Raw Food Celebrities

Raw food enthusiasts include many people with whom you may be familiar. Many celebrities have realized that by eating raw foods, they feel and look younger, their weight is more controlled, and their body is stronger and healthier.

Filmmaker Morgan Spurlock became well known to most Americans after the mega successful 2003 film “Super Size Me.” In the film, he documented his health as he spent 30 days eating only fast food from McDonalds. Spurlock managed to gain 25 pounds along with numerous ill side effects, including borderline impotence. Immediately after filming, Spurlock went on a raw food detox program prepared by his wife who is a raw food chef. Happily, his health improved immensely and he lost all of the extra weight.

Singers like Sting and David Bowie are raw foodists whom both have maintained healthy lifestyles. Singer Jason Mraz, who is recognized for his hit song “I’m Yours,” is a raw vegan who boasts that he is now more energized and healthy because of the diet. “Anything processed just doesn’t seem real,” Mraz said. Mraz also said that attractive women are often hanging out in natural food stores, which is an added bonus for him becoming a raw foodie.

Donna Karan, the women’s clothing designer, is also reaping the benefits of a raw food diet. At age 54, she lost 20 pounds by eating raw fruits and vegetables. She also ate nuts, grains and seeds, and says her secret is to eat what you want. “If I want chocolate cake, I have chocolate cake. If I want pizza and spaghetti, I eat pizza and spaghetti.” Those who follow the raw food diet have reported an increase in energy and an improvement in overall well being.

Carol Alt is an American supermodel and actress who posed nude in Playboy Magazine in 2008. “The only reason I look the way I do right now is because I changed my diet,” she said. “My body shows it.” She said that at age 45 she felt more healthy than when she was in her twenties. She revealed in an interview with PR.com senior editor Allison Kugel that both her father and brother died at young ages due to poor diet. She stated that if she knew then what she knows now about raw foods, she would have tried to help them. “I think about it every day.” She posted on her blog that raw foods work and could save your life.

Other celebrities like Demi Moore, Alicia Silverstone, Uma Thurman, Natalie Portman, Robin Williams, Lisa Bonet, Woody Harrelson, Charlie Trotter, Jack Lalanne, and Steve Jobs have found their lives and health improve by eating raw foods. Alicia Silverstone, best known for her role in Clueless and Batman & Robin, has been a raw foodist since 2007. She attributes her slim figure to eating raw fruits and vegetables. “There is nothing in the world that has changed me as much as this diet. I have so much more energy. It’s amazing,” she said. She has lately been working in theatrical productions and continues to be an avid animal activist.

Woody Harrelson is also an active raw vegan. By living in Hawaii, he says that organic farming and solar power dependence has helped him to realize that the foods he once thought to be safe and healthy, really were not. His family has also joined in on the food choices. “I felt like I had a lot more energy,” he said. When discussing his daughter, he said that he made a deal with her to avoid junk food until her fourth birthday.

Charlie Trotter is a chef and raw food enthusiast. He owns multiple high-quality restaurants and has written multiple cookbooks. He is often known for the food he makes, not the food he eats. Trotter supplies his restaurants with the same quality foods that he uses in his own domestic kitchen. “The taste of free-range and organic products is so much better than the alternative,” Trotter said. “It is also good to know that you are eating unadulterated food and supporting farmers and growers who are directly connected with the land.” When asked about the reason he chooses these foods, he says this: “I do not want guests walking out of the restaurant feeling as if they over-indulged because of excessive cream, butter, and alcohol. I want them to feel stimulated and alert, knowing that they will be able to look forward to breakfast the following morning.”

These celebrities have chosen the raw food diet because it is one of the healthiest diets available with impeccable results, and they want to stay fit and look younger. It is not a diet that will starve or deplete you, but rather a diet that will fulfill and nourish you. The raw food diet is laced with healthy vitamins, amino acids and nutrients and more and more celebrities are finding that longevity is attributed to what is put in the body. Because celebrities work long and vigorous hours, many are choosing a more simplified lifestyle to sustain the brutal rigors. We should all be more conscious of what is put in the body! 

