It’s hard to believe, but it’s been already 10 years since I started on the natural health/raw food path!
In all honesty, I was not thinking about me or my health when I decided to go in this direction.
It was never my goal to try to live forever.
By the time I was 37 years of age, I had already lived a pretty intense and contented life; perhaps too contented.
Working as a DJ and music producer has been my absolute passion for most of my life, and I had been doing it, successfully, since I was a teenager.
The main reason why I took on the raw food and natural health path was because I was thinking about my mother.
She was diagnosed with leukaemia in 2001; she went through the standard cancer treatments for a few years, but her health was soon deteriorating.
Statistically speaking, the chances of surviving leukaemia and going on to live for five years for a woman of 65 years of age are 33%. My mother had cancer in 2001, which means that by 2006 her cancer would have recurred.
The thought of losing my mother from cancer was hard to contemplate at the time – especially after losing my father a year earlier, due to diabetes.
I figured out earlier on during my nutrition studies that eating the correct raw diet will help my mother fight her cancer, and this was the main reason why I found myself studying natural health and learning about this lifestyle.
If I expected to be successful in helping my mother to overcome cancer, there was one thing for certain I was going to get right: I had to lead by example.
I couldn’t tell my mother to eat a raw food diet while I was eating chips (French fries to my US friends), if you know what I mean?
So I studied like crazy, and I enjoyed it.
I remember living in Covent Garden in London while I researched and studied the vast area of nutritional science and natural health, and this was one of the happiest times in my life. I re-discovered a new passion for learning.
The experience with my mother thereafter has been amazing.
After following my advice for a few months, my mother managed to beat her cancer for good, and the doctor finally told her in 2012 that she no longer needed further blood tests as she was now cancer free.
Other aspects of my mother’s health also improved. She had her gallbladder removed when she was younger, and used to get sick when she ate most cooked food.
Unlike me, she stills eats some cooked food these days (strictly low fat vegan though), but she doesn’t get sick anymore, which goes to show how a low fat vegan diet can improve your overall digestion.
Her vision was also enhanced. My mother suffered from myopia during most of her life, which made her wear glasses in the past. Her near-sightedness is now considerable better, to the point of not needing to wear glasses any longer.
Most people who meet my mother these days cannot believe how a person of 80 years of age can look so healthy, and have so much vitality and keep saying to her, “I want to be like you when I am 80.”
Every time I see my mother enjoying herself and travelling the world (as she loves doing), it is a small reminder of how rewarding spending 6 years studying natural health has been for me.
My personal journey to health was also highly rewarding. I implemented the same approach I used for my mother, and my health also flourished.
I healed myself of many ailments and diseases (as some of you already know), and I am healthier now than ever before.
I have to say that it’s quite natural to see people of my age (48) go in and out of hospital these days to be treated for various diseases while in contrast, I don’t know what it is like to stay in a hospital bed overnight. I’ve never done it in my life and I hope I never have to do it.
Some people have told me that eating a raw vegan diet has failed them, because they needed to go to the toilet more often, and that can be a logistical problem sometimes.
I can understand that. The truth is that by eating a diet of high water content food, you would need to go to the toilet more often. That’s the reality. Though it’s easily manageable for me, and I believe, for most people.
However, it’s small price to pay if you think about it, as by eating a raw diet you’ll have more energy overall, and save time because you won’t be sick for the most part (if you do it correctly).
After I launched my Nutrition Raw business however, things were not that easy. Why? Because I was promoting a health philosophy that goes against the mainstream medical treatment methodology.
And people have a lot of prejudices when it comes to things they don’t know, even if they never read a book in their lives.
They look at you weird when you think differently and worst of all, if they don’t like the message, they attack the messenger.
And that’s not everything; the saddest thing of all is that most people in this world don’t really have an open mind. And this was a big shock to me.
For a moment, I thought everyone else was like me, and had the same “eager to learn” and open-minded attitude. Ha-ha, I came soon to figure out that: Nope, no Ariel, most people aren’t like you.
