\00:36:30.49 It could be depression, it could be anxiety, 00:36:30.52\00:36:33.22 it could be adverse childhood, you know, experience. 00:36:33.25\00:36:36.09 So you take the time to move into that arena. 00:36:36.12\00:36:38.23 Yes, we have to get to the mind. 00:36:38.26\00:36:39.59 Yes, yes. 00:36:39.63\00:36:40.96 If we don't get to the mind 00:36:41.00\00:36:42.33 and help the patient to understand 00:36:42.36\00:36:43.87 why this is a problem, 00:36:43.90\00:36:46.37 then we will never be able to educate 00:36:46.40\00:36:48.64 and empower the patient to change. 00:36:48.67\00:36:52.04 That's important. 00:36:52.07\00:36:53.81 And then, of course, 00:36:53.88\00:36:55.21 now why should you eat this way, 00:36:55.24\00:36:58.25 you know, what are the reasons? 00:36:58.28\00:36:59.88 So we go through studies, studies have shown 00:36:59.91\00:37:02.55 that this would happen if this, 00:37:02.58\00:37:04.82 if you do this and if they are in agreement, 00:37:04.85\00:37:08.29 it doesn't take multiple visits for them to make a change. 00:37:08.32\00:37:11.89 Oh, yes, yes. 00:37:11.93\00:37:13.26 They'll understand and they'll change. 00:37:13.29\00:37:14.63 I had a patient, breast cancer, thyroid cancer, diabetes, 00:37:14.66\00:37:17.90 she came to my office. 00:37:17.93\00:37:19.67 She was feeling terrible. 00:37:19.70\00:37:21.87 She was having problem with her diabetes, medication metformin, 00:37:21.90\00:37:25.07 and, of course, she had two cancers. 00:37:25.11\00:37:27.28 I sat her down and I said, "You know, 00:37:27.31\00:37:30.15 I can show you a way of living and eating 00:37:30.18\00:37:33.35 that will help you to get better 00:37:33.42\00:37:35.38 off the medication." 00:37:35.42\00:37:37.19 She listened, she understood, she came back in two weeks, 00:37:37.22\00:37:40.46 she was amazed. 00:37:40.49\00:37:41.89 She was off of her diabetes medication, 00:37:41.92\00:37:44.26 she was feeling amazing. 00:37:44.33\00:37:46.80 And she couldn't believe it. 00:37:46.83\00:37:48.83 So we have to allow them to be part of the thought process, 00:37:48.86\00:37:54.04 part of the decision making. 00:37:54.07\00:37:56.04 Yeah. Yeah. 00:37:56.07\00:37:57.41 We empower them 00:37:57.44\00:37:59.24 and we will have a healthy patient for life. 00:37:59.27\00:38:02.31 If we just give a script and say, 00:38:02.34\00:38:04.15 "Buy this," 00:38:04.18\00:38:05.68 we might have a non-compliant patient that doesn't get well. 00:38:05.71\00:38:09.22 But they need to be educated, they need to understand, 00:38:09.25\00:38:12.22 and will change your lives forever. 00:38:12.25\00:38:14.39 Praise God. Praise God. 00:38:14.42\00:38:15.99 May I ask then, 00:38:16.02\00:38:17.36 how do you weave the Bible and the Spirit, 00:38:17.43\00:38:22.36 I don't want to say religious but the spiritual aspect 00:38:22.40\00:38:24.33 into without being preachy? 00:38:24.37\00:38:26.50 Some people are prepared right away 00:38:26.53\00:38:28.07 for the insertion of the Bible in their life, 00:38:28.10\00:38:29.64 there are others who are not. 00:38:29.67\00:38:31.01 So how do you weave that into what you're doing 00:38:31.04\00:38:34.78 as a necessary part of the overall 00:38:34.81\00:38:37.15 practice of medicine and of being well? 00:38:37.18\00:38:39.55 Right. 