Happiful_May_2019

60 • happiful • May 2019

YOUR NEW BOOK COULD HELP

WITH THAT! TELL US MORE.

I never actually wanted to do a

second book! The first one was so

much stress, but the feedback was

incredible.

Eat to Beat Illness was born out of

me having more conversations with

people about different specialties.

Whether it’s your eyes, your immune

system, or your brain, nutrition plays

an important role for those areas.

That’s what the book is about.

WHAT CAN PEOPLE LEARN

FROM THE RECIPES?

We give people a real understanding

that healthy eating isn’t a particular

style of food. It introduces the

concept that by applying healthy

principles, you can eat whatever

cuisine, and lead a healthy, happy life.

need the information are following

me on Instagram, but it does give

me an opportunity to reach a large

audience. I now have the chance to

work with other influential people or

industry experts, like NHS England

or the Royal College of GPs.

WHAT’S YOUR ADVICE FOR

EATING FOR STRESS?

Gratitude. Recognising when

you’re stressed is most important.

Understand that feeling, appreciate the

stress and let it wash over you. Take

yourself out of the situation. Taking

this time, even for five minutes can be

very useful. By practising gratitude,

we can hopefully appreciate the wider

picture a bit more.

HOW DO YOU LOOK AFTER YOUR

OWN MENTAL WELLBEING?

I probably don’t practise what I preach

in terms of taking time off. I’m lucky

that I can do my clinical work when it

suits me, so I can also do my masters,

my nonprofit work, and everything

else. But it does take a toll.

Gratitude has been revolutionary

for me. It reminds me, even when

I’m completely overwhelmed, that

I should be appreciative of the

environment around me, and that I’m

lucky to be alive in that moment.

I’m pretty regimented when it comes

to exercise. I work out in the morning

and it’s an incredible start to my day.

Without exercise to maintain my stress

levels, my enthusiasm and motivation,

I wouldn’t get as much done.

I hope the recipes encourage people

to be experimental with spices and

herbs. From a health point of view,

some of the best herbs are the ones

that are accessible. Basil, rosemary,

garlic, thyme. We need to start

appreciating just how powerful these

can be for health.

YOU’RE A DOCTOR, AN AUTHOR,

A PODCAST HOST, AND

INFLUENCER. IS THIS WHAT YOU

EXPECTED WHEN STARTING

OUT AS A MED STUDENT?

Not at all. It started with one patient,

where during our appointment I

suggested making the change from

breakfast cereal to oats. He asked

me how. I realised, there are some

people who just don’t cook. It was

humbling for me to appreciate that

not everyone had the advantage of

having a mother who taught them

how to cook from scratch.

This space is my way of influencing

public health. I don’t imagine for one

moment that the people who really

Follow Rupy on Instagram

@doctors_kitchen, and visit his

website thedoctorskitchen.com

The goal is to

create a new

generation of

doctors that can

appreciate the

medicinal effects

of eating well

Photography | Faith Mason