Living Foods Institute: A Local Presence With Global Impact
Oct 30, 2018 06:34PM ● By Diane Eaton“Tell you what. If I’m alive in six months, I’ll come back and see you.”
It was 1999, and Brenda Cobb had just received the mind-numbing diagnosis of breast and cervical cancer from her doctor. Per standard medical practice, he strongly recommended a mastectomy and a hysterectomy, plus chemotherapy and radiation. He advised her that without them she wouldn’t be alive in six months.
But Cobb had seen it before. She had watched helplessly from the sidelines as family members before her had been struck with cancers. Yet the battery of treatments only added to their suffering rather than relieve it—and failed to prevent the dreaded outcome.
That’s when she made up her mind to set out on a healing journey of her own making, choosing to trust her own instincts and intelligence. Sure enough, in six months, when Cobb went back to her doctor and got retested, the cancer could not be found. She also no longer had any symptoms of the rheumatoid arthritis that she’d been suffering from for 32 years, or the migraines, psoriasis, acid reflux and insomnia she had been dealing with.
That journey not only saved her own life but would also make it possible for her to help thousands of people around the world heal too.
Cobb started to lead informal classes largely based on the teachings of Ann Wigmore, a nationally-recognized natural health and raw food advocate. Emboldened by the successes that she and her growing following were experiencing with even stubborn illnesses, Cobb sold her successful film production company and opened Living Foods Institute in Atlanta.
In business for 19 years now, Cobb and the Institute are in demand at expos in the United States and abroad; have held countless seminars, workshops and classes; and are featured in several books, DVDs, documentaries and even an upcoming movie that will star Samuel Jackson.
Offering one-, five-, 10-, 15- and 30-day educational and healing programs, as well as free seminars and individual consultations, Living Foods Institute aims to give people the tools they need to improve their health no matter where they land on the spectrum of wellness.
While the company emphasizes teaching people how to incorporate organic, raw and living foods into their diets, their programs are largely about lifestyle changes. Food and nutrition are only one part of the formula for good health, says Cobb. The rest involves managing and reducing stress, gently detoxifying the body, healing emotional wounds and managing one’s thoughts.
Personal and Customized Approach
The Institute offers an extensive array of individual therapy sessions including energy clearing, massage, infrared ray sauna, Q-2 quantum field machine, emotional energy healing, colonics, a chi machine and more.It also offers a Healthscope Scan analysis that identifies many underlying factors that can contribute to adverse health conditions. The noninvasive test scans the body for the presence of harmful elements such as heavy metals, pathogens, parasites, yeast, allergies. It’s comprehensive report lists evaluates the compatibility of more than 100 nutrients, generates a customized recommended nutritional protocol and more.
“One of the things that really sets us apart is that we don’t have a one-size-fits-all approach,” Cobb says. “Everyone is treated as a unique individual here. When people need help with their health, they need someone to listen and care for them. It’s important to us to give that sense of personalized care.”
While Cobb’s dream to help the world get healthy exceeded everyone’s expectations, she recently decided to hand the business over and pursue other goals.
Handing Over the Wheel
Enter Beth Coghlin. With a background as an educator and principal at an area behavioral health facility, a certified yoga instructor and a studio owner, Coghlin’s passion for exploring natural healing therapies seemed to lead her to Living Foods.Cobb sold Living Foods Institute to Coghlin in September.
“To me, everything just seemed to line up for it,” says Coghlin. “My goals all seemed to converge in this opportunity. And the world is right at the cusp of fully embracing this approach. It felt divinely guided.”
Where does she want to take the company from here?
“I want to be able to meet the needs of an even broader market,” she says, “and help create more of an integrative mindset. I believe conventional medicine and natural healing can work together. Our approach is not dogmatic; it’s inclusive.
We also want to start offering shorter programs for busy people with busy schedules so that they too can get results in a short period of time.”
For more information about Living Foods Institute or to register for programs, visit LivingFoodsInstitute.com or call 404-524-4488 or 800-844-9876.