58 Comments so far

1. Wysteria Jackson on October 21, 2008 Tuesday, 4:15 am

   How has a raw food diet changed your life for the better?

   Personally, being a raw foodest for only a couple months had made a huge impact on my life. I feel more balanced, have tons of energy, feel more connected to the world around me and in general am more loving. I am much more in tune with my body which is amazing. I can tell if I eat something that doesn’t agree with me almost instantly. My yoga practice has deepened. And to top it all off I’ve lost over 10 pounds (which I didn’t think I needed to loose actually) putting me right around the same weight I was at my first three years of high school. I did not start eating this way because I thought I needed to loose weight. I was looking for something, and didn’t know what it was. Now I am more directed and connected, not searching for that something quite as hard.

   Be Well!

2. Gena on October 21, 2008 Tuesday, 5:14 am

   Raw food has made my life better in so many ways. I have more energy, and my IBS symptoms are all but gone. I don’t experience highs and lows in my day the way I used to–emotional or physical. I feel calmer and more even-keeled, and I find that I enjoy my relationship with food and with food preparation more than I ever have. I also feel good knowing that I’m making an ethical contribution to local and organic farming, and that I’m filling my body with nutrient-rich foods!

3. Heidi on October 21, 2008 Tuesday, 8:32 am

   Raw food has improved my physical, mental, and emotional health. I am making better decisions on a daily basis. My relationship with my husband was already wonderful, but it has deepened and become even better. I am more loving and more patient - with others and myself. My outlook on life is positive and calm, and I am enjoying improving physical health on a daily basis - I am losing weight and becoming more flexible and more toned.

4. Jennifer Reda on October 21, 2008 Tuesday, 9:11 am

   ALL of my health problems have disappeared when i switched to the raw food diet. my allergies are nonexistent, my polycystic ovary syndrome has ceased to wreak havoc on my periods, my digestion is much calmer, and my taste buds are alive again!

5. Zara on October 21, 2008 Tuesday, 9:13 am

   Honestly, I can’t claim to be raw vegan or vegetarian. I still eat fish and chicken (sorry) but far less then before. I totally gave up any type of red meat and feel good about it. I do cook most of my food and this includes some dairy products.

   I have become more interested in eating a healthier diet and have recently been making raw recipes. All the things I’ve made up to this point have been delicious and times I have eaten this way and had fresh juices, I must admit I feel lighter (not so heavy) and great after eating this way.

   I don’t know if I’ll leave cooked foods behind completely, but I do know I will be eating more raw foods.

6. Shernell Cooke on October 21, 2008 Tuesday, 4:42 pm

   The Raw life style has saved my life.I was metally and psycally devastated untill I began to follow a 100 percent raw foods lifestyle. I went from having zero hope and direction,IBS,depression,Acne,and an overall feeling of not being good enough to a place of self acceptance a greater understanding of other people and a love for life and the things in it that is out of this world. I can’t tell you how exciting it is to have such great direction in life. I now wake up knowing that I can be proud of Shernell.

7. Hannah on October 21, 2008 Tuesday, 5:24 pm

   I don’t eat a primarily raw food diet but love to incorporate a lot of raw foods for my 4 boys and husband. My children love raw veggies the best, prefer it over cooked! They are really big salad eaters too. We also do a lot of all fruit smoothies naturally sweetened.

   I would love to learn more.

8. Marilyn on October 21, 2008 Tuesday, 6:14 pm

   I think that incorporating raw food into my diet has changed my whole outlook on life. I’ve now been opened up to eating fresh food in its natural state, a far cry from my childhood of fast food. I don’t think I even ate anything green before the age of 35….scary thought, but true. Since I know how the majority of people eat and think, I’m able to offer people who normally would never eat anything “healthy”, a creation from my kitchen (or your website!) and they are blown away when they find out the ingredients. I think that is the biggest positive outcome, that I have not only improved my own diet, but I have exposed people who would not have otherwise been exposed to RAW.

