KINTSUGI WELLNESS BOOK GIVEAWAY - Join the LTH Community on Facebook to enter the contest! Kintsugi Wellness http://learntruehealth.com/kintsugi-wellness Kintsugi Wellness a highly-recommended book if you want to embrace the Japanese way of total wellness. It is a unique art of nourishing the mind, body, and spirit.  To explain what Kintsugi Wellness is all about, I’m thrilled to have its best-selling author Candice Kumai on this episode. Early Love For Food Candice Kumai is a classically-trained professional chef. She was a judge on Iron Chef America, a guest on the Dr. Oz Show, Wendy Williams, Today Show, as well as on Top Chef’s first season. She traces her love for food from her Japanese grandmother and her Polish grandmother. Candice Kumai’s mother also used her Japanese tradition in the United States with California produce. According to Candice Kumai, her mother cooked the best meals so eating Japanese dishes on a regular basis was normal for her. Going to Culinary School When Candice Kumai got older, she enrolled herself in culinary school after college. She eventually gained ample work experiences at several restaurants. Candice Kumai recalled the struggles she went through from her Top Chef stint in Los Angeles to move to New York. Now a writer in New York for eight years, Candice Kumai says it has been a painful roller coaster ride writing six books, magazine editing, producing, writing, and directing. “But mostly, I think I found my niche and my path when I started helping other people learn how to cook better. And also live a better life with really simple solutions that everyone can do,” said Candice Kumai. Clean Green Drinks Book Candice Kumai’s Clean Green Drinks help people perfect their basic smoothie from a sugar bomb into something that is full of nutrition and tastes like a milkshake. She said she was always trying to find more realistic ways and approaches for the American consumer.  It has now even expanded to have a global reach. Ultimately, it’s all about knowing the real resources you can do at home. Candice Kumai encourages people to eat more vegetables and fruits.  She says to make sure to include something fresh in your smoothie whether breakfast, lunch or dinner.  She also advises to drink water, and drink matcha tea instead of coffee. Like what most experts say, sleep is essential.  That’s why Candice Kumai strongly recommends going to bed early to prioritize your body, mind and emotional well-being. Furthermore, regular exercise helps a lot.  Kintsugi Wellness Candice Kumai’s latest book Kintsugi Wellness is based on her Japanese ancestors’ practices. She says she used their methods from the ancient which help her thrive now in the modern world. “All the things I grew up with came back full circle. And after a very rough time in New York city, my Japanese grandmother passed away,” said Candice Kumai.  She adds, “It took me three years to write this book. The book is a homage to my family’s heritage. I now take wellness seriously in a different format where I want everyone to learn the same Japanese practices I learned.” Lesson Learned The Kintsugi Wellness book stresses the following things: Always do your best. Continuously improve. Everything is perfectly imperfect with great resilience and endurance or just being a better service to others. “So, although my life is not perfect, I always felt like I didn’t fit in because of the Asian Heritage I grew up with,” said Candice Kumai. “Finding myself and finding my true voice meant being broken, picking up the pieces on my own, and putting them back together. Kintsugi Wellness book is a celebration of wellness and heritage.” Candice Kumai recalls that she didn’t think it would be her calling. But she was so attracted to learning from the monks, elderly people, learning from those who survived the war and escaped death. According to her, these were the people who taught Candice Kumai what real wellness was.  The Right Mindset Candice Kumai always k