00:38:39.58\00:38:40.92 That can be very technical, 00:38:40.95\00:38:42.28 especially if the doctor is employed by an organization. 00:38:42.32\00:38:45.79 Now I'm solo. 00:38:45.82\00:38:47.19 I own my practice and most of the people 00:38:47.26\00:38:49.46 around know that I'm a Christian, 00:38:49.49\00:38:50.83 I'm a Christian. 00:38:50.86\00:38:52.93 So, you know, we will discuss and I'll ask the patient, 00:38:52.96\00:38:56.70 "Do you mind if we do this, if we pray together?" 00:38:56.77\00:39:00.24 I have developed, for example, a Bible study guide 00:39:00.27\00:39:03.91 that transitioned them from health to the religion 00:39:03.94\00:39:09.04 and I use these transitions. 00:39:09.08\00:39:10.45 For example, if we're discussing nutrition 00:39:10.48\00:39:13.28 for example, then we'll go and I say, you know, 00:39:13.31\00:39:15.45 in the Bible, it says this, this is the way you should eat, 00:39:15.48\00:39:20.09 and we transition, and we look at that, 00:39:20.16\00:39:22.99 we'll probably talk about the rest. 00:39:23.02\00:39:25.29 And we look at, you know, the weekly rest, 00:39:25.33\00:39:28.36 the daily rest, and that's how I bring in the Sabbath. 00:39:28.40\00:39:32.43 So, you know, I transitioned them from health 00:39:32.47\00:39:36.34 to the Creator and that's how I... 00:39:36.37\00:39:39.24 And, you know, I have a Bible study guide, 00:39:39.27\00:39:41.81 a Bible study class and I'll ask them, 00:39:41.84\00:39:44.41 "Would you like to join?" 00:39:44.45\00:39:46.28 I give the option and as I mentioned, 00:39:46.31\00:39:50.89 I've had from our center there about five 00:39:50.92\00:39:55.26 that have been baptized since we opened the center 00:39:55.29\00:39:57.66 >>>>and I give God thanks for that, yeah. 00:39:57.69\00:40:00.20 And patients are always willing, if you say, 00:40:00.23\00:40:02.03 "Can I pray with you?" 00:40:02.06\00:40:03.40 "Oh, sure, doctor, come on, come on." 00:40:03.47\00:40:04.87 Or I have patients who will come to the office, 00:40:04.90\00:40:07.17 "Dr. Cooper, I just want to talk to you. 00:40:07.24\00:40:09.67 Could you pray for my son? 00:40:09.70\00:40:11.04 He has this problem." 00:40:11.07\00:40:12.41 Just for prayer. Yes, yes. 00:40:12.44\00:40:13.78 So most patients are open to the Word of God. 00:40:13.81\00:40:18.88 Yes. 00:40:18.91\00:40:20.25 I had a patient who I was working with, 00:40:20.32\00:40:21.88 diabetes, high blood pressure, 00:40:21.92\00:40:23.39 I could not get his sugar controlled. 00:40:23.42\00:40:25.72 And I said... 00:40:25.75\00:40:27.46 You know, he came back to me about two weeks later 00:40:27.49\00:40:29.52 and he said to me, 00:40:29.56\00:40:30.93 "Dr. Cooper, guess what? 00:40:30.96\00:40:32.56 My sugars are controlled, my sugar's controlled." 00:40:32.59\00:40:34.96 I said, "What happened?" 00:40:35.00\00:40:36.33 "I just started reading the Bible." 00:40:36.36\00:40:38.57 Amazing. God is good. Praise the Lord. 00:40:38.60\00:40:40.64 Are most patients or many persons surprised 00:40:40.67\00:40:44.94 that the Bible has so much to say 00:40:44.97\00:40:46.68 about day-to-day health and wellness? 