9. Pietra on October 21, 2008 Tuesday, 6:14 pm

   I now have LIFE!

10. Win a Personal Blender at Ani’s Raw Food Kitchen on October 21, 2008 Tuesday, 6:57 pm

    […] Read my interview at Raw Epicurean and enter to win a free Personal Blender, my favorite kitchen tool! Find out about my background, what my staple raw foods are, my tips for an eco green living kitchens, my tips for staying healthy on raw food during the holidays, and more! […]

11. Debbie on October 21, 2008 Tuesday, 7:15 pm

    great interview, love Ani and love you!
    deb
    Ps Oh, raw food? Saved my life, thats all, no big :)

12. Jeanne on October 21, 2008 Tuesday, 8:54 pm

    How has a raw food diet changed my life for the better? I’m in my 5th week of being 100% raw and I have already lost 15.5 pounds and can fit into jeans I haven’t worn in about a year and a half. Before this diet my knee hurt so bad I could hardly walk or go up and down stairs - now it doesn’t hurt anymore. I can actually enjoy playing with my toddler instead of feeling like a blob that just wants to sit and do nothing. I can go hiking with my husband and keep up with him. I’m already taking a lesser dose of thyroid medication. But I think what I like most about this diet is the effect it’s having on my mom. She is totally SAD and has so many diseases (diverticulitus, fibromyalgia, obesity to name a few) and is on different kinds of meds. She is so miserable, but, she is seeing the effects of a raw food diet in me and it is giving her hope that she doesn’t have to live with the pain and misery that she has. There are times that I fight with the temptation of the non-raw world, but then I think of all that I’ve accomplished so far - I mean this is big for me to have done this. I was so addicted to (SAD) food that I was like a person addicted to crack cocaine and I never want to go back to that. Raw For Life - That’s me.

13. Minh on October 21, 2008 Tuesday, 11:32 pm

    Adopting a raw food diet has dramatically improved my relationship with food. It’s just love now. As added perks my skin is great, my eyes are bright, and I seldom get sick.

14. Kristen's Raw on October 22, 2008 Wednesday, 3:44 am

    Wow, great giveaway :)

    Raw has changed my life in so many ways. When I started, I wanted more energy and clear glowing skin.

    Nowadays, one of my main issues is that I want to do everything I can to PREVENT CANCER and the other diseases affecting our culture. With Raw, I’m confident I can do this :)

    Cheers,
    Kristen

15. Jake Kulju on October 22, 2008 Wednesday, 4:13 am

    Incorporating a raw food diet into my lifestyle has improved my digestion, increased my creativity and fed my imagination. Eating food that is fresh and alive has increased my sense of life and of happiness.

16. Kyle on October 22, 2008 Wednesday, 4:13 am

    I had problems staying awake during the day, digestion troubles, and just an overall fuzzy/lethargic feeling in my head. I started raw food six months ago to help with that, and haven’t had the slightest urge to drink coffee since. My digestion, mood, skin and even eyesight have improved. An even more important sense I’ve developed is the spiritual or feeling of oneness with myself and those all around me, it has really helped me keep grounded.

17. Meghan on October 22, 2008 Wednesday, 7:01 am

    I am not 100% raw yet but I can say with certainty that whenever I eat a diet of mostly raw foods (some weeks I’m able to be more raw than other) I can tell an immediate difference in the way I feel. I usually try to eat more raw foods when I start to feel run down and I almost immediately feel better; my energy levels go up and I just feel really good about myself. Also when I eat raw I feel like I’m doing something great for the environment too, and that makes me feel good.

18. Ann on October 22, 2008 Wednesday, 7:37 am

    How has a raw food diet changed my life for the better?

    I am a far more calm and energized person since adopting a raw food diet. I have greater awareness when I prepare meals and enjoy the process of eating much more. I am more giving toward other people; even my relationship with my dog has changed!

    Physically I can see the inflammation leaving my body both through how my clothes feel and the lack of “sock rings” around my ankles in the evening when I get home from work.

    In short - I feel GREAT!

