Participants:
Series Code: TDY
Program Code: TDY018062A
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00:01 I want to spend my life
00:07 Mending broken people 00:12 I want to spend my life 00:18 Removing pain 00:23 Lord, let my words 00:30 Heal a heart that hurts 00:34 I want to spend my life 00:40 Mending broken people 00:45 I want to spend my life 00:51 Mending broken people 01:10 Hello and welcome to 3ABN Today. 01:12 My name is CA Murray, 01:14 and thank you for joining us today 01:15 in what should be an interesting 01:17 and informative time together 01:19 as we talk about health and wellness, 01:21 and as my guest says, 01:24 food as medicine along with a number of other things. 01:29 Thank you for sharing your time with us. 01:31 Thank you for the 33 years plus of support 01:34 as together we lift up the mighty 01:36 and matchless name of Jesus. 01:37 My guests are Dr. Dona Cooper-Dockery. 01:42 Thank you so much for having me here today. 01:45 Good to have you here. 01:46 She of the Cooper Wellness Center, 01:48 she is the founder of Cooper Wellness Center 01:50 and Executive Chef. 01:52 We're going to talk about that 01:54 but that's not just a title thrown together, 01:55 you had to work your way to that. 01:57 It's her. 01:59 See, he's got my voice. 02:00 We were talking about that before, 02:02 I wanted that voice years ago when I was praying for a voice. 02:04 That's the voice I wanted. 02:05 That's where my voice went. 02:07 I was wondering who got my voice, 02:08 you got my voice. I did. I did. 02:10 This is Edgar... 02:12 And I got do this right, Aguinaga. 02:14 Yes, sir, you got it right. Okay, praise the Lord. 02:16 He is the Executive Chef for the Cooper Wellness Center. 02:20 We're going to talk about what that is, 02:21 and what that does, 02:23 and how that has benefit to our walk here on this earth 02:27 as we prepare to make our way to heaven. 02:29 But before we go to our music, I wanted to spend a little time 02:31 because I picked up very early 02:34 on that that's a Jamaican accent. 02:35 Yes, I'm from Jamaica. Praise the Lord. 02:37 Where on the island? 02:39 I am from the western side, Westmoreland, 02:42 a tiny little place called Truro. 02:44 I don't know Truro, but I do know Westmoreland. 02:47 Westmoreland. 02:48 I know that area and having been there 02:49 many, many times and enjoyed the people, 02:51 enjoyed the food, 02:52 and enjoyed the ambience there, 02:56 having preached many, many times in Jamaica, 02:58 a lovely place to be. 02:59 Beautiful. 03:01 And we're happy that you made your way to the States. 03:02 Thank you so much. And praise the Lord. 03:05 We're going to talk about that 03:06 but I want to ask you just a couple things, 03:08 good doctor, were you born in an Adventist home? 03:10 No, I was not at all. 03:13 Actually I was grown up with my grandparents. 03:16 They were Baptists, didn't like the Adventist Church at all. 03:19 Is that so. 03:21 But fortunately, I was sent to an Adventist High School. 03:25 That's where I learned about the message, 03:28 and at age 12, I was baptized. 03:31 Praise the Lord. 03:33 But you know what happened after I was baptized? 03:35 My grandfather asked me to leave the home at age 12 03:38 because he didn't want an Adventist living in his house. 03:41 Uh-huh. Uh-huh. 03:43 But my loving grandmother realized that 03:44 where is she going to go, you know. 03:46 Yes, yes. 03:48 So then she pleaded with him and I remained at home, 03:51 finished my high school, and I was fathered, 03:55 my spiritual father then, by a lovely family, 03:59 lovely gentleman by the name of David Thompson. 04:03 Uh-huh. 04:04 And there I learned more about the Adventists message. 04:07 We worshiped in a tiny little garage 04:09 for many years doing God's work. 04:13 Then we had a church, 04:14 I became an Adventist at age 12, 04:17 then I moved on to University of Montemorelos. 04:21 Actually, first I went to West Indies College. 04:23 Oh, yes. There I did my bachelor's. 04:27 Now Northern Caribbean University, 04:29 then I went to Montemorelos, and there I did medicine, 04:33 and I did my specialized training 04:35 in New York, 04:37 and then I went to the valley to work. 04:39 I see. 04:40 The idea of doing medicine was that something 04:42 that always occurred to you 04:44 or did you kind of just move into that? 04:46 Well, initially I said, I wanted to do nursing 04:48 and my mother said, "When you were born, 04:51 your father wanted you to be a doctor, 04:53 so you can't be a nurse." 04:56 Of course, you know, I fell in love in science, 04:59 fell in love in the idea to help the sick and the needy. 05:03 But most importantly, that gentleman David Thompson, 05:07 he died right in my presence. 05:11 He had a stroke and we were living in Jamaica 05:14 and I thought that he didn't have to die. 05:18 But because we didn't have all the medical necessities 05:21 that he needed, 05:22 I became very angry, and I said, 05:24 "I'm going to be a doctor 05:26 because no one needs to die like this." 05:28 Wow. 05:30 So my idea of becoming a doctor was then, 05:33 you know, put more into force. 05:35 I became more focused because I wanted to save lives. 05:38 Yes, bless your heart. 05:39 So I want to thank the Thompsons 05:40 for really guiding me here, 05:42 of course, with the help of the Lord. 05:43 With the help of the Lord, yes, yes. 05:45 At what point in your life, 05:47 because were you fully convicted 05:49 and converted at 12, 05:51 or did you sort of grow into that, 05:53 or did you kind of plant your flag at that early age? 05:55 You know, I think I did at that early age. 05:57 At age 12, I knew, I loved the message, 06:01 and I wanted to walk that path. 06:04 And I did not look back at all. 06:06 I kept focus. 06:08 You went to the school on the hill? 06:09 That's right. 06:11 I've held meetings there, preached a lot in Jamaica, 06:14 and I really appreciate the discipline 06:17 that is given at then West Indies College, 06:20 now Northern Caribbean University, 06:22 so that set your path. 06:23 Having matriculated at Montemorelos, 06:26 and you've got a fairly good handle on Spanish. 06:28 I do. I do some, some. 06:32 You see, in the Rio Grande Valley, 06:34 90% of the population speak Spanish. 06:37 So then you're forced to speak more Spanish and more Spanish. 