In recent years, the veganism movement has seen significant growth, with numerous individuals adopting plant-based diets for ethical and health motivations. Nonetheless, a recent unfortunate event involving Zhanna Samsonova, a 39-year-old vegan influencer living in Thailand, has brought attention to the potential hazards associated with extreme dietary decisions.
Maintaining a healthy diet is crucial for achieving fitness goals. However, resorting to extreme measures can have grave and even fatal consequences. It is essential to strike a balance and adopt sustainable and safe approaches to nourish our bodies effectively.
Zhanna, also known as Zhanna D’Art on her online platforms, was a dedicated proponent of raw veganism, promoting the consumption of uncooked plant-based foods through her social media channels. Over at least ten years, she adhered to an all-raw vegan diet, with a strong reliance on large quantities of sweet jackfruit and durian, a distinctive fruit recognised for its creamy texture and strong aroma.
According to her Instagram posts, Zhanna followed a strict raw vegan diet that excluded salt, oil, and any added fats. She emphasised consuming only unprocessed and whole plant-based foods to maintain her dietary choices and lifestyle.
Despite her passion for the restrictive raw vegan diet, signs of distress started to emerge in Zhanna’s health. While touring Southeast Asia, she became extremely weak and developed swollen legs with lymphatic fluid leaking. Concerned about her condition, she sought medical treatment, but passed away, leaving her friends and family in deep sorrow. The tragic incident serves as a reminder of the potential risks associated with extreme dietary choices and highlights the importance of a balanced and well-rounded approach to nutrition.
What’s a Raw Vegan Diet?
A typical raw vegan diet emphasises the consumption of whole, unprocessed plant-based foods. It includes a variety of fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, sprouted grains, and legumes. These foods are known to provide essential nutrients such as vitamins, minerals, fibre, and antioxidants required for the functioning of the body. The vegan diet, however, excludes animal foods, dairy products, and eggs, which are sources of important nutrients.
One of the key aspects of a raw vegan diet is that it avoids cooking, as heating food above a certain temperature (usually around 118°F or 48°C) is believed to diminish its nutritional value and enzymes. As a result, raw vegans often use alternative methods of food preparation, such as soaking, sprouting, blending, and dehydrating, to create a diverse and flavourful array of dishes.
By focusing on whole, natural foods, the raw vegan diet tends to be naturally low in processed foods, added sugars, and unhealthy fats. This can have potential health benefits, such as promoting weight loss, improving digestion, and reducing the risk of certain chronic diseases.
However, it’s essential for individuals considering a raw vegan diet to ensure they are getting all the necessary nutrients, particularly vitamin B12, which is primarily found in animal products. Supplementation or careful planning is often required to meet all nutritional needs adequately.
As with any dietary choice, it’s important to consult with a healthcare professional or registered dietitian to ensure that the diet is balanced and appropriate for an individual’s specific health needs and goals.
Being committed to a raw vegan diet, Zhanna explored creative ways to prepare food without using heat. She crafted dishes like dumplings and sushi with uncooked ingredients and employed unique items such as ‘coconut leather’ or homemade raw “marinara” sauce. Her diet primarily consisted of fruit-based meals, reflecting her dedication to a plant-based and unprocessed lifestyle. However, her extreme eating habits may have contributed to the health issues she experienced, underscoring the importance of balanced nutrition for overall well-being.
It is also believed that Zhanna didn’t drink any water for the past six years, which again makes everyone question the kind of diet she followed. So, it is always advisable to follow instructions from professionals without falling for such FAD diets proclaimed by influencers.
Don’t get influenced and follow a healthy balanced diet!