19. Meg on October 22, 2008 Wednesday, 9:35 am

    How has a raw food diet changed your life for the better?
    Since I started eating raw I feel more alive than ever! There is such a great sense of calm and serenity knowing that at every meal I am healing and nourishing my body.
    I can’t say it’s always been easy. It would not have been possible without the support and inspiration of raw food gurus like Ani.
    In Light,
    Meg

20. Martha Lorentsen on October 22, 2008 Wednesday, 2:06 pm

    Dear Ani,
    I suffer from seizures due to head trauma, I was seen for skull fractures, at the age of 2 months. By the time I was 2 years old, my parents noticed I was going blind and the doc’s found that I had an infection, which turned into brain cancer. I had surgury, lost my left eye and now I’m suffer siezures because of scar tissue and PTSD.
    I’ve always been intersted in nutrition and through the years learning more and adding my knowledge to help my family to stay in good health. When I came across RAW, it was like everything had come together! I’m wildly excited to find this lifestyle that I’ve always believed in, but not seeing the whole picture!
    Now my life is wonderful and I’m truly blessed! I find myself having to act as an advocate for my family, friends and me and RAW gives me the energy and insightfullness. It’s amazing how far RAW reaches down into your soul. I tell everyone about it!, if they are willing to listen…and the compliments about how my face shines and how I glow with life truly blows me away! :0
    This is my new motto, ‘Luv to live, live to luv!’ Thank you for shedding more light for those of us who are still newbies! ;)
    Martha! ;)

21. Dimana Dimitrova on October 22, 2008 Wednesday, 2:08 pm

    While I am not 100% raw, I love to incorporate as much raw food into my diet as possible. As a busy medical student who is also parent to a toddler, I felt tired and lackluster all the time, and I suffered from cold after cold after cold. I bought Ani’s book attracted to her claim that she doesn’t get sick anymore, and that her energy levels are always great. I love to cook, but I’ve realized how amazing and refreshing the raw versions of cooked dishes can be. A lifelong lover of pasta with creamy, heavy sauces, I don’t even crave them anymore. I have started drinking various raw, unsweetened smoothies, and, inspired by Ani’s recipes, discovered so many new things - chia, kombucha, the list goes on…Having a personal blender would make my raw food endeavours much more efficient and doable in my busy life.

    Thank you so much, Ani, for popularizing this wonderful lifestyle and enhancing my enjoyment of fresh foods through your recipes.

22. Mariam on October 22, 2008 Wednesday, 2:29 pm

    How has a raw food diet changed your life for the better?

    I just recently turned 23, and I’ve come to the conclusion that I am not satisfied with the way i’ve been living my life. I decided it was time to do something different. I want to live a more healthy lifestyle. I want to be happy with my body. I want mental clarity. I’ve read many articles and books on the raw food diet and vegan lifestyle. I was convinced, and have been incorporating more raw foods in to my life. I havent gone completely raw, but I do enjoy the way I’ve been feeling (mentally) lately. I do hope before the end of the year to become atleast 75% raw.

23. Isle Dance on October 22, 2008 Wednesday, 7:27 pm

    Oh goodness, first and foremost, gravitating to a raw food diet has eliminated chronic health symptoms that many believe are simply that. Chronic. But they really can go away! (Though, of course, they think I’m nuts when I say this.) :o)

24. Lenet Socci on October 22, 2008 Wednesday, 7:29 pm

    I am new to raw foods. I have been transitioning my way to eating 100% raw all the time. I have been excited about making these changes to my life and feel great in the process. When I eat raw foods I feel light and energetic rather than weighted down and sluggish. I am eager to experience the many beneifits this lifestyle brings over time.

25. siobhan on October 23, 2008 Thursday, 6:15 am

    I’ve been moving increasingly raw for the last year. It can be hard in a cold climate (it’s Ireland, it’s winter, and blowing a blustery storm outside as I type!). There is no one ‘best thing’ about eating the raw food way. Here are a few that are major life improving factors!