06:40 Yes, yes, yes. 06:42 Now I need to let it slip out 06:43 that you've been doing some cooking here, 06:44 you did some cooking on yesterday. 06:46 Yesterday. 06:47 What an amazing experience, it was difficult. 06:50 And an amazing experience for our crew also. 06:53 This good lady knows her way around the kitchen. 06:55 She is a great vegan vegetarian cook, 06:59 has a cookbook and we'll talk about in just a little bit. 07:01 So she has many, many talents. 07:03 She can heal you many, many ways. 07:06 Thank you. Thank you. 07:08 And do a wonderful job. 07:10 The crew... 07:12 You can kind of tell, if the food that you prepare 07:15 disappears shortly after you finished, 07:17 that's a testament to your work 'cause... 07:19 Well, thank you so much. 07:21 I think you guys ate up all the food, most of the food. 07:23 Precisely. 07:24 That is high praise around here. 07:26 Thank you. 07:27 And we praise the Lord. 07:29 Edgar, I want to talk to you just a little bit 07:30 because you are an Executive Chef. 07:32 Yes, sir. 07:33 Now before we go into that, walk me through that 07:35 because you gave me kind of the progression 07:38 that one goes through to become an executive chef, 07:40 that's a very specialized title. 07:42 Yes, sir. 07:43 Well, as a chef, studying for culinary arts, 07:47 you get the title "chef." 07:48 Yeah. 07:50 But you have to keep on with your studies. 07:51 And as you go on with your studies, 07:54 you have to take tests in order to higher your rank. 07:57 So the more studies, the higher the rank you are. 08:00 Now who administers those tests? 08:01 The ACF, that's the American Culinary Federation, so. 08:04 Uh-huh. 08:05 It's nationwide and it's a very not standardized test 08:11 but a very difficult test as well. 08:12 Uh-huh. Uh-huh. 08:14 Do you have to actually cook things 08:15 or answer questions? 08:16 Both. 08:18 It's a paper, you have to know your temperatures, 08:19 you have to know little things that go here and there, 08:23 but also you have to know your food and cooking. 08:27 Uh-huh. 08:28 So when we say Executive Chef, those in the industry know that 08:31 you've reached a certain level of attainment. 08:33 Correct. 08:34 Yeah, it's not just a title we just kind of slap on. 08:35 Right. You worked your way to that. 08:37 Right. So praise the Lord. 08:38 And then we're going to find out 08:40 how you two guys met and how you're working together 08:42 through Cooper Wellness Center. 08:43 I think we want to go to our music now 08:45 and then come back, 08:46 and sort of loose them, and let them go 08:47 because they've got a lot to say 08:49 and you've got a lot to learn as we talk about wellness 08:52 and what this center is doing. 08:53 Our music today is coming from the Brady Trio. 08:56 They were here just a bit ago. 08:58 Tim Parton is a part of that trio. 09:00 And they are going to be singing The Love Of God. 09:17 The love of God is greater far 09:23 Than tongue or pen could ever tell 09:29 It goes beyond the highest star 09:35 And reaches to the lowest hell 09:41 The guilty pair, bowed down with care 09:47 God gave his Son to win 09:53 His erring child He reconciled 10:00 And pardoned from 10:03 His sin 10:21 Could we with ink the ocean fill 10:28 And were the skies 10:31 Of parchment made 10:36 And every stalk on earth a quill 10:43 And every man a scribe 10:47 By trade 10:52 To write the love 10:57 Of God above 11:00 Would drain the ocean dry 11:07 Nor could the scroll contain the whole 11:13 Though stretched from sky 11:16 To sky 11:22 O love of God, 11:28 How rich and pure 11:30 How measureless 11:34 And strong 11:38 It shall forevermore endure 11:43 The saints' and angels' 11:48 Song 11:52 It shall 11:55 Forevermore endure 12:00 The saints' and angels' 12:05 Song 12:09 How wonderful, how marvelous 12:15 This precious love 12:20 Of God 12:22 The precious love 12:26 Of God 12:37 Thank you, Jim Brady Trio, The Love of God, well done. 12:41 I'm here with Dr. Dona Cooper-Dockery 12:43 and Edgar Aguinaga. 12:46 And I don't know why that name is bothering me 12:48 because I'm fairly good with Spanish names, 12:51 that is one of the more complex ones I've heard 12:53 but we can work our way through it. 12:55 We did not talk about Edgar before. 12:58 Your upbringing, 12:59 did you grow up in an Adventist home? 13:02 Not really. 13:03 When I was a four-years-old, 13:05 my father got baptized in a Kenneth Cox Crusade. 13:10 Twenty two years later, the whole family is baptized, 13:13 my wife is baptized, my mother-in-law is baptized. 13:16 And now we're working on my wife's family 13:20 and giving them Bible studies as well. 13:22 Praise the Lord, okay. 13:23 So 22 years, we have been in the church. 13:27 We're all working together. 13:28 We have helped found different churches around the area. 13:31 So... 13:33 Yeah. 13:34 So you could say fairly I have been growing up in a... 13:36 Yeah, pretty much. 13:37 Where was that Kenneth Cox Crusade held? 13:38 In McAllen, Texas. Uh-huh. 13:40 For a month long. Yeah. 13:41 My father went two days. 13:43 After the second day, he was like, "I cannot miss." 13:46 And my mother was mad 13:48 because my youngest brother was born during that crusade. 13:52 My father went to the hospital, 13:53 left the hospital to go to attend. 13:56 It was that good, you cannot miss out. 13:58 That is quite a story. 14:00 I'm sure Kenneth Cox will be proud to hear that. 14:05 Praise the Lord. 14:06 Now when did the bug, sort of, hit you to work with food 14:11 and to, you know, to go into that line? 14:13 It had always bugged me seeing my grandmother in the kitchen. 14:19 My father's mom in Mexico, in her home, in her town, 14:25 nobody ever went hungry. 14:27 If she saw somebody hungry, 14:29 "Hey, we have cattle, we have corn, we have..." 14:32 Whatever there is vegetables on the ground, 14:34 she cooked whatever she had to cook 14:35 and nobody ever went hungry. 14:37 So this kind of thing was in your DNA. 14:38 Exactly. 14:39 It was already engraved since birth. 14:41 So me seeing her feeding other people 14:43 and them just seeing, 14:45 you know, seeing her made them happy. 14:48 I said, "I want some of that." 14:49 Okay. Yeah. 14:51 Okay, praise the Lord. 14:52 Good doctor, the wellness center now, 14:53 you studied in Montemorelos, made your way to New York. 14:55 How did you get from New York back to Texas? 14:57 Interesting, you know, 14:59 because I started in Montemorelos, 15:00 I wanted my kids to speak Spanish. 