A large majority of the world population are closed-minded by “belief”, “socioeconomic status”, “race”, “nationality”, and so many other reasons that completely impede them from seeking out the truth.
And as any reasonably intelligent person knows, people that aren’t open minded are the ones that pay the HIGHEST PRICE in society.
What’s the point of working your entire life in a job you half hate in order to pay your mortgage, and by the time you get to retire and you are meant to “enjoy” life – as they say – you get cancer and die?
Does that sound like a living a good life to you? Well, it doesn’t sound like living a good life to me. But that’s often the outcome of people with narrow minds living averages lives.
I am sorry if I sound so harsh, but that’s how I feel and unless people like me speak out, things will never change.
Open-mindedness provides you with a platform to build upon, piling one idea on top of another. It’s very hard to build on experiences without an open mind.
Every time you experience and try new things, it collectively adds up, strengthening the person you are and what you believe in.
Luckily, not everyone is narrow-minded. I get almost daily messages from my readers these days, with words of encouragement and positives vibes that really make my job worthwhile.
Health is the birth right of each individual, and is the result of your lifestyle choices and the environment.
Eat Better, Feel Better
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88 Responses
Kudos to you! I too am giving the raw food lifestyle a try. I found out I need to ease in because stopping cooked food seems to make the lifestyle fail. I was already eating a vegan diet but feel a million times healthier and more energized. I used to have a ton of stomach problems but these past few weeks of not eating much cooked food, no oil, etc I have experienced no stomach pain. That is the first time in 7 years. I am only 23 and don’t have many ailments. You are a huge inspiration. Nice work!
Thanks Amanda.x
Well done man lots of love to you and your mum Peace and freedom . Namaste
Thanks mate x
Did you consume flaxseed oil when you had stomach problems? I had no problems with flaxseed oil until I got older. Apparently can cause stomach inflammation in some cases… according to a complementary medicine specialist.. it’s the Omega 3 in fact. Granted you get Omega 3 in a lot of foods, but in sufficient amounts – like in flaxseed oil, it can cause inflammation of digestive tract.
Thanks for that. A very nice artice!
I was also surprised by the walls in the heads of most people I know … and I was also surprised that only a few a eager to learn more and more … 🙂
Thank you 🙂
Ariel, love reading your story! I had, and am having, the exact same experience with others. I lost 100 pounds after yo yo dieting for 35 years. I was so excited to share and help others. Boy was I stopped in my tracks! I became aware of this after I graduated from the Institute for integrative Nutrition. It really was a rude of awakening for me. A giant learning curve. I am hoping, in time, it will be different. I have been eating raw for a little over three years now and just continue to study and hopefully things will fall into place. Again, thanks for your story and I hope the best for you and your family.
Laurie
Thanks Laurie. x
HOla, yo soy también de Argentina y hace ya unos 5 años que sigo una dieta HCLF . Tampoco vivo en ARgentina pero ojalá hubiese encontrado esta manera de vivir en el 1997 cuando mi hermana fue diagnosticada de cancer a los 31 años. Lamentablemente no la pude ayudar con esto. Tu mamá es muy guapa.
Gracias Andrea, muchos saludos.
Thank you for the article. I had a similar life path, and almost the same experience with people when wanted to share my experience with them… Usually my suggestions were rejected immediately since people aren’t ready for a change they would rather take a pill that change food habits.
Thank you for beeing such an open minded.
Thanks for your comment Sanja. x
Hey Ariel, great article
I have, within a week, been eating mainly plants. And, already I feel a difference. I have a really bad sugar habit that I am trying to kick. I think that healthy fats, such as avocado, are actually good to eat. I may be wrong, though. I will still eat eggs once in a while and a small portion of baked chicken, like 1 or 2 oz, and cooked beans (quite a bit). It equates to being like 90% raw. I am going to start lacto fermenting vegetables and sprouting seeds here, soon. My point is, that I think that you have some merit, even though I don’t believe in strictly raw.
Thanks for your comment. I am listening. xx
Hi, just wanted to understand the presence or absence of legumes in a vegan diet. They would need to be cooked. I thought they would be indispensable.
Hi,
Thanks for your comment.