    One is it’s the easiest way to incorporate locally produced organic veg into the diet (we don’t have much local fruit grown here, but try to eat seasonally where possible), but how fantastic to use the abundant greens growing in my garden in a way that maximises nutrients and taste.

    Another is the inventiveness of raw food - amazing salads and delicious dips; combining ingredients that magically produce new and unique dishes totally outside the sphere of traditional cooked menus.

    Then there’s the energy boost which is quite an amazing revelation! As I move between cooked or part cooked meals and raw, I am forever reminded of the energy zest when eating the latter compared with cooked.

    Finally there’s the people you meet - delving into the local community and connecting with people here, or through the web on global community sites - we even had a fabulous raw food chef from the US visit us in Ireland last month through meeting on one of these websites. Generous, gentle, happy and kind people are all that I’ve come across in the raw field. Happy days!

26. Kari on October 23, 2008 Thursday, 8:55 am

    I am fairly new to the raw food life style but I am loving it! I get up energized in the morning and I was able to cut my insulin dose in half (!!!)…truly a blessing. I love grocery shopping again and the challenges that come with inventing new recipes. I made my first raw cake yesterday and my family loved it! One thing I noticed is that my taste buds are coming to life as well. My way of tasting foods has completely changed. I cannot wait to start dehydrating foods and taking my cooking to the next level!

27. Heather on October 23, 2008 Thursday, 9:01 am

    Raw food has helped me overcome Anorexia. It helped mend my relationship with food, as well as my body. Eating raw helped me realize how essential and beautiful food is. I feel that if it weren’t for raw food, my recovery would have never truly come.

28. Sherry Vinson on October 23, 2008 Thursday, 9:13 am

    How Eating Raw Has Changed My Life ~
    Eating raw not only impacts one’s body in a positive way; it also significantly impacts our planet for the better; less waste, support of organic agriculture, and, by example, “green” education for those close to us.

    Since eating raw, my body has become sensitive to what I put in it ~ if it’s not “clean” food ~ I feel it! What I have noticed as most beneficial for me, is a “lighter” feeling in my body ~ my system runs better ~ joints are not stiff (I’m 59) ~ and I have energy in reserve, to meet the stresses of daily life. Eating raw is a simple, elegant expression of how we can eat.

29. Diana on October 23, 2008 Thursday, 9:21 am

    I haven’t become 100% raw, but I have been incorporating more and more raw foods into my diet and eat very little meat. I also recently visited my local farmer’s market for the first time and was able to get fresh, whole, organic ingredients that were so delicious compared with what I’m used to buying in the grocery store! At my office, everyone is getting sick and I normally would too, but I haven’t gotten sick so far! *knock on wood*

30. Sara L on October 23, 2008 Thursday, 9:38 am

    Great Interview! Eating a RAW food diet has changed my life for the better by just making me feel good! I always felt a little crappy before but it was manageable, then I started eating more and more RAW foods and I stopped feeling crappy, my IBS is much better, my constant headaches disappeared! My family thought it was a little strange but none could argue with the results. when I discovered I was pregnant and started having morning sickness, I switched back to a lot of cooked wheat products, Guess what the result was? of course I felt crappy, and it didn’t take long for me to realise that RAW makes me feel good and no matter what the doctors say, it is good for my baby too. So I am back on RAW.

31. Lynsie on October 23, 2008 Thursday, 10:57 am

    Raw food makes me feel amazing! In the beginning, I just made a raw breakfast every morning. But I started noticing that I had way more energy in the mornings, and that after I ate lunch I would feel sleepy and foggy. So I decided to slowly change to a mostly raw food diet, and I feel great! My allergies are better, I can think more clearly, and my skin is great!

