Raw Vegan Diets- A Healing Tool, A Reset Button, and a Chapter—Not the Whole Book

There’s something irresistibly fresh and vibrant about a plate of raw fruits and vegetables—the colors, the crunch, the feeling that you’re fueling yourself straight from nature’s hand. For many, a raw, plant-based diet feels like a direct path to wellness, offering energy, clarity, and healing. And, for a time, it can be exactly that. But as with all things in holistic living, the key is seeing the bigger picture: what’s healing in the short term may not be sustainable in the long run.

I know this, not just from research, but from lived experience. Over a decade ago, I transitioned from an organic, whole foods vegetarian diet, to a low(i)sh glycemic, raw plant-based diet. The results were profound: the autoimmune disease and symptoms that had plagued me for decades went into complete remission, I lost 75 pounds, and—truly—I looked ten years younger than I was. It felt miraculous.

Cover of the e-book I created

Because I was already a holistic health coach, I catapulted my personal transformation into teaching and guiding others. I trained as a raw foods chef, mastered the art of creating alluring,

healthful desserts (yes, chocolate avocado mousse can be magical), and led individuals and groups through my "Rawkin Body Cleanse" program. For a time, it worked beautifully. My body thrived, my energy soared, and my purpose felt clearer than ever.

But then… the magic started to wane.

The Glow and the Gaps

Raw, plant-based diets can be incredibly powerful for short-term cleansing and healing, especially when they are thoughtfully designed. A balanced version—low glycemic, rich in leafy greens, fresh vegetables, sprouts, and modest amounts of fruits, nuts, and seeds—can truly reset the body. This kind of approach supports detoxification, calms inflammation, and nourishes digestion. It’s the kind of diet that helped me experience such dramatic healing in the first place.

But not all raw diets are created equal. Some versions can be heavy on dried fruits, high-glycemic smoothies, and piles of nut-based desserts and oils. While tasty and technically “raw,” these choices can spike blood sugar, strain digestion, and overwhelm the system with fats that are difficult to balance in the long run. Instead of healing, this style can lead to fatigue, weight gain, and frustration—essentially undoing the very benefits people hope for.

🌿 Two Very Different Raw Diets 🌿

Balanced Raw Cleansing Diet

• Low-glycemic fruits (berries, green apples, citrus)

• Abundant leafy greens, sprouts, and non-starchy vegetables

• Moderate nuts and seeds for healthy fats

• Focus on hydration and mineral-rich foods (cucumbers, celery, seaweeds)

• Intentional use for short-term cleansing or healing reset

High-Glycemic, Overloaded Raw Diet

• Large amounts of tropical fruits and dried fruits (bananas, mangoes, dates)

• Frequent nut-heavy dishes, oils, and “raw treats”

• Smoothies and juices with more sugar than greens

• Difficult digestion, spikes and crashes in energy

• Long-term imbalance that may lead to fatigue, inflammation, or weight gain

When the Magic Fades

For me, the turning point came when my body started asking for more. I had already been vegetarian and vegan prior to going raw, and after several years of thriving on raw foods, I began to feel the subtle (and not-so-subtle) signs that my body was craving something different. More amino acids, more protein, more grounding. At first, I resisted. After all, this diet had worked so beautifully! How could I possibly need to change it?

But the truth was unavoidable: the diet stopped working in the same magically healing ways. My health began to suffer again. I had to make peace with the reality that my body was evolving—and so should my diet.

Eventually, I began to integrate cooked foods back into my meals. Slowly, I allowed myself to reintroduce animal proteins. And what I found was balance. For the past half decade, my diet has been a whole foods, clean paleo style of eating, still rich in fresh, raw, living foods—but also deeply nourishing with proteins and healthy fats that sustain my energy, brain, and hormones.

The Bigger Picture: Reflection for Your Journey

Before jumping into a raw, plant-based diet—or before recommitting if you’ve tried before—pause and consider:

• Am I choosing this diet for short-term healing or long-term living?

• Do I understand the difference between a balanced, cleansing raw diet and one that leans too heavily on nuts, oils, or high-sugar fruits?

• How will I know when my body is asking for more variety, protein, or grounding foods?

• Am I willing to honor my body’s evolution, even if it means letting go of an identity tied to a specific way of eating?

Walking the Middle Path

Raw foods are beautiful, and incorporating more of them into any diet is nearly always a positive shift. But balance matters. A raw, plant-based cleanse may be the perfect reset for a few weeks or months, especially if you’re moving away from processed foods. It can bring clarity, energy, and healing. But as your body rebuilds, it will eventually ask for more complete proteins, essential fats, and grounding cooked foods to sustain long-term health.

Holistic living is not about rigid rules—it’s about responding to the wisdom of your body. Sometimes that wisdom sounds like kale and green juice. Sometimes it sounds like roasted root vegetables or a piece of wild-caught salmon. The key is learning to listen.

A Gentle Invitation

If you’re curious about trying a raw, plant-based cleanse, consider approaching it as a chapter, not the entire book. Give yourself permission to experience the healing benefits, and also the freedom to move on when your body asks for more. Explore resources—books, documentaries, classes—that broaden your understanding of holistic living. Nourishment comes in many forms: food, learning, community, and joy.

And if you’d like support, guidance, or simply someone to walk alongside you in your journey, I warmly invite you to reach out. Together, we can craft a path that’s not only healing but also sustainable, joyful, and uniquely yours.

After all, health isn’t about the perfect diet—it’s about creating a relationship with your body that honors both its whispers and its shouts.