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Health Coach Conversations

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  2. EP320: Prevent Obesity & Disease

EP320: Prevent Obesity & Disease

Jul 21, 2025

In this episode Cathy sits down with Makheni Zonneveld, a wellness speaker, coach, and author of Healthier and Slimmer, to explore how real food, emotional awareness, and lifestyle changes can reverse chronic illness and support long-term health. After facing a major health crisis, Makheni transformed her life through a plant-based, alkaline-promoting diet and now dedicates herself to helping others reclaim their health. She shares practical strategies for making home-cooked meals convenient and fun, the dangers of fake health foods, and why partnering with medical professionals is key to preventive care. Makheni’s passion for empowering individuals shines through as she encourages everyone to take responsibility for their own well-being.

In this episode, you'll discover:

  • How Makheni healed herself from chronic pain and avoided surgery through nutrition
  • The difference between acidic and alkaline foods and how they affect the body
  • Why she rejects "fake" foods like plant-based meats and artificial substitutes
  • The importance of intrinsic motivation for sustainable lifestyle change
  • Creative ways to make healthy eating and exercise enjoyable and fun
  • How she uses batch cooking and freezer storage to simplify healthy meals
  • Why prevention starts in the kitchen, not the doctor’s office

Memorable Quotes:

  • "Is this worth making your child an orphan or a child who’s going to grow up with a stepfather?"
  • "Health gain is the goal. Fat loss is a side effect."
  • "If you eat beans, let them look like beans on your plate and not like a sausage."

Bio:
Makheni Zonneveld is a 71-year young super fit wellness speaker, coach, and author of Healthier and Slimmer, a guide to optimal physical and mental health. She has specialized in emotional well-being since 1999 and pivoted to nutrition after overcoming a severe health issue without surgery in 2008. Since then, she has passionately studied the effects of food on health and expanded her work to include physical wellness. In 2021, she launched the Free Health Club and in 2024, published her first wellness book, which includes expert insights and client testimonials. Makheni partners with medical and coaching professionals to help prevent unnecessary suffering through lifestyle education.

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