with
Raeh Roker Williams
wife, mom, entrepreneur
___________________________________________
I’ve always considered myself a “healthy” eater as
I always ate lots of fruit, veggies and little meat.
However, I didn’t understand the havoc being
wreaked on my body from eating a low fat, low
calorie, sugar free diet, this and that and lots of
inconspicuous highly refined/ processed food.
Discovering hormonal issues about 6 years ago,
led me to start researching how my diet could
help to reverse the issues. So I started juicing and
began cutting out red meat. However, not until
last year did I take it very seriously. I was pregnant
with severe Hyperemesis Gravidarum, but more
frightening, I had to have surgery while 16 weeks
pregnant. The surgery was to remove a tumor on
my cyst, all diagnosed to be due to hormonal issues.
I immediately started educating myself on what
healthy is EXACTLY and learned that whole
foods and a plant based diet are essential for
good health. I have been learning to cook 100%
vegan dishes that taste and feel good, gaining
an understanding of how food storage, heating
and everything in between affects nutrition. I
incorporate juicing and smoothies into my
diet daily with focus on veggies and greens. I
have almost completely cut out dairy and and
only have steamed milk in coffee occasionally.
I don’t eat red meat or pork at all and try to eat
only chicken raised
without antibiotics
or hormones once a
week or less. Other
than that I eat wild
caught
or
local
seafood only, but very
often eat meals with
no meat/flesh at all.
I still feel “mash up”
from being on bed
rest last year, but still
feel REALLY good
physically compared
to before. My energy
is better, I have fewer breakouts and I weigh
less than I did pre-pregnancy. The journey is
sometimes a struggle but I always think about
my baby girl and the fact that I want to be
around to see her grow up and experience life.
There is no food or lifestyle that is worth not
being there for my daughter.
I’ve been able to inspire others to consider
and even join me on the healthy living journey
through my “Affordable Healthy” movement. I
hope to continue to be an inspiration to those
who find healthy living too expensive or who
find the “experts” and “gurus” hard to identify
with because they feel so far behind on their
journey… I’m right there with them and hope to
inspire positive healthy change!