Your raw food hero's - who inspired you with the raw lifestyle?

[The Sproutarian (Mr Raw)]

l'll be interested to see people's responses. Who got you into raw foods?

[PansyLo]

I wouldn't say I have any raw food heroes yet. It would be cool to hear who other people admire and maybe read into them when I have the time. :)

I first heard raw food diets mentioned by Gala Darling (a positivity/self-love/personal growth/girly fun type blogger) and Steve Pavlina (a personal development blogger).

That's when I first started to look into it and find out a bit about it, read some research behind it and some opinions. I didn't really know all that much about it though until I was directed to this forum and started getting an interest in making raw food a reality in my own life.

As I start learning more and making it my lifestyle I will probably do more and more research and look to certain people for information and advice, look into well known raw foodists and come to be inspired by certain people.

[Revvell]

Storm and Jinjee who "introduced" me to Alissa via having her book at a retreat they were holding right after Adagio was born.

[MysticTree]

I don't have heroes generally let alone raw food ones.

[Traceyraw]

Dave The Raw Food Trucker..........

[SunshineMN]

I've learned over the past few years that you don't put people on pedestals because *no one* is more important than anyone else, and no *one* person can know everything about a subject. Doing that puts you in danger of ignoring information that could be important, or falsely believing something is true when it isn't just because your "hero" either endorses or doesn't endorse it. Be your own hero and think for yourself!

As for how I found the raw life style, I was trying to find out how to recover from two years of Welbutrin that literally screwed up my life and almost lost me the person I love the most. While searching online a few people had made comments about raw healing various medical conditions (and I have lots of them) so I decided to find out more about raw foods. The reason I stayed here on Alissa's site is because it seemed to be one of the more active raw message boards, the people seemed friendly and encouraging, and many shared good solid knowledge about raw food and nutrition in general. I've been elsewhere and either the boards are mostly dead or I didn't agree with the general philosophy, and/or people were too cliquish.

All the people here on this board who have kind encouraging words for others, who willing share information on a wide variety of topics concerning the raw food lifestyle... Those are the people that inspire me, but no one is a hero (at least to me).

:throwhearts: to all the great people here!

[Raw Angel Mom]

My husband was my hero, then he introduced me to David Wolfe and after Alissa Cohen.

Alissa is the one that helped me to have faith in raw food and to know that i could do that. After watching her DVD, i went 60 days 100% raw food. Two years later, it was Victoria Butenko that helped to go back to 100% raw food with her green smoothies. Green smoothies is what helped me to have a solid foot in the raw food. It heals addiction.

The right person always show up in the timing is right!

All is well!

[Revvell]

This is what I was responding to ~

who inspired you with the raw lifestyle?
Although, I see a lot of people living heroic lives ~ doing what's against the norm, etc.

I would say if there's anyone I would consider a hero, it would be my teacher who did three tours in 'nam and who continues to teach and thrive today ~ Zenkahuna on YouTube. He's the only one of his regiment still alive because he changed his food program; his total way of living. All others died due to Agent Orange.

Also, all who put their lives on the line for others such as law enforcement and fire fighters are heroes to me.

Raw food "heroes?"..... nah.... not really.

[PansyLo]

I think everyone is taking the term "hero" too literally. It was just a question.

I figured it just meant people who inspire you. I think that was the intention.

Nobody is perfect and I never agree with people 100% on everything or trust what they say to be fact just because they said it. I like to listen to every opinion I find on things, even the ones I don't agree with. I certainly don't hero worship anyone.

That said there are still people I admire who inspire me. There's nothing wrong with that.

[The Sproutarian (Mr Raw)]

I think everyone is taking the term "hero" too literally. It was just a question.

Yep, the seriousness kind of spoils the fun. lf people don't like the word "hero", then substitute it with the world `inspire'.

[DebB]

I watched Robyn, "Green Smoothie Girl" on YouTube and started making green smoothies the next day. Within a week I decided to go hog wild, as they say @ 100% :) Great question!!

[walnutty]

David Wolfe, Alex the Raw Guru and The Monarch's!!!


I watch the Raw Food World TV Show (Matt & Angela Monarch) on a daily basis to stay inspired and excited about the raw lifestyle!

