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Lucy
Maryland
I am a 53 year old female who has suffered with migraines her entire life. Ever since I was a little girl, as far back as I can remember, I've had headaches. I would come home from Sunday School and Church and go to bed crying with a horrid headache.
I've missed a lot of my children's "growing up time" with headaches. They had to fend for themselves many a night. I've also missed quite a bit of time from work, but fortunately I have an understanding boss, who's wife also suffers with migraines. I have been Vegetarian for 26 years and Vegan for 2, and I felt that my diet was a very healthy one.
Then in January 2006, a health food store friend turned me on to Alissa Cohen (www.alissacohen.com). My son, his girlfriend, and my Mom and I were having a Vegan dinner last spring when he brought up the subject of Raw Vegans. He had read an article in the city paper about Raw Vegans. Well, that sparked an interest in me, just to see what it was about and I read the article on-line and then went to Alissa's bookmarked web site. Well, the more I read, the more something inside of me was saying this could be the answer to my prayer for healing from this devastating illness - the awful migraines. I read and read all I could read. I ordered her book and DVD and began my raw journey.
That was August of 2006. Since I started eating raw, I have not had ONE MIGRAINE! Not one! This is monumental! This is unheard of!!! I was also diagnosed with a totally dead thyroid about six years ago. Now I'm a biker. I mean a serious biker. I will bike 100 miles on a Saturday and then get up and bike another 50 the next day - and this with a dead thyroid! I felt tired all the time. I just thought this was part of getting older. I didn't know any better.
Since going raw 6 months ago my thyroid specialist is scratching his head not understanding why or how my thyroid has healed. I was diagnosed hypOthyroid six years ago. A month ago he diagnosed me as hypERthyroid! He has constantly lowered my meds throughout this 6-month time frame. And he constantly asks me the same two questions. One - what other medicines are you taking? My answer - none - yours is the only one (Synthroid) is what I am taking. Second - what foods are you eating? My answer - fruits and veggies. Although my physician seems a bit baffled by my answers, it is very clear to me: Foods have EVERYTHING to do with my healing and recovery. In 6 short months to totally change how the thyroid is working is proof positive that eating raw foods is a very healing way of eating. It just makes sense.
Ann Wigmore said Dead Foods = Dead Bodies; Live Foods = Live Bodies. Boy, does it ever! I sleep well, also something I haven't done in years, waking up totally refreshed and ready to greet each day with a smile. My skin is clearer, tighter. My eyes are brighter. My hair is shinier. My mental clarity is improved too. I am healthy. I am living. I am alive.
The day after I went raw, I felt different. The very next day! And I have continued to improve with each waking day. It's funny too, in the first two months, I expected to get a migraine. I mean that has been my lifestyle for 53 years. That's a long time. Now I don't really think about them. I KNOW I won't get them. I feel free!
My family too is very supportive of my food choices. In fact, my son-in-law is a die-hard (boy, that's a true name for a meat-eater), meat and potato guy. I prepared Angel Hair Pasta (made from zucchini) and fresh marinara and he loved it. In fact I bought my daughter a spiral slicer for Christmas so she can make this for her family. My Mom has been a great guinea pig, (bless her heart), and has loved every dish I've prepared and taken to her.
I have incorporated Green Smoothies (I call them my Shrek Shakes) into my daily diet. I love them. So simple, but so powerful. 2 cups of filtered water. A handful of spinach or greens, a couple fruit choices and I have a powerful drink that when others at work are slumping around 2:30-3:00? I am still so full of energy. I have not slipped once by going back to eating SAD (Standard American Diet), or as I call it "crap" food, because that is how it made me feel.
The foods I eat now are whole, living, wonderful foods. Not void of everything alive and good in them. I am eating foods complete with enzymes. I don't have to dip into my body's supply of enzymes to help digest these foods. My body is doing what it was created to do - it's living. And my taste buds have really changed too. My body is telling me what it needs. I'm not forcing what I think it needs. I'm listening to what it's asking for.
