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Actor-activist Diane Ladd Discusses Fight for Better Diets

Aired July 25, 2002 - 13:51   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: So what are you eating for lunch? Is it healthy? A burger. Health experts say that was much as 85 percent of disease and illness in the United States comes from lifestyle choices like what you eat and how you exercise.

And a House committee today is focussing on diet and health issues.

Actress Diane Ladd, who is also a nutritionist consultant, testified before that committee today. You might remember her in the movies: "28 Days," with Sandra Bullock. Diane joins us now live from Washington.

Actually, I was thinking about "Medicine Woman." What was the show that so popular, Diane? Am I saying it right?

DIANE LADD, ACTOR: You're talking about "Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman." That was Jane Seymour.

PHILLIPS: That's right. But I had notes in here that you were also in that show. Were you in that show?

LADD: I actually did the pilot. I guest-starred as a favor to my friend, producer Beth Sullivan. And I played the mother in the opening pilot show of the three kids. And I didn't want to do a series, so I got snake bit and went on my way.

PHILLIPS: Oh, my...

LADD: I die in the show and then Jane adopts my three children and goes on.

PHILLIPS: All right, I got you. Because I saw that in the notes, and I thought, OK, there must have been some sort of influence here. Have you always been interested in health and fitness and medical issues?

LADD: I testified today, Kyra, that I actually went through a tragedy in 1962 when Bruce Dern and I were a young couple. We lost our 2-year-old young daughter in a tragic accident, and she died. And immediately following, my body was screaming inside wanting to have another child. I got pregnant again; it was wonderful, except that, unfortunately, it was a tubular pregnancy and I had to have surgery and they removed the left fallopian tube and most of the right. And they told me -- five top doctors in this country -- that Diane Ladd could not and would not and it would be impossible to ever have another child.

And I -- this was in 1962. And I began to research at the library. There was only one health book, (UNINTELLIGIBLE) on the wall. (UNINTELLIGIBLE) here on the wall. And I went on vitamin and supplement research. That's why I know how important it is. It wasn't drugs that made me pregnant. It was a month program of vitamins to strengthen the female organs.

And when Laura Elizabeth Dern was born, they took her caesarean to prevent complications. And after they took her from my womb, I was on the table for four hours while they removed 16 major adhesions intertwined around the body.

Then there were two other miracles. Laura had sclerosis, and with alternative modalities -- and (UNINTELLIGIBLE) who has the osteopathic children in San Diego -- and with modalities in nine months, Laura's spine had been like this, and it was straightened pretty much just to a little bit of curve left.

And then there was a couple of other miracles. And I call them miracles. It means having the faith to fight and use your brain and wisdom to try and heal your body. I believe in detoxification. And I believe that a diet -- that the surgeon general was right when he said the proper diet can prevent cancer -- help prevent cancer.

But how do you get a proper diet? If you go out tonight and eat, you look at that food, sometimes it is like people you know: pretty on the outside, not much going on on the inside.

PHILLIPS: Diane, I (UNINTELLIGIBLE) I wish I would have known you growing up, because I had scoliosis and I had to suffer through wearing one of those awful back braces up to here for four years. So I can understand the importance of understanding these alternatives. Really, it's hard on a young child.

LADD: Yes, it took your life; it took your teenage life.

PHILLIPS: Absolutely, absolutely. And you have you to deal with being ridiculed and everything else.

But I have to tell you your story is amazing and the strength you have and how you have endured.

So you went before the committee...

LADD: We have to applaud Congressman Burton because he had this incredible hearing with people from all over. We got -- I got letters from 20 top doctors in the country. Dr. Gladys McGary (ph), and Bob Anderson (ph), president of the American Holistic Medical Association, which is a couple of thousand AMA doctors who believe in alternative modalities as well. And we got all these letters and Congressman Burton and other congresspeople on that committee are incredibly dedicated and holding this hearing to help make sure that you have the right to choose your vitamins and your minerals and also to try to make them tax deductible.

A lot of old people and children and poor people, vitamins can save their lives and keep them from getting sick. And if they were tax deductible, they could afford it. It's just a wonderful hearing.

And I'm also an adviser to our congressman, (UNINTELLIGIBLE) -- has the National Foundation for Internal Medicine, NFAM. You know, he went fishing and he got bit by a tick that gave him lyme disease. This great man is working on behalf of people too.

So we've got some people fighting for your health. And I'm trying to fight for my actors and create more work in this country, Kyra, at the same time, because entertainment is healthy. Good culture.

PHILLIPS: Well, we need people like you. Your passion is amazing.

Diane Ladd...

LADD: I need people like you.

PHILLIPS: Hey, we're mutual fans, OK?

LADD: You bet.

PHILLIPS: Diane Ladd, thank you, thank you so much.

LADD: You're welcome.

PHILLIPS: We will follow this and see what happens and see what comes out...

LADD: Go over there to hear some of those other people. They are great.

PHILLIPS: There you go. You keep us posted, Diane.

LADD: All right. God bless you.

PHILLIPS: All right.

LADD: All right. God bless you. Bye-bye.

PHILLIPS: Likewise.

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