[Mony]

I first found out about the raw food lifestyle via my naturopath in 2009.. I bought a book from her store which was Natalia Rose's 'The Raw Food Detox Diet' .. this changed my life! She isn't completely raw and does include eating some cooked foods as you transition into this lifestyle... I learnt about food combining through her book and that made a world of difference, I ended up buying another book and have now been all raw through a long transition phase... other than that I just read a lot of online articles and take in whatever information resonates with me.. I have also found this forum and the archives very helpful! Seems to be a lot more active than other raw food forums :)

[The Sproutarian (Mr Raw)]

I watched Robyn, "Green Smoothie Girl" on YouTube and started making green smoothies the next day. Within a week I decided to go hog wild, as they say @ 100% :) Great question!!

How long have you been doing the raw lifestyle for Deb? lt still is hard to believe that you haven't been raw all your life, and you come across as a health food celebrity...you have that raw celebrity vibe about you. You are well researched and l see your presence everywhere on the internet. Interesting how you have Mimi Kirk as your youtube front page.

Interesting replies so far. l'll try and post my inspirations tomorrow, as always, it will come with a good story, and it will be longgg.

[Conscious Midwife]

A RFT member named SWINGBOLDER introduced me to RFT and I simultaneoulsy found Jinjee and Storm too. Ordered their DVD and then Alissa's book and DVD.

[The Sproutarian (Mr Raw)]

lt will be interesting to check out all these folks mentioned here. Definitely will check out ole Storm...a good name for a raw dude.

[EscapeArtist]

Dave the Raw Food Trucker all the way. His change in mind and spirit is so inspiring

[The Sproutarian (Mr Raw)]

I watch the Raw Food World TV Show (Matt & Angela Monarch) on a daily basis to stay inspired and excited about the raw lifestyle!

A great couple, and so in love, soul mates through and through, it warms the heart to see them. Angela is an absolute sweetheart. l feel they have a lot of integrity.


Dave the Raw Food Trucker all the way. His change in mind and spirit is so inspiring
His is a wonderful story. Love that man. Now he has copy cats.

Dan The Man is a laugh a minute. l love his attitude and how he keeps it simple.

[adobegirl]

I agree that Angela and Matt Monarch are a pleasure to watch. I remember getting the newsletters from them back in the day when they were engaged. So much fun watching their videos and amazing to see the growth of their raw baby.

I also think Dan the trucker has an amazing story. Very inspirational.

I love going on youtube and google and just typing in raw food sometimes. You can find some interesting stories and people.

My first experience with raw was with my natural healer friend. Without him, I would have been dead by now due to cancers and body shutting down. I was pretty sick back in the day so while God is my hero, I'm pretty thankful for that guy. He is a pretty amazing guy. My life has been an evolving journey through the physical, emotional and spiritual. I've come a long way, but the further I come, the more I realize that I have a really long way to go, in all areas.

:heart :heart

[Raw Angel Mom]

About you Mr. Raw, who was the first one to inspire you??

[RawHealthyBeauty]

For me, it's God, who spiritually pointed out to me the way Adam and Eve lived before they got kicked out of the Garden of Eden and I thought I was doing my own thing till I started researching on YouTube and the internet, WOW!!!...... then I really got inspired. Then I found Alissa and took her classes which was one of the best thing I ever ever ever ever have done in my life! She really is truly awesome and has such a genuine kind spirit which have made me feel like I have known her forever! She really took the stress out and added soooooo much fun in the raw food lifestyle & making raw food dishes when it came to using the food processor, dehydrator, and the Vita-Mix. She really has a special gift in turning your life upside down in good way with raw food! I am really grateful I got to meet her, she has been a blessing and still is!

Anyone who are into raw food is my heros! :)

[The Sproutarian (Mr Raw)]

About you Mr. Raw, who was the first one to inspire you??
l remember about a year or two after l got into health foods making a decision to learn as much as l could about raw fruits, nuts, seeds and vegetables and finding out what vitamins and minerals where in them and why they were so healthy. l also wanted to learn how many vitamins there were and what they actually did. That started my real search. l went to this bookshop and bought a brilliant book `laugh with health' which explained all about the health foods in good detail, and l read it at least 50 times and almost had a photographic recall of everything in the book because l was excited and inspired by raw foods. lt was then that l became so hungry to learn about health foods that l endeavoured to buy the thickest health book l could find in my city, so l ended up finding a 1,100 page book (much of it l never bothered to read) because l thought it would allow me to know everything LOL.