00:40:46.71\00:40:50.58 They are very surprised. Yes. 00:40:50.65\00:40:52.65 Because many patients don't read the Bible. 00:40:52.68\00:40:54.25 I had a patient who said, 00:40:54.32\00:40:55.65 "Dr. Cooper, you know, in my church, 00:40:55.68\00:40:58.75 we're not allowed to read the Bible. 00:40:58.79\00:41:00.69 We don't read the Bible in my church." 00:41:00.76\00:41:02.09 I said, "Why?" "It's too complicated." 00:41:02.12\00:41:04.16 So they are surprised when I... 00:41:04.23\00:41:07.00 Or I might be at a conference and I might say something 00:41:07.03\00:41:10.67 from the Bible, they say, "Hey, where is that found? 00:41:10.70\00:41:12.20 I need that scripture." 00:41:12.23\00:41:13.74 You know, because they're amazed, 00:41:13.77\00:41:15.10 they don't read the Bible 00:41:15.14\00:41:16.47 and they don't know the Bible has so much to do 00:41:16.50\00:41:18.71 or just say on health, yeah. 00:41:18.74\00:41:22.08 You have a cookbook, 00:41:22.11\00:41:24.15 we saw a little bit as you were cooking. 00:41:24.18\00:41:26.95 What is the focus of that particular book, 00:41:27.02\00:41:30.42 as far as the kinds of offerings you have, 00:41:30.49\00:41:32.79 the ease of offerings, 00:41:32.82\00:41:34.16 what's your focus for that particular cookbook? 00:41:34.19\00:41:35.82 Well, my focus is always food as medicine. 00:41:35.86\00:41:38.66 That's where I wanted you to go. 00:41:38.69\00:41:40.03 So this cookbook, 00:41:40.10\00:41:42.83 it's very different from a cookbook 00:41:42.86\00:41:44.53 you'll probably see on the market 00:41:44.57\00:41:45.90 because there I've laid out meal plans, 00:41:45.93\00:41:50.01 28-days meal plan, how they should eat, 00:41:50.04\00:41:53.51 what I recommend, 00:41:53.58\00:41:54.94 how they should combine their meals. 00:41:54.98\00:41:57.15 And if they were to follow this plan, 00:41:57.18\00:41:59.31 then they're going to see weight loss, sugar control, 00:41:59.35\00:42:03.15 blood pressure better, and so forth. 00:42:03.18\00:42:05.39 So it's food as medicine. Yeah. 00:42:05.42\00:42:06.76 There's a recurring theme that keeps coming 00:42:06.79\00:42:08.32 and I'm hearing, 00:42:08.36\00:42:09.69 what are the number one health challenges 00:42:09.72\00:42:13.19 in the general world today? 00:42:13.23\00:42:15.26 Because you mentioned a couple of things, diabetes, 00:42:15.30\00:42:18.97 I guess other kinds of cancers 00:42:19.00\00:42:20.44 but those seems to be almost universal 00:42:20.47\00:42:22.87 that this country is suffering from overweight, 00:42:22.90\00:42:25.14 as you said you're in a county, a city, an area 00:42:25.17\00:42:29.04 that is really overweight. 00:42:29.08\00:42:30.65 Well, if I should say, I would say obesity. 00:42:30.68\00:42:32.75 Uh-huh. 00:42:32.78\00:42:34.12 We have 2.5 billion people worldwide with obesity. 00:42:34.15\00:42:38.15 We have 70% of our population here in the United States 00:42:38.19\00:42:42.16 who are overweight or obese. 00:42:42.19\00:42:44.76 Now obesity increases your risk for so many diseases, diabetes, 00:42:44.79\00:42:49.56 hypertension, various type of cancer, 00:42:49.60\00:42:51.93 depression, joint pain, arthritis. 00:42:51.97\00:42:54.40 If we can attack obesity, then we would be fixing 00:42:54.44\00:42:58.34 a lot of these chronic diseases. 