Markus Rothkranz Turns 62, Giving the Gift of Wisdom to Us
The poster boy of eternal youth shares his secrets to health and thriving at any age
My favorite Raw Vegan YouTube creator just turned 62. True to Markus's fashion, he turns the tables on us and brings us the presents of his knowledge and radical life experience.
When I was trying to find a natural way to reverse my high blood pressure and a few other frustrating health problems, Markus's channel was the first one to come up in my search. At first, I thought, who is this goofy surfer dude in his twenties, thinking he knows everything? My jaw must have hit the floor when he whipped out his driver's license to show us he was in his 50s. I could not believe it.
I immediately watched all of his videos, which introduced me to Cara Brotman, his long-term girlfriend. At the time, it was still a pretty new relationship. She was in her 40s at the time, but I easily would have assumed she was also in her late 20s. I immediately wanted to be like her. So pretty! So sexy! So full of life! So much older than me!??
Seeing these people was what convinced me to try going raw for 30 days. If it didn't heal my high blood pressure, I would at least become gorgeous while trying.
In this video, he discloses his secrets to being so healthy. Among the expected factors, such as not drinking or smoking and even eschewing coffee his entire life, he credits having a positive attitude and gratitude for all things big and small.
I resonate with this 100 percent, even though it is sometimes hard to maintain a positive attitude when negativity occasionally surrounds me. But when Markus mentioned how children have the gift of not dwelling on negative stuff, it reminded me of my own childhood.
In hindsight and therapy, there were obvious problems in my life back then. But if you were to ask me for a one-word answer to describe what childhood was like for me, I would immediately say HAPPY.
I was a happy kid. Nothing could get in the way of that.
Growing up with a Southern dad in a predominantly Southern culture meant I got yelled at a lot. By my parents, my teachers, and sometimes other parents. It was acceptable to be mean to children. It was also seen as responsible when you put a child in their place by putting them down and yelling in their face. I think I got off easy because my mom was a Northerner. At least I didn't get my mouth washed out with soap or have to choose a switch that a parent would use to beat me. Yes, those things happened to kids I knew. On top of that, if you can handle one more example, there was the principal's threat of corporal punishment AT SCHOOL if you got out of line in any way.
So, despite these threats hanging over my head, I was still happy. How? Because I was a kid. My pineal gland was still clean and healthy, so my imagination was the most glorious place in the world. No amount of threat could get in the way of that place.
When I went outside, I felt grateful for the sunshine that felt so good on my skin. I was delighted to play with the love bugs that gathered outside my house during the year's hottest months. After heavy rain in Florida, tiny baby frogs would always hop all over the marshy land on the outskirts of the school playground, and I found them so entertaining.
I had roller skates and a bicycle. I had enough space in my bedroom to dance around. I had a sketchbook and pencils to draw with. As far as I was concerned, life was good.
Yeah, sometimes Dad would go into a crazy spiral and start acting like the Vietcong were coming our way, and I found those moments to be terrifying, but the next day, I would wake up and feel excited about all the wonders I would experience.
I think Markus brings an essential message to us on his birthday.
Gratitude and a positive mindset are the foundation of healing, as are healthy, fresh, raw fruits and vegetables. But you can only have one with the other. Have you ever met a cranky vegan? Ugh. They are the WORST! If you know one, send them Markus's video. On second thought, don't. I'm sure they will only find some reason to hate him, and I don't want those vibes sent to my beloved Markus.
Anyway - happy birthday to Markus, and happy day to YOU.
No matter what is happening in your world or the surrounding world, I hope you will be able to look around you and find many things to be grateful for: your body parts that work so well, your house that keeps you safe from the elements, your friendships that give you love and support, and your ability to breathe easily through your nostrils (the one I'm always working on).
We have so much to be grateful for. I hope you have a lovely day.
Support me by subscribing to or buying my book STRAIGHT FROM THE SOIL: MAKE YOURSELF GLOW WITH RAW FRUITS AND VEGETABLES.
I don't understand your concern about not having a wikipedia. It is quite normal for a smart public person to be careful about how much information is published. In the old days before the internet, celebrities always set careful parameters around interviews as an attempt to control the public's view of them. I believe this is healthy and I don't agree with the current era's "oversharing" mentality about public personalities. (BTW Markus has a Hollywood background going back to the pre-internet days, which means he would possess the smarts to know to do this.)
For me, I don't find anything "off" about him. I think he is a very unique person and sometimes it is uniqueness that feels odd to people. Consider this: Most adults in America consume alcohol, coffee, and many consume cannabis or some other type of recreational drug. These substances alter your brain chemistry. Markus has never done ANY of those things. Have you ever met a Mormon? I have known many, and many people find them odd. What they share in common with Markus is a big part of why I believe you find him "off." Because he is not shaped by the same substances as the average Western. He sees the world in an "unusual" way. I share much (not all of course - I am my own person) of his philosophy, so I understand what it is like to perceived with suspicion. It is quite natural to be suspicious of people who don't share your values or way of seeing the world.
He is also a mega genius. If you go to his site and look at his library of health books he has written and published himself, ask yourself if you are capable of holding as much knowledge as well as communicating it the way he does. Many people are not and cannot. Even those who can often DO not.
Basically I am saying he has genius traits, and people with extreme levels of intelligence, as well as lifestyle choices that go against the grain, are often perceived as strange.
Peace be with you.
Why is there so little information about him other than his own videos? Not even a wikipedia article? Seems odd, especially when he took down a bunch of his videos and threatened to sue the one YT creator who pointed out some scammy techniques in his presentations.
It looks like he's got the receipts, but there's just something off about him.