You can get all the nutrition you need in fruits and vegetables. There is no need to consume legumes though I do recommend them as transition foods to a full raw diet. 🙂
Wondering if sprouted lentils would be considered raw.
Great Article! I’ve been on vegan lifestyle 6 years zero animal foods
I include some raw foods everyday salads, smoothies,fresh juices, fruits and
veggies I do eat cook food daily. A couple times a year I go on Raw Food
cleans for 14 days which is strictly raw other then that I believe in cook
and raw food. for optimal health.
Thanks for your comment.. 🙂
I found you story so invigorating. Like you I wanted to save the world but the building blocks were there. I have had some rewards one in particular is my dearest friend. I was in her ear for quite a period. I made her and hubby some meals that both loved but no to oo hard to changer. Fibro myalgia high blood pressure sleeping over weight. After a scare she went full pelt. Within 5 days of ginger up just dairy milk IBS issue gone 3 months the fibro 90% gone blood pressure tablets gone sleeping tablets gone. Dropped 3 dress sizes. Saddled bags, dealing with evenhuiuasm as a young women gone. Medical expense tablets and Dr.appointment gone. This life style has given them health to enjoy their beautiful grand children
Your story was so encouraging. I didn’t realise you were a man until near the end.
Sooo loved y o see your mum NOW 80.
Wow.
Thanks for your comment. I appreciate. 🙂
Your story is amazing. I wish I new this information 4 years ago, and I could help my mom to overcome her cancer. You are such an imazin son. Thank you for sharing
Thank you. I appreciate. Regards
Amazing ?
Great read!! It’s so sad that there are so many narrow minded people around. I had my food awakening as I like to call it in 2011 but sadly it took me years of suffering with my health first but I didn’t know any better and I can understand why alot of people can’t see past what they’ve been taught as we’re programmed from birth to eat and live a certain way. Sadly humanity are under a very big spell and unfortunately alot of souls will probably never wake up to the truth untill they’re on deaths door. I’m still not perfect with my raw food lifestyle but I never give up, I will keep trying until I succeed 🙂 We need more health concious people like you spreading this message. Thank you for sharing 🙂
Thanks for your comment. I appreciate and I am glad you are doing well on your journey. – All the best. 🙂
Wow. So happy for your mother. It’s just common sense really. Since going vegan 4 months ago. I’m already seeing the difference. And I’m actually looking forward to cooking with veggies. I don’t use oil anymore. Just use homemade tomato sauce or stock. I’m raw for breakfast lunch and snacks then cooked for dinner. Eventually I’ll be raw 100%. Thanks for your story. And once again much love to you and your mum.
Thanks Caroline. I appreciate. Power to you. 🙂
Is there a part 2?
Thank you
Keep swimming uphill, reaching your goal is the reward! Many are following, and dream of achieving what you already have.
Thanks Helen.:-)
How do you distinguish narrow-minded and focused?
it’s it true, that fruit and vegetables that has ripened on transport instead of on a tree (or in the soil) has very little vitamins and minerals, because the supply from the soil is cut off?
I tried a vegan diet for 6 months and it felt great but I am confused by the raw food part. You don’t even cook your vegetables? Can you eat soup? So many questions.
I’m raw for 4 years and I healed my severe psoriasis .
I know what u wrote is right .
We can heal many things just by eating the “real food”.
Fruits and veggies are the food !!! All the rest will make u sick soon or later .
Also I’m a pop commercial singer in Uk and I see you are a producer, we show people that we can be raw without living naked in the jungle without taking shower .
Lol!!
Eating raw is a lifestyle and is all about self love !
So let’s share the message…..and produce some Hit !! ??
Tancredi Hill
Do you ever eat sprouted legumes or seed? Glad to read such a positive outcome for your Mom:)
Yes I eat sprouted legumes in salad sometimes, but not too often.. xx
Sorry to be a troll here, but one size does not fit all.
Great story about you mom!! It shows that it is possible to heal oneself if we are willing to work at it.
Bravo for helping people learn and being willing to face the nay sayers.