32. Jennifer Stone on October 23, 2008 Thursday, 5:18 pm

    How has raw food changed my life? I have suffered my whole life with terrible headaches, muscle pain, and sleep apnea. Upon going raw, my muscle pain eased up, my stress levels decreased, my headaches (although not gone) have gotten more manageable, and surprisingly I have been sleeping significantly better. This last piece is the most surprising because the doctors told me that the only way I would be able to sleep normally was with a CPAP machine. However, I fell off raw. Of course the symptoms came back and it took a while for me to come around to realizing I needed to be raw for life. About 2 months ago everything was bothering me again, along with abdominal pain, fatigue, congestion, constipation, and depression. With some research I realized I had a candida overgrowth (not surprising considering my love of sugar and bread). So I have been raw, and temporarily fruit free, ever since. As a nice side benefit I have lost 12 pounds that I have put on over the last 2 years. I will not be going back to cooked foods!

33. Keith on October 23, 2008 Thursday, 5:48 pm

    Hello Ani!

    A fascinating interview! I read it engrossed. And thank you for offering such a generous contest! Your website has been a supportive haven and invaluable resource to me, and your wonderful work in enlightening mankind toward its next evolutionary phase is inspiring. I have been a cooking vegan for several years, pleased with the energy, endurance and acuity it has given me. But gradually over this past year, I have become increasingly raw vegan, relying more on sprout and vegetable salads, many raw fruits, raw fruit and veg, juices until this past summer when I attained roughly ninety-five per cent raw, adding my own garden produce, and, as your excellent website recommends, the green algae, other seaweeds, and specific nuts and seeds. The results have been marvelous. How is my life better? I am primarily more able and more sensitive — to the life within me, and the life in others. Truly you must be, as you describe yourself, a compassionate person for I too feel an increased receptivity and compassion which I know has resulted from the raw vegan diet. Tho’ my running, swimming, and physical work endurance level have increased, my sleep deeper but less, my mental acuity heightened, this increased lightness and inner/outer sensitivity has been the greatest change in my life. I owe it all to courageous pioneers like you who selflessly extend themselves to improve our lives. For me, becoming a totally raw vegan is now so close at hand now that at some point I know I will want to help others in some small way experience this greater quality and appreciation of life that the raw vegan diet blesses us with. Thank you for being so strong a beacon of experience, wisdom and inspiration along this way!
    Kindly yours,
    Keith

34. earthmother on October 23, 2008 Thursday, 6:04 pm

    How has a raw food diet changed your life for the better?

    The improvement in my health has been amazing. Gone are the debilitating headaches, the fire-breathing dragon heartburn, the constant fatigue, the edema, the chronic depression, the joint pain…oh, and 62 pounds!

    I have a mental clarity today that I have never experienced in my life. I don’t quite know how to describe it, but it feels almost like I was walking around before under the constant influence of alcohol, and then suddenly becoming alcohol-free. The thing is, I had already been sober for 18 years!

35. Judith on October 23, 2008 Thursday, 8:36 pm

    How has a raw food diet changed your life for the better?

    Being a Diabetic…I have found Raw Food to make my life more managable & have HEAPS of energy…
    I also grow & harvest my own Wheatgrass for Juicing…that has impacted my energy & BS #’s as well…what a joy it is to grow & Sprouts being another BIG Raw Food in my life…

    My husband even got on the ban-wagon when he tasted my Sprouts & Wheatgrass Juice…I am trying to grow enough for my Mother as well, she has chronic joint pain & Fibromyalgia…

    Life has more purpose & meaning now that I have gotten into the Raw Foods even more then before…lots of Green Juices & Fruits in my Dehydrator…

    Raw Foods to Live for….

36. Beverly on October 24, 2008 Friday, 4:48 am

    Raw food has given me huge amounts of energy and a more positive outlook on life. I used to lay around on the couch and complain that I had some sort of chronic fatigue syndrome. Then I found raw!

37. Heather on October 24, 2008 Friday, 7:14 pm

    I have lost nearly 100 pounds on the raw food life style.

