Dr Oz: Gloria Estefan Family Health + Secrets To Staying Young

Dr Oz: Grammy-Winner Gloria Estefan

Dr Oz sat down with superstar Gloria Estefan to talk to the seven-time Grammy-winner about her own resilience and her father’s illness. She nearly became paralyzed herself because an illness, so Dr Oz couldn’t wait to sit down to hear what the talented woman had to say. In a beautiful, flowing blue top, she danced as she joined the enthusiastic show host, and then sat down as the conversation turned serious.

Approximately 100 million records and 38 hits proves that Gloria is truly talented.

Gloria’s family calls her the energizer bunny, and there’s no surprise why. It’s as if she never stops moving, but that Cuban coffee certainly helps! “I’ve always been very energetic,” she stated. “I love sports.”

Gloria is passionate about her own health and the health of her family. Her father had multiple sclerosis, possibly because of exposure during the war. He was 47-years-old when he passed and became sick in his 30’s. A lot of the men he was stationed with came back with symptoms that weren’t typical of the disease, making many question whether Agent Orange was to blame. Gloria learned very early about the valuable things in life, because of the needs of her father.

Dr Oz: Gloria Estefan Back Injury & Near-Paralysis

When Gloria was younger she was traveling through a snow storm in 1990. Her vehicle was rear-ended by an 18-wheeler. She was taking a nap in the front of the tour bus, “in that split second it all changed.” Because of fractures in her back, she was almost paralyzed, but she held on to hope that it would all be okay. She’s now passionate about potentially finding a cure for paralysis. It was discovered since that hypothermia can play a role in the treatment of spinal cord injuries, and looking back, Gloria now attributes the freezing temperatures to her recovery and avoidance of paralysis.

To this day, Gloria promises she could feel the prayers that millions of people were sending her way. “It was like a charge,” she recalled. “I felt like I was plugged in.”

Gloria’s doctors took the two vertebrae that were crushed and put 8-inch titanium rods  her back. If she sits in a hard-back chair she can feel the screws in the middle of her back. But otherwise, she’s not in the amount of pain she could be in. She joked about what would happen to the rods once she passes away and her body is cremated.

Dr Oz asked about Gloria’s own intuition and seemingly psychic abilities and Gloria admitted it’s been a lifelong ability. She has also been blessed to take part in the Miami Project, hoping to help others who have gone through similar situations as her. She’s hoping to one day help paralyzed patients walk again. They’ve also been able to reconnect nerves with cells to restore movement in damaged limbs.

Dr Oz: Gloria Estefan Secrets To Staying Young & Healthy

Gloria actually shared a video of her 87-year-old mom rapping, proving that her talent was likely inherited. Gloria explained that her mom wasn’t eligible for heart surgery because of her advanced age, but she’s still the diva of the family. She joked that her mom always has been the diva of the family and that likely won’t ever change.

As for what Gloria’s daily regimen is: Gloria said she’s always been passionate about working out first thing in the morning, except for recently. She’s admittedly chosen sleep over exercise lately, but makes sure to avoid fried foods and fast food.

For glowing skin, Gloria’s go-to is a step process. She joked that kissing her husband counts as exfoliation because of his beard. But exfoliation works to slough off dead skin to promote cell turnover. That’s step one and she does it at least once a week, but not every day. She also cleans her skin well every day with a gentle cleanser. The second step is to use broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30+ or a foundation with moisturizer and SPF included. Step three she likes to identify and address tiny issues before they become problems, using a magnifying mirror.

Gloria also takes a baby aspirin every day to stay on top of her health. As for getting active, get up on your feet! Gloria tries to stay moving whenever she can. Especially during her shows, she’s on her feet the entire two hours! Just 20 minutes of aerobic exercise three times a week can help fight fatigue.