Well....l was flicking through this 1,100 page book and saw a section on sprouts. I read the sprouting section, and it was the following sentence that set me on my sproutarian journey:
Viktoras Kulvinskas and Ann Wigmore “feel that sprouts are likely the most vitally alive and nourishing foods we can eat”
That was the magic moment that knocked me to the moon, I’ll never forget that moment when l read that. I wondered how that could be possible, it was too hard to believe, l couldn’t imagine skimpy old sprouts being very special or nutritious, so l set out to find out everything l possibly could about sprouts and put them to the test by eating a diet high in sprouts. So l bought every book l could get by Dr Ann and Kulvinskas.

My first hero – Ann Wigmore
I bought the books `be your own doctor’, ``the wheatgrass book’, and `the sprouting book’ at first and was instantly blown away by this amazing lady. She appeared to know everything, not just health, but spirituality and the entire package. I couldn’t believe that anyone could eat all their food entirely raw, l wondered how that was possible, and my admiration grew more and more for this lady as l read her books dozens and dozens of times to l almost had every line of her books from memory. She had become my hero and complete inspiration, and even to this day l have never wanted to meet anyone so much in my entire life. I was never the type of bloke to have hero’s, but Dr Ann was my first.

My second hero – Viktoras Kulvinskas
I thought Dr Ann knew a lot, but when compared with Viktoras, she wasn’t even in the ballpark. I got as many of Vik’s books as l could and l read them over and over again, and even read his major book about 100 times until l almost had it committed to memory, because Vik inspired me and made me dare to dream in a way l had never done before. This man was the most amazing person l had ever come across and l wanted to be like him living his lifestyle, l wanted to be like him and know everything! Ann laid down the foundations for me on sproutarism, and Viktoras completed the job. Very soon l was a full blown sproutarian growing grasses, eating weeds, algaes and growing dozens of different sprouts. Both Ann and Vik said they are the best foods on the planet, and even a bloke named Brian Clement said the same thing (but l didn’t know much about Brian in those days), so l endeavoured to find out if all their claims were true. I went from being a toxic sick fellow in his 20’s (felt like 70) to a superman who felt like an agile 8 year old child again, l couldn’t believe how great l felt, and my mind was outstanding. I was so proud to be living the lifestyle of my hero’s, and l still am today. If it wasn’t for Dr Ann and Viktoras, l wouldn’t even want to be raw at all…it was the sprouts and my heros that kept me going and living my ultimate dream. I wrote letters to Vik in the old days (largely before the internet) and tried telephoning him on various occasions, but l was never successful..probably because the contact details in his books were out of date.

Eventhough Vik was the king of the raw food movement and always will be, and could run rings around Dr Ann, l still have that extra soft spot for Dr Ann over anyone else in the health movement, she was a very special lady…one of a kind.

They were my only hero’s in health because l feel a genuine love for them both, but l still greatly appreciate the work of Dr Brian Clement . He is the fellow that has given the raw food movement lots of credibility because of his amazing research backed up with a lot of very good science. If it wasn’t for Ann Wigmore starting off Dr Clement and for Vik building on his knowledge, the raw movement would probably still be a laughing stock today, so we owe these people ALOT! + l am greatful to Brian because he filled in gaps in my knowledge about sprouts to give me a very good understanding of them, and it has allowed me to promote them and have the answers to fully back up any questions. So yes….Ann started me off, Viktoras built my sprouting knowledge and gave me a proper appreciation of the full raw lifestyle, and Dr Brian finished the job with all the fine details. But l still say that Viktoras Kulvinskas is still way ahead of his time in the raw food movement…far advanced over anyone else (l believe) and even surpasses Dr Brian Clement, but the problem is that he is so advanced that many people misunderstand his teachings and end up getting sick. It took me 15 years to fully understand Viktoras, but that was only because of Dr Brian, but most importantly meditation…if l didn’t meditate, half of what Vik says would still be over my head.