38. hihorosie on October 24, 2008 Friday, 9:36 pm

    How hasn’t it changed me?! ha ha! Besides, the obvious of losing weight without really trying raw food gave me more ENERGY! Like others have also stated, eating more raw balanced my moods esp when it came to PMS. I was much more pleasant to be around! Plus I noticed a more youthful look (glow?)and a more adventurous palette. My mind was clearer and I also felt I was more open to people and just generally happier. And when eating raw foods I didn’t feel so “heavy” or weighed down from eating as much cooked food as I used to. It’s just been a wonderful and enlightening experience and one I hope to get back on if you know what I mean. :D

39. Ingrid on October 25, 2008 Saturday, 1:13 am

    WOW!!! It was amazing reading all of your stories. Thank you so much for sharing! It has been 1 year and 8 months since I embraced the raw vegan diet/lifestyle and I have experienced many of the same positive benefits mentioned in many of your wonderful and inspiring stories, like improved spiritual, mental, and physical heath, high energy, a conscious awareness of the type of foods I eat, a closer connection with our environment, and improved relationships with myself and others.

    Each of your stories, I’m sure, will help or motivate others who might stumble across this blog and read them.

    Thank you again for sharing your stories.

40. ishkadebble on October 25, 2008 Saturday, 1:52 pm

    How has a raw food diet changed your life for the better?

    I am brand new to raw foodism, tho familiar with veganism. I am incorporating more and more raw food into my diet, and I feel more energetic, more calm, and better in every way. When I feel this good overall, I am able to live more fully and more effectively - work & play become both easier and more fulfilling. I also find that a raw foods diet challenges my already amped culinary creativity to the point where I can’t wait to get into the kitchen to prepare food. I was raised to be very careful of what I eat (organic, whole grain, lots of greens, vegan or at least veg). I was diagnosed with celiac disease 12 years ago and have been gluten free ever since. Gluten free and veg? This makes for interesting challenges in the kitchen. Add in the raw, and I have been fantastically excited with the creative challenge of coming up with raw food recipes! What can I create next? For me, a better life is one where I feel both physically terrific and creatively challenged. My new adventures in raw foodism are certainly allowing both!!!!!

41. Melissa on October 27, 2008 Monday, 5:50 am

    As a Health Conscious Vegan I incorporate a lot of raw foods into my everyday life. They are packed with vitamins, minerals and life force. These are the foods that nourish you body mind and spirit!!

42. Lilly on October 28, 2008 Tuesday, 9:55 am

    Raw food is changing my life for the better through increasing my energy and making me feel more fit and firm. It also allows me to enjoy everything I eat without guilt. One of the best parts about a raw food diet is being creative in the kitchen. It is more than just raw food it’s real food.

43. Nicole on October 28, 2008 Tuesday, 4:36 pm

    it has made me feel closer to my doggies… i feed them all my creations and they gobble it up without blinking.
    they feel great and look great… and so do i! :D

44. Sunflower on October 29, 2008 Wednesday, 12:56 pm

    How has a raw food diet changed your life for the better?

    Raw Foods is one of the best things to ever happen to me!!

    Changes include:
    More energy, creativity, enthusiasm, spirituality, joy!
    Energy to exercise, easy to maintain a healthy weight, no more dieting, I’d tried lots: caloric restriction, weight watchers, atkins… and all this as a vegetarian or vegan!
    No more colds, flus, and gone is my annual bout of strep throat that nearly always lasted a year!
    No more allergies!
    Mental stability, I was diagnosed with Bipolar disorder when I was younger, a good diet made me more stable, but raw foods were what I really needed, and I am thankful that I found them!
    A desire and the ability to turn more people on to Veganism and more specifically Raw Veganism - the best diet/lifestyle ever!!

45. Sunflower on October 29, 2008 Wednesday, 12:58 pm

    Awesome interview by the way Ani! Love you and your book! My dog’s tried all of Kanga’s recipes and she definitely prefers raw food over her vegan dog kibble!

46. Joanna on October 30, 2008 Thursday, 5:26 am

    The best thing about the raw diet is that it completely got rid of my acne. I used to use products such as benzoyl peroxide - which my husband hated - but now I don’t need any chemicals at all, I love it!

