Yuri Elkaim
This is an interview I did with raw food expert, Yuri Elkaim. I think this interview is a real eye-opener…
Q: I’m here today with Yuri Elkaim, author of the Eating For Energy program. Yuri, thanks for being here today. What don’t you tell us a little about yourself, so our readers can get to know you?
Well, I’ve been in the fitness and nutrition industry for the past 12 years and have a real passion for helping people live their healthiest and fittest life ever.
I graduated from one of top universities in the world with a Bachelors of Physical Education and Health, I’m a Certified Kinesiologist, Registered Holistic Nutritionist, and strength and conditioning coach for the men’s soccer program at the University of Toronto.
In fact, up until about 2004 my entire life was devoted to playing soccer. My dream was always to play at the professional level and I was fortunate to have realized that goal after graduating from university. I played in Toronto as well as with one the top clubs in France – Lille OSC.
But I realized that there was something more to my life. Something beyond soccer. And I’m grateful that I am now living my true mission – helping others!
Q: What is the Eating For Energy program and why did you write it?
Eating for Energy is a nutrition bible. Plain and simple. I wrote because when I studied holistic nutrition I was learning nutrition concepts and principles that I had never heard of before. So I thought if I didn’t know about this stuff, then are probably millions of others who don’t as well.
Also, throughout most of my life – prior to Eating for Energy – I had always suffered with a lack of energy. This really hit home when I was playing soccer in France. I was always tired and my body was breaking down. I never thought that the way I was eating could have contributed. After all, I was eating the way most sport nutrition text books advise athletes to eat – lots of grains and carbs.
But it wasn’t until I put into practice the healthy eating concepts I discuss in Eating for Energy did my energy levels and my health begin to transform.
I am truly grateful for writing this book, not only because it transformed my life, but also the lives of thousands of people all around the world.
It really is an approach to eating that anyone can adopt to some level. There is a reason that “modern man” is so sick, tired, and overweight. Eating for Energy is a simple solution to this overwhelming problem.
Q: It is well known that Western Countries suffer all sorts of diseases which are rare in third world countries. I notice you address this in your program. What do you believe are the major reasons for this fact?
Basically, it comes down to the fact that we are so disconnected from natural foods. We get most of our “nutrition” from processed and packaged foods. We believe that what big food conglomerates tell us to eat is the way we should eat. There’s a reason that in the past 100 years cancer rates and the incidence of several other lifestyle diseases have skyrocketed. We not look much further than what we’re feeing ourselves. After all, we are what we eat.
Q: What are the main benefits of a raw food diet such as yours?
A dramatic increase in energy levels, weight loss, improved health, mental clarity, better moods, and many others. I obviously can’t make any erroneous health claims but we’ve received thousands of incredible testimonials that have proven to me that everyone responds differently, yet beneficially, to eating more raw foods. Things can only get better when you nourish your body with “real” food.
Q: The stereotype of raw food eaters are of weak, scrawny, individuals. Can you build muscle mass and improve fitness on such a diet?
I’m about 80% raw and by no means I am weak. I workout 5-6 days a weak and focus on strength and power. There are tons of raw vegan athletes (I discuss many of them in the book) and the simple fact of the matter is that eating more raw foods provides better nutrition for your body to recover faster, get stronger, and stay healthier.
The fact that many raw foodists are weak and scrawny is simply because of their lack of focus on strength training. Many raw foodies are a bit more spiritual and tend to gravitate toward activities like yoga and pilates. I love yoga too but you won’t be able to get me away from training like an athlete!
Q: What would you say are 3 foods a health conscious person shouldn’t eat?
White/refined flour and sugar, dairy products, and grains. Also, pretty much anything that is advertised on TV.
Q: What are 3 foods this person should eat?
Vegetables (especially lots of greens), fruit, pure water.
Q: A lot of people don’t want to go on a raw food diet because they believe it will be hard or the food will not taste good. What kind of meals and dishes can a person who follows your program enjoy?
I was the same way. But I realized that you can get in so many simple meals that taste great and provide awesome nutrition by making smoothies, juices, and salads. It’s such an easy way to get a ton of raw fruits and veggies without taking hours to prepare raw food meals.
Q: In your program, you talk about how the food we eat affects our allergies. What is one example of an allergy that is aggravated by the wrong kind of food?
Wheat. This is a big problem for the vast majority of people – and they don’t even know it. The reason is that because wheat is so prevalent in our diet, it is constantly present in our body, which can create a sequence of immune response. Any food that sits in our digestive tract too long or too frequently, or that we eat in high quantities can trigger a “sensitivity” reaction in our body over time.
Q: Are there any special or expensive foods on the Eating For Energy program or is it all regular food?
It’s all regular. Stuff you can buy at your local grocery store.
Q: What would be one advice you’d give to a health conscious person wishing to lose weight and take better care of himself?
Alkalize your body by eating more greens. This is a big concept in the book. Eat a salad each day. Make a green smoothie or green juice if you can as well. The health and weight loss benefits will also be immediate.
Q: Making the transition from a regular diet to an Eating For Energy diet can be a challenge. What are some tips for a person who wishes to begin using your program?
I don’t believe it’s a challenge at all. Eating for Energy promotes the necessity to eat more raw foods but it is by no means about becoming a raw foodist. Even if readers adopt 10% of what I talk about in the book, their lives will transform. Anyone can add more fruits and vegetables into their diet. The book shows them why we need change the way we are eating and then shows them how to do so. I wrote the book with the beginner in mind, because that’s where I was when I started.
Q: Thank you so much for your time, I think everyone who reads this interview has learned a lot from it.
To read more about Yuri Elkaim and his program visit EatingForEnergy