Marsha
Appreciate what you do and say. I am a recent believer, trying to be almost perfect with these changes. Benefits are so motivating!
What do you eat for protein if all you eat is raw fruit and vegetables. You have to have protien in your diet too dont you?
Plants have protein in them.
my write and I were raw vegans for 5 years. We loved it. I was prediabetic and when a doctor explained what i had I store i studied like you did and went raw vegan. Next visit to the doctor, he told me to keep doing what I was doing… so I did. What you did for your mom is commendable. I eat game and organic meat now. Could not get my weight standardized. I have MS and the protein (meat) helps with my chronic fatigue. I still practice raw veganism just not exclusively. It does improve one ‘s liife and save lives. My mantra is, “If it has FDA Nutritional Facts label on it, DON’T EAT IT.
Sorry lists of fruits
After 4 can I eat cooked meals?
I have learned something today, great and positive story of your mom. I am trying to eat vegan food but I really don’t know what to eat and how. I Google some of the recipe. I am so excited to get hold your books to guide me.
From Mimmie in South Africa
Beautiful that you were able to give your mum such a wonderful gift – and get so much benefit yourself. Have been a vegi and then vegan for 30 years – the lack of interest that people have in what they put into their body has always amazed me – I once read “This body is the only place that I will ever live – so I am going to look after it”.
Have recently been increasing my raw intake – currently up to around 80%.
Ariel, I love your story and I am now two months raw vegan, to save my life. I have Graves disease and many problems that go along with it. My detox symptoms are so severe, I only get about 3 hours of sleep per night, feel overly emotional, huge body temperature swings from shakey freezing to sweating. Having huge amount of trouble coping. I know I have to stick with this but when will these symptoms pass?
Hi Ellen. I read some of your comments and just to clarify I don’t advise the use of colonics and other non-higiénic practices. Detox symptoms will go away. It’s all depends on your past habits. A bit like quitting smoking. It’s generally harder for those who smoked the longer. Fruits and vegetables are the healthiest food for most people. It’s not something to be afraid of unless you have some medical condition that “specifically” prevents eating plants, which is rare. The more literature you read and the better informed you are, the better you will feel.
Hi Ellen, I hope you are finding luck with managing graves through diet. I was diagnosed with graves 7 years ago and went vegan after researching it on my own, even when the docs told me there was nothing I could do for it and wanted me to kill my thyroid off with radioactive iodine. It has now been in remission for 5 years, no meds, no symptoms. It can be done, and I hope it works for you.
Kudos.
I am on raw food diet for the second year .
I have done a month long cycling my country, now planning to do a World cycle Tour on raw diet.
Thanks for the inspiration.
Now planning a one month moderate vegan cooked food experiment. Just after two days my body gets tired, teeth became plack, they was no odour in my body or mouth while raw food.
Thanks Arun, best of luck with cycling. x
I have tried raw vegan diet for a month and it created a lot of stomach problems. Mainly I was always bloated and had cramps probably due to being unable to digest the food.
I also spoke to an ayuvedic doctor who recommended to stay on cooked foods to solve my problem.
Have you come past such an experience?
Also how do you manage to build muscle on raw vegan diet? There is so much legumes my stomach can handle ..
Watch out for food combining. It can be just as important as the food you eat. x
Your story is awesomely inspiring! I am vegetarian for seven years and went into a vegan diet a few month ago. But I’m getting to the point that a raw vegan diet might be better. My issue is my skin. I always had skin issues but I rather got pimples. Now it’s the opposite. My skin is awefully dry. Do you have some ideas to chang that?
Hi Ina
Thanks for your comment.
I can’t advise you on your specific skin condition but I doubt very much that eating the correct raw food diet will not improve your skin overall. My dermatologist has said to me in the past he is never seen a more perfect skin on a man of my age.
x
Yes,
I needed to ask a critical question and I hope you will get back to me.
I was diagnosed about 6 years ago with Hep C and cirrhosis, the Hep
C being the cause of the liver issue. The Hep C has been cured due to a new drug out called Harvoni. I don’t have insurance and don’t believe in Dr.’s.
