John Tam's vitality quest started in his mid 20's when he started experiencing tiredness, physical and mental fatigue, and seasonal illnesses such as the common cold. People around him would say “it's normal to feel this way and it only gets worse when you turn 25. You just have to live with it". This answer was not acceptable for John. This is why John started looking for ways to improve his health and restore his energy.

Originally from East Timor (Timor Leste), John grew up with a diverse background of cultures. With Chinese, Portuguese and indigenous Timorese influence. John would soon discover how his family and his background were having such a negative impact on his health.

Coming to Australia at the age of 3, John spent most of his life in Australia (Sydney) and has lived an Australian way of life. As a child growing up in Australia, he grew up on traditional fast food, like McDonalds, KFC, Pizza, Fish & Chips and Hungry Jacks. Also traditional Timorese food, that was made up of stews, spices, oils, sugar, processed and canned foods. Later in life John would learn that eating for comfort is what gets people into health troubles.

Being an active teenager, life meant going out til late or until the sun rises and lots of sporting activities with friends. Weekly activities would involve basketball, night-clubbing (dancing), swimming at the beach and surf skiing. To maintain his strength and energy, his family’s belief was that he needed to eat lots of meat and dairy. John enjoyed the taste of meat and would have no complaints about it. Dairy, however John’s body could not naturally tolerate it. This meant plentiful uncomfortable nauseating moments and painful vomiting experiences. John’s family believed that dairy was necessary for calcium to develop strong healthy teeth and bones. So he was repeatedly forced to drink dairy because everyone else was doing it. Later in life, through research, John discovers that recent studies have linked dairy to osteoporosis (a disease in which bones become fragile and more likely to break). One of the problems with high dairy intake is the fact that it creates an acid environment in the body and as a result of the acid environment drawing calcium from the bones.

As John approached his mid 20’s, his sporting activities declined but the late nights continued. Time was precious and it meant spending time with family, work, and girlfriend. The only problem was John noticed a difference with his energy levels. Concentration levels at work were lower, constant yawning, watery eyes and poor productivity at work. His eating patterns changed too, still eating a lot of meat, rice (traditional food) and more take out because of poor time management to cook. Another belief John’s family had was he was a diabetic or had high cholesterol because all John did was sleep. According to his family, diabetic and people with cholesterol problems would constantly sleep and do nothing. The funny thing was John also noticed that he wasn’t able to gain weight, which is what he expected for having a dormant life now. During John’s vitality quest, John would discover that it was irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) that stopped him from gaining weight, because whatever he ate, would come out straight away. His body was not absorbing the nutrients. This was normal for John (Most of John’s family members were experiencing similar problems) and didn’t think much of it. What his family didn’t realise was that it was not normal for someone to go to the toilet to shit, 4 -5 times a day.

After going to the doctors as requested by his family, to get tested for diabetes and cholesterol, John’s results came out good. John did not have diabetes or cholesterol. The doctor told him this was normal and to take some multi-vitamins to help with energy levels. John just did as the doctor said, because according to everyone “the doctor knows best”. John tried the multi-vitamins and tried various brands of multi-vitamins with different results. Sometimes John would experience stomach cramps, very yellow and smelly coloured urine, constipation, similar symptoms to what he was already experiencing with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). The end result was the multi-vitamins did not improve his energy levels.

Like most people, they would go back to the doctor when “symptoms don’t improve and ask why”. The doctor didn’t know why and started to diagnose John for Chronic fatigue syndrome, however the doctor tried one last thing and recommended John to take up sports again. John listened to doctor and took his recommendations, because the “doctor knows best.” John took up running, soccer, swimming and gym. John couldn’t believe it, his energy level spiked up and he was feeling light on his feet. This was an outstanding achievement. John’s health was at peak performance and felt 21 again, at this in his life nothing could bring his energy level down.

