Wellness Influencer Interview: Therese Kerr

NAME: Therese Kerr

OCCUPATION: 

Co-founder and Director of Divine by Therese Kerr
Events Manager/Ambassador of KORA Organics by Miranda Kerr
Co-author of Lunchbox Solutions
Health and Wellbeing Ambassador for Australian Organic
Patron Kids Helpline Australia
Author, Speaker, Visionary

Please tell us a little about your business, yourself and how you got to where you are now in the wellness industry…

I have co-authored my first i-book “Lunchbox Solutions” and am co-authoring another i-book “Breakfast Solutions”. “Lunchbox Solutions” is informative in relation to nutrition and health and includes lots of healthy, nutritious  recipes. Throughout the book there are chapters which detail why, from a nutritional perspective, we recommend healthy alternative ingredients as opposed to conventional, high sugar, highly processed and refined ingredients. "Breakfast Solutions" will be released as soon as I have time to finalise it with my co-authors (hopefully prior to the end of November this year) and I'm currently working on several other books and programs.

I'm also excited to say that I'm releasing a Certified Organic range of Hair and Personal care products, namely: Shampoo, Conditioner, Hair Silk, Deodorant,Tooth Paste, Hand Sanitiser, Hand Wash, Hand Lotion, Mouthwash and Mouth Refresher Spray. This will be released under the "Divine By Therese Kerr" brand and will compliment the KORA Organics range. In releasing this and eventually a baby range, we'll be providing a comprehensive solution that offers a total package of certified organic goodness to the world, and that's exciting.

Recently I've been announced as the Health and Wellbeing Ambassador for Australian Organic – the face of certified organics in Australia and the most recognised certifying bodies within Australia. Along with fellow Australian Organic Ambassadors Pete Evans (Cooking Ambassador) and Costa Georgiadis (Gardening Ambassador) independently and collectively, we will take the message of nutrition, certified organic goodness and sustainability to Australian schools and to the general public. In particular, I'm extremely passionate about educating our young as they are the ones who will eventually transform the way in which food, and ultimately nutrition, is viewed.

Another role that I take on wholeheartedly is my role as Patron for Kids Helpline (KHL). KHL is the only 24/7 service available to children and young adults (5 to 25). On average KHL receives a contact from a young person every 60 seconds and over the last 5 years over 7 million contacts have been made to KHL. Although my children have grown up, as a society we have a responsibility to all children to ensure they are safe, protected and nurtured and that their voices are heard, especially in today's society where families are so busy. If you would like to know more about this important organisation please click here  to donate.

What does ‘living naturally’ mean to you?

Eating whenever possible certified organic food. Using only certified organic personal, skin and hair care products as approximately 60-70% of what we put on our skin soaks into our bloodstream and into our organs. It's so important to understand the impact of chemicals on our body, for example: Most toothpaste will contain Aspartame or another artificial sweetener, commonly added to toothpastes to make them more palatable, but at what cost? Most people have hopefully by now heard of Aspartame. It is also commonly known as Equal, Splenda, Nutrasweet, Sweet N Low and sadly, what most people don’t know is that it's an 'excitotoxin'. If you haven’t heard of this, you can take a look on my website and find out just how poisonous this insidious chemical is.

I also meditate and take time out to sit in silence, to be present to life. I consistently practice mindfulness and wonderment and bring that into being in my everyday life. Healthy living to me is about ensuring I look after my body in every aspect: The Physical, Mental and Spirtual. When all three aspects are aligned we get to experience health and life for that matter, at a whole new and exciting level.

What does a typical day in the wellness world look like for you?

The first meal of the day for me is generally a “Juthie” which is something I created. In saying that, my first meal isn’t usually until around midday as our body goes through an elimination cycle from around 4:00am through to midday.  I therefore mostly allow my body to fast up until midday (other than water and water and lemon, but sometimes if I'm particularly hungry I have a piece of fruit as fruit will not slow down the digestive process). As soon as we consume a heavy breakfast, we take our body out of elimination, fat burning mode. When we do that our body then has to use that energy to digest as opposed to burning fat so I encourage people to give their digestive system that rest up until midday.

In relation to my “Juithie” it's a combination of a juice and a smoothie and you can access the recipe from my website. As for the rest of the day, I generally have, on average, a 75% raw diet. Raw food is living, alkaline food and I personally believe illness cannot survive in an alkaline body so I will have activated almonds or walnuts for afternoon tea and more often than not I have a beautiful, healthy, highly nutritious salad and quinoa for dinner. I sometimes have wild-caught certified organic Atlantic salmon (it is so important not to eat farmed non-certified salmon) and on the odd occasion I have certified organic chicken, but rarely eat beef. In winter I will make chicken or salmon rissoles, or stews using the left over pulp from my juicing and sometimes I have eggs (omelette with healthy greens and other herbs).

I make my own Progurt yoghurt, my own Kombucha and Rejuvelac. These all support my digestive system and in our highly refined, highly processed, high sugar-content world, it is so important to strengthen and support your digestive system.

What are your top 3 tips for staying fit and healthy?

Oops, I have more than 3 and I hope that is ok?

