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Eileen Fuentes is a warrior. She has survived triple negative breast cancer and a blood clot in her heart, all while raising three daughters and working a full-time job. But in true fighter form, she came out of her ordeal stronger than ever and intent on becoming a source of positive change.

So she enrolled in the Health Coach Training Program in 2010 and founded The SPEACH, an organization dedicated to making quality integrative healthcare accessible to underserved communities through specialized lectures, workshops, and wellness programs.

Read on to find out how Eileen is helping other people transform their health holistically.

What were you doing prior to enrolling at Integrative Nutrition?

I was recovering from aggressive breast cancer treatment while working full-time overseeing Human Resources and Academic Affairs at Columbia University's Cardiology Division in New York City.

What led you to explore the Health Coach Training Program?

Healthy, shiny, gorgeous hair—it’s on everyone’s wish list. Many of us go through tons of products (and money!) in order to tame frizz, get rid of dandruff, lock in shine, boost volume, and so much more. The thing is, many of these shampoos, conditioners, and other hair products are full sulfates, sulfites and other questionable ingredients. These chemicals can not only cause your hair to be dry and brittle, but they can also be absorbed into your scalp. 

The great news is that there are natural ingredients that we can use to heal and restore our scalp and hair. Many of these all-natural ingredients that are healthy and effective for your hair are the same healthy ingredients that can be found in your fridge and kitchen pantry.

Here are some simple and natural tips for healthy hair:

Cooking is essential to a healthy diet and lifestyle, but the busy demands of day-to-day life can make it challenging to find the time to cook. Fortunately, preparing your own meals from scratch doesn’t have to be complicated or time-consuming. It is possible to prepare nutritious and tasty meals that your whole family will enjoy in thirty minutes or less!

We compiled a list of over fifty quick and healthy recipes, most from the kitchens of Integrative Nutrition students and graduates, for all of your daily meals and snacks. Categorized from five minutes to half an hour, there’s something for every dietary preference. Use these recipes to create a healthy meal plan for the week or bookmark the link as a reference when you find yourself crunched for time.

Have you ever had your grandmother “prescribe” chicken soup to help you get over a cold? Some research shows that soups and stocks made from animal bones can have healing qualities. How do these elixirs help build strong bodies? Here are four ways:

Minerals strengthen the immune system

Animal bones are rich with minerals, including calcium, phosphorous, magnesium, sodium, potassium, and sulfate. All of these trace minerals come from real food and are more easily recognized and absorbed by the body than synthetic vitamins and minerals found in supplements.

Gelatin improves digestion

The use of gelatin as a functional food goes back centuries. According to Integrative Nutrition guest speaker Sally Fallon, expert on traditional nutrition, researchers have found that gelatin helps facilitate digestion because it attracts digestive juices to food in the gut, making it easier to break down nutrients.