Now, my question is when you went with a Raw diet life did you still have doubts that it would work?
I have been a Raw Food eater since 1995 about 75% of the time. I still ended up with these life changing issues. I do feel stronger and better when I stay Raw but it is very hard being single and no support. I have some very bad lethargy spells and then that will cause Anxiety. A Healing Crisis sight says that is normal with chronic disease.
How do I get over my fears when these issues arise that everything is alright?
Thank you for your time!!!
Don Ferguson
Hi Don
Thanks for your comment.
I obviously had doubts (as so should everyone I think) when questioning lifetime habits and traditions. Doubts faded though after reading dozens of natural health books and having gone through the major studies as I did. Natural health speaks “common sense” for the most part. It’s difficult not to agree with. I believe everyone that takes some time to study the same literature would feel the same way as I do.
Best! 🙂 xx
Hello,
I was told by some people that a raw vegan diet would stop and reverse hair loss. Did it help in your case? Is this a lie?
Hi
I don’t believe that. I haven’t found any diet that does that. 🙂
I think hair loss may be related to circulatory problems. A raw diet alone won’t make a complete difference but i think exercising may help along with the diet. Nice to meet you Ariel.
i have seen diets that can stop and reverse hair loss.. I have recovered my own hair loss twice ! happy to share..@.amandawrighthealth
Thank you for sharing the info I found the details very helpful This is a very interesting and helpful post This post contains huge valuable information on our
A vegan diet is perfect to be healthy and is also good for the planet and the animals.Truly it’s a nice job.But here I have a very quick question that How we can realize our Vegen Diet?Hope soon you will write a detailed article to give a complete info about my question.
Best Regards
Myopia resolves at old age, because age hymetropia develops, which is the opposite of myopia.
I hear you!!
Loud & clear.
All your words ring right through me & I too am amazed everyday at how so many fail to approach & learn new things with an open mind.
Well done to you!
So wonderful to read about yours & your Mums journeys.
Thankyou ?
Thanks Lee, more power to you. 🙂
Ariel has already helped me i was suffering from menopause symptoms and changed two of my daily meals to raw. I was amazed and pleased when all my symptoms disappeared and I’m now loving being menopausal as I have so much energy and focus. Ariel writes in a matter of fact straight forward way making the minefield of nutrition simple.
Thanks for your comment Jackie. Sending you my very best wishes. 🙂
Great example!My mother and me are also eating raw food 🙂 Thank you for great article.
I am proud to know you. You changed your diet for your mum, that is really huge. You loved her very much.
Ariel, what an amazing introduction. I respect an individual who will lead by example and do the research.
I’m glad your mother is vibrant and well and an inspiration to others.
I stumbled into a raw vegan diet two and a half years ago. I was very sick struggling with what the doctors categorized as an auto immune disease. For over a decade I was on prescriptions and advised to eat a high animal fat paleo diet. I felt I was getting worse and worse and losing all hope. When a friend suggest raw vegan diet I had nothing to lose and was willing to try anything. I didn’t think it would work because it was void of animal fats. Lo and behold that was the truth all along. I have been living a completely different life and gaining more and more health.
In my new found knowledge of health from a dietary stand point I have met many people who challenge this diet as healthy and are very adamant I’m mentally unwell. Proof is lived. Knowledge is gained through searching for real truth and knowing it when you find it.
Thanks, much love!
Hi Ariel Belloso! How do you managed to do a strict raw vegan diet for 10 years without being underweight. Right now, I’m also on a raw vegan diet for almost two weeks and already lose 2 kilos on my weight. Is this normal?
Hi Ariel,
Do you include NUTS and Seeds in your raw food diet?
Kudos to you in helping your Mom with her lifestyle changes. What an amazing beautiful story, a son helping his Mom survive cancer! ??
My mother turns 81 this year. She is still working part-time and extremely flexible, agile, active and living life her way. I have researched over 30 years, motivated by the cancer diagnosis my grandmother received and the experience of caring for her while the standard treatment did more harm than good. A correct 90% raw vegan diet is my healing choice. It is working for me! Even though my mother is not complete vegan and certainly not more than 50% raw, she has taken herself off high-blood pressure meds and managed to keep her gallbladder with function being less than 20% ten years ago. I love your story and attitude! It is one I share and live by! Thank you!
