DALLAS – Debra Peek-Haynes is hosting a Heart 2 Heart conference to provide the African-American community with knowledge about why eating healthy is an important part of preventive health care.
The conference is Saturday, Oct. 12 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Friendship West Baptist Church, 2020 W. Wheatland Road in Dallas where her husband, Frederick D. Haynes, is Senior Pastor.
Mrs. Peek-Haynes’ passion developed from her own journey to holistic healing 22 years ago when five top physicians told her she would not be able to get pregnant. With the help of a holist
ic gynecologist, Mrs. Peek-Haynes changed her diet and was able to give birth to her daughter, Abeni, who is now 20 years old. Mrs. Peek-Haynes has pioneered a health-care ministry at Friendship West to show people how they are starving their bodies of critical nutrients.
“During my healing process from infertility issues, I learned that every aspect of our being is connected,” said Debra Peek-Haynes. “Emotional and physical health is impacted by how we eat, drink, sleep, relate to others, meditate and pray. Eating healthy is a fundamental building block necessary to create a solid infrastructure for vibrant, healthy living.”
Although she is not a licensed health professional, Mrs. Peek-Haynes can explain how to avoid many health problems like diabetes and heart disease by having a proper diet. She provides practical tips from a layperson’s perspective in her new book, The Beginners Guide to Healthy Living. In it, she describes how to substitute good ingredients for bad ingredients as well as exchange good habits for bad habits. The book is a guide for the entire family on how to develop a healthy lifestyle.
Friendship West Church member Phyllis Hill credits choosing a healthier lifestyle for relieving her painful arthritis. “Debra consistently made the point that the low-fat, low-calorie foods I was eating were toxic from the sugar and chemical contents. I sought out an independent, integrative-medicine doctor who confirmed for me that processed white sugar was toxic. It was the source of my joint pain and it caused autoimmune-type symptoms such as chronic inflammation,” said Ms. Hill. “Over the last three months, since avoiding processed foods and balancing my hormonal, vitamin and mineral levels, I no longer have pain from arthritis, my blood pressure has dropped and I have lost 27 pounds. Debra’s message is empowering in that it encourages me to make decisions with whole-body mindfulness.”
In addition to healthy lifestyle tips from Mrs. Peek-Haynes, the October 12 conference includes cardiologist Dr. G. Mark Jenkins, personal trainer Ava Combs, gospel artist Angela Blair, comedian/actress Ajai Sanders, and body-language expert Linda Clemons.
Immediately following Mrs. Peek-Haynes’ lecture and cooking demonstration, attendees can participate in a food tasting. The food samplings will not only include Mrs. Peek-Haynes’ healthy recipes, but also food samples from healthy chef Cassondra Armstrong; Gwendolyn Jenkins, author of Recipes for a Neo Southern Lifestyle; and culinary-team leader Mary Helen Ponder.
The Title Sponsor for the conference is AARP. Other sponsors include Kroger, American Airlines and Home Depot.
Mrs. Peek-Haynes is planning to take her conference on the road for a 12-city, mega-church tour in 2014.
For more information on the conference, visit www.debrapeek-haynes.com