47. William C on October 30, 2008 Thursday, 8:11 am

    How has a raw food diet changed your life for the better?

    It hasn’t yet, as I am just learning about using raw foods. I am disabled with chronic medical condition that requires a serious dietary change. I am impressed with what I have been reading about raw food diets, and to be honest, raw foods make total sense. So much so that I am rather shocked that some people think it is a weird idea(!!)

    I can’t wait to get started, which I guess is now!

    thanks:
    William C
    Buda, Tx

48. Lareesa on October 30, 2008 Thursday, 1:24 pm

    Eating Raw is changing my life by bringing awareness to the foods that I am eating and putting in my body. I am learning about foods that I thought were healthy, but are not. I am also teaching my kids about raw and it is impacting them as well. They love raw smoothies and even though we’re not 100% raw yet, slow and steady is the right course. By educating my kids, they are helping my husband to become more aware of his body as well. Eating raw is also helping me to bring awareness to my community, by my example I am bringing awareness to my kids’ schools. I have been asked to come share what I have learned with my daughters preschool. I am also on a committee at my children’s k-8 schools to help educate and bring awareness about nutrition to them. It is going to be an amazing journey as more people become enlightened about their health and the relationship between food and wellness. Thanks Ani

49. Noel on October 30, 2008 Thursday, 1:37 pm

    How has a raw food diet changed your life for the better?

    I am a very new raw foodist, and already this diet has given me something that I had been lacking: passion. I love making my foods, and I love eating them now: not just for the sake of eating, but for the sake of being healthy and feeling fabulous afterwards!

50. Phil Cullum on October 30, 2008 Thursday, 6:58 pm

    I find a variery of raw food is stimulating to the palate, beneficial to the digestive system, and kind to the budget.

51. Jessica on October 31, 2008 Friday, 6:33 pm

    I am not 100% raw and maybe not even 90% so I know there are many in the raw food community who would not consider me a “raw foodist,” per se.

    HOWEVER, I have learned a lot since I found out about the “raw food diet” about two years ago. I’ve been moving towards being more and more raw without realizing it over the past decade. I do not even know where to begin in describing the benefits I’ve experienced!

    I quit eating meat about ten years ago. The biggest benefit I noticed was psychological or spiritual, or both. I felt “right” with myself, and as if I was truly listening to my intuition.

    Another obvious benefit came after I quit drinking milk about 2-3 years ago. The problematic acne that had plagued my face and back for many years all but disappeared. On the rare occasions that I drink milk or eat ice cream, my acne flares back up and my nose is runny for the next couple of days.

    Another benefit of eating more raw is fewer headaches. I suffer from migraines and took a very close look at my diet about a year ago in an effort to deal with daily migraines naturally. I was at a point where I thought if I did not go on a prescription med I would have to quit my job because the migraines were coming on a daily basis. I identified MSG as a migraine trigger, and after doing research realized it is in almost all foods that come packaged. Then I quit eating processed foods for the most part, which led to eating more raw foods. A vast reduction in headaches followed! Perhaps it is needless to say, but I never went on a prescription.

    Another benefit is reduced anxiety. Years ago I had panic attacks and almost constant worry. I believe this was directly related to my diet. Now I will feel a low level anxiety on occasion and it acts as a reminder to go back to eating more raw fruits and vegetables.

    I used to have IBS symptoms and they are completely gone. I also used to have trouble sleeping, and that is gone for the most part as well. When it comes back it is pointer that I have been getting off-track with my eating.

    Another benefit is knowing that I’m treating the environment better. Meat is one of the biggest resource-users and pollutors. Processed food packaging creates huge amounts of garbage. I can feel better knowing I’m not taking part in that.

52. Eric on November 3, 2008 Monday, 8:51 pm

    Personally, I went raw after reading that it could help with colitis - and it has.

