We (Ulrike and Jürgen) participated in the three-week Life Transformation Program at Hippocrates Wellness in Florida in February 2020, an experience we are happy to report on.

Hippocrates Wellness is a health institute that was founded in 1956 by Ann Wigmore in Boston, after she herself experienced healing through a change in diet with a focus on wheatgrass juice and enzyme-rich, raw foods. She incorporated the philosophy of the Greek physician Hippocrates, who as early as the 5th century viewed and treated the body as a whole, and activated the self-healing process essentially through natural nutrition.

His famous statement reads:

“Let food be thy medicine and let medicine be thy food”

In 1986, Brian Clement helped move the institute to Florida. It was here that Brian and his wife Anna Maria Clement, with years of tireless dedication, developed what has become a state-of-the-art health maintenance and restoration program.

What Motivated Us to Make This Visit?

Our main motivation was to get to know this facility, which is unique in its own way, and to further our education in order to expand the long-distance training to become nutritionists that we offer at “Deine Ernährung” (Your Nutrition) with the research we gained in the process. Additionally, Ulrike was able to round off her training as a Hippocrates Lifestyle Medicine Coach with this practical experience.

You want to know the Hippocrates lifestyle?

The essential principles of the Hippocrates Life Transformation Program
are covered in our training program in a separate, in-depth module.
You can find more information about the training program HERE

What makes Hippocrates Wellness so unique?

Hippocrates Wellness offers accommodation for about 150 guests on a tropical park area of about 20 acres. In addition to the three-week Life Transformation Program, special programs both for weight loss and for cancer patients are also offered. The complexity of what they offer is unique, because all aspects that are important for an activation of self-healing are considered as a coherent whole.

Healing Begins in the Mind

Brian Clement emphasizes again and again in his lectures that true healing begins in the spirit. The quality of our lives has a lot to do with how we evaluate things and what we focus on. With this in mind, all people who participate in the health program are encouraged to challenge negative patterns of thought and behavior. Just as negative thoughts and feelings affect our well-being, a positive inner focus can strengthen our immune system and our health.

Additionally, the focus of the institute is to take guests out of their stressful daily lives or scary situations. The exceptionally manicured grounds, with water fountains and meditation music in many places throughout, exude a unique atmosphere of calm and unity. The many caring staff members, whether therapists, sports or yoga instructors, kitchen staff or maids, convey a feeling of welcome.

Above all is the philosophy of self-responsibility, which is the basis for any improvement and healing. This means that instead of being cured, Hippocrates Wellness lays down the foundation so that self-healing becomes possible.

Promotion of Hydration

Good hydration is very important for nutrient supply and especially in detoxification phases. All metabolic processes take place in a watery environment. As a component of the blood, water serves to supply the cells with oxygen and any important nutrients. Meanwhile, waste products are transported through the bloodstream, especially through the lymphatic system, to the kidneys for elimination.

Distilled or osmotically treated water is freely available in all lodgings and therapy houses. In addition to the water, lemon juice (at 8:00 am) and green juice (at 10:00 am and at 4:00 pm) are served. Wheatgrass juice can be self-pressed at the Juice Bar.

Juice fasting is recommended until the first midday meal. However, by arrangement, nut milks, raw buckwheat and cooked quinoa porridge, and an occasional packet of mixed nuts and seeds can be ordered from the kitchen. This is intended for all those guests who react with violent detoxification symptoms or lose too much weight with the offered diet.

Living Food

During the living food program, everything is aimed at activating the metabolism and stimulating the physical cleansing process. In particular, sprouts and microgreens, organic vegetables, seaweed, and sauerkraut play an important role:

• Sprouts and microgreens have an extraordinary wealth of nutrients and enzymes. Enzymes increase the electromagnetic frequency of the body’s cells and significantly assist the body in detoxification through their metabolism-activating effects.
• Fresh leafy greens and vegetables contain abundant minerals, vitamins, phytonutrients and chlorophyll in a natural complex of active ingredients.
• Seaweed acts as a salt substitute, among other things, and brings a wide variety of minerals to the table, especially iodine.
• A little sauerkraut with each meal provides the intestines with probiotic cultures.

So in this way, twice daily guests will find food in its finest form at the Hippocrates buffet. The lunch buffet is from 12:30 to 2:00 pm, and the dinner buffet is from 5:30 to 7:00 pm. Among the ingredients, 8 to 10 different types of sprouts and plenty of sunflower, pea, and buckwheat greens form the base and should ideally make up 50% of the meal. In addition to these, there are also various leafy greens, vegetables (carrots, peas, asparagus, peppers…), olives, sauerkraut, seaweed flakes, delicious dressings, and daily revolving extras like avocado, crackers, tacos, or a small cooked side dish.

Fruit is served on Thursday and Sunday mornings.

On Wednesdays, an all-day vegetable juice fast is recommended. Attraction: at noon, salsa music is played while fresh coconut is served, providing plenty of mineral-rich coconut water.

