Amanda Hamilton: the raw truth
Donna Karen does it, Alicia Silverstone sells it and it might just be the secret to Demi Moore’s coupling with a gorgeous man 15 years her junior. And you really should know about it if you are looking to lose weight.
I am talking about raw food.
As it happens, I am on a raw food detox this week at Champneys in Tring. An enthusiastic groups of top stylists, models and normal everyday folk are dipping their toes in the water of a new way of eating that is seen as the ultimate trendy health kick in Los Angeles. Weight loss is so far averaging at ½ lb a day; can’t complain about that!
Saying that though, the raw movement itself is focused less on the weight loss (although it is an amazing way to shift that muffin top!) and instead on the activity of the enzymes that are only present in raw food. Here’s the science bit…
Enzymes are biomolecules that catalyze (i.e., increase the rates of) chemical reactions. In the 1930′s, when enzymes first came to the attention of biochemists, just 80 were identified; today, over 5,000 have been discovered.
These enzymes are abundant in raw food, yet there are none, nada, zero in cooked food. It is these enzymes that provide the energy for your body to work well on the inside, thus helping you to look better on the outside.
So the science goes, when you eat raw food, rather than drawing out your body’s finite resources to digest it, the food comes with its very own DIY digestion kit. So, your body can use that energy elsewhere for all-important jobs like fat burning and keeping your immune system working well.
It might just explain why Demi looks younger now than she did 15 years ago (although cynics will say that the surgeon’s knife might have had something to do with it).
Londoners can indulge in gourmet-style raw food at the healthy food mecca of the WholeFoods market in Kensington. This store started way back when in a funky little town in Arizona, USA, yet has ended up on the speed dial of super-fit celebs who are frequently seen picking up their weekly essentials there, fresh-faced from their yoga class.
My mate Chad Sarno is a world famous raw food chef (and bessie mates with the likes of Woody Harrelson) who has developed his own Gourmet raw food restaurant and has just moved it to the WholeFoods store. Courgette pasta anyone? Raw coco ice cream? Don’t laugh, it will soon be going mainstream. If you don’t want to wait that long, try out raw bars in your local health food shop – the chocolate flavour is my favourite!
PA
For those of you looking for more heavyweight credibility as to the benefit of this way of eating, turn to the landmark book’ Megatrends’ by John Naisbitt, who worked directly for President Kennedy when he was just 34!
Put simply, Naisbitt says that the little energy bundles that enzymes provide are the future of medicine. “Biology will be to the 21st century what physics and chemistry were to the 20th century. The main area of interest will be the production of enzymes or living catalysts,” he says. Wise words indeed.
Finally, if eco is your thing (and let’s face it, your simply not on trend if it’s not) then raw food ticks the green box too. Less cooking equals less electricity; less animal produce equals less impact on the environment from farming. Stella and Gwyneth would definitely approve.
Give it a shot by building up gradually. Start by making one meal completely raw and then add in two raw snacks a day. When you feel ready – and with spring in the air – now is definitely the time to do it. Switch your main meal to a large salad with lots of yummy ingredients.
Given the UK climate, going 100% raw is unlikely to ever be a good idea as it can’t make you feel toasty in the way a warm broth or pot of stew can. However, attempting a 60-80% raw diet this spring will certainly pay back in terms of that summer bikini body.
As for the last few days of my raw food detox, well, tonight’s menu includes a dessert of raw cheesecake and for that, I am truly grateful.