15:04 So God worked it out where one of my tutors, 15:07 my teachers from medical school was working there in McAllen, 15:10 and he invited us down to McAllen, 15:13 and that's where... Uh-huh. 15:15 it began. Uh-huh. 15:16 Was it always your goal, 15:18 your desire to do wellness type medicine 15:21 which is more presentative 15:22 and a little more broad based than just passing out pills 15:24 and kind of fixing the stuff? 15:25 The lifestyle medicine we call it. 15:27 Not necessarily. 15:28 I left medical school, 15:30 we were taught traditional medicine. 15:31 Yes, yes. 15:32 Diagnosed and you treat with medication. 15:35 But in 2010, a friend of mine, 15:39 Dr. Bryce had a conference in McAllen, 15:43 at the time I was a vegetarian. 15:45 At the time, I was 25 pounds overweight. 15:49 And after the presentation, 15:51 I thought then moving away 15:56 to another lifestyle will be healthier. 15:58 So I became a vegan, I lost 25 pounds, 16:02 and I felt amazing. 16:05 Beautiful blood pressure, everything was normal. 16:07 And I decided then to change my practice 16:11 to lifestyle medicine 16:12 because at that time, in 2011, 16:15 McAllen, where I live and practice medicine 16:18 was the fattest city in the United States. 16:22 And, of course, with obesity comes diabetes 16:25 and heart disease. 16:26 So then I opened the lifestyle medicine center 16:30 and I just changed my focus 16:31 to lifestyle medicine or wellness. 16:34 Define for me, if you are, for those who may not know 16:37 the difference between vegan and vegetarian? 16:40 Well, vegan just mean that that person is plant-based. 16:44 There's no animal product, no dairy, no eggs in the diet 16:48 and it's just a healthier way of living. 16:52 So just that relatively, 16:54 and I say relatively small change 16:55 brought that kind of weight results. 16:57 Absolutely, just that change, getting away from the fats, 17:01 eating more consciously plant-based 17:04 where plants are more calorie, low-calorie 17:08 and more nutrient-dense. 17:10 Uh-huh. 17:12 So you could eat a lot and still lose a lot of weight. 17:15 And not only weight 17:17 but you're going to bring the blood pressure down, 17:18 the sugar down, cholesterol down. 17:21 It's amazing way of living 17:22 and that is why I've introduced my patients 17:26 to that type of lifestyle, that type of medicine 17:29 because we all know that food is a number one risk factor 17:33 for many diseases. 17:34 Sure. 17:36 So therefore, if food is the problem, 17:38 why treat it with a pill? Yes, yes. 17:40 Treat it with food. 17:41 Am I not right? 17:43 Well said, if food is your problem, 17:45 treat it with food. 17:46 There you go. That makes sense. 17:48 The idea of a wellness center, 17:49 when did it actually germinate in your brain 17:51 and how did that start? 17:53 Probably in 2010. 17:55 And then, I had an employee who joined us at that time 18:01 and he was focused on health ministries. 18:06 And therefore, coming together, 18:08 we decided to open this lifestyle medicine center, 18:12 this wellness center away from my practice. 18:16 I have two clinics in McAllen. 18:17 Uh-huh. 18:19 And then I opened another building 18:21 where I have a kitchen, classroom, a gym, 18:25 and all the facilities to have an outpatient lifestyle center. 18:28 Uh-huh. Uh-huh. 18:30 And, you know, it had brought joy to my heart 18:32 because so many of my patients 18:34 who have come in to this program 18:37 have done so well. 18:39 Patients have lost 50 pounds, 90 pounds, 18:43 have reversed their diabetes, decreased their blood pressure, 18:47 and are doing so well. 18:48 And that is why my focus now has somewhat shifted 18:53 to lifestyle medicine, 18:54 getting to the root cause of the problem 18:57 and see the patient as a patient 18:59 who has multiple dimension, not only physical but mental, 19:04 social, and spiritual. 19:06 So we not only address the physical, 19:09 but we also teach them how to love God. 19:12 Uh-huh. Uh-huh. 19:14 And, you know, from that we've had baptism from my office, 19:16 from the wellness center. 19:17 God is wonderful. 19:18 Praise the Lord. Praise the Lord. 19:20 Now I think I'm hearing something 19:21 a little bit different. 19:23 When you think wellness center, 19:24 you tend to think of a retreat type atmosphere. 19:25 That's right. 19:27 Somewhere out in the woods or out in the mountains 19:28 where you're going away. 19:29 But am I hearing that you're doing this 19:31 on an outpatient basis? 19:32 Outpatient basis. Uh-huh. 19:33 So the patients, what I do, 19:35 I select the patient who are at high-risk. 19:38 Yes. 19:40 Those that have blood sugars, that are not controlled, 19:42 those that are on a lot of medication, 19:43 they might be overweight and so forth. 19:45 And I direct them to this office and there, 19:49 I treat the patients there. 19:51 So they know that they're going to be there for 12 weeks 19:54 or 8 weeks coming in on a weekly basis 19:58 or twice a week basis, 20:00 where they're going to sit with a group of workers, 20:04 the doctor, 20:06 the one who educates them on health and wellness, 20:09 the person who does the cooking demonstration, 20:12 and someone who does the physical medicine, 20:15 exercise with the patient, 20:17 the same that you'd probably have in inpatient 20:20 or residential style lifestyle center. 20:24 But this is an outpatient, patients are at home. 20:27 Yeah. 20:29 But they come in to that center once or twice per week 20:32 for an extended duration. 20:34 Uh-huh. Uh-huh. 20:35 Here's what turns the light on for me. 20:39 The idea that, and it is not in all cases, 20:42 but many times, you go away to a retreat. 20:45 And the setting is, 20:48 and I'm a going to use this term "artificial" 20:50 because you're in a controlled situation, 20:52 your meals are controlled, they're done for you, 20:54 your amounts are controlled for you, 20:56 get up is controlled for you, 20:58 go to sleep is controlled for you, 20:59 then you leave that bubble, return to your work-a-day world 21:04 and everything kind of goes out the window. 21:07 Yes. 21:08 But what you're doing is healing, training, 21:10 educating, indoctrinating in a real-world setting 21:13 where they go home every night and they get a chance... 