I have only been raw vegan since June 2007, but it has completely changed my
life. I had no idea about the raw vegan lifestyle until I was listening to
a radio broadcast in
New Orleans about health and our diet. At the time, I was a true
carnivore, thinking that meat and starches had to go along with every meal.
I would eat salads from time to time, but top it with chicken, eggs, and of
course the fatty salad dressings. When I went back home to Chicago, I
started looking up diets and was led to a raw food Meetup. The host of the
Meetup made some wonderful raw dishes, and from that moment I was convinced
that this was going to be something I would try. At the time, I was 175 lbs
and miserable. I had horrible mood swings and not to mention other
health
problems. I was willing to try anything.
After adopting the raw foods lifestyle, I found that it was not difficult
because I was still able to enjoy my "sweets" from fruits, raw honey, agave
nectar, and other raw desserts. Not too soon after, I didn't even need a
dessert on a daily basis like I did with cooked food. I also noticed a
lot
of my health symptoms went away. My excessive dandruff, Candida infections,
sinus infections, digestive problems, and PMS symptoms all cleared up. My
skin now has a glow, my moods are pleasant virtually all the time, and a by
product is my 45 lbs
weight loss! I eat less because these foods are so nutrient dense.
During my raw food journey, I have craved for more information on the living
foods diet and natural healing. I enrolled with The Raw Vegan
Network/ Ekaya Institute of Living
Food Education to obtain certificates in Raw Food Chef, Lifestyle Coach,
Nutritionist, and Personal Trainer. I have also taken Raw Food Chef classes
locally at Cousins Incredible Vitality in
Chicago and Total Health Institute in Wheaton, IL..