00:42:58.37\00:43:00.48 We have patients, young patients 00:43:00.51\00:43:02.78 who have type 2 diabetes. 00:43:02.81\00:43:04.45 Yeah, that's lifestyle. Type 2 diabetes is lifestyle. 00:43:04.48\00:43:07.12 Yes, yes. 00:43:07.15\00:43:08.48 Type 2 diabetes should not be seen in a child 00:43:08.52\00:43:11.39 and I've had children, 12, 9 00:43:11.42\00:43:15.06 that have come into my office for counseling on diabetes, 00:43:15.09\00:43:19.49 when the problem is teaching the child to eat differently 00:43:19.53\00:43:22.26 and losing the weight. 00:43:22.30\00:43:23.67 So I would say obesity is a problem. 00:43:23.70\00:43:26.40 At what point, good doctor, does overweight become obese? 00:43:26.43\00:43:31.14 All righty. 00:43:31.17\00:43:32.51 So we have this index that we call BMI, 00:43:32.54\00:43:36.54 body mass index. 00:43:36.58\00:43:38.95 So the range is that if your BMI 00:43:38.98\00:43:45.29 is above 30, then you're obese. 00:43:45.32\00:43:49.06 If your BMI is between say 25 and 29, 00:43:49.09\00:43:52.29 you're overweight. 00:43:52.33\00:43:53.70 So you want to keep the patient below 25. 00:43:53.73\00:43:56.20 I see. 00:43:56.23\00:43:57.57 And obesity is just an index that is used 00:43:57.60\00:43:59.90 for your height and weight. 00:43:59.93\00:44:01.27 If this is your height, 00:44:01.30\00:44:02.64 what should your healthy weight be. 00:44:02.67\00:44:05.64 I want to go to Edgar just a little bit. 00:44:05.67\00:44:08.31 Can you lose significant amounts of weight 00:44:08.34\00:44:11.18 and keep it off without exercise, 00:44:11.21\00:44:14.98 just diet alone? 00:44:15.02\00:44:16.62 It's tough. It's tough. 00:44:16.69\00:44:20.19 That's why we always recommend the exercise. 00:44:20.26\00:44:22.46 You could do so much just by diet, like I said, 00:44:22.49\00:44:25.43 I lost 15 pounds just by the diet, 00:44:25.46\00:44:28.90 but I had to push that extra mile. 00:44:28.93\00:44:31.00 Uh-huh. 00:44:31.03\00:44:32.37 And because I saw a just plateau, 00:44:32.40\00:44:35.44 so I said I need to, you know, my diet's already good, 00:44:35.47\00:44:39.51 I'm doing everything I can diet-wise, 00:44:39.54\00:44:42.78 so now I started with my exercise 00:44:42.81\00:44:45.21 and that pushed me to lower my weight even more. 00:44:45.25\00:44:48.62 Okay. 00:44:48.65\00:44:49.98 Back to you, Dr. Dona, 00:44:50.02\00:44:51.35 how much exercise is sufficient exercise? 00:44:51.39\00:44:53.79 Do I have to go to the gym and work myself to death 00:44:53.86\00:44:56.66 or will the body respond to something a little less 00:44:56.73\00:44:59.16 rigorous or maybe a little more consistent? 00:44:59.19\00:45:00.73 Right, I'm going to assist Edgar with that question. 00:45:00.80\00:45:04.47 Most people are overweight because of their diet. 00:45:04.50\00:45:08.30 It takes about 80% of the weight loss 00:45:08.34\00:45:11.41 is dependent on just eating differently 00:45:11.44\00:45:14.41 and 20% on exercise. 