21:15 not get a chance, 21:17 they are forced to inculcate those things 21:19 into the everyday life without coming out 21:22 and then going back in there all the time. 21:23 I think that's a better way... 21:25 Yes. to do it. 21:26 You know, both, you know, 21:27 have their disadvantages and advantages 21:29 but we're keeping the patient, as you said, 21:30 in their real-life settings. 21:31 Yes. Right? 21:33 So they're forced now to fight with their inner mind to see, 21:38 "Okay, am I going to really do what the doctor says? 21:40 I'm at home, I have all these foods, 21:43 what am I going to select?" 21:44 You know, and patient will come and say, "Hey, Doc, 21:48 I went downstairs last night, and I opened the refrigerator, 21:50 and I could see your face on the door. 21:55 And therefore I could not eat, I could not open the door." 21:58 You know, and they say, "Doc, 21:59 I throw out all of the meats that I have or whatever it is, 22:02 all of the bad foods 22:03 I've taken out of my refrigerator, 22:05 I've donated it or whatever." 22:06 So, you know, we have had significant 22:10 positive success stories. 22:12 Excellent, excellent. 22:13 Now Mr. Executive Chef, 22:15 how did you two come to meet and begin working together? 22:19 It's a very divine intervention story. 22:23 We were at our training at one of our churches, 22:27 both the Hispanic Church 22:28 and the English-speaking Church came together 22:30 and we were doing trainings. 22:31 Uh-huh. 22:32 Different Sabbath schools 22:34 and Sabbath school for children, different areas 22:37 and one area was the health. 22:40 So I was looking for an area to go. 22:42 Me being a chef, I was like, "Where could I go?" 22:46 And my pastor had said, "You know, 22:47 I want you to go to the Sabbath School 22:49 so you could help me out and make it more dynamic." 22:53 But I went to the Sabbath School 22:54 and it was already filled, it was already full. 22:56 And then my brother said, "Why don't we go to the health? 22:59 You might learn something to put into your area." 23:04 So we went in. 23:06 And Dr. Bryce, he was leading the lecture. 23:08 He asked a question, he said, "Why are you all here?" 23:11 Only two of us raised our hand. 23:12 I was one, I said, "Well, I'm here, I'm a chef, 23:15 and I want to learn more about health 23:17 to implement it into my field." 23:20 That led to Dr. Cooper. 23:22 She heard chef, and at the end of the lecture, 23:26 she said, "Can I speak with you?" 23:28 And we spoke, and she was like, "I have a wellness center, 23:31 I want to do this, I want to teach people how to cook, 23:34 how to eat healthier. 23:37 Would you like and come into work?" 23:39 And I said, "You know, the funny thing is 23:41 I am looking for a job." 23:43 So at the perfect time, 23:45 at the perfect place, in God's time. 23:47 Praise the Lord. 23:49 Were you already on the road as far as healthy cooking 23:53 or was that something that came along 23:54 with the good doctor? 23:56 Well, a little bit of both. 23:58 I had always known how to cook healthy 24:04 but not the way the doctor does it. 24:07 But now with the doctor teaching me new things, 24:10 new secrets, I'm always up to learning. 24:13 So now, working together with a doctor, 24:16 we are doing very, very plant-based meals and that is, 24:20 it has been a blessing to many. 24:24 Was it jarring to your sensibilities 24:27 or your training to, kind of, make this left turn 24:30 or it's actually a right turn into... 24:32 Better, better, not left turn. 24:36 Right turn into healthy cooking 24:38 or did that, kind of, naturally go with your evolution 24:40 as far as what you are trying to do in your life? 24:42 It naturally went because of my beliefs. 24:45 Uh-huh. Right. 24:46 So knowing the health message and my beliefs 24:50 and working with somebody who has my same beliefs, 24:54 it just felt perfect. 24:56 It felt so God divine that He led the way, 24:59 and now our thoughts are the same, 25:01 our message is the same, 25:03 and the way we work is the same. 25:05 Praise the Lord. Praise the Lord. 25:07 You can get all of the nutrition, 25:09 all of the things that the body needs to correct itself, 25:12 to keep itself going without meat in your diet, 25:15 is that your statement? 25:17 Exactly. Absolutely. 25:19 Is one of the more important things that you try to do 25:22 is take people off of meat as a matter of choice 25:26 for your lifestyle, 25:27 is that that important to wellness 25:29 and prevention? 25:31 It is important to prevention. 25:34 We tend to teach the patient why, 25:37 why should they walk this path, 25:40 why should they consume this in their diet, 25:43 not so much of why is it so wrong, you see. 25:46 I like that. 25:47 So we will discuss, for example, 25:49 we'll discuss protein, many people believe that 25:52 if they're now a plant-based whole food person, 25:56 they're not going to have enough protein. 25:58 So then we have to sit and discuss, okay, 26:01 you can have enough protein 26:02 just consuming this, this, or that. 26:04 Uh-huh. 26:05 You stay away from these things, 26:07 for example, processed foods and processed meats 26:09 because of these and we give them the choice. 26:13 We lead them gently. 26:15 Not only that, we prepare the meals there at the center. 26:20 So we teach them how to cook 26:21 because a lot of people believe that 26:23 if they were to just forget all the meat 26:25 and all the processed food, then they'll be starving 26:29 and they will not be having a delicious meal. 26:31 Yes, yeah. 26:32 So we show them how to convert from this type of food 26:37 to delicious healthy food. 26:40 And when they change, they'll come back and say, 26:42 "Hey, Doc, I feel more energetic, 26:45 my mind is clearer, 26:46 I've lost this amount of weight, look at my sugar." 26:49 You know, I had a patient who walked into my office, 26:52 diabetic, hypertensive, high cholesterol 26:54 and he said, "Doc, I don't want to be on medication. 26:57 What do I do?" 26:59 I said, "Okay, now I'm going to sit with you. 27:00 We're going to talk and I will give you this meal plan." 27:06 He came back happy in two weeks, 27:07 "Hey, Doc, look at my sugars and my blood pressure," 27:10 you know. 27:12 So they are appreciating the fact 27:14 that they don't have to be in all this medication 27:17 and they can stay healthy and well. 27:19 Yes. 27:21 So you advocate in favor of the notion 27:22 that pre-diabetes, diabetes can be reversed? 