Meditating at 5am – just the start of The Body’s many bizarre habits
OF ALL the unlikely romantic pairings in the world, this one surely takes the organic chia-seed biscuit. But if Elle Macpherson’s new romance is to blossom, disgraced doctor Andrew Wakefield would be wise to familiarise himself with his inamorata’s eccentricities.
For starters, he had better be a morning person. In a recent interview, Elle said she woke at 5am and spent 30 minutes meditating in bed before getting up.
She said: ‘I set my intentions for the day and check into my feelings, my body and mind.
‘You need space and time for contemplation in this busy world to allow a download of ideas.’
She will then have a glass of warm water with lemon juice. Because she has given up coffee, she will add a splash of cayenne pepper if she feels she needs an eye-opener.
Mr Wakefield should note that living – and dining – with a supermodel is no picnic.
No booze, almost no carbs, almost no dairy, and no meat – Elle’s alkaline diet of fruit and vegetables is a hardcore regime, and she prefers it to be raw, and where possible, fully vegan.
She will have a green smoothie at 6.15am, consisting of hemp seeds, water and her own Super Elixir protein powder. At 10.30am, she will have another smoothie if she feels hungry, made with homemade nut milk, half an avocado and chocolate-flavoured powder, also from her range. LUNCH is a salad of kale, sprouts, cucumber, cabbage, avocado, pumpkin seeds and possibly sardines, covered with ‘premium olive oil – good fats are important to my wellbeing’. She eats fish, but not chicken or red meat.
Dinner, eaten shortly after 6pm, consists of vegetable wraps, vegetable pizza or vegetable pasta with pesto.
‘When I feel like having something sweet, I’ll have my favourite dark chocolate or vegan ice cream – sometimes both!’ she said.
She claims that the benefits are huge.
‘My skin glows, my brown spots have faded, the whites of my eyes are clear and my tongue is no longer coated.’
So devoted a follower is she of the alkaline diet – based on the theory that you can change the pH balance of your body and blood through the food you eat – that she carries a kit in her handbag so she can check the pH value of her urine at all times. ‘I believe that most ailments come from having an acidic body,’ she said. But should she bother? Cancer Research UK is one of many organisations to debunk the fashion for ‘eating alkaline’, saying it is pointless, and based on junk science. Undeterred by medical sceptics – common ground for Elle and her new partner – she has launched a business selling a range of protein shakes.
She is the co-founder and creative director of WelleCo, a company that specialises in organic supplements.
She said in an interview: ‘A few years ago, I was feeling really run down, despite living what I thought was a healthy lifestyle and taking an array of synthetic supplements.
‘I learned from (nutritionist) Dr Simone Laubscher that by reducing acid-forming foods and replacing them with nutrient-packed vegetables and fruits, the body can return to an alkaline state, rid itself of toxins and allow the digestive system and liver to rest and recuperate.’
She added: ‘For the body to work optimally, the pH of blood sits in a narrow range of between 7.35 and 7.45, which is slightly alkaline, and the body does everything it can to maintain this value. So the message was quite simple: eat more plants, fewer animal foods and to help along the way, take an absorbable alkalinising greens blend.’
Her blend of Super Elixir Greens seems to be made up mostly of brown rice and pea protein, but also includes pomegranate, kelp, horsetail and turmeric. It costs a whopping £96 for a 300g caddy.
The Nourishing Plant Protein powder, which comes in chocolate and vanilla flavours, costs £55 for a caddy, while Sleep Welle calming tea costs £48 for 50 teabags. Of course, physical perfection is not just down to pricey powders. Always intensely sporty, Elle continues to work out – often twice a day – to maintain her famously fit body. After breakfast she will do yoga, go jogging or swim. At around 5pm she does a vinyasa yoga class. SHE enjoys many sports, including hiking, wake-boarding, cycling, paddle boarding and surfing. All executed in a highly competitive manner.
‘Another thing I’ve always loved? The thrill of competition,’ she says. ‘If I’m swimming, I like to set myself a goal, whether it’s a number of laps or a certain route or time I have to complete in the session. It makes it more fun!’
One only hopes that Mr Wakefield, 61, can keep up.