Jeremy Safron, a Raw Lifestyle Hero, Inspires at Organic Avenue

By Stephen Parker, August 21, 2008

Jeremy A. Safron lives in Hawaii on 30 acres of beautiful land on which he abundantly grows and eats his own raw living organic food, and plays with and shares his land with horses, goats, chickens, and cats. Jeremy, a fifteen year veteran raw foodist, treasures what he has in Hawaii and yet he enthusiastically exclaims that he loves cities, particularly New York and Los Angeles.

Speaking at a cool and comfortable Organic Avenue on August 20, Jeremy told his attentive listeners, “All you people living here are doing service, and I’m so grateful!” Jeremy appreciates the concentration of intellect in urban areas and he recognizes that great things are thought of and conceived in cities and then shared with the rest of the world. People think and talk about great things in cities-politics, philosophy, science, and importantly, health. Jeremy affirmed that “what you are doing here, is doing service for the whole world.”

Jeremy’s observation is that people who live in cities are much more intentional about pursuing health. We city dwellers, because life in large cities can be so intense, need to pursue wellness, and we are more aware of this need. He suggested that outside of cities, where daily life is a little easier, people might value health and nature less consciously than urban dwellers do. Where he lives, people generally don’t have houseplants because outside they’re surrounded by an abundance of lush greenery and much of it is laden with beautiful ripe fruit.

I had a few minutes to speak with Jeremy before he officially began his talk and he was telling me that the streets where he lives are right now glowing red with all of the mangos that have fallen from the trees. The raw food scene in Hawaii is not really focused on prepared raw food recipes and raw restaurants. There is so much fruit available that you can just go outside and gather it by the armfuls and eat it—mangos, avocados and more.

According to Jeremy, everyone in Hawaii is familiar with raw food, compared to New York where millions of people are still oblivious to the concept even though the practice has grown phenomenally. In Hawaii raw foodism and the availability of raw food is just a given fact of life; raw foodism by itself is not what draws people together. Spirituality, the ocean, nature and such is what draws Hawaiians together and raw food is just in the mix.

Jeremy has been eating solely raw foods for fifteen years. He’s traveled and helped open raw restaurants, had his own restaurants, and has taught people about natural health. He’s a raw foodism and wellness author four times over, and he has facilitated countless people’s healing from illness. Jeremy’s glowing physical countenance is a testament to his way of life. He has a youthful, wonderful childlike exuberance and freedom of expression. He also possesses the deep wisdom of someone who has committed himself to a way of life based in personal values and a search for truth.

“Truth never has to be proven” he said. “True answers are always within. Ask questions [of yourself], test it for yourself.” The truth is always the truth whether anyone agrees with you or not. This is true especially of living a raw life. “Test, try it and be easy on yourself. Start your day raw and go with it. Don’t be hard on yourself if you decide to go check out cooked food again.” Jeremy seems to have such an easy amiable way about raw food and health. He emphasized that “when it [eating raw food] comes from a positive place, then it’s really solid.”

Jeremy’s own path to raw was gradual. Though his mother was vegan, Jeremy says that he ate everything, probably partially out of rebellion. A series of friends and acquaintances over a period of years led him to vegetarianism (cooked), veganism, and finally raw. He said he had a specific experience when he realized that he truly wasn’t supposed to eat meat. He was still eating cooked food but had gone without any meat for about three months. He was making a soup or stew with some vegetables he had gathered and a friend came by and had some hamburger meat with him. It seemed like a good idea to put it in the stew. Jeremy says that after eating the hamburger laden stew he became very ill and it was so clear to him that it was because of eating the meat. “I never got sick like that when I went without a bagel or other things for months at a time” he said.

Jeremy seems to eat fairly simply. When at home in Hawaii he eats food that he’s grown, but he also really appreciates prepared raw food; he’s written recipe books, and he is a terrific chef. His description of how to make a chocolate cake was mouth watering. About a year ago he began to consume raw milk from his goats. Something within him just steadily told him that it was the right thing for him and he has felt really good since incorporating milk from his own goats into his diet. He says that he has more energy now for physical labor and swimming. As he talked about it you could tell that it was a very personal and important decision for him, not one made lightly.

Jeremy has such an easy going way about him. This was apparent when he answered a couple of questions that could have ignited controversy with other speakers and their audiences. “What do think about colonics?” Doug from Organic Avenue asked. Jeremy is not really in favor of them. “Stuff [food] goes in one place and comes out another. The intestinal villi and peristalsis all move food in one direction through the alimentary canal. When you go against that, say when you vomit, or with colonics you weaken the muscles and organs.” Jeremy suggested that if someone wants to detoxify then they can stop putting toxins in and the body will detoxify itself. Graciously, Jeremy added that if someone was having some kind of health crisis or just didn’t want to deal with the discomfort of the body’s natural detoxification symptoms then have a colonic, it might give some relief.

Regarding cacao Jeremy is not in favor of consuming it. “Cacao has three poisonous alkaloids, and one of them is the one that kills dogs when they eat chocolate.” He also pointed out the presence of caffeine in cacao, “It’s a drug, it’s unhealthy!” he exclaimed. “If you want to use drugs, okay, but that’s what it is.”

Jeremy’s clarity and strength of character were evident but never overwhelming. In his book, The Raw Truth, Jeremy writes, ‘The basis of raw foodism is that life promotes life. With the correct tools and proper resources, we can accomplish anything we choose. My suggestion for people transitioning to a raw lifestyle is “take the best and leave the rest.” Find the raw-food philosophy or style that works for you.’ A few paragraphs further Jeremy writes, “The world always needs heroes and champions.” With his respect and excitement for life, Jeremy is himself one of our modern day raw heroes, and one of the most delightful things about meeting and hearing him share his wisdom is that he wears this mantle, that of a hero, easily, like a loose garment.

Jeremy A. Safron is the author of The Raw Truth, Raw Living, Dining on an Empty Bowl, and Dragon Yoga. He is the founder of Loving Foods.

Organic Avenue is located in New York City at 101 Stanton Street. Their website is www.organicavenue.com.