Bena Nakawuki – Truly natural

SHE’S a vegan and “raw food passionista” who truly believes in the power of natural foods for health and healing.

Born in London to Ugandan parents, Bena Nakawuki is a raw food teacher and founder and operator of The Lotus Line– a natural-based business that offers training and consultations in the area of raw and living food nutrition, weight loss, detox, meal preparation and natural body care. She is a member of the International Association of Raw Food Chefs, Coaches and Teachers.

Nakawuki, who also holds a bachelor of arts degree with honours in business studies and media and cultural studies from the University of Middlesex, grew up between Kamapala and Masaka, Uganda, and has lived in Jamaica for the past 10 years.

She said her ital experience truly began when she migrated to Jamaica from London to work as an editor with Carlong Publishers.

“The move to a tropical climate was quite an adjustment, to say the least! I found that I functioned less optimally — both mentally and physically — when I ate a heavy, cooked diet. The heat combined with this kind of diet was constantly depleting my energy. I began to be more drawn to lighter, juicier, plant-based foods as a substitute, and in turn my body responded positively,” she said.

“The difference was like night and day, I felt and looked so much better and had far more energy for everything. At the same time I also began meeting different naturopaths, holistic health practitioners and the like, who taught me a lot and encouraged me along this road less travelled’,” Nakawuki told All Woman.

And so she began learning how to prepare raw food by assisting other raw food practitioners in her free time. She also researched and taught herself the art until she became an independent teacher in 2010 and received formal certification in April 2013.

She said the raw food diet is often misunderstood and gives people negative impressions when it is first mentioned to them.

“Put simply, a raw food diet consists of uncooked fresh vegetables, fruits, nuts, sprouted grains and seeds. Heating food beyond 112ûF destroys the natural enzymes, vitamins and minerals in the food that aid in the digestion process. In turn, our body works harder to create these necessary digestive enzymes. Therefore, the result is a loss of energy since we do not have the metabolic enzymes needed for other functions. This explains why we feel sleepy after a heavy cooked meal,” she said.

She added that raw food can also be prepared in delicious ways.

“These range from simple and fun salads and smoothies to more elaborate entrées such as stews, pies, nut meats, and non-dairy desserts. I personally find raw foods to be very exciting, energising, and endless in the number of ways they can be prepared.”

Nakawuki added that Caribbean people and people generally living in the tropics actually eat a lot more ‘raw foods’ than we think.

“Jamaica is blessed with so many wonderful tropical fruits that most people enjoy without having to heat or cook — and many of what grows can be picked right there on their properties,” she said.

Her favourite foods are mango, ackee and all types of coconut.

Affectionately called Benalicious, which is a combination of her first name and delicious, Nakawuki is also known for her patience, discipline and ability to relate to people of all races.

“Our home was typically Ugandan, from the foods we ate — traditional East African cuisine — to the way we spoke — Luganda — and related to each other. Having lived in a metropolitan city such as London and also having travelled quite extensively over the years, I am able to relate well to people of all races, cultures, ages, classes and professions,” she said.

With her name, which means blessed one, and Nakawuku, which identifies her as part of the Baganda tribe of Uganada, she also enjoys being a beacon in the lives of others through her involvement with the Branson Centre of Entrepreneurship — Caribbean, which is located in Montego Bay.

“It has truly been an amazing educational experience that gave me the confidence and cutting-edge business knowledge that has helped to bring structure to my business. My work tends to have a ripple effect; for example, by helping one person to better their eating habits, health and lifestyle, they in turn can have a positive influence on their spouse, sibling, friend or neighbour — then they in turn can positively impact their household or community and ultimately the greater society,” Nakawuki said.

She added: “The fresh food producers and our farmers benefit when we demand and buy more local produce from them. Therefore our carbon footprint is decreased and our beautiful planet earth benefits as a result. This is what social entrepreneurship can do.”

Nakawuki also enjoys buying food from organic farmers and likes to prepare healthy meals for family, friends, and also for the public, such as at her bi-weekly raw food brunch at Adwa Vegetarian Restaurant in City Centre, Montego Bay.

She also enjoys travelling, nature and meditative exercises. Some of her favourite places include Egypt, Nigeria and Kenya, which she admires for their rich culture.

“I get excited about travelling to new places, exercise such as yoga, meditation, music or dance, swimming and walking in nature. I am also certified as a Kemetic yoga teacher and look forward to teaching in the future,” she said.

In her spare time she also makes jewellery and creates new recipes.

“I enjoy jewellery making and I love to work with materials such as semi-precious stones, turquoise, quartz, amethyst, copper, brass, coconut and wood to create wearable art. I also like to create new recipes and delicious dishes putting ‘kind’ ingredients into foods that love you back,” she said.

Nakawuki is currently working on her recipe book and wholeheartedly maintains her dedication to healthy eating.

“One cannot think well, love well, sleep well, if one has not dined well,” she said.