27:25 Absolutely. Type 2 diabetes. 27:27 Yes, yes. 27:28 Ninety percent of patients with type 2 diabetes 27:30 can get off medication. 27:31 Wow. 27:33 And getting off and staying off 27:34 if they focus on healthy nutrition, exercise, 27:38 stress management, and spiritual renewal. 27:41 Yes. 27:42 All these things go together to get the patients healthy. 27:45 Now, my good doctor, I pay you now this compliment. 27:47 If Edgar cooks like you cook, 27:51 then you guys are doing pretty good. 27:52 Edgar is a great chef, come on. 27:54 The compliment goes to Edgar. 27:56 You know, Edgar has a story. 27:58 You know, when Edgar came after two weeks 28:01 of being in the wellness center, 28:03 cooking and teaching patients, 28:04 "Hey, Doc, I lost 15 pounds." I said, What? 28:06 You lost 15 pounds? 28:08 Now he lost 15 pounds just tweaking his lifestyle 28:11 and eating differently. 28:13 I had to put it to a test. 28:16 My wife and I talked and she said, 28:17 "Well, now you're going to be spreading this health message. 28:21 But you're a chef and look at you." 28:22 Yeah. 28:24 I was kind of overweight, well, not kind of, 28:25 I was really overweight. 28:27 And I said, "Let's make a change." 28:30 We changed our fridge, we changed our pantry. 28:33 Fifteen pounds later, in two weeks, 28:36 just by changing my diet. 28:37 Yeah. 28:39 Now I'm exercising, now I'm eating healthier, 28:41 and the weight is just dropping. 28:42 Yeah. 28:44 And I'm getting the same protein from plants 28:46 that I would from meats or even more. 28:48 So if we were going to contextualize that change, 28:51 let's grab three items 28:53 that came out of your refrigerator, 28:54 came out of your pantry, what are we talking about? 28:57 Milk, eggs came out, and the cheese came out. 29:01 And cheese came out, okay. 29:03 All right, praise the Lord. 29:05 Meats were not much in our diet at home. 29:08 My wife doesn't like meats and red meats at all 29:12 and white meats, it's okay. 29:15 So those were no problem getting rid of. 29:17 But the dairies, we got those out. 29:19 Yeah. 29:21 Now we're amazed by the results. 29:24 Yeah, a lot of people have problem 29:25 with getting the cheese out 29:27 and we live in South Texas, you know, come on. 29:32 Cheese is in everything. It's in everything. 29:33 On top of everything. 29:35 See there's a challenge, even with my patients, 29:37 the cheese is a problem. 29:38 We show them how they can tweak that 29:40 and make cheese sauce and without the cholesterol. 29:43 And that's what we cooked a lot of that for you, 29:46 you know, yesterday... Yes, yes, 29:47 on the show. and it was all quite good. 29:49 Let me ask you this, good doctor, 29:50 because you're in an area, talk to me, if you will, 29:54 about the impact on the local community. 29:56 As you said, you're living and working in a fat town. 30:00 Yes. 30:02 Are you getting buy-in from the community 30:05 around your center 30:06 as to the kinds of things you're doing, 30:08 is it a tough sale? 30:09 Well, I'm very, very, very busy in my community. 30:12 Everybody knows me as the healthy doctor. 30:15 What do I do? 30:17 First of all, I know that to reach the community, 30:19 I needed to multiply myself. How would I do so? 30:23 So I started a Get Healthy Magazine. 30:26 And this magazine is published every quarter. 30:30 So and it's placed all over the city, 30:32 hospitals, pharmacies, just about everywhere. 30:35 So people will read that. 30:37 I also started the local TV show, 30:39 Get Healthy With Dr. Cooper, 30:40 where I just discuss lifestyle medicine. 30:43 I discuss over eight laws of health plus rest 30:47 and, you know, why you should see the doctor. 30:52 People see me and they see health and wellness. 30:55 Yeah. 30:56 I had a pharmaceutical rep who walked into my office 30:59 and he said, "Hey, Dr. Cooper, I lost 30 pounds." 31:02 I said, "How did you do that?" 31:04 He said, "Hey, I picked up one of the magazines 31:07 and that's where it began. 31:08 I lost 30 pounds and my three-year-old daughter 31:12 is asking for kale smoothie." 31:15 Can you imagine that? I love it. 31:18 So everyone knows 31:20 that if they want to change lifestyle 31:22 and get off medication, 31:24 maybe you should probably look for Cooper Wellness Center, 31:27 find Dr. Cooper so they'll watch the program. 31:29 We also do a Facebook live once a week. 31:32 Wow. 31:33 So we have patients or people from all over the world 31:35 calling in or making comments, 31:38 we cook for one hour in the show, 31:40 the chef and I and that has been amazing. 31:43 So it's an amazing ministry. 31:45 Okay, so you've got a television face, 31:46 you've got an internet face, 31:47 which you need to sort of multiply 31:49 your reach and your impact. 31:52 I'm coming to you 31:53 and I've got any number issues including I'm overweight. 31:57 How much time should I expect to commit to you 32:01 to try to, and I'm saying we live in a society 32:04 where everything is instant, folk want it now. 32:05 How much time are we talking about, 32:08 well, I need to in my mind commit to you 32:10 before we can begin to rearrange 32:12 some of this stuff? 32:13 What do you mean how much time to commit? 32:15 As far as the program, how long I'm going to see you, 32:17 how many months, how many weeks, 32:18 how long are we going to be in contact, 32:20 in touch with each other to try to get me back 32:23 where I need to be? 32:24 Well, there is a 14 days to wellness program 32:26 which is transitioning, transition from this lifestyle 32:30 to a healthier lifestyle. 32:31 Then I have 12 weeks to wellness program 32:35 where we set and we go through the program, 32:38 you know, weekly for 12 weeks. 32:39 The longer the patient is in contact 32:42 with health and wellness coaching, 32:44 the better it is. 32:45 Yes. 32:47 I've noticed that patients 32:48 who have been in and out of the office 32:49 tend to do better than patients 32:52 who we see just once in a while. 32:56 So it's somebody 32:58 who is living somewhere out of Texas, 33:01 if they need this information 33:03 they can just communicate with me. 33:05 I have online program too. 33:07 So I can reach them anywhere in the world 33:10 with the online health and wellness program. 33:13 Praise the Lord. 33:15 Edgar, do you just cook for them 33:17 or do you instruct in cooking? 