In Mumbai, renowned health educator Barbara O’Neill highlights the importance of wellness

They say itrsquos never too late to start a fitness journey However renowned natural health educator Barbara OrsquoNeill 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 isPresented by Empower Living in collaboration with Awaken Your Soul the oneday 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 longterm wellbeingOrsquoNeill known globally for her work in natural therapies and lifestyleled 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 rootcause approach to wellness For someone overwhelmed by modern wellness advice and unsure where to start we asked OrsquoNeill where to begin creating the most meaningful shift in health particularly for women ldquoFirst 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 arenrsquot 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 itrsquos small Yoursquoll soon see what these three changes can dordquoOrsquoNeill says there is hardly a woman she meets today who doesnrsquot have some form of hormonal imbalance ldquoWomen 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 Irsquom not familiar with Indian herbsrdquo she admitsOrsquoNeill used to get headaches all the time and she also suffered from sinus problems ldquoLooking back I realise I wasnrsquot 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 coldrdquo she adds but warns that drinking all your water at once wonrsquot allow the body to use it efficiently ldquoHalf 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 orsquoclockrdquoToday as stress is almost worn like a badge of honour OrsquoNeill takes time every morning to pray and read the Bible ldquoPrayer is important to balance my mind The messages you put into your mind early in the day help guide you through everything that followsrdquo she addsOrsquoNeill feels that people are discovering that ancient wisdom makes sense because itrsquos triedandtrue ldquoI raised eight children using natural medicine and now theyrsquore 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 Itrsquos 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 Irsquom glad itrsquos becoming popular again because itrsquos a very beneficial herbrdquo she addsFor future generations OrsquoNeill advises parents to feed their children better food ldquoI 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 Irsquom always surprised by how much they will eat when theyrsquore 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 donrsquot provide nourishing food it wonrsquot function well and eventually it begins to break downrdquo she signs off