Ariel, I love your article. Been Vegan for almost two years now. Before I was Vegetarian. I am trying to implement more raw foods in my life style. I am from Puerto Rico, and as hispanic you know we use oil for many foods, I am trying to stop using. Your article is beautiful and I am very happy to heard Your beautiful mother is enjoying life. I always tell people we need to age greaciously. Un Abrazo!
I would be fascinated to hear your opinions regarding whole-food plant-based fat sources. I personally feel that a higher fat diet (from said sources) is far more beneficial to health that a lower fat diet. These can be valuable sources of vital nutrients and the right omega balance is very anti-inflammatory.
The natural health / raw food path is also called the ignorant and elitist road.
I find the whole thing disgustingly ableist. They are very lucky they stayed healthy and don’t need actual medicine – and there is no reasonable justification to eat raw. Plenty of food items benefit from being cooked – and obviously life is more fun with more variety.
Stop trying to over-control your food, it’s not healthy for you.
I have been vegan for 5 years. I am 52. I too am without a gallbladder. I find it very difficult to stick to a fully raw diet. I have more success with a raw til 4 diet. I am a full-time college student, at Portland State University in oregon. I struggle to afford the variety of produce I want in my daily menu, and cannot afford things like a dehydrator ( I want one really bad) or a vitamix blender….things that would make it much easier for me to implement a fully raw menu. I have had cancer in the past, 4 times, no chemo – radiation – or Pharma involvement; just surgery and a healthy diet along with RSO for my last skin cancer homeopathic remedy (worked like a charm). Shocked my doctor. I wish there were more raw food restaurants around…Portland has so many vegan options everywhere, it is really awesome; but there are few raw options other than salads (and they often have cooked chickpeas etc added). I would love to drop 25 pounds ( I gained this after my gallbladder was removed), im sure being completely raw would help me lose weight. I am a psychology major, and all my elective classes involve either psychology or health.
Where did you study? And was that the name of the course? (nutritional science and natural health).
I have been looking to study – as I have been running my business without a qualification and I notice that most people do not take me seriously – rightly so, as it is their health at stake.
I really appreciate your article. I am a nurse and have been battling with what I feel truth seeking is and what I am forced to say to patients in this industry. Your words are inspiring and I hope they bring me some clarity. I am vegan for 1.5 months and will work my way to raw. Thank you again!
I just started my raw vegan journey. I have been on chemotherapy for a year and a half for Lupus. Along with several other medications and steroids. Im still suffering from my symptoms daily. Decided to take charge of my own health. Thank you for your inspiring story ?
Is there a reason why a photo was chosen of all cellophane-wrapped and possibly styrofoam packaged produce? Besides killing and choking all of the species on our planet, it releases toxins into the food. Please don’t destroy the planet to gain health and please purchase produce that is not packaged. Request it in the stores, or shop in stores that do not do this. Thank you!!
Amazing read, I feel the exact same way about being Vegan and facing close minded people in many aspects of life. It’s difficult to even have conversations with people you know are going nowhere. But your right, they can’t even be shook and woke up. No matter how kind, polite, suggestive, collaborative or mutually ignorant I play it, they just don’t want to bite.
I feel morally obligated to help, but emotionally exhausted from trying. Best I can do is also lead by example. And stay strong. I’m not asking perfection. I’m not perfect at all, but knowing is the ability to make the choice in the moment. Not knowing is a health risk no person should be willing to take.
very inspiring
Gentleman you are doing a great job by sharing your story with others
Keep it up.
I loved reading your story. I believe in the power of a raw food diet. Thanks for your good work in spreading the truth.
Where we can we study like you do? Thank you.
i want to study to where can i study? Thanks
Dear Arial
Thank for your good sharing of raw food and it will bring you and your mother good in health. I have more confidence have a try now.
Charis
10.04.2020
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