Alkaline And Acidic Foods

Alkaline and Acidic Foods

Foods that elevate the amount of oxygen that your blood take in are considered alkaline foods. Foods that are raw green leafy vegetables, non sweet fruits and wheatgrass are considered the supreme alkaline foods. The opposite of alkaline foods are acidic foods.

Acidic foods are foods that we seem to like more, such as junk and processed foods, sugars, meats, bad fats, dairy products, some fruits, some grains and some nuts. When we consume too much of these foods, the blood cannot rid the body of all the waste that build up. Acid is then deposited in the organs and tissues which causes serious and harmful bacteria growth.

In a nutshell, the foods we intake into our bodies determine if we are more alkaline or acidic. If the food removes hydrogen ions from the body, it is considered alkaline. If the food adds hydrogen ions to the body, it is considered acidic. There is a ph scale that can measure the acid/ alkaline levels in the body. The scale starts from 0, which is the most acid, to 14, which is the most alkaline. An average level should read between 7.35 and 7.45.

The ph scale takes its name from the words potential of hydrogen.  You can purchase ph strips for testing at your local health food store or any ph testing company. A common ph scale is listed below. I advise everyone to get tested today and if you're overly acidic, incorporate green leafy vegetables in your diet to balance.  It's never too late to start, but we have to start.  Good luck!

PH 0-2	STRONGLY ACIDIC
PH 3-5	WEAKLY ACIDIC
PH 6-8	NEUTRAL
PH 9-11	WEAKLY ALKALINE
PH 12-14	STRONGLY ALKALINE

The Raw Food Diet 3 Healing Foods

When I enrolled in the Living Food Institute in Atlanta, I was surprise to learn that most of the people in my class were chronically ill.  They were cancer patients, HIV patients, people with severe heart problems and the likes.  I believe I was the healthiest person in the class.  I was scared shitless from a biopsy due to lumps in my breast, which thankfully turned out to be benign.

One of the requirements during class was the 3 essential foods we had to consume every day.  They were 2 ozs of wheat grass juice, at least 8 ozs of rejuvelac and as much energy soup our hearts desired.  The reason being was they were the main healing foods for the chronically ill.  I will discuss each food below, but I wanted to state that the transformation I saw in my classmates was nothing short of miraculous.  You could see the life come back in a lot of my classmates.  Everyone in the class lost weight and people who suffered from high blood pressure were showing great signs of improvement. I kid you not....it's one of the most powerful experiences in my life.

Wheatgrass

Wheatgrass has one of the highest concentrations of nutrients and is one of the easiest foods to grow. The best way to abstract the potency is by juicing. Wheatgrass is very high in vitamins A, C and E and has an excellent source of vitamin B. Wheatgrass juice contains many essential minerals such as potassium, iron, calcium, magnesium and sodium which are essential for brain and body development. Wheatgrass consumption helps to fight against illnesses and helps to boost the immune system. Wheatgrass also helps to eliminate toxins in the body.  Many health experts have declared that the chlorophyll found in wheatgrass is almost the same as the haemoglobin molecule in human blood. Scientists have never found wheatgrass to be harmful or toxic to humans or animals. Wheatgrass is considered a complete food containing all the vitamins and minerals available.

The best method of getting wheatgrass into the body is by chewing it, drinking it or implanting it. Wheatgrass is often available in juice bars or health food stores. You can consume wheatgrass alone or mixed with other fruits or vegetables. You may now purchase wheatgrass in the form of fresh produce, tablets, frozen juice or powder.

Growing wheatgrass is not that difficult. In a large glass jar, soak about one cup and a half of organic wheat berries in purified water for about 10 to 12 hours. The next day drain and rinse the berries thoroughly. Cover the berries with a sprouting or mesh lid to allow proper ventilation, and place the berries in a dark, cool space for sprouting. Rinse the berries twice daily until they produce a sprouting tail about 1/8 to 1/4 of an inch. They are now ready for the sprouting tray. Line the bottom of a 21 x 11 inch sprouting tray with mesh or porous unbleached paper towels. Fill the tray about one and a half inch full with pre-moistened soil or compost, ensuring that the soil does not contain artificial fertilizers or chemicals. Lay and press the sprouted or germinated berries evenly over the moisten soil and place the tray under indirect sunlight. You can use the inside of your home near a window. Make sure the area is properly ventilated. Water the wheatgrass trays twice daily by using a spray bottle. This prevents the seeds from drying and dying. Cover the tray with a piece of dampen newspaper until the grass is about an inch high. This will take about five days. When the grass is above one inch, began to water the trays once a day. When the wheatgrass has grown to about six inches, it is then ready for harvesting. Use scissors to cut the wheatgrass just above the seed. Juice the wheatgrass in a wheatgrass juicer and enjoy the medicinal benefits of this miraculous food.

