SI Swimsuit model Carol Alt was ‘on the verge of death’ before dramatic health turnaround

SI Swimsuit model Carol Alt was 'on the verge of death' before dramatic health turnaround

SI Swimsuit model Carol Alt was - Carol Alt had been silently grappling with severe health challenges for years, to the point where she believed she was "on the verge of death." The iconic model, whose career spanned the 1980s, once stood as a symbol of beauty and vitality in the world of fashion. However, behind the glamorous facade lay a relentless struggle with physical ailments that left her exhausted and fragile. Her journey from near collapse to a renewed sense of wellness became a compelling story of resilience and transformation.

A Career in the Spotlight

Alt first captured public attention in 1981 with her Sports Illustrated Swimsuit debut, quickly becoming a household name. By 1982, she had secured the cover, cementing her status as a defining figure of the era. Over the next eight years, she graced the publication's pages six times, showcasing her timeless appeal. Yet, despite her fame, Alt's health was deteriorating. She often found herself overwhelmed by the demands of her career, which included frequent travel, back-to-back photo shoots, and an unrelenting schedule that left little room for rest.

Her lifestyle, while glamorous, was also restrictive. Alt described her diet as a constant battle, relying heavily on coffee, sugar, and processed foods to fuel her demanding routine. "I would wake up on my days off and have a Scotch coffee with whipped cream," she recalled. "But when I was working, my breakfast was pizza bread and cappuccino in Italy, or cappuccino and coffee in France." These habits, she realized later, were contributing to a cascade of health problems, including digestive discomfort and persistent fatigue.

A Turning Point Through Prayer

Alt’s health decline reached a critical point. "I didn’t feel good," she admitted. "I was doing a job, and I didn’t look good. I literally escaped from the job, and it had my name on it." This moment of despair led her to seek solace in prayer, a practice she credited with sparking her path to recovery. "Everybody looked better than me. Everybody was feeling better than me, projecting better than me," she said, reflecting on her feelings of inadequacy during her lowest point.

"I was so drained and weak that I thought I was on the verge of death," Alt shared with Kim Alexis, host of the "Unexpired" podcast. "I had allergies as a kid. I would rupture my stomach coughing. Everything made me cough. I had been praying, and I said, 'Something's happening. Let me know what it is. Whatever it is, whatever you need me to do, tell me.'"

Her friend Steve Cantor, who noticed her deteriorating condition, encouraged her to take a different approach. It was Cantor’s suggestion that led Alt to Dr. Timothy Brantley, a proponent of raw food diets. "I pretended to take down his number, and then I hung up," Alt joked. "But a little voice inside me said, 'Hey, you've tried everything. You've been asking for help, and now you throw this away.' Fortunately, it was a simple number to remember, so I called."

The Raw Food Revolution

Dr. Brantley’s approach was a radical departure from Alt’s previous habits. The raw food diet emphasizes uncooked, unprocessed ingredients or those heated to low temperatures, aiming to preserve nutrients and enzymes that are often lost during traditional cooking. Alt initially resisted the idea, but her desperation for change proved a powerful motivator. "There was no question," she said. "For me, there was no turning back. And believe me, I've sat at dinners with renal doctors who were taking me through the coarses because I was..."

Alt’s transition was not instantaneous. She had to reevaluate her entire lifestyle, starting with her diet. The raw food regimen required her to eliminate heavily processed foods, focusing instead on fresh produce, fruits, and minimally prepared meals. "I couldn’t even go without something to eat every couple of hours," she admitted, highlighting the difficulty of breaking long-standing dietary patterns. Over time, however, she began to notice a shift. Her energy levels improved, and the constant fatigue that had plagued her for years started to fade.

Alt’s transformation was also influenced by her admiration for Christie Brinkley, another Sports Illustrated Swimsuit icon. Brinkley’s commitment to fitness and health in her seventies inspired Alt to embrace a bolder, more disciplined approach to her own well-being. "Christie showed me that age is just a number," Alt reflected. "Her confidence and dedication reminded me that I could still thrive, even when my body was failing."

A New Era of Wellness

By 1996, at age 35, Alt had fully committed to her health overhaul. She described the process as a "complete swing from this way to that way," emphasizing the drastic change in her habits. The raw food diet became the cornerstone of her recovery, and Alt began to experience tangible results. She no longer felt like a shell of her former self, regaining strength and vitality that had eluded her for so long. "I no longer felt constantly exhausted," she said. "I started feeling stronger, more capable of meeting the demands of my career."

Alt’s journey serves as a testament to the power of lifestyle changes. While health experts note that individual needs vary, her experience with the raw food diet demonstrated its potential to reverse chronic fatigue and improve overall wellness. "It’s the same thing, the sugar and caffeine," Brantley had explained, pointing out how Alt’s reliance on stimulants was exacerbating her health issues. Alt’s story, though personal, resonated with many who had struggled with similar challenges.

Today, Carol Alt continues to thrive, sharing her story as a source of inspiration for others navigating health crises. Her path from near collapse to renewed strength underscores the importance of listening to one's body and making sustainable changes. As she once said, "I had to dig myself out of a very big hole. I was addicted to coffee, and I loved my whipped cream. But with Timothy’s guidance, I found my way back to health." Her journey remains a powerful reminder that even the most celebrated figures can find their way to recovery through determination and a willingness to adapt.