Because I had been a vegetarian and then a vegan for almost 20 years, the transition to vegan raw food was not very difficult for me. It was actually a welcome change – one that increased my energy level and ability to manage stress. Each individual is unique so the response to raw food will not be the same for everyone.

Everyone has a story about how they found raw food. As I have traveled around the country and spoken to many raw foodists, I have enjoyed hearing their stories. And, of course, I have enjoyed reading about the stories of the raw food leaders and authors. The first story I heard about raw food transition was Arnold Kauffman’s, owner of Arnold’s Way Cafe. In his 40’s, Arnold suffered a major heart attack and was told that he could not leave the hospital without bypass surgery. Never one fond of the medical establishment or the thought of surgery, Arnold signed himself out of the hospital. He went immediately to the Hippocrates Institute, led by Brian Clement. There, Arnold spent over 4 weeks on a water-only fast, learned the raw and living diet, and walked away a new man. The science behind fasting, although it has never been proven, claims that when the body is deprived of food, it must become as efficient as possible. So, to increase efficiency when food deprived, as when you are fasting, the body sheds sick and old cells. Shedding sick and old cells results, supposedly, in a natural healing and rejuvenation process.