Energy Soup

Energy soup is literally a liquid salad made up of raw vegetables, fruits and herbs. According to Dr. Ann Wigmore, energy soup is one of the body’s best friends because it:

1. 1)  Gives the body’s cells fuel to be nourished which provides for self healing in the quickest possible way.
   
2. 2)  Is high-energy nourishment which provides a complete form of basic elements that are needed for rebuilding health quicker.
   
3. 3)  Helps to overcome addictions because it is easy to digest.
   
4. 4)  Can help with many other health problems that people suffer with daily, which generally have been brought on by poor nutrition, especially by overeating

In a blender, add one tablespoon of dulse or seaweed powder, about 1/3 cup of rejuvelac, a hand full of sprouted mung beans and a hand full of sprouted lentils. Blend thoroughly. Next, add a lot of greens such as sprouted sunflower greens, buckwheat lettuce, kale, cilantro, watercress and or parsley. You may use a little of all the greens listed above or use one or two of them. If the

mixture is too thick, add more rejuvelac (recipe below). If you desire a sweeter mixture, add carrots and or sweet potatoes. Keep adding greens until there is about a one and a half inch space left at the top of the blender. For taste, add an apple or papaya. The last ingredient to add is an avocado to thicken the soup. Specific amounts of each ingredient are not that important when creating this soup.

It is important to use your imagination and your personal taste palate. Energy soup is best consumed about five times a day in small amounts.

Energy soup is a great way to detoxify and help an overburdened system recover. It is also a great way to get the required intake of vegetables and greens. Many people have reported great success with weight loss by using the soup as a complete meal.

Rejuvelac

Dr. Ann Wigmore states in The Blending Book that, “Rejuvelac is a slightly fermented wheat berry drink that is one of the most important items in the living foods lifestyle.” Rejuvelac helps with digestion because it contains all the nutritional nourishment of wheat and it contains a host of friendly bacteria. Because it supplies so many nutritional elements such as vitamins B, C and E, it can be classified as a food by itself. 

To make, you will need a large glass jar and two cups of soft wheat berries to soak in purified water for at least 8 to 24 hours. Drain and rinse the berries once and allow to sprout for two days. When white sprout tails begin to show, add six cups of purified water. Cover the jar with cheesecloth and place in a warm area where it can be exposed to at least a 70 degree temperature for two days. The rejuvelac is now ready for consumption. Pour the fermented drink into a clean glass picture and refrigerate. You can use the mixture as a drink by itself or in different recipes. Rejuvelac will store in the refrigerator for at least a week. It is best to consume two glasses of rejuvelac daily for optimal benefit.

The leftover seeds can be used one more time for another batch of rejuvelac. Instead of six cups of purified water, use four cups and follow the remaining steps above. After the second batch is completed, the seeds can be composted or thrown to the birds for consumption.

I can attest that these 3 foods are a heaven sent.  I've made a plenty in my day to help people and it really works.  The foods are an acquired taste, but once you get used to them, it's like anything else.
Try these recipes and watch the miracles unfold.

What Is The Raw Food Lifestyle All About?

Ann Wigmore (who I consider the Mother of the raw food diet) believed that there are two main causes of disease and disorder: toxemia and deficiency. Toxemia is blood poisoning caused by bacterial substances in the blood. These poisons or toxins are caused by eating processed, unnatural and pesticide tainted foods which have permeated our culture. Toxins in the blood are also caused by unhealthy stress in the body. Deficiency means insufficiency in the body or undernourishment in the body due to the lack of nutrients in indigestible cooked foods. Ann Wigmore developed the Living Foods Lifestyle to combat these two perils that have taken over our lives.