33:19 I noticed many of the things 33:21 that Dr. Dona was doing yesterday, 33:24 fairly simple programs but well done 33:27 and they don't consume a lot of time. 33:30 Is that what you're going for in your instruction 33:32 and the cooking that you're doing? 33:34 Correct. Yeah, that's what we do at the center. 33:36 People come, they do the gym, they do the lectures, 33:40 and then they come to the kitchen. 33:41 And we give them a recipe, every time they come in, 33:44 it's a different recipe. 33:45 So in that recipe, they get the ingredients 33:47 and step by step process 33:48 but not only that, we show them how to do it. 33:52 So they get to read along, see me do it, 33:56 and then they get to taste as well. 33:57 Uh-huh. Uh-huh. Uh-huh. 33:59 Well done. 34:00 When you're in an inpatient kind of setting, 34:02 you've got them for 24 hours a day basically. 34:05 When I come to you each time, each day, 34:08 how long am I going with you, several hours? 34:10 No, two hours. Two hours, okay. 34:11 So they come into the center, they're with us for two hours. 34:14 Usually in the regular doctor's office, 34:16 it's 15 minutes half an hour. Yes. 34:19 So you can spend all the time you need to explain to them 34:22 why they should change lifestyle. 34:24 So at this office, 34:26 this lifestyle medicine wellness center office, 34:28 we spend two hours with a patient. 34:31 So half an hour, 45 minutes is spending educating 34:35 on food, or sleep, or whatever the subject is. 34:39 Another 45 minutes or an hour is spent in the gym 34:43 with the fitness person. 34:44 Uh-huh. Uh-huh. Okay? 34:46 And then the rest of the time is spent in the kitchen 34:49 with the chef and with the food coach. 34:53 So we go through step by step. 34:55 What are the calories in this food. 34:59 Why should you eat this way. How should you read your label. 35:03 Then how do we prepare this, taste this, here is the recipe, 35:08 take it home. 35:10 And that's how we're getting, 35:11 making an impact on the patient's lives 35:14 locally and in the Rio Grande Valley. 35:17 Let me throw a bit of a curve and ask you one of those 35:20 high concept ontological question 35:22 we ask every now and again. 35:23 Because what is a good question? 35:25 What to do, do this don't, do that, eat this, 35:27 don't do that. 35:29 I've heard you say or at least hint too many times, 35:32 why, why is a better question. 35:35 You can tell somebody don't do that, don't do this, 35:39 if you do this, this is going to happen. 35:40 But when you take that next step and go to why, 35:44 then you justify for them. 35:46 The reasons I'm telling you this, 35:49 talk to me about the importance of why 35:51 and how patients respond to why even more than what 35:54 because that's what seems to be woven into everything 35:56 that you're doing. 35:57 Right. Why do we do this? 35:59 The thing is, as physician, we tend to tell patients 36:03 don't do this, take this medication for this. 36:06 Precisely. That's the what. Yeah. 36:08 We empower our patients through educating them, 36:12 why is it that you have this disease. 36:18 We tend to look at the root cause 36:20 and we allowed them to think, 36:22 "Tell me, why is it that you're overweight? 36:24 How long have you been overweight? 36:26 What is the real cause of this obesity?" 36:30 It could be depression, it could be anxiety, 36:33 it could be adverse childhood, you know, experience. 36:36 So you take the time to move into that arena. 36:38 Yes, we have to get to the mind. 36:39 Yes, yes. 36:41 If we don't get to the mind 36:42 and help the patient to understand 36:43 why this is a problem, 36:46 then we will never be able to educate 36:48 and empower the patient to change. 36:52 That's important. 36:53 And then, of course, 36:55 now why should you eat this way, 36:58 you know, what are the reasons? 36:59 So we go through studies, studies have shown 37:02 that this would happen if this, 37:04 if you do this and if they are in agreement, 37:08 it doesn't take multiple visits for them to make a change. 37:11 Oh, yes, yes. 37:13 They'll understand and they'll change. 37:14 I had a patient, breast cancer, thyroid cancer, diabetes, 37:17 she came to my office. 37:19 She was feeling terrible. 37:21 She was having problem with her diabetes, medication metformin, 37:25 and, of course, she had two cancers. 37:27 I sat her down and I said, "You know, 37:30 I can show you a way of living and eating 37:33 that will help you to get better 37:35 off the medication." 37:37 She listened, she understood, she came back in two weeks, 37:40 she was amazed. 37:41 She was off of her diabetes medication, 37:44 she was feeling amazing. 37:46 And she couldn't believe it. 37:48 So we have to allow them to be part of the thought process, 37:54 part of the decision making. 37:56 Yeah. Yeah. 37:57 We empower them 37:59 and we will have a healthy patient for life. 38:02 If we just give a script and say, 38:04 "Buy this," 38:05 we might have a non-compliant patient that doesn't get well. 38:09 But they need to be educated, they need to understand, 38:12 and will change your lives forever. 38:14 Praise God. Praise God. 38:16 May I ask then, 38:17 how do you weave the Bible and the Spirit, 38:22 I don't want to say religious but the spiritual aspect 38:24 into without being preachy? 38:26 Some people are prepared right away 38:28 for the insertion of the Bible in their life, 38:29 there are others who are not. 38:31 So how do you weave that into what you're doing 38:34 as a necessary part of the overall 38:37 practice of medicine and of being well? 38:39 Right. 38:40 That can be very technical, 38:42 especially if the doctor is employed by an organization. 38:45 Now I'm solo. 38:47 I own my practice and most of the people 38:49 around know that I'm a Christian, 38:50 I'm a Christian. 38:52 So, you know, we will discuss and I'll ask the patient, 38:56 "Do you mind if we do this, if we pray together?" 39:00 I have developed, for example, a Bible study guide 39:03 that transitioned them from health to the religion 39:09 and I use these transitions. 39:10 For example, if we're discussing nutrition 39:13 for example, then we'll go and I say, you know, 39:15 in the Bible, it says this, this is the way you should eat, 39:20 and we transition, and we look at that, 39:23 we'll probably talk about the rest. 39:25 And we look at, you know, the weekly rest, 39:28 the daily rest, and that's how I bring in the Sabbath. 