1. Eat certified organic food and eat less. Strengthen your digestive system as around 80% of your immune system strength comes from your digestive system. If you don’t have digestive health, you literally don’t have health in my opinion.
2. Only use certified organic skin, hair and personal care products on your body as 60-70% of what you put on your skin will soak into your blood stream and organs and impact your health. Also only use natural cleaning products in your home.
3. Exercise and drink plenty of water - usually 1 litre per every 25kgs of body weight
4. Take time out for you. Meditate and just be present to life. This will help your body to go into Parasympathetic Nervous System State where it can rest and digest and rest and repair. Most often we are in Sympathetic Nervous System State which is fight or flight and in that state, our body cannot burn fat and cannot digest food and the impact of our body being in that state is so damaging to our health. Sadly, most women are predominantly in this state – always trying to be everything to everyone, always rushing around trying to be the best at everything and for everyone, nor realising the impact that state has on their health.
5. Laugh and have fun. I encourage people I speak with every day to do star jumps and “jump for joy” in front of a mirror, laughing at themselves and allowing themselves to just be who they are without judgement or criticism – be a kid again and have fun.
6. See incredible natural therapists to support you and your body: Nutritionists, Naturopaths, Acunpuncturists, Chiropractors, Kinesioligists and take time out for a regular massage – your body and your health will adore you for it.
7. Remove sugar from your diet. By sugar I don’t just mean sugar itself, I mean removing all highly processed foods that convert to sugar rapidly then into fat within the body. Most of our Western diet does this so, baby steps is what it will take until one day, your pantry is renewed, alive and refreshed with highly nutritious food.

In a nutshell, what’s your food philosophy?

75% raw and alkaline foods. In life there has to be a balance. I wasn’t always this healthy, but I have found all it takes is little steps each and every day. The funny thing is that the healthier you become, the more you want to fill your body with beautiful nutrient-rich food and you get to a stage where you want to distance yourself completely from the food that doesn’t serve your body. In a nutshell, I eat for only an 8 hour period throughout the day, I eat certified organic food whenever possible (that’s not always possible as I travel a lot) and I eat mostly healthy, living, low GI food and alkaline my body.

What do you do to ‘reset’ the balance button when life gets a bit hectic?

Meditation. I aim to meditate twice a day, if not, at least once. It allows me to just zone out, let go of any stress, and take that time to just be. As stated earlier, one of the quickest ways to get your body out of Sympathetic Nervous System mode (SNS) is to meditate and I find if I don’t meditate, my body automatically goes into SNS (fight or flight mode) as I have so much going on, it can all become a little overwhelming. 

I also choose my way of being, in each and every moment.  We have a choice, it really is that simple. When the world is on top of us, when we feel overwhelmed, we can choose to be overwhelmed or we can choose to be calm, accepting, patient, courageous, understanding…the list goes on.  More often than not we don’t see that we have a choice and our past will dictate our reaction and it is usually immediate because it is actually past driven.  We are human beings, not human “doings” but we forget that. We have a choice as to how we respond to any situation, and It is only through my illness that I have come to realise that, and I now get to say how my life goes as opposed to life dictating that for me. I can be in the midst of a storm and nothing will phase me now as I bring that calm, that peace, acceptance and love to everything I do and it is such a beautiful place to stand in and to operate from.

I also go to yoga and practice Pilates. I also love to walk on the beach and do that often of a morning with my husband and my little dog, Tykey.

We’re all about balance around here…What’s your biggest indulgence?

Me too!!!  Massage for me is my biggest indulgence followed closely by a beautiful big warm bath filled with Epsom Salts, KORA Organics Body OIl and other essential oils, bathed by candlelight, while listening to my favourite music. It doesn’t get much better than that for me.

What healthy snacks might we find on your desk or in your handbag?

Activated almonds, homemade Cocao Bliss Balls or Protein Balls.

Can you share with us your top two pieces of advice for people wanting to start a career in the wellness industry?

1. Live your passion, if you live your passion it is not work. I finally am living my dream of contributing and making a difference to others. Through personal experience and a commitment to health, I've  transformed my life and I feel like I am 20 years young again. As stated earlier, I take a holistic approach to wellness: Physical, Mental and Spiritual. I have adopted this approach to life  and have a peace that radiates from my heart that if I could bottle it, I would share it with the world.  My goal is to do that somehow so that people can discover their greatness and just how incredible they truly are.
2. Believe in yourself. Don’t allow the virtual reality of your mind to dictate what is possible for you.  You are a gift, be that gift and understand that the only true limits you will have are the ones you literally place upon yourself. Clear your mind, see it for what it is, i.e. that your body is real, your brain is real, but your thoughts aren’t and you can be anything you dream you can be – all it takes is the courage to truly put your heart into it and then put enthusiasm behind your idea and the universe will support your dream.

Do you have a favourite affirmation or quote you remind yourself of when life throws you a few challenges?

Each day I see things with renewed eyes. I open my heart and my soul to what is possible. I see people and things through the eyes of wonderment and love - as if I am seeing them for the first time. I allow my heart to sing and my soul to dance to the majesty of life. I offer kindness, compassion, love and understanding. I am one with and connected to all living things. I just am, and in the process I be what I came on this earth to be.