“Over the past decade we’ve learned an enormous amount about the effects of childhood stress and trauma on illness later in life, namely that trauma can alter gut bacteria, the intestinal lining, and gut-immune function, making us a breeding ground for chronic disease.” – Mark Hyman, MD
Join us for this month’s presentation that will cover one of the paths for creating a lifestyle that is self-nurturing and healing. In April’s presentation by Haelan House, we will focus on Nutrition in healing the effects of trauma. Eating a whole food plant-based diet can be helpful in balancing the gut microbiome, which in turn can help improve mood, sharpen brain function, strengthen the immune system and create vibrant physical health. Improving well-being through food is an act of self-care and empowerment in a situation that may feel powerless due to traumatic events.
Nutrition is one area of health that we have control over. What we put into our bodies is an essential part of whole health. If you are what you eat – what are you right now? Are you weakened or over or underweight because of what you are putting into your gut? Or do you feel powerful, clean, and vibrant due to the fresh, nutritious, and energizing foods you take in?
Sunny Massey, this month’s presenter will provide answers to questions like, what is the connection between heart and brain health, and how does plant-based nutrition affect both? And how does changing your diet relieve trauma symptoms and effects? She approaches this lifestyle choice as a win-win-win situation wherein compassion, environmental well-being, and health combine for the benefit of many.
You can watch the recorded session below.
OUR FEATURED SPEAKER: Sonya “Sunny” Massey,
Advocate | Facilitator | Imagineer
Born to a number of unfortunate circumstances; I lost my father in Vietnam at the age of 4 and at that same time, my teen mother’s care and support when she went to work and not for lack of money. So, I basically raised myself, my entire life, nor does my story neatly end there, but I’ll spare you the details for now since this is supposed to be a bio. I am, however, one of those people that often gets called an ‘old soul’. I don’t know if I agree with that, but what I can say, is I was always trying to grow up fast and learn what I needed to learn to stay alive. Needless to say, most of my life has been one wild ride after another. In other words, a very long ‘Hero’s Journey’ with many-many transformations along the way.
For years, my worldview was one that saw it as a cruel and hostile place, a battlefield, as I used to call it. I was the victim of multiple wrong-doings and suffered from disenfranchised grief and complex trauma. It took me most of my adult life to heal. While my brain and heart may not have completely healed, I do believe I now know quite a lot about improving one’s life and changing one’s mindset. Living as joyfully and radiantly as I do today. I’m not really an expert on anything, but I do have an insatiable appetite for learning and adapting everything I have learned. I’m a big fan of pushing myself to always stay open, be curious and choose love. While I don’t share my personal stories as often as I used to, I do enjoy sharing them if I think they will benefit someone else. Showing them that they too can change the trajectory of their life as I have. My intention is to always inspire hope and remind them that they are not powerless. It is my greatest desire to be of service to humanity and this planet and fulfill my soul’s mission.
Warmly, Sunny
If you are interested in exploring veganism further, you may want to check out some of these vegan documentaries.
And here are links to a couple of YouTube videos you may find informative about issues raised in this presentation.
Dr Tuttles. https://youtu.be/mBknMJdDkJo
Dr. Garth Davis: https://youtu.be/kC4DP7CIgEE