00:45:14.44\00:45:16.75 So it is recommended that 30 minutes 00:45:16.78\00:45:19.38 of moderately intense exercise, 00:45:19.41\00:45:21.82 six times a week is all you need. 00:45:21.85\00:45:24.45 However, 00:45:24.49\00:45:26.15 if somebody wants to lose weight, 00:45:26.19\00:45:28.46 then they need to exercise more than one hour 00:45:28.49\00:45:32.06 per day for six days. 00:45:32.09\00:45:34.13 So it's like 300 minutes to 400 minutes 00:45:34.20\00:45:37.97 weekly of exercise to assist more weight loss. 00:45:38.00\00:45:42.14 Do you have to run or can that be walking? 00:45:42.17\00:45:44.77 Is that enough? 00:45:44.81\00:45:46.14 You can walk, 00:45:46.17\00:45:47.81 brisk walking for 30 minutes, that's great. 00:45:47.84\00:45:51.08 You don't have to run, you can walk in place, 00:45:51.11\00:45:54.65 you can use resistant bands 00:45:54.68\00:45:58.29 and just do, you know, regular exercise, 00:45:58.32\00:46:01.42 moving the upper body and the lower body. 00:46:01.46\00:46:03.76 So any structured physical activity is exercise. 00:46:03.83\00:46:07.80 So you want to get that heart rate up, the blood pumping. 00:46:07.83\00:46:09.43 Yes, exactly. 00:46:09.46\00:46:11.13 As long as you're sweating 00:46:11.17\00:46:12.80 and you're a little bit short of breath, 00:46:12.83\00:46:14.74 then you're doing moderately intense exercise. 00:46:14.77\00:46:18.84 All right. 00:46:18.87\00:46:20.21 So you don't have to go to the gym, 00:46:20.28\00:46:21.61 you can do it rather at home, just get out and walk. 00:46:21.64\00:46:22.98 Right. Walking is important. 00:46:23.01\00:46:24.41 Okay, help me with this, I'm track athlete now. 00:46:24.45\00:46:26.72 A light exercise will do it consistently, 00:46:30.09\00:46:33.66 if you were to say 00:46:33.69\00:46:36.83 here's the one thing you need to do to get started, 00:46:36.86\00:46:40.40 what would that be? 00:46:40.43\00:46:41.93 I would say being consistent, getting up in the mornings 00:46:41.96\00:46:47.04 and do 15 minutes of just walking. 00:46:47.07\00:46:50.24 Uh-huh. 00:46:50.31\00:46:51.64 Then in the afternoon, another 15 minutes. 00:46:51.67\00:46:54.18 If you are employed, 00:46:54.21\00:46:55.94 and you just can't find the time, 00:46:55.98\00:46:58.01 and you're someone who has a center job, 00:46:58.05\00:47:01.42 sit in actively. 00:47:01.45\00:47:03.89 Do you know how to sit actively? 00:47:03.92\00:47:05.35 I think not. 00:47:05.39\00:47:06.76 Well, you sit forward, put your feet on the surface, 00:47:06.79\00:47:11.16 and you tighten your thighs, 00:47:11.19\00:47:14.00 and you maintain a good posture. 00:47:14.03\00:47:17.27 You're doing isotonic exercise. 00:47:17.30\00:47:18.63 Uh-huh. Uh-huh. 00:47:18.67\00:47:20.04 So you tension the muscles and that is exercise. 00:47:20.07\00:47:24.54 If you can't do that, 00:47:24.57\00:47:26.37 remember to get up every hour 00:47:26.41\00:47:29.38 and do two minutes of just walking around. 00:47:29.41\00:47:32.21 If you have to answer the phone, get up, 00:47:32.25\00:47:34.02 and just walk around, and answer the phone. 00:47:34.05\00:47:35.75 Anything that you do on a structured, 00:47:35.78\00:47:38.32 consistent basis 00:47:38.35\00:47:40.06 where you're moving the muscles, that is exercise. 00:47:40.09\00:47:42.66 Okay. 00:47:42.69\00:47:44.03 Praise the Lord. Praise the Lord. 00:47:44.06\00:47:45.39 We have cell phones, you're not tethered to a desk phone. 00:47:45.43\00:47:46.93 Yes. 00:47:47.00\00:47:48.33 Get up and walk with your cell phone. 