Dr Rupy Aujla is here to help heal the world. And, no, that’s not a bold claim. That’s because the good doctor’s new book, The Doctor’s Kitchen, has a subheading that really makes it stand out: “Eat To Beat Illness”.

Yes, really. With more of us seemingly staggering from one cough and cold to the next, it feels like a particularly pertinent piece of work. Granted, an avid nutritionist might already know that you can eat to help your brain, heart, skin, eyes and even to fight cancer (all featured in Dr Rupy’s new book), yet it seems a crying shame this stuff isn’t better known to the general public.

NUTRITION MISSION

“It’s been a bit lost over the past couple of decades,” reasons Dr Rupy, a practising NHS doctor who found breakthrough success via his first book, The Doctor’s Kitchen 18 months ago.

“With antibiotics, vaccines and some amazingly powerful medications that have revolutionised the fight against disease, there’s been a kind of acceptance that conventional medicine on its own is incredible, and we’re fantastic at fighting infections and treating illnesses that we used to suffer from. There’s this thing of ‘whatever the doctor says or prescribes’, you don’t question it.

“But there is ancient wisdom and an understanding of how our bodies work that has underlined most cultures for thousands of years and has, kind of, been left at the wayside.” Dr Rupy adds: “We have to appreciate our evolutionary mechanisms as well as incredible science.”

Dr Rupy points out that this isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach. “It’s not a panacea; everything needs to be individualised and within the comfort level of the patient. I’m not going to be dishing out the same advice to everyone; it will vary wildly from patient to patient, depending on the environment of the person in
front of me.

“Trying to educate that patient that they can become their own expert on their health is a big task in the confines of an NHS GP appointment,” he continues. “Starting on that journey and giving people suggestions, just little things, can inspire them to get started.”

He adds: “It’s giving people gentle nudges that they can instigate in their own lives.” Given small ripples make big waves, you sense the impact of Dr Rupy’s work could prove profound.

Eat To Beat Illness by Dr Rupy Auija is out now (£16.99, Harper Thorsons)