Carol Alt

"When I was modeling, food was either my best friend or my worst enemy. I would not eat all day for fear of gaining weight, and then, if something went well, I would reward myself with brownies. I needed the sugar to keep me going. I was eating based on my emotions and always feeling guilty. Going raw and educating myself about food helped me change this mind-set. I learned that food is fuel and what we choose affects everything: our bodies, minds, moods, job performance, and relationships—even our sex lives. As they say in Silicon Valley: garbage in, garbage out. In order to fuel myself properly I needed to eat food in its real and natural state. That meant no more garbage in—no more artificial ingredients or processed foods. You really are what you eat. We’ve all heard this phrase before, but it doesn’t always resonate. Why not? It’s so simple."

"My life changed when I started eating raw and unprocessed foods. I went from being a tired and sick model who was taking medicine for everything, to a vibrant self-confident woman who ate more than she had in years. Through a raw diet … I became more conscious of what I was putting in my body every day, at every meal, even when I was snacking. Going raw and eating real food helped me realize that food is the fuel my body needs to function at its optimal level—not something to help me cope with my emotions or to simply make me feel full. When I took time to learn about the food I was consuming and the role that diet played in my overall health, I realized its power. Food, more than anything else, has the ability to heal and mend our bodies. For the first time in my life, I was able to form a different relationship with food—one that focused on the positive aspects of eating foods that gave me energy, boosted my mood, soothed my ailments, and helped me feel alive. What you eat impacts every part of your life. If you change your food, you change your life."

"I was at a breaking point … and my body was telling me that I needed to change. Now. I decided to “go raw” cold turkey, and after experiencing the life-altering benefits within the first week, I haven’t looked back since. Becoming a raw foodist not only saved my life, but it has also led me to discover my true passion—helping other people better understand their bodies and minds and improve their own health and quality of life. For the first time in years I was eating sufficient amounts of food and, more importantly, the right kinds. It took a few months to nourish my body back fully, but over time I began to feel vibrant again, and this reflected in every area of my life—physical, mental, professional, and emotional. I no longer had sinus infections or trouble falling asleep or waking up. My headaches were gone, along with my addiction to antacid pills. In short, my body started to heal itself and function like a well-oiled machine. From close friends to new acquaintances, people around me took notice and commented on how radiant and healthy I looked. I may have been a top model, but I had never heard these sorts of compliments before. And it felt great."