At age 35 and feeling healthier now than ever before, Cathy Wong, N.D., C.N.S., naturopathic doctor, nutritionist, mother, and the About.com guide to Alternative Medicine, has published her first book - The Inside Out Diet: 4 Weeks to Natural Weight Loss, Total Body Health, and Radiance.

Why did you become a naturopathic doctor and nutritionist?

In my last year of college, I was planning to do a doctorate in clinical psychology, but in my spare time, I started learning about naturopathy, acupuncture and nutrition. It made so much sense. These gentle therapies address the underlying problem and help people feel better, rather than worse. I met people who had been helped when nothing else had worked. It also helped me improve my own health. After several months, I knew this was the right career for me and I cancelled my psychology admissions interviews. I haven’t looked back since.

I graduated from the University of Toronto and the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine. I also completed a two year internship in acupuncture.

Being the daughter of a Chinese father and a Korean mother, were you influenced by Eastern medicine’s benefits?

Certainly. I grew up knowing about Chinese medicine and acupuncture. My mom would say, “Here, take this,” but I didn’t understand its intricacies. I had some basic exposure.

How long have you been the guide to the Alternative Medicine section of About.com?

I've been writing for About.com since 2000.
 

What will The Inside Out Diet do that no other diet can?

A lot of diets can help people shed weight temporarily. But it doesn’t last and in the meantime people don’t feel good. They may be skinnier but they don’t feel or look healthy. That’s because when weight is shed, fat-soluble chemicals are released into the body. This makes you feel worse, interferes with hormone balance, metabolism, and actually impedes your ability to lose weight. That’s why you hit the plateau and the cravings and weight come back.

The Inside Out Diet bypasses these problems because it supports your body’s natural function. It's a gentle detox diet that supports the liver and gets rid of those chemicals, which means you’ll not only lose weight and keep it off, you’ll also feel and look better.

Why begin on the inside with the liver?

The liver is directly associated with metabolism and weight loss. It’s responsible for metabolizing fats, proteins, and carbs; it produces hormones, regulates blood sugar, detoxifies unwanted chemicals and toxins, and regulates cholesterol. Most people don’t realize just how important the liver is and why detoxifying it and supporting it during weight loss is crucial.

How can I tell if my liver is not functioning optimally?