Graduate Spotlight
Jennifer Coscia, B.S. in Natural Health
In another life, Jennifer Coscia was a singer-songwriter who performed in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut. In another life, she didn’t know much about cancer.
In her new life, Jennifer is helping people make lifestyle changes that improve their quality of life and rebalance their God-given homeostatic balance against unwelcome invaders such as cancer. Her own life changed three years ago, when her sister was diagnosed with breast cancer.
The two immersed themselves in learning about complementary therapies and self-care. Jennifer enrolled in CCNH, earned her first degree in holistic Nutrition, and now is enrolled in a graduate program. Stephanie has reclaimed her health, becoming a breast cancer survivor and advocate.
Jennifer helped form and co-facilitates a breast cancer support group, A Woman’s Circle of Hope, and recently hosted “Toasting for Hope,” an elegant concert and w ine-tasting that raised over $1000 for local women afflicted with breast cancer in need of assistance during treatment. In October 2003, the group is hosting its first “Hope Floats” cruise to the Bahamas. Co-founded with her friend, Pam Samuels, A Woman’s Circle of Hope takes a holistic approach that encompasses spiritual growth, ethical decisions regarding treatment decisions, and nutritional augmentation before, during and after chemo and radiation - all within a helpful and hope-filled atmosphere of caring support and friendly camaraderie.
Jennifer has written two songs, “Fund the Fight” and “Angel’s Flight (Safe in the Arms),” whose lyrics are excerpted below, specifically for cancer. Writing for publication is another way that Jennifer teaches. She writes feature articles and health briefs for Natural Awakenings, a franchised publication covering holistic health in the Southeast. “Eastern philosophies are a great adjunct to Western allopathic approaches,” she writes. “Listen to your heart, because you’ll find evidence for both approaches.” As such, she also advocates acupuncture and Reiki during chemotherapy to help keep the body’s life force flowing by opening the chakras.
When a natural alternative/complementary choice can do the same thing that a synthetic medication does, Jennifer teaches that the herbal or homeopathic choice will typically be much gentler on the liver, spleen and the body as a whole.
In her nutritional consultations for people with cancer, Jennifer stresses the importance of a high fiber, low-fat macrobiotic diet that is rich in complex carbohydrates. The use of garlic, flaxseed oil and bee pollen are high on her list - along with turmeric and curry, ginger and oregano.
Begin with what you eat, she emphasizes, especially when rebuilding an injured immune system.
“We all know that we should avoid processed foods, white flour and sugar. I wish that people would do these things while they are healthy, not just when they’re recovering. The basic things we all need are so simple: fresh air, clean water, sunshine, a healthy diet (including vitamins), rest and exercise.”
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