The raw food lifestyle also known as the living foods lifestyle... is an alternative approach to life and health. The living foods lifestyle consists of foods such as nuts, seeds, grains, sprouts, fruits, vegetables and sea vegetables that have not been heated above 118 degrees. Raw and living foods both contain enzymes, but the enzyme count is much higher in living foods due to the sprouting process (soaking in water). For people who are chronically ill, consuming only sprouted foods are the better rout due to the higher enzyme count.  Sprouting removes the enzyme inhibitors from foods for easier digestion.  I can tell when nuts have not been soaked.  They have a heavier feel to my body and digestion is not as smooth.

Thousands of people have found enormous benefit and healing by incorporating living foods into their lives. People adopt this lifestyle to promote weight loss, to increase mental clarity, and to slow the aging process. Living foods also help to increase energy and well being, improve chronic and degenerative diseases, and detoxify the body from internal and external toxins.  One of the main benefits I received was clearer skin.  I often get compliments on my natural glow and it stems from the raw food diet.

The easiest way to lose weight on any diet program is to decrease the amount of calories consumed. Raw vegetables and greens have the fewest calories of any food, with fruits following a close second. These foods have high water content and a load of nutrients which make them easier to digest and dispel. When eating foods this high in nutrients, your hunger decreases and your cravings subside.

Raw foods can aid in slowing the aging process too. Aging is the phenomenon that everyone will eventually have to deal with. Raw foods are filled with enormous amounts of nutrients, vitamins, minerals and fiber. A body that is filled with an abundance of nutrients will age slowly. The nutrients from the foods strengthen the bones, boost the immune system and promote healthy skin. The foods are low in toxins and are free from carcinogens, so the body does not have to work as hard to stay healthy. Fibers in raw foods keep the digestive system healthy and viable. Aging is always characterized by the loss of energy in the body. One of the adverse effects of aging is the slowdown of the digestive process resulting in a host of illnesses. 

Finally, the living foods lifestyle can help detoxify the body internally and externally.   When toxins are tucked inside your cells, they interfere with the cellular chemistry and decrease the body’s energy production. When toxins exit the cells, they attack the nerves which causes irritation. When toxins are expelled, symptoms range from cravings, fatigue, irritability, and physical pains. The body usually craves the most toxic foods until the proper nutrients have been incorporated into the system. When the body is fighting toxins, all energy goes into healing which causes exhaustion and irritation. Physical symptoms include aches and pains, nausea, headaches, runny nose, skin breakouts, sleep problems and gastrointestinal disturbances. I have experienced all of the above at one time or another, but after starting this diet, I really don't have any health issues now.  Thank God!!!

Why I Started The Raw Food Diet

For most of my life, I have struggled with weight, and I have tried every program imaginable to man to conquer this monster. I have tried fasting, weight watchers, quick weight loss, and the lemonade diet just to name a few.... to no avail. I would lose the weight and quickly regain it back. This recurring nightmare stuck as close to me as the fat on my ass and thighs. I began to accept the realization that life is not always fair and this was the hand that I was dealt.

At age 40, I began experiencing health problems. My first major scare was an abnormal mammogram. The follow up exam required an additional mammogram along with a needle biopsy. I eagerly vowed to start a radical cleansing program to beat the odds of cancer, so I began a 20 day juice fast.

During the 20 day fast, I became very interested in different modalities of holistic healing. I was inspired by the book “How to keep slim, healthy and young with juice fasting” by Paavo Airola.” This inspiration solidified my decision to continue the fast. The book not only teaches how to fast and what juices to fast with based on your condition, but also teaches how to properly eliminate toxins by using enemas and colonics. Colonics were not a new concept to me because I have been getting them since I was 34 years old, so I was very receptive to the process.

I was also inspired by the book “You are your own healer” by Ann Wigmore. The book introduced raw and living foods to me. At the time I considered the book to be a bit radical, but interesting. The book talked about sprouting, wheatgrass, wheatgrass implants, energy soup and rejuvelac---all of which I had never heard. Ironically, that same week, I saw an advertisement in a local Atlanta paper that read, “Living Foods Institute teaches how to prepare 100 percent organic raw and living foods by, Brenda Cobb.” I felt a strong connection to the photo in the advertisement, and I was extremely impressed by Brenda’s before and after photo. Brenda overcame the early stages of breast and cervical cancer by eating raw foods. She healed herself and looked 20 years younger after only six months on the diet. She lost 72 pounds, her eye sight improved and her hair turn from gray back to its natural color.

