Can social media improve your health?

If you had sat in a coffee shop three years ago and told me  today I would be a health & wellness blogger writing about vegan/macrobiotic diets, I would have laughed and probably embarrassed myself by spraying your face with crumbs from a chocolate croissant. Back then it was inconceivable that my life could take the dramatic turn that would precipitate such a change.

The dramatic turn involved four cardiac catheterizations to place 5 stents in my lungs and the possibility of long term breathing difficulties with each surgery becoming technically more difficult than the last. This came out of nowhere in the space of a month or two in the summer of 2009.

After all the hospitalizations, I was beautifully patched up, but far from healthy. I started to investigate how to stay healthy using diet, as that was about the only thing I had control over.

Searching for Health

I searched for my disease online, a rare one called Takayasu Arteritis, and I came across the story of Virginia Harper who had resolved her takayasu’s and her Chrohn’s disease through macrobiotics 20 years ago. It sounded so good, I wanted some and I started to read. I also sent out one of my off-the-cuff tongue-in-cheek tweets along the lines of

“I’m thinking of going macrobiotic, as soon as I finish the cheesecake in the refrigerator”

The unpredictable organizing ability of social media

I get an unexpected reply from @theblissfulchef who lived in LA at the time,

“Macro is great, you won’t regret it, good luck”

Of course, such a cheerleader deserved a follow, so I clicked and continued to see her health filled tweets from that day on.

Most of the books recommended getting a macrobiotic counselor to tailor the diet specifically to your condition. I knew that because my problem was complicated, this would be a good route for me.

Influence from across the country

Soon after, from 3500 miles away @theblissfulchef was assisting Warren Kramer, a macrobiotic counselor and chef, during one of his cooking classes. She tweeted about it saying

“If you ever get the chance to see Warren Kramer don’t miss it. I learn something every time”

I saw the tweet, and found out Warren lived in Boston, so I picked up the phone and booked a consultation. My healing took a fast turn around as I was given a whole book of recipes and advice tailored just for me.

Two years and 15 cooking classes later, I am now back to riding 15-16 miles on my bike. I have no breathing difficulties and only a slight reduction in my stamina. I also gained a whole crew of new cheerleaders from meeting people in the cooking classes and events that I have since been to at Warren’s. Oh and about 35lbs gone too.

Without twitter I would not have known about Warren Kramer until much further along the line, and that might have been too long for me to wait. I am so convinced that social media helped me on my journey that I want to help other holistic health and wellness practitioners understand that it is so important to be active and in the conversation online, not only to promote your business but to educate and make connections for people because you never know what kind of healing it can lead to.

Learn to send your influence out there

This is why I am running a marketing event for holistic health and wellness professionals on April 23rd in Newbuyport with Erica Holthausen of Honest MarketingRevolution.

We will come together in Newburyport for a magical day, we’ll talk marketing and social media. We’ll tame technology and give you plenty of opportunity to mingle with other holistic souls while being nourished by gorgeous food.

We’ll make sure you leave with a strategy that fits you, connections that will last and with a treasure trove of resources at your disposal. (see more)