Woody Harrelson, the Texas-born actor known for his roles in "Cheers," "The Hunger Games," and "Solo: A Star Wars Story," among many others, has cultivated a dedicated approach to health and wellness. This article explores his dietary choices, lifestyle habits, and the philosophies that underpin them.
A Long-Time Vegan Embracing Raw Foods
Harrelson has been vegan since 1990, a decision rooted in a consciousness of health. In an interview, he shared that he primarily eats raw foods. "I eat vegan, but I mostly eat raw," he stated. He noticed a significant difference in his energy levels when consuming cooked versus raw meals, explaining, "If I have a cooked meal, I feel my energy drop."
His commitment to a plant-based diet extends beyond his personal well-being, as he has influenced others to adopt the lifestyle. The 57-year-old star previously encouraged actor Liam Hemsworth and “Stranger Things” star Sadie Sink to go vegan.
The Perceived Fountain of Youth
In Style magazine suggested that Harrelson's plant-based diet is contributing to his youthful appearance. When complimented on his looks, Harrelson responded, "On this last film it was six to eight weeks of at minimum 12-hour days. Which is cool if you’ve got your schedule figured out so you’re shooting two months and then taking time off, but I haven’t been doing that."
Ethical Considerations and Activism
While health was Harrelson's initial motivation for avoiding animal products, he has become increasingly interested in the ethical considerations behind veganism. He appeared in a thought-provoking video with fellow vegan Sir Paul McCartney, advocating for animal rights. Harrelson also supports vegan fashion, naming Stella McCartney's designs as "the most stylish thing" he owns. His commitment to vegetarianism was further recognized when he was selected as one of 20 famous vegetarians to be featured on a series of special-edition postage stamps.
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Daily Routines and Practices
Harrelson's healthy regimen extends beyond his diet. He emphasizes the importance of a consistent pattern in his daily life. "I’ve been getting into a nice pattern recently," he explained. His morning routine includes meditation and dream journaling. "For a while I was doing meditation as soon as I’d wake up," he said. "And I have a dream journal that I’ve been using to write down my dreams. I stopped smoking pot recently and started dreaming a lot. My dreams really became magnificent." He wakes up naturally, without an alarm clock, usually around 7:15 am.
For breakfast, he typically has a smoothie or "painted fruit," which is fruit with a green sauce. He humorously recalls a past culinary experiment: "We had that many years ago. That was one of our failures. It was a little before its time, I guess."
Avoiding Sugar and Harmful Chemicals
Harrelson has been off sugar for 15 to 20 years, noting that it was the most challenging thing to give up. He is also mindful of the products he uses, opting for natural alternatives. He uses Dr. Bronner's soap to minimize detergents. He also utilizes the "Think Dirty" app to scan the barcodes of cleansers and other products to assess their toxicity. "Dr. Bronner’s is a zero rating, which is as clean as you can get," he stated. "I like the app called Think Dirty. You can get it on your iPhone and use it to scan over the barcodes of things like cleansers and so forth and it tells you how clean or dirty the thing is."
Technology and News Avoidance
Harrelson avoids using mobile phones due to concerns about electromagnetic fields (EMFs). "I don’t use mobiles because I don’t want to send the EMFs into my brain," he explained. He recounts an experience where he suffered a severe earache after talking on a cell phone for an hour. He also intentionally avoids the news, finding it depressing. "I’ve been really… I don’t want to say remiss because it’s intentional, but I’ve been trying to avoid the news because it just depresses the hell out of me."
Transportation and Environmental Consciousness
Harrelson has been driving Volkswagens that use biodiesel for years, demonstrating his commitment to environmental sustainability. "Yes, I’ve driven a Volkswagen for years. It uses biodiesel. But now, we’re getting Teslas." In Los Angeles, he prefers to ride a motorcycle, although he acknowledges that it runs on "straight gas."
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Artistic Pursuits and Reflections
Woody Harrelson's career is marked by a willingness to take risks and explore different artistic avenues. He enjoys alternating between major screen roles and more experimental projects. He even undertook the ambitious challenge of broadcasting his directorial debut, "Lost in London," live to cinemas as it was being filmed.
He also expressed interest in doing theatre. Yes. I’m just reading a Neil Simon play that I’m pondering doing called ‘Last of the Red Hot Lovers’. It’s interesting but I’m just not sure it’s right. The last time I did theatre was ‘The Night of the Iguana’ in the West End in 2005 and that was a bit disappointing. I like Tennessee Williams and all, but with that particular piece, if everything goes right the audience walks out feeling like they’ve been punched in the gut.
Personal Life and Values
When not working, Harrelson enjoys a relaxed lifestyle in Maui, Hawaii, with his family. He and his wife, Laura, have a flexible approach to parenting. "We usually eat together at some time between 7pm and 9pm but we’re pretty lax as parents. My wife, Laura, is more the disciplinarian and I’m more relaxed." He values his friendships but finds it challenging to maintain them due to his busy schedule. Owen Wilson and Willie Nelson, who introduced him to Hawaii, are among his close friends.
He is an advocate for individual freedoms, believing that "consensual crimes are just not crimes." He supports the decriminalization of activities such as gambling, prostitution, and drug use.
Leisure Activities and Interests
Harrelson enjoys reading historical novels and works on physics. He mentioned reading "The Source Field Investigations," a book exploring physics. He also enjoys binge-watching television shows, citing "Narcos," "Game of Thrones," and "House of Cards" as favorites.
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A Constant Pursuit of Improvement
Harrelson is always striving to improve his craft and become more authentic in his performances. "Sometimes, if I think I did a good job." Well, yes. I definitely feel I’ve become a little better. You definitely want to be better, more real.