Healthy Sleep

The Hippocrates Wellness considers healthy sleep hygiene to be an important pillar for supporting cell regeneration and renewal, as well as balanced hormones. In their facilities, this has also been taken into consideration: high quality mattresses, comforters, and pillows, all in organic quality, allow for a deep and relaxed sleep.

Heat and Cold Treatments and Infrared Sauna

According to Brian Clement, any form of sauna and heat therapy is beneficial to health, as sweating can aid detoxification through the skin. So all guests have the opportunity to visit an infrared sauna at any time and in close proximity to their lodgings. A pool area invites sunbathing and allows alternating baths in hot and cold pools, relaxation in a warm saltwater pool, and swimming in an ozone water pool.

Exercise and Weight Training

Physical activity can greatly improve cardiovascular function, bone health, and muscle strength. In addition to these benefits, adequate exercise oxygenates the blood and greatly improves the removal of metabolic waste through the lymphatic system, respiratory system, and the skin. At the institute, a wide-ranging exercise program lets everyone choose from circuit training, trampolining, yoga, Qi Gong, strength training, water gymnastics, and more, each under the guidance of highly qualified trainers.

How does the Life Transformation Program work?

Hippocrates Village is easy to reach from the West Palm Beach airport (7 kilometers/4 miles away) or Miami airport (80 kilometers/50 miles away). Arrival day is Sunday; between 10:00 am and 12:00 pm you can check in and move into your room or small apartment. There are different room categories, from very luxurious villas to nice double rooms, and rooms with a shared bathroom and toilet. In the afternoon of arrival day, there is an introductory meeting followed by a guided tour and briefing on the grounds.

A weekly program booklet clearly lists all fitness, yoga, and lecture classes. From then on, you’re on your own and should make appointments for the inclusive treatments at the beginning of the week.

The basic program includes:

• An initial blood value analysis and two further scan procedures, which provide the groundwork for the basic medical consultation and therapy recommendations.
• EA consistent, low-fruit, low-salt, low-fat raw food supply and ample beverage supply.
• Unlimited wheatgrass pressing (recommended up to 30 ml/1 oz twice daily) at the Juice Bar.
• An extensive exercise program with up to 6 different classes daily. Additionally, there’s a fitness room with weights and equipment, and an outdoor fitness center for free use.
• Free access to the infrared sauna and saltwater, chlorine-free pool, and the hot/cold pools.
• VA variety of lectures by Brian, Anna Maria, and other therapists.
• A 25-minute stress assessment session and a complementary 50-minute stress management session.
• Various treatments on holistic, energy medicine equipment like magnetic resonance or vibration therapies, infrared applications, oxygen therapies, and many more.
• A weekly body massage.
• Colon hydrotherapy
• An irrigator for the recommended enemas. One enema and two wheatgrass supplements (60 ml/2 oz each morning and evening) are usually recommended.
• Basic supplement kit (chlorella supplements, probiotics, enzymes, vitamins B12 and D).
• In the third week there is another blood value analysis with a final medical consultation.

In addition to these amenities, a wide range of treatments can be booked at extra cost following appropriate consultation or preference. These range from acupuncture, B12 or glutathione injections, hormone treatments, and lymphatic massages, to a visit to the beauty salon.

Who is the Life Transformation Program Suitable for?

The Life Transformation Program at Hippocrates Wellness is basically suitable for anyone who has a desire for sun, sprouts, and a lifestyle boost. The grounds, catering, and therapy offerings are overwhelming. About 20 new people from all over the world join the program every week. In fact, most people don’t make this investment for themselves until they start to suffer. Among the newcomers are people diagnosed with cardiovascular problems, obesity, diabetes, multiple sclerosis, cancer, and others. Additionally, there are also some repeaters. Their success stories indicate that a stay at Hippocrates Wellness has given them a new lease on life.

Our Summary

We felt that the overarching sense of personal responsibility was crucial for how the stay was designed. This is noticeable right from the beginning of the life-transforming weeks, because the vast array of offerings are compelling and at the same time overwhelming, especially for some raw food newcomers. It holds the potential of “continuing the same old health routine” to the point of the desired recovery derailing into a treatment marathon.

Time and again, we were impressed with how Brian and Anna Maria managed to put together a program of this complexity. The organization and team of 150 employees are perfectly geared to make the guests feel super comfortable, and to ensure that all aspects necessary for cleansing and metabolic revitalization can be applied at a high level.

For us, after three very busy years, the Lifestyle Weeks were a wonderful time of relaxation and definitely the right kick to optimize our lifestyle at home from that point on:

• We now allocate enough time for more exercise in nature, along with strength training units.
• In the morning we continue the vegetable juice fasting. Advantages: Support elimination phase, hydration, and mineralization.
• Our diet is rich in sprouts, greens, and wild herbs with at least 80% raw vegetables.

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The essential principles of the Hippocrates Life Transformation Program will be covered in the training in a separate, in-depth module of our training program.

We are more than happy to inform you about our training program on our website!