Only last year l came a across a fellow called Steve Meyerowitz (Sproutman). While he is not my hero, he knows a lot about sprouts too, one of the most knowledgable sprouting people in the world and lives the lifestyle.

Ann Wigmore
http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b151/Marc_au/Ron1/Ron2/Ron%204/Ron%205/Ron%206/AnnWigmore1.jpg
http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b151/Marc_au/Ron1/Ron2/Ron%204/Ron%205/Ron%206/Annewigmore1.jpg
Look at that muscle tone, and look at those amazing bright eyes brought on by sprouts and meditation. INCREDIBLE!!! This lady was so dedicated to 100% raw and sprouts that she even was known to grow sprouts in her jacket pockets while travelling, and also travelled the world with a special suitcase designed to grow all her sprouts while on the road because of her total commitment to 100% raw, not even Dr Brian does that…he is known to eat some cooked food (as much as 10 – 15% cooked) while travelling.
Here is a rare sprouting video of Dr Ann Wigmore: what a legend!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pUO9sRuAQU0&feature=related

Dr Ann started all kinds of legends in the raw food world, and all of them are stars. One such raw food star was Joyce Oliveto who always speaks very effectionately of Dr Ann and used to drive into the mountains with a car load of sprouts and eat all the weeds and grasses as well.
Here is Joyce Oliveto in a really heartwarming interview (one of the best videos on youtube) of Joyce in all her glory. Look at her glowing skin! Not bad for an old lady who was really sick.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wroj0kPw_TQ&feature=related (1/5)

Viktoras Kulvinskas with Dr Ann Wigmore
http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b151/Marc_au/Ron1/Ron2/Ron%204/KulvinskasWigmore.jpg

It was this picture on the back of a sprouting book that really got me hooked. I thought that these people must KNOW A LOT because they weren’t growing normal fruit and vegetables….they were going to the extra trouble of growing grasses, and sprouts on soil and talking about enemas. I thought these people are doing something very different and speaking so authoritatively about it all, so they must be the experts of experts, and fortunately l soon discovered that they were indeed the best of the best. I am so glad l took this path instead of any other path in raw foods.

Here is an amazing video of Viktoras Kulvinskas in action. Simply one of the most inspiring and advanced speakers in the raw food movement. I believe it is probably the best youtube video on the raw food lifestyle on the internet:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zS4WdX75s5c (1/6)

lf l couldn't buy seeds for sprouting l would go back to cooked food without hesitation. l have NO interest in raw vegetables what-so-ever, and would even go as far to say that we shouldn't even be eating them.

[MysticTree]

lf l couldn't buy seeds for sprouting l would go back to cooked food without hesitation.

Really! Without hesitation? How sad.

[The Sproutarian (Mr Raw)]

Really! Without hesitation? How sad.

l have no interest in raw vegetables, unsprouted nuts and seeds what-so-ever.

[climbing]

Definitely Tonya Kay. She's a fellow dancer, and I wanted to be as hot, energetic and pretty as she is.

[rawconvenience]

Dr. S. K. Kim introduced me to the Saeng Shik philosophy. He is from South Korea. Saeng Shik? Living Food.

[Traceyraw]

Mr. Raw how do you consume your sprouts. I have been staying away from them but I want to start adding them to my diet. Any suggestions??

[The Sproutarian (Mr Raw)]

Mr. Raw how do you consume your sprouts. I have been staying away from them but I want to start adding them to my diet. Any suggestions??

l have them as juices, eat them, and unfortunately still have the nasty habit of blending some sprouts too. Blending unfortunately destroys the most important part of the sprouts, the phytonutrients and many of the enzymes, so renders much of the sprout power useless. Hopefully l soon will phase out the blending and just stick to mainly juicing and eating small amounts each day. lt all takes time. WE all have to start somewhere.