39:32 So, you know, I transitioned them from health 39:36 to the Creator and that's how I... 39:39 And, you know, I have a Bible study guide, 39:41 a Bible study class and I'll ask them, 39:44 "Would you like to join?" 39:46 I give the option and as I mentioned, 39:50 I've had from our center there about five 39:55 that have been baptized since we opened the center 39:57 >>>>and I give God thanks for that, yeah. 40:00 And patients are always willing, if you say, 40:02 "Can I pray with you?" 40:03 "Oh, sure, doctor, come on, come on." 40:04 Or I have patients who will come to the office, 40:07 "Dr. Cooper, I just want to talk to you. 40:09 Could you pray for my son? 40:11 He has this problem." 40:12 Just for prayer. Yes, yes. 40:13 So most patients are open to the Word of God. 40:18 Yes. 40:20 I had a patient who I was working with, 40:21 diabetes, high blood pressure, 40:23 I could not get his sugar controlled. 40:25 And I said... 40:27 You know, he came back to me about two weeks later 40:29 and he said to me, 40:30 "Dr. Cooper, guess what? 40:32 My sugars are controlled, my sugar's controlled." 40:35 I said, "What happened?" 40:36 "I just started reading the Bible." 40:38 Amazing. God is good. Praise the Lord. 40:40 Are most patients or many persons surprised 40:44 that the Bible has so much to say 40:46 about day-to-day health and wellness? 40:50 They are very surprised. Yes. 40:52 Because many patients don't read the Bible. 40:54 I had a patient who said, 40:55 "Dr. Cooper, you know, in my church, 40:58 we're not allowed to read the Bible. 41:00 We don't read the Bible in my church." 41:02 I said, "Why?" "It's too complicated." 41:04 So they are surprised when I... 41:07 Or I might be at a conference and I might say something 41:10 from the Bible, they say, "Hey, where is that found? 41:12 I need that scripture." 41:13 You know, because they're amazed, 41:15 they don't read the Bible 41:16 and they don't know the Bible has so much to do 41:18 or just say on health, yeah. 41:22 You have a cookbook, 41:24 we saw a little bit as you were cooking. 41:27 What is the focus of that particular book, 41:30 as far as the kinds of offerings you have, 41:32 the ease of offerings, 41:34 what's your focus for that particular cookbook? 41:35 Well, my focus is always food as medicine. 41:38 That's where I wanted you to go. 41:40 So this cookbook, 41:42 it's very different from a cookbook 41:44 you'll probably see on the market 41:45 because there I've laid out meal plans, 41:50 28-days meal plan, how they should eat, 41:53 what I recommend, 41:54 how they should combine their meals. 41:57 And if they were to follow this plan, 41:59 then they're going to see weight loss, sugar control, 42:03 blood pressure better, and so forth. 42:05 So it's food as medicine. Yeah. 42:06 There's a recurring theme that keeps coming 42:08 and I'm hearing, 42:09 what are the number one health challenges 42:13 in the general world today? 42:15 Because you mentioned a couple of things, diabetes, 42:19 I guess other kinds of cancers 42:20 but those seems to be almost universal 42:22 that this country is suffering from overweight, 42:25 as you said you're in a county, a city, an area 42:29 that is really overweight. 42:30 Well, if I should say, I would say obesity. 42:32 Uh-huh. 42:34 We have 2.5 billion people worldwide with obesity. 42:38 We have 70% of our population here in the United States 42:42 who are overweight or obese. 42:44 Now obesity increases your risk for so many diseases, diabetes, 42:49 hypertension, various type of cancer, 42:51 depression, joint pain, arthritis. 42:54 If we can attack obesity, then we would be fixing 42:58 a lot of these chronic diseases. 43:00 We have patients, young patients 43:02 who have type 2 diabetes. 43:04 Yeah, that's lifestyle. Type 2 diabetes is lifestyle. 43:07 Yes, yes. 43:08 Type 2 diabetes should not be seen in a child 43:11 and I've had children, 12, 9 43:15 that have come into my office for counseling on diabetes, 43:19 when the problem is teaching the child to eat differently 43:22 and losing the weight. 43:23 So I would say obesity is a problem. 43:26 At what point, good doctor, does overweight become obese? 43:31 All righty. 43:32 So we have this index that we call BMI, 43:36 body mass index. 43:38 So the range is that if your BMI 43:45 is above 30, then you're obese. 43:49 If your BMI is between say 25 and 29, 43:52 you're overweight. 43:53 So you want to keep the patient below 25. 43:56 I see. 43:57 And obesity is just an index that is used 43:59 for your height and weight. 44:01 If this is your height, 44:02 what should your healthy weight be. 44:05 I want to go to Edgar just a little bit. 44:08 Can you lose significant amounts of weight 44:11 and keep it off without exercise, 44:15 just diet alone? 44:16 It's tough. It's tough. 44:20 That's why we always recommend the exercise. 44:22 You could do so much just by diet, like I said, 44:25 I lost 15 pounds just by the diet, 44:28 but I had to push that extra mile. 44:31 Uh-huh. 44:32 And because I saw a just plateau, 44:35 so I said I need to, you know, my diet's already good, 44:39 I'm doing everything I can diet-wise, 44:42 so now I started with my exercise 44:45 and that pushed me to lower my weight even more. 44:48 Okay. 44:50 Back to you, Dr. Dona, 44:51 how much exercise is sufficient exercise? 44:53 Do I have to go to the gym and work myself to death 44:56 or will the body respond to something a little less 44:59 rigorous or maybe a little more consistent? 45:00 Right, I'm going to assist Edgar with that question. 45:04 Most people are overweight because of their diet. 45:08 It takes about 80% of the weight loss 45:11 is dependent on just eating differently 45:14 and 20% on exercise. 45:16 So it is recommended that 30 minutes 45:19 of moderately intense exercise, 45:21 six times a week is all you need. 45:24 However, 45:26 if somebody wants to lose weight, 45:28 then they need to exercise more than one hour 45:32 per day for six days. 45:34 So it's like 300 minutes to 400 minutes 45:38 weekly of exercise to assist more weight loss. 45:42 Do you have to run or can that be walking? 45:44 Is that enough? 45:46 You can walk, 45:47 brisk walking for 30 minutes, that's great. 