As Hippocrates wisely put it, eating nutritious food has long been associated with good health, both physical and mental. However, with the coming of medicine, much of this old-world knowledge in eating well has been replaced by science. Now, there is a movement to return to our roots and explore healing with natural therapies and food, and at the forefront of that movement are James Colquhoun and Laurentine ten Bosch.
It started as a documentary to share their research into nutrition and natural therapies to heal the mind and body, now it’s a successful health and wellness company bringing its message for healthy eating to people all over the world through an online subscription channel offering over 350 documentaries, expert interviews, recipe videos and more – not bad for a Sunshine Coast couple who wanted to help a loved one in need.
“Food Matters really began as a desperate search for answers to heal my father, Roy’s, declining health,” James explains.
In 2003, Roy was diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome and despite being prescribed a number of medications to help, he only got worse, gaining 55 pounds and suffering sweaty panic attacks at night.
James and his partner Laurentine began their search into nutrition and health, and what they discovered changed not only their lives but Roy’s too.
“We poured all our life savings into creating the Food Matters film and made it our mission to share the power of natural health and wellness with the world. Starting with my father.
“We sat him down to watch the raw footage, and within the next few months, he had transformed his health. No longer on medication, back to his healthy weight and living an energetic life. It was incredible.”
The film has become a cult classic in the documentary space. James and Laurentine interviewed several experts in nutrition and natural healing and found that by eating the right foods, supplements and detoxifying the body, a person could significantly transform their health, both physically and mentally.
“The human body is fascinating and nutrition is ever evolving. Probably one of the most interesting areas of health and nutrition recently is the discovery of the gut-brain connection, and how incredibly powerful our gut and the bacteria in our bodies are – influencing everything from food intolerance, to behavioural issues, to anxiety and depression, skin conditions, immunity, and stress.
“The impact on what we eat, how much we digest and absorb, and the integrity of our digestive system is just so critical for achieving optimal health. It’s exciting to think of what else new research will uncover in this area, and I am excited to see how traditional ways of preparing food will come back into our daily lives because of it.”
The success and popularity of Food Matters and their second documentary, Hungry for Change, in 2012, speaks volumes of the passion and commitment James and Laurentine share in wanting to educate others about good health and wellbeing.
After launching the FMTV platform, the couple is busy on their next projects: producing an exciting new health and wellness film, donating $1 million to charity in 2017, and reaching 10 million people in need through the Food Matters Foundation education scholarship programs.
After seeing the results of their eat well, live well philosophy first-hand, James and Laurentine are more committed than ever to helping others turn their lives around through informed decisions when it comes to nourishing and healing our bodies.
“We believe that your body is worthy of good care and that no one is more suitably qualified to care for it than yourself. It is incredibly important to nurture, nourish and show gratitude for your own body, mind and soul, treating yourself in the best way you possibly can.”
For more on Food Matters, visit: www.foodmatters.com.
Written by Danielle Hanrahan