Brian Clement doesn't come up with figures like 92% of enzymes being destroyed by vitamix blending from no-where, he obviously has a very good scientist testing these foods to come up with such percentages. l strongly suspect that Dr Valerie Hunt has done the testing.

lt's best to consume the sesame seed sprout, sunflower seed sprout, flax seed sprout and all sprouted nuts as fermented seed pastes/cheeses. Eat the sprouted beans and lentil sprouts as a small meal, and juice all the green sprouts such as sunflower greens, pea shoot greens, fenugreek sprouts, alfalfa sprouts, cabbage sprouts, wheatgrass, broccoli sprouts etc. That would be the ideal way to work the sproutarian diet.

[Traceyraw]

[QUOTE=Mr Raw;686875]
Brian Clement doesn't come up with figures like 92% of enzymes being destroyed by vitamix QUOTE]
Wow I love my green smoothies. I don't get it your keeping everything when you blend???Why would juicing not destroy them?? This is the first time I have heard this.

[Revvell]

The more something is exposed to air, the more nutrients, etc. are lost therefore, juicing will do that as much as blending. Enjoy your smoozies. Many have healed themselves with smoozies as much as with juices.

[LuvTheSun]

What inspired me was when i read The beauty detox solution. For the first time i really learned how the body digest food. to say the least it was a eye opener!! After that i just dived into info on how to become raw and became raw over night. Now its everyone who keeps going on every story i read or any advice i get just keeps me strong and inspires me :throwhearts:

[BeingK8]

I would say if there's anyone I would consider a hero, it would be my teacher who did three tours in 'nam and who continues to teach and thrive today ~ Zenkahuna on YouTube. He's the only one of his regiment still alive because he changed his food program; his total way of living. All others died due to Agent Orange.


This sounds AWESOME. I can't wait to look into this person!

[Revvell]

This sounds AWESOME. I can't wait to look into this person!

Lemme know what you think, K8.

[BeingK8]

lf l couldn't buy seeds for sprouting l would go back to cooked food without hesitation. l have NO interest in raw vegetables what-so-ever, and would even go as far to say that we shouldn't even be eating them.
Wait a minute...I know I haven't been around much and I'm not a dyed-in-the-wool RFTer, so maybe this is abundantly explained elsewhere, but you don't eat raw veggies, just sprouts? Do you eat fruits/nuts/seeds or JUST sprouts? I'm so fascinated now!

[BeingK8]

Lemme know what you think, K8.
Well I youtubed his name and he's way into kettlebells, I see, (which I'm really intrigued by and want to try this whole exercise trend/movement out) but I really want to see his story. Got any links or video titles I should try to hear him talk about his experience with healing with diet?

I can't even tell if that's his name or a title or...??? I'm not up on that whole thing. And I searched a few key terms, like Zenkahuna healing raw food and stuff like that, and still more kettle bell stuff or links about raw foods that have nothing to do with him. Revvell, I'm so stoked about this guy's story; hook me up!

[Revvell]

He took his website down and now only posts what you see on YouTube. I've been with him for 26+ years (teacher/student). I think he might have some vids on what he eats mixed up with what he does. He introduced me to raw maybe 15 years ago ~ or so ~ although now he's high raw/vegan. For me, he's taken being alive to a whole different level. You might wish to check out what his other students are doing ~ Coach Tara, Buffalo Thief and Wanna.... he's subscribed to them on YT so they're easy to find.


Well I youtubed his name and he's way into kettlebells, I see, (which I'm really intrigued by and want to try this whole exercise trend/movement out) but I really want to see his story. Got any links or video titles I should try to hear him talk about his experience with healing with diet?

I can't even tell if that's his name or a title or...??? I'm not up on that whole thing. And I searched a few key terms, like Zenkahuna healing raw food and stuff like that, and still more kettle bell stuff or links about raw foods that have nothing to do with him. Revvell, I'm so stoked about this guy's story; hook me up!

[Indoor]

My wife's grandmother inspired me: Ester Klegerman. She's not a raw celebrity. But meeting her and talking to her was enough. One of the statements that got to me was: 'I haven't had health insurance for over 45 years!' She studied the natural life science hygiene courses and lived a simple life growing her own food (and not cooking it) down in Florida.
The first book I bought about raw food was 'The live food factor' by Susan Schenk. And she is my hero, also ;)

[The Sproutarian (Mr Raw)]

Wait a minute...I know I haven't been around much and I'm not a dyed-in-the-wool RFTer, so maybe this is abundantly explained elsewhere, but you don't eat raw veggies, just sprouts? Do you eat fruits/nuts/seeds or JUST sprouts? I'm so fascinated now!