00:47:48.36\00:47:49.73 That's right. 00:47:49.76\00:47:51.70 In your practice, 00:47:51.73\00:47:53.47 talk to me about some of the success stories. 00:47:53.54\00:47:55.40 Sometimes when you are seeing people coming in one shape 00:47:55.44\00:47:58.41 and then leave very, very well. 00:47:58.44\00:47:59.77 Okay. I have so many. 00:47:59.81\00:48:01.38 I'm going to give you this great one. 00:48:01.41\00:48:02.74 Okay. 00:48:02.78\00:48:04.15 I have a gentleman, he's about 77- years-old, 00:48:04.18\00:48:06.41 heart disease, diabetes. 00:48:06.45\00:48:08.05 He was in and out of the hospital, 00:48:08.08\00:48:09.55 11 times in one year. 00:48:09.58\00:48:11.89 I went to the emergency room and I said, "You know what, 00:48:11.92\00:48:14.96 I want you to get out of this hospital, 00:48:14.99\00:48:17.63 I want you to enroll at the wellness center, 00:48:17.66\00:48:20.23 and I'm going to help you stay out of this hospital." 00:48:20.30\00:48:23.47 He followed my instruction. 00:48:23.50\00:48:25.80 He said, well, first, he said, "Dr. Cooper, 00:48:25.83\00:48:27.90 I cannot get from my bed to my chair, 00:48:27.94\00:48:30.11 I can't exercise." 00:48:30.14\00:48:31.47 "It doesn't matter, just come." 00:48:31.51\00:48:33.07 He came to the wellness center, he got enrolled there 00:48:33.11\00:48:36.95 and he did so well that he left... 00:48:36.98\00:48:41.05 He went from bed to chair, chair to walker, 00:48:41.08\00:48:45.09 walker to cane, and he was walking on his own. 00:48:45.12\00:48:48.59 And he was out of the hospital for the next year. 00:48:48.62\00:48:51.59 Wow. 00:48:51.63\00:48:52.96 Changed his lifestyle, started to eat plant-based, 00:48:52.99\00:48:56.06 teaching his family how to do it, 00:48:56.10\00:48:58.43 he was the happiest man, he corrected his anxiety, 00:48:58.47\00:49:02.17 he corrected his cardiac arrhythmia 00:49:02.20\00:49:04.34 that he was having, did so well. 00:49:04.37\00:49:06.88 Another patient, young man, 25-years-old, 00:49:06.91\00:49:09.71 400 pounds with all of the diseases, 00:49:09.74\00:49:12.75 diabetes and hypertension, he came in, he lost 90 pounds, 00:49:12.78\00:49:17.75 corrected his blood sugar, reduced his medication, 00:49:17.79\00:49:21.62 and was happy. 00:49:21.66\00:49:22.99 Praise the Lord. 00:49:23.02\00:49:24.36 There's just so many of the same stories. 00:49:24.39\00:49:25.73 It's amazing how changing lifestyle, 00:49:25.76\00:49:28.43 started to focus in a more plant-based nutrition, 00:49:28.46\00:49:32.20 healthy eating, stress management, 00:49:32.23\00:49:34.67 and, of course spiritual renewal, 00:49:34.70\00:49:36.64 trust in God, 00:49:36.71\00:49:38.34 how important those are for good health. 00:49:38.37\00:49:42.11 It's amazing. 00:49:42.14\00:49:43.48 So you are a purveyor of the eight laws, 00:49:43.55\00:49:45.25 you believe in that stuff. 00:49:45.28\00:49:46.61 Yeah, eight laws and a little bit more. 00:49:46.65\00:49:48.12 A little bit... A little bit more. 00:49:48.15\00:49:50.29 Healthy relationship, all that's important. 00:49:50.32\00:49:53.36 Yeah. 00:49:53.39\00:49:54.72 I see this about you, good doctor, 00:49:54.76\00:49:56.59 you're not afraid to tackle the tough patients. 