Formerly a successful model who walked the runway for the likes of Chanel, Versace and Dior, Rosemary Ferguson is now a fully qualified nutritionist with her own clinic on London’s Harley Street. A working mother who counts Kate Moss and Stella McCartney among her friends and fans, Rosemary is now on the cusp of launching her own book – entitled ‘Juice’ – which is set to be the go-to nutrition bible for 2015. We sit down with Rosemary to discuss her new book and her top tips for maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
Q: What initially sparked your transition from model to nutritionist?
Rosemary Ferguson: I think it was having kids, I had one when I was 24 and another at 30 and a third at 31 so I think the proximity of the last two meant that I didn’t really get back into modelling. I like working so I wanted to move on and have something that I could build on. Modelling has been great to me and it’s been great in my new line of work as well because the fashion industry is very supportive. But it’s more to do with the fact that I love working with food, I love what food can do for you and I thought that I would get a qualification so that people listen – it was important to me to really know what I was talking about.
Q: Did you learn any tricks for staying healthy in your modelling days?
RF: The fashion industry is very aware of food and health – as much as people say that they just live off coca-cola, coffee and cigarettes – they do really care and it’s of course a very aesthetic industry. When you are modelling, you’re surrounded by people who are very quick off the mark with all the health trends, like juices and superfoods. Also when you travel a lot, which you do as a model, you really pay attention to what you put into your body.
Q: What are the benefits of incorporating juices and smoothies into our everyday intake?
RF: For a lot of people it’s a really good way of getting a nutrient boost; juices are a fantastic vehicle for getting a whole load of nutrition into your body and your diet. A lot of people struggle to get their 5 a day and by drinking a juice or a smoothie it’s a great way of ensuring that you do. I know that juices have had a bad rap about their high sugar content – but as I say in the book – if you have a juice when you eat then you slow down the absorption of the sugars – because there’s a whole lot of goodness in there too. The other thing is, they’re fun to make!
Q: What does the Juice Fast entail?
RF: I’ve done 1, 2 and 3 day juice fasts, which include different juices – plus a smoothie as well. Of the juices, I include one that will boost your liver cleansing, to detox your body and I include some to calm the gut. It’s about encouraging the body to release any toxins. We’re surrounded by toxins, so even if you eat clean, we are surrounded by pollutants all the time which result in the liver getting bloated and the digestion getting overloaded and it’s a great way of releasing those toxins. You do feel a lot better for it I have to say.
Q: Do you have any advice for a first time juice cleanser?
RF: Be gentle with yourself, there is no failure! In the book I say that – if you can only manage a liquid day – do that – and remember it is only one day – so go gently and see how you feel. I don’t believe in making yourself miserable – life’s far too short for that. If you get to 7pm and you want some soup then do it. Regardless of whether you complete the day or not, it’s good to bring mindfulness to what you’re putting into your body. If you’ve never done a juice buster and you do one, you will be very aware of what you would normally be eating that day and you’ll find that it’s a good way of cleaning up the diet in general.
Q: Do your family also drink the juices?
RF: My kids and my husband do yes, they’re my guinea pigs. Obviously the kids don’t need to fast but they’ve all been fantastic because there are a lot of recipes to test and it’s good to get a good cross-section of tasters. My kids love the smoothies especially – and the whole family love to try them – sometimes I get it right and sometimes I don’t, but they’re always honest!
Q: How did you discover that juices also have soothing and healing benefits for ailments?
RF: I’m a qualified nutritionist and I know what is in each food I use, so I’m basing it on that – like knowing that pineapples have anti-inflammatory properties, and papaya has certain enzymes which are really good for your digestion. It’s knowing what properties each food has – some are high in B Vitamins some are high in Vitamin C – and thinking about what vitamins you need to help an ailment and then going back and seeing what foods contain those certain nutrients – and then trying to make it taste nice!
Q: What was the process like when creating the recipes? Did you do a lot of experimenting?
RF: You do get an idea of what works with what – I would write out a batch of recipes, and then we’d go and try them. Then there’d be some tinkering around – add a bit of this, take some of that out. Lemon is a helpful ingredient for juices that tend to taste quite strong as it cuts through the flavours.
Q: What does the future hold for you beyond the new book?
RF: I have my clinic on Harley Street which I love; I learn a lot from doing that and a lot from my clients. I also write my column for Net a Porter and Women’s Health – and maybe further on the horizon there’ll be another book!
Juice by Rosemary Ferguson is available to purchase from the 2nd April, visit her website for more information.
Text with permission of Wish hr partner, Quintessentially Lifestyle.
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