Everything l eat is sprouted, but l do eat alittle bit of fruit, and NEVER any vegetables or unsprouted seeds. My posts are full of my views on sprouting, and if you went through old posts you would find my very strong reasons and arguments for eating a sproutarian diet. So if you are looking for why we should be sprouting our foods, many of my posts will give you excellent answers to why we should be doing it.

[BeingK8]

He took his website down and now only posts what you see on YouTube. I've been with him for 26+ years (teacher/student). I think he might have some vids on what he eats mixed up with what he does. He introduced me to raw maybe 15 years ago ~ or so ~ although now he's high raw/vegan. For me, he's taken being alive to a whole different level. You might wish to check out what his other students are doing ~ Coach Tara, Buffalo Thief and Wanna.... he's subscribed to them on YT so they're easy to find.
Gracias!

Everything l eat is sprouted, but l do eat alittle bit of fruit, and NEVER any vegetables or unsprouted seeds. My posts are full of my views on sprouting, and if you went through old posts you would find my very strong reasons and arguments for eating a sproutarian diet. So if you are looking for why we should be sprouting our foods, many of my posts will give you excellent answers to why we should be doing it.
Cool. I'm going to read more. I know that sprouting is the way to go for anything that can be sprouted, but I don't think I've known of anyone who eats veggies ONLY as sprouts. And I have heard the term sproutarian, so I don't know what rock I was under with never getting into learning about that. I usually learn about all the different styles, even if I don't follow them, because I incorporate some of the principles. Guess it wasn't my time to learn it until..NOW.

[The Sproutarian (Mr Raw)]

Gracias!

Cool. I'm going to read more. I know that sprouting is the way to go for anything that can be sprouted, but I don't think I've known of anyone who eats veggies ONLY as sprouts. And I have heard the term sproutarian, so I don't know what rock I was under with never getting into learning about that. I usually learn about all the different styles, even if I don't follow them, because I incorporate some of the principles. Guess it wasn't my time to learn it until..NOW.

Funny enough, l met a bloke last year who is exactly like me and feels the same as l do. He lives off sprouts and wants nothing to do with vegetables because he feels they are greatly inferior and not suitable for mankind. He also believes fruit is over-rated in this day and age like myself. INCREDIBLE! There obviously are people like us around. We are now good mates and have joined forces with a special website on sproutarianism and other real deep stuff...still been lazy and have got lots to write about.

[MysticTree]

We are now good mates and have joined forces with a special website on sproutarianism and other real deep stuff...still been lazy and have got lots to write about.

why don't you add the link to this site to your sig file on here?

[Shona]

The ladies who got me into raw foods: Shazzie, Karen Knowler, Ani Phyo.

[blessteve]

This is what I was responding to ~

Although, I see a lot of people living heroic lives ~ doing what's against the norm, etc.

I would say if there's anyone I would consider a hero, it would be my teacher who did three tours in 'nam and who continues to teach and thrive today ~ Zenkahuna on YouTube. He's the only one of his regiment still alive because he changed his food program; his total way of living. All others died due to Agent Orange.

Also, all who put their lives on the line for others such as law enforcement and fire fighters are heroes to me.

Raw food "heroes?"..... nah.... not really.

Just looked him up and thanks for the link. I am going to do one of his kettle bell work outs.

[blessteve]

Anyone remember the juice man info mercial in the early 90's ?
He had those really long gray eye brows and sold juicers in the middle of the night.

Thats what got me started. I was so unhealthy and half dead back then.

[Revvell]

Anyone remember the juice man info mercial in the early 90's ?


This guy? http://www.facebook.com/jaykordich

[blessteve]

hahaha haha thats him




This guy? http://www.facebook.com/jaykordich

[lightandlife]

Hiya,
For me it was like a gradual realisation that most food that's not raw is pretty useless. i'm not 100% raw yet but am working towards it. it's really exciting because i'm already so much more in tune with my body than i used to be!

http://foodforlightandlife.blogspot.co.uk/