00:49:56.62\00:49:59.79 You're not put off by or anyway intimidated 00:49:59.83\00:50:02.23 by the tough cases. 00:50:02.26\00:50:03.60 No, I don't. 00:50:03.67\00:50:05.00 I love the challenges really 00:50:05.03\00:50:06.37 because I'm here to empower the patient. 00:50:06.40\00:50:07.74 Praise the Lord. 00:50:07.77\00:50:09.10 I want to see them so well that they can stay healthy 00:50:09.14\00:50:12.17 for the rest of their lives and beyond. 00:50:12.21\00:50:14.61 That is why I also focused 00:50:14.64\00:50:16.44 on how they should love the Lord, 00:50:16.48\00:50:18.48 and I'm always willing 00:50:18.51\00:50:19.85 to assist them to love the Lord. 00:50:19.88\00:50:21.65 We just hired on staff, a chaplain, 00:50:21.68\00:50:25.85 and we hope that he'll be more... 00:50:25.89\00:50:29.16 His services will benefit our patients 00:50:29.19\00:50:31.66 at the Cooper Wellness and Disease Prevention Center. 00:50:31.69\00:50:34.13 Praise the Lord. Praise the Lord. 00:50:34.20\00:50:36.23 You are as complete and comprehensive I think... 00:50:36.26\00:50:38.93 A center as I've heard of 00:50:38.97\00:50:43.44 because you're looking at all of the aspects. 00:50:43.51\00:50:44.84 Yes. 00:50:44.87\00:50:46.21 And I love the idea that you actively seek to empower 00:50:46.24\00:50:48.01 them by giving them information... 00:50:48.04\00:50:49.38 That's right. 00:50:49.41\00:50:50.75 And answering the question why we do what we do 00:50:50.78\00:50:52.88 and how that moves into that. 00:50:52.91\00:50:54.48 Very, very, very, very well done. 00:50:54.52\00:50:57.75 Should you like to get information 00:50:57.79\00:50:59.99 on the Cooper Wellness Center, 00:51:00.06\00:51:02.52 obviously they're doing a great work. 00:51:02.56\00:51:04.36 You may need their services, 00:51:04.39\00:51:06.16 you may know some individual who needs those services. 00:51:06.19\00:51:09.53 Here is the contact information that you're going to need. 00:51:09.56\00:51:12.13 We want you to write this down, get a pen, get a pencil, 00:51:12.17\00:51:14.30 fire up your iPad or whatever you need to do, 00:51:14.34\00:51:16.24 but this is good information, 00:51:16.27\00:51:17.74 and here's how you can make contact 00:51:17.77\00:51:19.27 with the Cooper Wellness Center. 00:51:19.31\00:51:21.14 If you would like to invite Dr. Cooper-Dockery, 00:51:23.21\00:51:25.78 or Chef Edgar Aguinaga 00:51:25.81\00:51:27.65 to give a healthy lifestyle presentation at your church, 00:51:27.68\00:51:31.12 or if you would like more information 00:51:31.15\00:51:32.79 on the Cooper Wellness Center, 00:51:32.82\00:51:34.49 please visit their website, CooperWellnessCenter.com. 00:51:34.52\00:51:38.86 There you will find all sorts of information 00:51:38.89\00:51:41.10 from Dr. Cooper-Dockery on nutrition, 00:51:41.13\00:51:43.97 wellness program services, and her newest books. 00:51:44.00\00:51:47.70 That website again is CooperWellnessCenter.com. 00:51:47.74\00:51:51.57 You may also call her 00:51:51.61\00:51:53.01 at area code (956) 627-3106. 00:51:53.04\00:51:58.78 Or write to Cooper Wellness Center, 00:51:58.81\00:52:01.02 3604 North McColl Road, 00:52:01.05\00:52:04.55 McAllen, Texas 78501. 00:52:04.59\00:52:07.89