Try a 30-day challenge through Alissa Cohen's web site. At the end of 30 days, see what a difference it can make in your life. I am living, healing proof of this. I truly believe that Alissa is an Angel that has come into my life to help me heal. I have also met so many wonderful fellow raw foodists during this short journey! They are special, caring, LIVING people! And that is very cool! Oh yeah, and I've dropped over 35 pounds! That's just an extra perk.
Try it and see if it doesn't change your life. Once you get started, it's almost impossible to contain your excitement - you'll want to share it with everyone!!
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Anna Tipps
Owner, TheRawTable.com
Richmond, TX
After giving birth to four children within six years, I had let my health and attention to myself go a bit. Since I began enjoying a delicious diet of mostly raw and living foods I have lost nearly 50 pounds (went from a size 16/18 to an 8/10), I have more energy, my face and skin is smooth and clear again, the little bumps on my upper arms have completely vanished, and the spider veins I have had since high school have almost disappeared. The most exciting part of eating this way, is that it changes you completely. It is difficult to look at cooked and processed food the same way once you realize the benefits of raw. It truly is a lifestyle - not a "diet." I highly recommend raw and living foods to anyone wishing to improve their health in a simple and delicious way.
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Jonathan
My first experiences with Living Foods were very noticeable. I immediately ate less food because live foods are so nutrient rich. My energy level was more balanced and sustained, and over a period of four months I experienced a significant weight loss which I have maintained by continuing with Live Foods. I have managed to lead a very active lifestyle with Live Foods providing me with sufficient energy as well as maintaining a strong immune system so my incidence of allergies and illnesses dropped off to almost nothing. I can't recommend highly enough food choices which consist of live foods.
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Raeanna
Nashville, TN
I have always been a health conscious individual and have known that vegetarianism was really the best route to be on......however I did not always walk that walk!
The first turning point for me was reading "Why Christians Get Sick" by George Malkmaus. I became 85% raw at that point (2001) but stuck with it for less than one year. After my wedding in 2002, I became so busy with work and my new life that I didn't spend as much time being kind to my body. I put on a lot of weight and got up to 191 pounds! I knew it was time for a change and I knew that being 85% raw and cutting out everything but vegan foods was the way to go. In March of 2005, I stumbled across web sites and testimonials of people being 100% raw. This was so encouraging to me that I began researching more, reading more, and discovering the healing benefits of a 100% raw lifestyle.
I am still trying to work at being 100% although it is difficult at times. I have remained strong in my efforts and have lost a lot of the extra weight that I have carried around! I know this is a lifestyle change and I will continue to see the benefits as I continue to make the right choices!!!!
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Gil
Since transitioning to RAW, I've dropped over 35 pounds - from a size 34" jeans to 30" (loose) jeans. My weight has stabilized near 140 pounds. As for the benefits, they're almost too numerous to mention: No more gout attacks, I sleep better, I have more energy, no more depression, I'm far calmer and more spiritual, no flu or cold or any illness of any kind since the initial detox, I have no sinus problems or allergies, and have a much faster recovery from workouts (no soreness).
I highly recommend the "Living on Live Food" program to anyone wishing to transition to a raw food diet.
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Jill
United Kingdom
Eating a raw vegan diet has totally changed my life. IBS, severe bloating and excess candida related problems led me to eating raw food. I have struggled with those symptoms for over ten years. I chose not to take medication. I worked with exclusion diets and natural therapy to try and heal my body. Eating living food felt like the next natural step to take.
For about three weeks, I increased the amount of raw food in my diet. 21 days ago, I began eating a totally raw vegan diet. These are some of the benefits that I have experienced during my transition. I sleep better. I have lost weight. My skin is clearer and my teeth look whiter. My eyesight is sharper. Injuries heal quickly. I can exercise without tiring easily. I have lots more energy. I am more open and easy going. I feel more connected and grounded, more at one with the world. I am able to switch off, let go and relax! The same old stressors still hit, but I deal with them differently. I am so much calmer and positive. The debilitating 10 year illness that led me to raw has GONE. I feel so alive!
All this in just a few short weeks. Its fantastic!
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