CNN: Woman goes raw, loses more than half herself

http://www.cnn.com/2008/HEALTH/diet.fitness/09/26/weightloss.angela.stokes/
index.html?iref=mpstoryview (pictures and video on web site)

Woman goes raw, loses more than half herself

Story Highlights

* Angela Stokes, 30, was miserable, unhealthy, weighed 300 pounds
* She began a raw vegan diet after reading a book about its health
benefits
* Stokes lost 160 pounds in two years, improving her emotional, physical
health
* She now weighs 138 pounds and has written several books on "raw foodism"

By Jackie Adams
CNN

(CNN) -- Angela Stokes had never been overweight as a child.

But she steadily started gaining weight as a teenager because of an
under-active thyroid gland. By the time she graduated from college her
weight had ballooned and she wore a U.K. dress size 26-28.

"I was 300 pounds, very unwell, very miserable," recalls Stokes. "I ate
junk food all the time. I was very closed down emotionally. I had no
interest in dieting; I just wanted to eat all the time ... that was like
my
comfort in life."

At the time, she says she was so "emotionally shut down" she refused to
talk to anyone about what was happening. The weight was also taking a
physical toll on her health and she frequently battled infections and
illness.

Stokes says living her everyday life became a challenge.

"My mobility was quite restricted ... I was unwilling to participate in
things from cutting my toenails to going on a walk with my friends,"
remembered Stokes. "I tried to give this impression that I felt fine about
everything, but inside I was in a lot of pain a lot of the time."

Two summers after she reached her heaviest weight, Stokes was working at a
greenhouse in Iceland, when a friend lent her a copy of a book about the
health benefits of eating raw foods. Stokes, who had never been interested
in diets, says she was completely "absorbed" by the approach. 

She started eating raw the very next day.

"Everything in my life completely ****fted. It was like a light bulb moment
to be like ... 'this is what I was waiting for to reclaim my health,' "
said Stokes. 

She went cold turkey or "cold cu***ber," as Stokes often jokes. She
stopped
eating meat, animal products and processed foods and instead switched to a
diet that consisted of uncooked and unprocessed vegetables, fruits, nuts
and seeds. 

"To me, the thing with raw food is that it just makes sense. It's simple
and natural, eating food straight from the earth. There's no rocket
science, no mystery," said Stokes. "Once you understand the simple
principal that no other animal in the wild eats cooked or processed foods.
That's it."

The raw food diet completely transformed her life, she says. Within the
first month of going raw, she had her first boyfriend in more than five
years. In just two years, she had lost 160 pounds and has experienced
dramatic improvements emotionally, physically and socially and is "happier
than I've ever been."

Andrea Giancoli, a registered dietitian and spokeswoman for the American
Dietetic Association, says everyone could stand to eat more fruits and
vegetables. 

"We all need to be moving towards a more plant-based diet," Giancoli said.
"There are more pitfalls to a typical American diet with all of the
processed foods and focus on meat than there are to a plant-based diet." 

Is it healthier to eat uncooked vegetables? Not necessarily. 

"The raw diet, specifically, the philosophy behind it is scientifically
incorrect," Giancoli said. "Raw foodists believe that cooking food
destroys
enzymes that are essential for the body. While that's true, so does the
gastric acid or juice in your stomach. 

"So those enzymes are broken down anyway in your gastro-intestinal tract."


Giancoli believes there's a nutritional downside to a vegetarian diet.
People who eat no animal foods run the risk of nutritional deficiencies
such as a lack of vitamin B-12, iron and zinc and the powerful Omega-3
fatty acids found in fish, she said. 

Giancoli recommends people meet with a dietitian to develop a balanced
eating plan before they embark on a raw food diet.

Stokes, who now weighs 138 pounds, has kept the weight off for four years
and authored several books on "raw foodism" lifestyle. 

What tips does she have for people considering a raw vegan lifestyle?
First, start slowly.

"I recommend people start out being at least 50 percent raw and go from
there," advises Stokes. "Maybe it ends up at some point you are completely
raw, maybe not. As long as the majority of the stuff or at least 50
percent
is fresh raw food ... then you're tipping the balance in your favor."

Stokes also advises people to start eating things they like such as
peaches, plums or spinach and then slowly incor****ate more fresh raw
foods.
She admits the lifestyle can be socially challenging and she encourages
people to connect with other "raw foodists."

"It's great to get sup****t. If you look on the Internet and around you,
you
may find pot lucks," said Stokes. "Read books to inspire you to keep going
on this journey."