A Conversation with Oz Garcia

Celebrity-nutritionist, globally-acclaimed health guru, age-defying wellness practitioner – all great titles and duly-deserved accolades for Oz Garcia. Needless to say, having Oz as part of the Lite family gives our team access to one of the finest minds in the industry, so every day presents a valuable learning opportunity, which we don’t take for granted!

It would be greedy to keep all these gems of wellness insight to ourselves though, so we asked Oz to take a break from his busy consulting schedule – serving prolific Hollywood A-Listers and Fortune 100 CEOs – to bring a bit more Lite to our community.

Q: For those who don’t know of your work, can you please share a little bit about who you are and what you do? 

A: I have been working as a Wellness practitioner, nutritionist, anti-aging specialist and biohacker for forty years. Fortunately, when you love what you do and share it with others, it doesn’t feel like “work” at all.

Q: What was your lightbulb moment when you knew you wanted to devote your life to health and wellness work?

A: It began when I was in my 20’s. I was an avid runner, but I wanted to go beyond my standard exercise regimen to explore new ways to improve my overall health. I was moved by the possibility of how much more I could accomplish.

Q: How did you come to be a part of the Lite team?

A: I was introduced to Lite through founder, Mark Brooke, and loved the concept of using epigenetics to empower people on their personal wellness journeys.

Q: What is it about epigenetic science that interests you the most?

A: I’ve seen people outsmart their genetics by changing their nutrition and lifestyle. It happens all the time with my clients.

Q: You serve a wide array of powerful and influential people. What wellness concerns seem to be the most common among your clients?

A: There are several themes that I’ve found across the clients I serve – most want to have more energy, which makes sense considering the demanding lifestyles that many of them lead. Also, I’ve found there is a common desire to think better, be in top physical shape and look as attractive and young as possible.

Q: It’s often reported that America is facing a healthcare crisis. What are your thoughts on the state of wellness and treatment in this country?

A: It’s very poor and there is still a lot that can be improved upon. Although many doctors are moving into functional medicine and healthcare practitioners are becoming trained in more holistic ways to care for clients and patients, continued prioritization of this approach and access to more resources will be the key to future success.

Q: In the midst of an unprecedented pandemic, many Americans are rethinking the importance of good physical and emotional health. What are some tips you can share to help people navigate the challenges posed by COVID-19?

A: This is such an important topic, not just at the moment, but in perpetuity. I highly recommend keeping up your immunity with good nutrition, vitamins and supplements. Don’t be scared to go outside and exercise, as long as you are taking proper precautions. And don’t watch too much news, it can drive you crazy.

Q: We know you’re tapped into all the cool and emerging products in the health space. Can you share a few that you’ve incorporated into your daily routine?

A: I happen to love technologies such as Muse, NUCalm, Oura Ring, Halo Sport, and Apollo Neuro to name a few. I know we recently talked about a few of these in a recent Lite newsletter, and I look forward to sharing more throughout the year.

Q: Speaking of daily routines, would you mind walking us through what your typical morning looks like?

A: I wake up and have Green tea or Matcha, then take an ice bath for 10-12 minutes followed by a hot shower. I will do Halo Sport with 20 minutes of breathing exercises. I tend to do a variation of the Wim Hoff technique. After that, I do a Sam Harris app meditation followed by 20 minutes of movement. I then have my smoothie and dive into my day.

Q: Just like everyone else at Lite, we know you love food. What are some staples that find their way onto your plate each week?

A: Seafood, lots of cooked vegetables and a combination of the Mediterranean Diet. I have a Poke Bowl from Whole Foods I eat a few nights a week, which is simple, light, delicious and convenient.

Q: Do you have any “cheat foods” that you find yourself craving? If so, what are they, and how often do you give in to the temptations?

A: Absolutely, who doesn’t? For me, dark chocolate and dairy-free ice cream are the go-to choices, trying a variety of almond and coconut milk, or avocado-based options.