Interview in Uitzicht, magazine of the Moerman association
Ralph Moorman's MESSAGE TO SUPERMARKETS
Text Matilde Newman
About factory food
While studying food technology in Wageningen, Ralph Moorman learned all about factory foods and chemical additives. Now 15 years later, he stands up for exactly the opposite: eating the way nature intended: pure, healthy and natural. He does not shy away from fighting, including against supermarkets. But in his own way.
Ralph Moorman is a man on a mission. Next to a large floating aquarium, which covers almost the entire width of his house in Amsterdam, he passionately talks about what has been on his mind for years. That food should not come from a factory, that few pure products can be found in the supermarket and that he is so keen to see this change.
His studies in Wageningen were his inspiration for this. Moorman: "I started my studies with a keen interest in health but instead of using natural products, we went into the lab to grow chemical food. It just boosted my focus on health."
Hormones
After college, he became a lifestyle and nutrition coach and it was during this work that he came across the whole hormone thing. "I noticed that losing weight involved more than just calories. That's how I came across hormones. I always thought: hormones are something you have no control over, but surprisingly, you do! I wanted to find out how you can positively influence your hormones yourself."
He summarised the knowledge he gained in The book "The Hormone Factor", which came out in 2009. The book covers nine hormones that are important for our health, such as adrenal hormones, thyroid hormones and cortisol.
When the nine main hormones are out of balance, they can disrupt all kinds of processes in the body. "In total, hundreds of hormones circulate in the blood. Almost every reaction in the body is under hormonal control and so hormones determine everything in the body. For example, whether fat is stored around the waist or just on the buttocks, but they also regulate body temperature, for example," Moorman says in his book. Hence why it is so important to have balanced hormones.
Pillars
Meanwhile, both well-known and unknown Dutch people have managed to find their way to him and a healthier body. "There are a few pillars that are important and that I work with," Moorman explains. "Nutrition, stress, mental health and physical training. I often recognise a hormone imbalance in someone if one of these pillars is not in balance."
Most of his clients have a problem with weight. With Moorman, they get more than just weight loss: "With education and training, I teach someone a completely new lifestyle. My knowledge of hormone balance helps with this." Usually, success is then assured. "The new lifestyle has become such a habit that I am no longer needed. That's exactly as it should be!"
Complementary
That healthy eating has a direct link to cancer, you don't need to tell Moorman. He helped his own uncle survive liver cancer. "Besides the radiotherapy he received through the doctor, I advised him on nutrition to keep his immune system to get optimal. This allowed him to receive radiation 12 times in a year, whereas normally a person can only cope with four such radiations a year at most."
Complementary, that's exactly where he sees his role. "I have nothing against mainstream medicine, but it is the collaboration that is often lacking. You now sometimes see therapists wanting to take over the doctor's role. That is not good. It should be complementary and then the two go together just fine."
Praise and criticism
When his book came out a few years ago, it was still quite innovative because no one had yet dealt with the influence of hormones on weight. He received criticism in addition to praise then. "Of course there were also people who took it down," says Moorman. Shrugging his shoulders, "I don't really care. Sometimes you have to take a clear stand to be heard."
That his way of working is effective is shown by the attention he is now getting in the Netherlands. He is seen as the lifestyle coach of the Netherlands and he regularly gets involved as a full participant in debates on the leading website foodlog.nl.
His ideas also penetrate his old network: those of fellow students and professors in Wageningen. Isn't he seen as an enemy there? "Sometimes but I notice that things are moving there too. Only everyone still looks at each other: who dares to be the forerunner?"
Bridges
Moorman himself does not shy away from some turmoil. Indeed, he would prefer to mingle among the big players in the field. Where the biggest battle is fought: in the supermarket. "I find the psychology of supermarket visits fascinating. Now consumers are mainly influenced towards unhealthy food but you can use that same psychology for healthy food as well."
Moorman would also like to place much more responsibility on supermarkets because, according to him, they just pass the ball to the food manufacturer. "At the end of the song, no one is responsible. I would like to do something about that". As far as he is concerned in a peaceful way: "I believe in building bridges rather than making enemies. Otherwise, you will remain a shouting in the desert."
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