One of the Institute for Integrative Nutrition’s most powerful teachings is that food changes everything. For athletes, food is a source of fuel that can make or break your physical performance. And for people suffering with chronic disease, food can either cause further damage or help heal. Integrative Nutrition graduate David Smith learned that truth firsthand.

Born in Scotland and based in London, Olympic rower and cyclist David Smith won a gold medal in the 2012 Olympic Games just two years after suffering from a rare spinal cord tumor — and undergoing surgery — that left him paralyzed. 

“I am living proof that what we put in our body makes a difference,” Smith says. “The first surgery, I was fueled on processed high-inflammation foods and my body responded badly.” 

Smith spent a month in the hospital learning to walk again, and this journey led him to plant-based nutrition and spirituality — and then the Integrative for Integrative Nutrition. After ditching a diet of pizza, chips, and soda and gradually introducing green smoothies and whole foods into his meals, he was amazed with how much better he felt. Inspired by vegan endurance athlete Rich Roll, Smith then cut all animal products out of his diet entirely. 

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He also embarked on a spiritual journey, discovering the power of meditation, visualization, and positive thinking.

“Becoming a student of both your body and mind is a great starting point for health, and this led me to Integrative Nutrition,” he says. 

Remarkably, just 14 months after that his devastating surgery, Smith won the World Rowing Championships, and then the gold medal at the 2012 Paralympic Games in London. When his tumor returned, he was armed with the knowledge and education necessary to take control of his recovery. 

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“Integrative Nutrition has saved my life,” Smith says. “I was re-diagnosed with the same tumor, but this time I had a wealth of knowledge. Armed with all my Integrative Nutrition information, I took it into surgery—graduation day! — and came out of surgery in the most amazing spiritually healing place I have ever found myself.

“This time, I went into surgery meditating, and I came out with a resting heart rate of 34 after three days. I had to learn to walk, but was out of the hospital in a week. I followed a pure raw diet in the hospital and watched my body heal in front of me. The greatest gift we have is life itself. What I love most about my work is helping people see the beauty in life — sometimes we don’t see it until it’s too late.” 

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