45:51 You don't have to run, you can walk in place, 45:54 you can use resistant bands 45:58 and just do, you know, regular exercise, 46:01 moving the upper body and the lower body. 46:03 So any structured physical activity is exercise. 46:07 So you want to get that heart rate up, the blood pumping. 46:09 Yes, exactly. 46:11 As long as you're sweating 46:12 and you're a little bit short of breath, 46:14 then you're doing moderately intense exercise. 46:18 All right. 46:20 So you don't have to go to the gym, 46:21 you can do it rather at home, just get out and walk. 46:23 Right. Walking is important. 46:24 Okay, help me with this, I'm track athlete now. 46:30 A light exercise will do it consistently, 46:33 if you were to say 46:36 here's the one thing you need to do to get started, 46:40 what would that be? 46:41 I would say being consistent, getting up in the mornings 46:47 and do 15 minutes of just walking. 46:50 Uh-huh. 46:51 Then in the afternoon, another 15 minutes. 46:54 If you are employed, 46:55 and you just can't find the time, 46:58 and you're someone who has a center job, 47:01 sit in actively. 47:03 Do you know how to sit actively? 47:05 I think not. 47:06 Well, you sit forward, put your feet on the surface, 47:11 and you tighten your thighs, 47:14 and you maintain a good posture. 47:17 You're doing isotonic exercise. 47:18 Uh-huh. Uh-huh. 47:20 So you tension the muscles and that is exercise. 47:24 If you can't do that, 47:26 remember to get up every hour 47:29 and do two minutes of just walking around. 47:32 If you have to answer the phone, get up, 47:34 and just walk around, and answer the phone. 47:35 Anything that you do on a structured, 47:38 consistent basis 47:40 where you're moving the muscles, that is exercise. 47:42 Okay. 47:44 Praise the Lord. Praise the Lord. 47:45 We have cell phones, you're not tethered to a desk phone. 47:47 Yes. 47:48 Get up and walk with your cell phone. 47:49 That's right. 47:51 In your practice, 47:53 talk to me about some of the success stories. 47:55 Sometimes when you are seeing people coming in one shape 47:58 and then leave very, very well. 47:59 Okay. I have so many. 48:01 I'm going to give you this great one. 48:02 Okay. 48:04 I have a gentleman, he's about 77- years-old, 48:06 heart disease, diabetes. 48:08 He was in and out of the hospital, 48:09 11 times in one year. 48:11 I went to the emergency room and I said, "You know what, 48:14 I want you to get out of this hospital, 48:17 I want you to enroll at the wellness center, 48:20 and I'm going to help you stay out of this hospital." 48:23 He followed my instruction. 48:25 He said, well, first, he said, "Dr. Cooper, 48:27 I cannot get from my bed to my chair, 48:30 I can't exercise." 48:31 "It doesn't matter, just come." 48:33 He came to the wellness center, he got enrolled there 48:36 and he did so well that he left... 48:41 He went from bed to chair, chair to walker, 48:45 walker to cane, and he was walking on his own. 48:48 And he was out of the hospital for the next year. 48:51 Wow. 48:52 Changed his lifestyle, started to eat plant-based, 48:56 teaching his family how to do it, 48:58 he was the happiest man, he corrected his anxiety, 49:02 he corrected his cardiac arrhythmia 49:04 that he was having, did so well. 49:06 Another patient, young man, 25-years-old, 49:09 400 pounds with all of the diseases, 49:12 diabetes and hypertension, he came in, he lost 90 pounds, 49:17 corrected his blood sugar, reduced his medication, 49:21 and was happy. 49:23 Praise the Lord. 49:24 There's just so many of the same stories. 49:25 It's amazing how changing lifestyle, 49:28 started to focus in a more plant-based nutrition, 49:32 healthy eating, stress management, 49:34 and, of course spiritual renewal, 49:36 trust in God, 49:38 how important those are for good health. 49:42 It's amazing. 49:43 So you are a purveyor of the eight laws, 49:45 you believe in that stuff. 49:46 Yeah, eight laws and a little bit more. 49:48 A little bit... A little bit more. 49:50 Healthy relationship, all that's important. 49:53 Yeah. 49:54 I see this about you, good doctor, 49:56 you're not afraid to tackle the tough patients. 49:59 You're not put off by or anyway intimidated 50:02 by the tough cases. 50:03 No, I don't. 50:05 I love the challenges really 50:06 because I'm here to empower the patient. 50:07 Praise the Lord. 50:09 I want to see them so well that they can stay healthy 50:12 for the rest of their lives and beyond. 50:14 That is why I also focused 50:16 on how they should love the Lord, 50:18 and I'm always willing 50:19 to assist them to love the Lord. 50:21 We just hired on staff, a chaplain, 50:25 and we hope that he'll be more... 50:29 His services will benefit our patients 50:31 at the Cooper Wellness and Disease Prevention Center. 50:34 Praise the Lord. Praise the Lord. 50:36 You are as complete and comprehensive I think... 50:38 A center as I've heard of 50:43 because you're looking at all of the aspects. 50:44 Yes. 50:46 And I love the idea that you actively seek to empower 50:48 them by giving them information... 50:49 That's right. 50:50 And answering the question why we do what we do 50:52 and how that moves into that. 50:54 Very, very, very, very well done. 50:57 Should you like to get information 51:00 on the Cooper Wellness Center, 51:02 obviously they're doing a great work. 51:04 You may need their services, 51:06 you may know some individual who needs those services. 51:09 Here is the contact information that you're going to need. 51:12 We want you to write this down, get a pen, get a pencil, 51:14 fire up your iPad or whatever you need to do, 51:16 but this is good information, 51:17 and here's how you can make contact 51:19 with the Cooper Wellness Center. 51:23 If you would like to invite Dr. Cooper-Dockery, 51:25 or Chef Edgar Aguinaga 51:27 to give a healthy lifestyle presentation at your church, 51:31 or if you would like more information 51:32 on the Cooper Wellness Center, 51:34 please visit their website, CooperWellnessCenter.com. 51:38 There you will find all sorts of information 51:41 from Dr. Cooper-Dockery on nutrition, 51:44 wellness program services, and her newest books. 51:47 That website again is CooperWellnessCenter.com. 51:51 You may also call her 51:53 at area code (956) 627-3106. 51:58 Or write to Cooper Wellness Center, 52:01 3604 North McColl Road, 52:04 McAllen, Texas 78501. |
Revised 2018-08-29