Until John turned 27 and had his first child, time was even more precious. It meant lack of sports, lack of time to cook properly. Fortunately John had the support of his in-laws who would cook traditional Timorese cultured cooking. This meant deep fry, heavy Asian sauces (soy sauce, satay sauce and paste, hoi sing sauce, BBQ sauce, chilli paste, chilli sauce, fish oil, tomato sauce, oyster sauce etc), lots of meat, lots of rice, lots of oil, soups with processed meat balls, and lack of raw vegetables and lack of green leafy vegetables. John’s tastes buds were having a party. The taste sensations were amazing. However this did not improve his energy levels and the fact that he had to go to the toilet after every meal did not make sense at all.

It was only when John’s manager pointed out that it was not normal to go to the toilet 4 – 5 times a day and especially after every meal. John was recommended to see a Homeopath (A person who practices homeopathy, which is a system of therapy based on the concept that disease can be treated with drugs (in minute doses), thought capable of producing the same symptoms in healthy people as the disease itself). The homeopath identified John's lifelong problem of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) was caused by his wheat intolerances. Symptoms such diarrhoea, bloating, stomach cramps, constantly going to the toilet after every meal, tiredness, foggy brain, muscle fatigue, bad breath, snoring, poor concentration, irregular bowel movement, constipation, flatulence, etc. Statistics have shown that 20% of people have a form of wheat or gluten intolerance but don’t know it yet. This statistic is increasing due to increase of wheat we consume and the way our body is synthesizing it. John’s nausea and vomiting was caused by his dairy intolerance.

To John’s shock, nearly everything we eat today contains wheat or gluten (Gluten is one of the most complex proteins consumed by man - and is therefore extremely difficult to digest. This is why babies first introduced to solid foods are not given wheat. Gluten is found in Wheat, Rye and Barley). This includes sauces, lollies, chocolates, breads, pasta, cakes, pastry, medicine, multi-vitamins, egg noodles, protein weight gain shakes, vitamin supplements, gravy, chips, processed meats (hams, salami, beef jerky etc). At this point in his life John made the conscious decision to eat for nutrition and not for comfort. This would be the turning point for John and his family. It was a dramatic cultural shift for John because everything that was cooked and ate by the Timorese people contained wheat. However John believed that his health was worth the change and the clash in culture. John expected family members and community members to be upset with his rebellion to the Timorese way of life and health. At the end of the day, you have to live with your own health and deal with your own health issues. Your family and community can’t deal with your problems, all they can do is tell you what they think is best for you. This is not necessary correct all the time. Find out what works for you, educate, research yourself, experience it and stick to it. Use the KISS principles (Keep it simple Silly). Don’t over complicate life, because everyone else is doing that for you.

The craving to know more about wheat, gluten and dairy intolerance grew. The dramatic change in energy levels even without exercise was noticeable. Life was very exciting for John. The simplicity of eliminating gluten and dairy products from his diet, meant no more toilet trips after every meal, no more feeling tired when spending time with the family, increase in concentration levels and creativity at work, no more upset stomachs in the middle of the night, no more disturbed sleeping patterns during the night with the wife having to wake John up because of his snoring and no more sleepiness at work.

The Alkaline life was introduced to John after attending an Anthony Robbins seminar and with further research from his health network of people and the internet. By simply eliminating the acidic toxins from your body, energy levels increase, illnesses are prevented and you have the certainty that you are truly feeling alive. John realised the alkaline way of life was the best way to live life at peak performance. John’s mission in life is to help those who have experienced health issues similar to his own. John understands the pain, the search for answers and purpose for change.

The chart below shows John’s energy levels through his lifetime. If your vitality story is similar to John’s, we can help. Contact USfor a free consultation or subscribe to our monthly newsletter to learn about the latest in holistic health. Life doesn’t have to be about feeling tired or stressed all the time. Life is about feeling alive!

John now gets about 5 -6 hours of sleep a day. He wakes up feeling alive. It's a myth that every body needs to 7 - 8 hours of sleep every day. Everybody's body is different. If your body is alkaline and operating at the way it should then your body will tell you how much sleep you need. John has helped many people with his vitality coaching and now people often call him to say "I don't know what to do with myself. I have too much energy". What would you do with more energy?

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