    Being a “junk food” vegan, I was halfway there as far as eliminating animal products is concerned, so the rest was reading about tasting new things ;)

53. Darris Griffith on November 9, 2008 Sunday, 11:57 am

    I am new to the raw diet. I am very interested in learning more about how to cook great meals for my family.
    I really believe that changing my diet to raw will be a great addition to the healthy lifestyle I have had for many years. I think this is the missing puzzle piece I have been searching for.
    Since starting my new way of living my family has become interested and open minded within themselves about eating better. They love the idea that it can help give them more energy and help with hay fever. That sold them!

54. Pamela Reilly on January 11, 2009 Sunday, 4:38 pm

    Living raw has not just changed my life, but has completely transformed it for the better! I was diagnosed with diabetes when I was two. As the years progressed, I was also diagnosed with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, MS (three times, all incorrect diagnoses), multiple food allergies, Hypothyroidism, Hypertension, Chronic Sinusitis, and a multitude of other “minor” health issues. At my worse, I was taking 16 prescription medications on a daily basis. Doctors could offer no help. I began researching and educating myself and eventually became a Naturopathic Doctor. Through dietary changes (that did not include going raw) and supplementation, I was able to reverse every health issue except diabetes. I had cut my insulin intake by 2/3, but still struggled with fluctuating sugars and energy levels on some days. In early 2008, I began researching the raw food lifestyle. I attempted to go raw in July, but was not adequately prepared emotionally and was not fully committed.

    In late 2008, I continued researching and began hearing story after story about people who had reversed diabetes by living a raw food lifestyle. I began preparing myself to go raw and slowly began incorporating more raw foods into my diet. I went 100% raw on January 1, 2009, starting with a six-day juice fast. Although it’s only been a few weeks, I’m already off insulin. This is truly miraculous. After 41 years of living as a diabetic, the freedom of no longer wearing that label cannot be adequately expressed in words. I turned off my insulin pump a few days ago and am controlling my sugars solely with diet, exercise and a few supplements. My spiritual closeness with God has never been better, my moods no longer fluctuate, and I feel FANTASTIC. I am starting a raw food support group in my area and lead discussions after showings of a video about reversing diabetes with a raw food diet.

    I’ve been “raw-born” and am loving every minute of it!! My biggest challenge right now is finding raw recipes, so recieving a copy of Ani’s book would be a huge support. Thanks for listening to me ramble! Have a blessed day!

55. Tracy Courtemanche on February 10, 2009 Tuesday, 10:52 pm

    After having two boys and as I near my 32nd birthday, I feel older than I would have imagined at this young of an age…. for the past 10 years I have tried vegetarianism, fruitarianism (while working on a bio-dynamic orchard), growing my own organic chickens for meat & eggs, and always growing as much organic produce as space allows. Keeping connected with my local organic farming friends all year round. I’ve tried to provide the best nutritious food for the family.
    Now, after reseaching more deeply into RawFood, I am more than ever convinced this is the path I would like to see our family follow. Unfortunately my oldest son, who is 7, began to cry when I told him we may cut meat out of our diet. He loves to grow and harvest our organic chickens. As I’m not wanting to create any detastes for RawFood, I have slowly been introducing more RawFoods and he LOVES them. We are a low income family, so I haven’t been able to invest in a blender yet, and I can imagine when that comes, a whole new world of RawFood possiblities will enter our kitchen. Even if I have to save up for years!
    I have a vision of my family at their upmost health and longevity!!
    Thank-you for all your wonderful inspirations!!

56. Ani’s Raw Food Desserts : Raw Epicurean on May 7, 2009 Thursday, 12:47 am

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57. Raspberry Ganache Fudge Cake : Raw Epicurean on August 24, 2009 Monday, 11:38 am

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58. Heather Balliet on September 17, 2009 Thursday, 8:39 am

    I am slowly incorporating raw foods into my diet, and I love it! I have lost about 7 pounds, and my jeans are falling off my hips. I recently graduated culinary school, and I want to open a raw foods cafe here in Auburn, CA. I am trying to learn and prepare as many recipes as possible.
    Thanks Ani for all your great ideas!
    Heather