I decided to attend the free introduction seminar because I was inspired and intrigued. And even though I was still fasting at the time, my curiosity got the best of me, so I tasted some of the food. Surprisingly, the food was very good. The food had a lot of texture and flavor. The food was so good and the stories so inspiring, I had no other choice but to enroll into the next class.

I had about two weeks to prepare for the class. My juice fast had successfully ended and my biopsy for the breast exam came back thankfully benign, so I was feeling good and mentally ready to start the raw food class. The 10 day course taught detoxification, healing, and rebuilding health from the inside out. I learned 50 healing, gourmet and easy recipes and I learned about wheatgrass juice and its purification properties. I was introduced to various types of kitchen items such as the dehydrator, the spiralizer and the

excaliber, high powered blender. Finally, I was awarded a certificate of completion.

After completing the class, I was feeling a lot better because I had lost 15 pounds on the juice fast and an additional 14 pounds from the raw food class. I had more clarity and energy and I felt more healthy from the inside out. I was creating and inventing all types of recipes based on my new knowledge, and I even got my mother involved. She lost 10 pounds the first week. I was on a roll. I was dedicated for three consecutive months and abruptly hit a brick wall when I succumbed to HOULIHAN’S RESTAURANT in Augusta Mall. I ate fried shrimp and french fries and was dog sick when I got home. I weakly regained my composure and continued my new diet, but it was getting harder and harder to stay faithful. I slowly started incorporating more cooked foods into my diet until seven months later, I was fully engulfed in the bosom of the SAD (standard American diet). I had been conquered and I waffled for the next several years on raw, vegan and meat. I had no allegiance to a focused healthy diet and once again my health took a turn for the worst.

While working, I started experiencing shortness of breath and dizziness. It really escalated one day while on an international flight. I threw up and fainted 4 times. Luckily, the flight was light with passengers and I had an entire row to myself. I remember feeling extremely weak right before passing out. When I woke up, I was covered in vomit. I was extremely alarmed, but I got the strength to cleanse myself and the surrounding area only to repeat this pattern three more times. As soon as I got home, I went to the doctor and was told I had fibroid tumors (about the size of a six month pregnant woman) and I was severely anemic. I was prescribed medication immediately.

My anemia and fibroids began to take a toll on me and it was becoming more and more difficult to work and exercise as I was so weak and tired I could hardly function. My fibroids were still escalating in size until finally, with great hesitation, I had a hysterectomy. I thought about this for a year before going forward, but I must say, it was the best decision for me because I began to feel better immediately. I know deep down inside I could have avoided this drama had my diet consisted of more healthy foods.

Even though I felt better, I started experiencing weight gain and hot flashes. The weight was extremely hard to rid, so I decided to incorporate more vegan and raw foods into my diet. I slowly started to lose the extra weight. I began a 30 day raw food challenge and did extremely well. I lost 25 pounds and felt better than I have ever felt. I incorporated daily exercise and meditation to keep me focused and energized. I prepared a lot of raw foods on the weekend for the upcoming week. This method kept me from cheating and snacking throughout the day. I made sure to prepare desserts as well as entrees so that I would not feel like I was missing anything. To me, raw food desserts are much better than cooked desserts because you really TASTE the food. I drank green smoothies every morning and always had a large salad for lunch. I made sure to drink 80 ounces of spring water with lemon juice daily because it helped to flush poisons and toxins. Surprisingly around this time, I noticed that the hot flashes had subsided dramatically. I began to feel like I could conquer the world and I wanted to shout it out to everyone. This new found inspiration led me to helping other people by having them test the many recipes that I created.  Their positive feedback was very inspirational and I have enjoyed this new journey immensely. 

Finally, I must admit that from time to time, I dabble in a little cooked vegan food because I enjoy a lot of the recipes. At this time in my life, I am about 40 percent vegan and 60 percent raw because that works for me. The key to life is finding what works for you and living it to the fullest.