Inside Elle Macpherson’s strict diet and wellness regime amid backlash over her ‘holistic’ cancer treatment

Australian supermodel Elle Macpherson, 60, has revealed she secretly battled breast cancer seven years ago and is now in remission. However, she sparked shock when she said she refused chemotherapy and instead treated the cancer “holistically”.

Doctors advised Elle to undergo a mastectomy in combination with radiation, chemotherapy, hormone therapy and breast reconstruction.

However, Elle, who was in a relationship with anti-vaxxer Andrew Wakefield at the time of her diagnosis, decided not to undergo the usual cancer treatments. She described it as ‘a beautiful exercise in being true to myself, trusting myself and the nature of my body and the course of action that I had chosen to take.’

The model, who was known as The Body at the height of her career, admitted people thought she was “crazy” after she decided to stop taking medication, drawing angry backlash for ignoring the advice of 32 doctors.

Critics called her “shockingly irresponsible” for her choice to take a “heart-centered, holistic approach” to her illness, against the advice of doctors.

She said she continued with a treatment plan that “worked for” her, “and addressed both the emotional and physical factors associated with breast cancer.”

The supermodel rented a house in Phoenix, Arizona for eight months, where she treated her cancer in a “holistic manner” under the guidance of her family doctor, a naturopath, holistic dentist, osteopath, chiropractor and two therapists.

The model is now in “clinical remission” but admits her sons Flynn, 26, and Cy, 21, and their former partner Arpad “Arki” Busson had mixed reactions to her unusual approach to her cancer diagnosis.

This unconventional “treatment” is not recommended by the world’s top cancer experts, because stress reduction and a healthy diet can reduce the risk of cancer. But once the disease is prevalent, there is no evidence that these treatments can shrink tumors.

Health experts previously told DailyMail.com that the model was promoting “dangerous” therapies that “could cost women their lives”.

This isn’t the first time the model has touted her holistic lifestyle. She regularly showcases her natural supplement company WelleCo and her plant-based lifestyle, as well as her workout and wellness routine.

According to Doctor Daniel Landau, who is an oncologist, hematologist and associate of The Mesothelioma Center at Asbest.comIt is very important to take good care of your health, no matter how healthy your lifestyle is.

‘Unfortunately, despite the best habits, cancers can still develop in otherwise healthy people. There is no known way to prevent cancer,’ he told DailyMail.com.

Patients who follow a healthy diet, exercise, get enough rest, and avoid unhealthy habits such as excessive drinking or smoking generally have a lower risk of developing cancer.

“Those patients who maintain healthy habits who eventually develop cancer often have less aggressive forms of the disease. But unfortunately, no matter how healthy we are, there are no guarantees.”

Although there is no evidence to support holistic cancer treatment, Elle generally promotes a healthy lifestyle.

DailyMail.com details her strict wellness and diet routine here.

Rise with the sun

The supermodel shared more of her wellness tips on the WelleCo website, nutritional supplement company of which she is the founder.

She usually gets up when the sun is shining. She likes to go outside to put her feet on the ground and ground herself.

She also starts her day at 5am with a smile, after which she hydrates herself with water and lime and goes outside.

“I love being outside and connecting with nature,” she said. “I choose activities that get me outside, as close to nature as possible — hiking, biking, swimming, or just sitting in the fresh air and sunshine.”

The model also has an evening routine she swears by, which consists of an infrared sauna followed by a cold plunge, a smile and placing her hands on her solar plexus.

‘[I] “Think about what I was grateful for that day and fall into a peaceful sleep,” she said.

She follows a plant-based diet and prefers home-cooked meals that are prepared “with love.” That’s why she makes her lunch with locally grown and organic vegetables, which she hand-picks at the local farmers market.

An ‘essential’ part of Elle’s day and to beat the afternoon slump is performing an East Asian tea ceremony. Her favorites are rooibos tea with vanilla and earl grey.

Rituals, mindfulness and energy healing

According to Elle, mindfulness helps her organize her day and she tries to establish a fixed routine before going to bed.

She exercises regularly and incorporates cold baths into her daily routine.

“I like to take a cold bath after my workout, followed by a matcha in the sun before getting ready for the day,” the model shared Body and soul.

She also believes in starting the day with “self-loving affirmation” and practicing gratitude.

“I say things like, ‘I’m awake, I’m energized, I’m inspired, I’m excited for the day,’ instead of immediately scrolling through Instagram, which is what so many people do,” she explains.

She added: “I don’t touch my phone until I’m ready to address the issue.”

She also stressed the importance of having a nighttime routine, and a morning routine.

“At the end of the day I like to relax in my infrared sauna, followed by a cold bath,” she says enthusiastically.

The model has also said that she takes care of her “mind, body and soul through meditation” every day, participating in 25 minutes of silent or guided meditation.

“I try to live my life in a constant flow of meditative connection, rather than just at specific times,” she said.

She has also spoken about her belief in ‘energy healing’, participating in acupuncture, breathing exercises and sound healing, as Form.

On the podcast Style DNAElle revealed her tips for a good night’s sleep after realizing the importance of eight hours of sleep, saying: “I go to bed with a smile. I go to bed with a happy heart. And an eye mask. No clothes. My skin.”

Bio-adjustments

The 60-year-old also spoke about her foray into ‘bio-tweaking’ and shared what she’s doing to reverse her biological age.

In addition to her company’s nutritional supplements, which she uses to support her gut health and hair and hair care, she also regularly takes cold plunges and visits the sauna.

“I just discovered Russian Banyas, an age-old tradition of steam saunas, which I like to alternate with a cold bath,” the model said Get the shine until 2023.

“It’s a great way to stimulate the lymphatic system, detoxify, relax, and a fun alternative to a date with friends.”