31 May,2026 11:18 AM IST | Mumbai | Nasrin Modak Siddiqi
Barbara O’Neill
They say it's never too late to start a fitness journey. However, renowned natural health educator Barbara O'Neill, who was at the Yashwantrao Chavan Centre, Nariman Point, for Digest With Ease 2026: The Gut Health Revolution, warns the later you start, the harder it is.
Presented by Empower Living in collaboration with Awaken Your Soul, the one-day wellness event focused on gut health, preventive healing and conscious living through keynote sessions, expert discussions and practical wellness insights, including a panel discussion with longevity researcher Dr Sajeev Nair, celebrity Pilates instructor Yasmin Karachiwala and functional neurologist Dr Shikhar Patanjali, exploring the links between digestion, immunity, stress, movement and long-term wellbeing.
O'Neill, known globally for her work in natural therapies and lifestyle-led healing, shared her approach to improving digestive health through nutrition and mindful living, equipping participants with actionable tools for healthier living while promoting a holistic, root-cause approach to wellness. For someone overwhelmed by modern wellness advice and unsure where to start, we asked O'Neill where to begin creating the most meaningful shift in health, particularly for women. "First, start drinking more water. It has a huge effect. Aim for eight glasses a day and spread them throughout the day. Second, start going to bed a little earlier. Most people aren't getting enough sleep, which is one reason they are ageing too early. Sleep is when the body restores and revives itself. Our brain is a hydroelectric system that needs both water and rest. Third, movement is life. Start implementing an exercise programme, even if it's small. You'll soon see what these three changes can do."
O'Neill says there is hardly a woman she meets today who doesn't have some form of hormonal imbalance. "Women are often not told about the potential risks of contraceptive pill and devices like the IUD and the effect these can have on hormones. Some herbs can help support hormonal balance. Wild yam cream, made from Mexican wild yam and applied to the skin twice a day, can be very effective. Evening primrose oil can help as well. Other herbs include black cohosh, chaste tree (often called vitex), and maca. There may be Indian variants, but I'm not familiar with Indian herbs," she admits.
O'Neill used to get headaches all the time, and she also suffered from sinus problems. "Looking back, I realise I wasn't drinking enough water; maybe about two glasses a day. While studying the importance of water, I decided to try increasing my intake. My headaches disappeared, my sinus congestion cleared and today, I can go a couple of years without getting a cold," she adds but warns, that drinking all your water at once won't allow the body to use it efficiently. "Half a glass at a time, spread throughout the day, is better. If you drink all your water in the morning and still be dehydrated by five o'clock."
Today, as stress is almost worn like a badge of honour, O'Neill takes time every morning to pray and read the Bible. "Prayer is important to balance my mind. The messages you put into your mind early in the day help guide you through everything that follows," she adds.
O'Neill feels that people are discovering that ancient wisdom makes sense because it's tried-and-true. "I raised eight children using natural medicine, and now they're using it with their own children because it works. A lot of people are realising that while a drug can save a life in a crisis, a drug cannot heal you. The body is the healer. Ancient wisdom works with the body, not against it. It's important to arm yourself with knowledge and understand why something works. Like traditional cultures use turmeric, because it reduces inflammation. Many diseases thrive in an inflamed body, and turmeric helps calm that inflammation. I'm glad it's becoming popular again because it's a very beneficial herb," she adds.
For future generations, O'Neill advises parents to feed their children better food. "I breastfed my children and introduced them early to natural foods. I never had a picky eater. I only fed them at mealtimes. Children love routine, and I'm always surprised by how much they will eat when they're genuinely hungry. Unfortunately, many children are fed all day long and never get properly hungry. My children ate everything, and now my grandchildren eat everything too because my children are raising them similarly. They do it because it works. The body is made up of the food we give it. If we don't provide nourishing food, it won't function well and eventually, it begins to break down," she signs off.
