Alexandra Jamieson On Real Beauty, Healthy Skin & Food Cravings
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As co-creator of the Oscar-nominated documentary, Super Size Me, Alexandra Jamieson opened our eyes to just how deadly a diet full of fries can be; but it’s the life extending tips she shares as a holistic health coach, nutritional chef and author, that truly excite her.
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With her fourth book, “Women, Food, and Desire,” Jamieson has started a much-needed conversation; urging women to embrace their cravings, stop hating on their bodies, and finally make peace with food for a healthier and happier life.
Danielle Diamond: What inspired you to write your latest book?
Alexandra Jamieson: I’ve struggled with my health and cravings since childhood. From my adolescent sugar addiction, through my 11-plus years of veganism, and now into my return to meat eating, I’ve had to learn—and relearn—how to listen to my body as my best guide in finding my best diet.
When my ex and I created the documentary Super Size Me, I was a vegan chef. Then after the birth of our son, and our divorce, my body and self-confidence took a major hit. My hormones were out of whack, I was stressed out, and my libido was dead.
I was so ashamed when my body started asking for meat, and I had this other shame around wanting to return to dating and sex.
After healing my hormones and body with meat, I discovered that many of my clients had similar layers of shame around their body, food, and sexual desire. I started coaching my clients to heal their hormones and listen to their cravings as divine messages, and the results have been beautiful. Women who like and listen to their bodies are very strong, confident, happy women.
DD: Being a wellness coach, have you ever felt pressure to look a certain way?
AJ: Oh, yes! Just being a woman has put so much pressure on me and every other woman I know to look a certain way. Myself, and the women I know in the health, fitness, and wellness world feel even more pressure.
When I got sick, had any sort of imbalance, or started craving meat, I was terrified to admit that everything wasn’t perfect.
We “teachers” and “experts” need to be honest and share our own ups and downs. No one is perfect and unchanging. It’s unrealistic and by presenting ourselves as “having figured it all out” we set our readers, clients, and tribe up to feel like they can never measure up.
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DD: I absolutely love that, and completely agree. Do you have any beauty rules you live by?
AJ: Sex is great for healthy skin and a happy mood, as well as a happy gut! I believe that the most beautiful women I know are the most sexually satisfied.
DD: Who did you learn about beauty from?
AJ: My girlfriends and my mom. My mom was into “natural beauty products” her entire life, and taught me how to buy healthy products that weren’t toxic. My girlfriends are so good at expressing their true style and natural beauty—they’re such an inspiration.
DD: What do you feel is the connection between beauty and desire?
AJ: I believe that the most beautiful women are the ones who are confidently pursuing their desires. There’s a power, magic, and magnetism to them that is undeniable.
DD: What does real beauty mean to you?
AJ: Real beauty means a deep love of self, forgiveness, and a willingness to put down judgment. When you listen to another human being and set aside all judgment, that’s really beautiful.
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DD: What foods do you recommend to those who desire that healthy glow and clear skin?
AJ: Good old water is a huge one. Staying hydrated makes for healthier skin, and helps with efficient elimination. When you’re constipated, it will show up as unclear skin or puffy eyes.
I also recommend ginger, turmeric, cayenne, aloe juice, and other anti-inflammatory foods. They can reduce puffiness, and help the body fight and eliminate toxins. I also eat a lot of fat. I love avocado, coconut oil, and salmon. The oils help my skin stay healthy, even as I age.
DD: In your new book you dish on the four root causes of cravings, can you give us a summary?
AJ: Sure, the four root causes are:
Bacterial: we are made up of 10 times more bacterial cells than human cells, which can actually influence our cravings.
Nutritional: our body craves food to replace lost minerals and vitamins, or to make up for a lack of energy caused by that mineral depletion.
Emotional: anxiety, sadness, and loneliness lead to physical discomfort that we try to “fix” with comfort foods.
Physical: we need physical contact, intimacy, and movement to be healthy; but we don’t get enough of any of them.
DD: So it’s natural to have cravings, but how do we deal with them- without inhaling a chocolate cake?
AJ: The best way to face your cravings is to examine them as an awareness practice. It can take some time to uncover the root causes of your cravings. You may have not seen the habitual nature of your cravings before - what are your triggers? Are you missing specific nutrients from your diet? Is your micro biome out of balance and you need to eat to answer that? Are you emotionally upset or physically missing the nutrients of touch, play, or rest?
To deal with your cravings you have to listen to them and understand them, and what they’re asking you for.
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DD: At 39, you’ve said that you now feel like your best self; why is that?
AJ: As I get older, I get to know myself better and better. My confidence is rooted in the simple fact that we all deserve joy, love, and happiness, no matter what we do or say, or what we look like. It’s lovely to feel more confident for just being yourself.
