The Reluctant Raw Foodist

I started converting to my high raw vegan eventually after my doctor suggested I ate raw food to combat my reactive, possibly rheumatoid, arthritis. I have conditions called mast cell activation disorder and histaminosis as well as the arthritis. My symptoms were numerous. I was often fatigued, I used to have no energy at all and I ached and hurt  all over. My skin was always breaking out in rashes and I had constant stomach aches and sickness and diarrhoea after eating foods. My hair was falling out and I reacted badly to chemicals such as the smell of perfume. I still use no soaps or lotions on my skin and I cannot wear much makeup. I have not washed my hair with shampoo for more than a year.

I started the diet in July 2009 and it took me a about year to convert my diet ( cutting out all alcohol, bread sugar, coffee, black tea, cheese, eggs etc)  and it took me even longer to get to my current diet which is high fruit, low fat with lots of greens. I have been trialling things along the way. I have had periods of eating all raw and then I went through times of eating some cooked food. I am further restricted on my diet by the fact that I cannot eat foods naturally high in histamine such as strawberries, avocado etc.

I still eat some steamed vegetables and a little veggie soup or a jacket sweet potato but most of my meals are now raw.

The lifestyle really chose me as I found that all my symptoms have gradually changed, flared and then subsided over the last 2 years  - mainly as I have played with my diet. I am my own experiment.

Other people think my diet is strict and odd because I usually eat just bowls of greens such as lettuce when out for a meal  -  often the only thing I can eat on the menu as even in raw food restaurants I cannot eat such things as cashews (histamine again).  

I have noticed that a lot of people around me are adding more fruit and veggies into their diets and, of course, I write this blog :))

I do not really have a favourite recipe. I cannot get over the fact that I get to eat a whole melon or a 4-5 banana smoothie for breakfast. It’s just great. Learning to eat the quantities was an eye opener. It would never have occurred to me to eat more than one banana at a time.  

 My diet is the best thing that has happened to me in a long time. I didn’t choose it but I am so glad it chose me. I am starting to feel great and my illnesses appear to be receding all the time. My skin is clear and I feel energetic. I lost my excess weight.  I take no medication other than Dirk’s prototype enzyme supplement and I use a low level light laser.  

I recommend trying diet for any autoimmune disease and for health and wellbeing generally. I will not being returning to my old way of eating.

:) 

Hi and Welcome x

I put a “How to Go Raw, My Way” page on my blog. I recommend watching the films, “Forks Over Knives”  and “Fat, Sick and nearly Dead” as they are so inspirational. 

I eat mainly raw food so a lot of fruit and lot of greens juiced and in salads or smoothies and some nuts and seeds. I eat some steamed veg and I make veggie soups with legumes  such as lentils.  

This blog ( has about 4000 entries!) shows my journey as I have experimented a lot on the way.  I will publish more about my food and lifestyle. I am also writing a book called “Healing Time” which is going to be a plan for recovery from illness.

:)