Tonya Kay is an actress, TV personality, professional dancer and danger artist living in Los Angeles. A vegetarian of 28 years, vegan for 18 of those and raw vegan for the last 11, Tonya Kay pioneers the green health movement with appearances, publications and green media (available at 
| Raw-Vegan Health Miracles, Part 1: Clear Skin |
| Monday, 02 July 2012 10:00 | Written by Tonya Kay | Blog Entry |
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We—all of us—need to talk about the good things more often! If I meet you on the street someday, I don't wanna connect with you over a conspiracy theory, but rather connect because I can see the gorgeous clear whites of your eyes, so vibrant that I know you, too, are high on health. Let's find our similarities through the positive so we can infect our families, our friends and the world! If you've been reading my blogs, you know why I went vegetarian, vegan and then raw vegan. But let me tell you what keeps me coming back to it, every day, for eight years now: my skin. When I was a cooked vegan, I had acne. I took antibiotics for it, it was so bad. I knew shame when I looked in the mirror, which I avoided as often as possible, but was unable to do so effectively with my career in the visual performing-arts field. I noticed—as I was transitioning to raw vegan from cooked vegan—how (the few) raw vegans I had ever met all had amazing skin. No, not amazing skin—glowing skin. Like sunlight itself was emanating from within their radiant bodies. Guess what? Now I know there is absolutely nothing wrong with my skin. There never was. Now, my skin glows too. And for me, it's like a new self-relationship—it's fun to respect my reflection in the mirror and know that no amount of cosmetics could improve upon the true beauty of this healthy skin. I never thought that I would be saying these things about my own complexion, but I am. And it's blessings like this that make it easy to fall in love with my lifestyle and choose this diet every day. Every long-term raw vegan has a health miracle to share. Just ask us. We should be writing these things down! We know darn well that Western medicine isn't studying healthy people—all their results are based on sick people getting sicker. Their studies often avoid discussing the effects of exercise and improved diet. And they rarely take into account the effects of poor diet on their results. I want to know how healthy people get healthier. And that's why we should document our own health advances on forums and blogs and, by goodness, if you are a writer, then document it in a book or e-book. Make a documentary, write a fictional script—put this stuff on television. If we wait for it to come out in medical journals or be recognized by the FDA, we likely will be waiting a really long time, or at least until some corporation figures out how to make money off of us—that would speed things up. But there is no money to be made off of healthy people—no prescriptions to give out, no end-of-life care to administer, no insurance to sell, no junk food to package with toys for kids in 'meals,' no hygiene products to improve a 'problem.' True health has the same cost that a tree charges to share her apples. Eat an apple; it's free. We are free. Free to choose if we want our skin to glow and our eyes to sparkle. My complexion turnaround is one of my personal raw-vegan health miracles. But really, I'd call it miracle-light. It changed my life, but it did not save my life. Next time, I'll share some more poignant health advances I have experienced thanks to eating raw-vegan food. And if you've had any type of healing due to committing to a clean diet, please share it in the comments. We need to talk about the good things more often! Read Raw-Vegan Health Miracles, Part 2: Improved Mental Health [Sign up to be notified each time Tonya publishes a new Clean and Green Everyday blog entry on EcoHearth. See a complete list of writing by Tonya Kay on EcoHearth.com or visit her Clean and Green Everyday blog. – Ed.] Help the Earth, Spread the Word: Share this article with family and friends by clicking on the "Email This" or "Share This" links below right. Then see TODAY'S TOP STORIES.
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(17)
Written by Tonya Kay , July 05, 2012
Your community and your spirit purpose. Your gratitude. The food. How fortunate the raw movement for people like you, Danny Living.
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Written by danny living , July 03, 2012
How wonderful! Well said...
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My wife and I serve people raw food all day long and I will tell you, I am 50 years old and have worked since I delivered papers in 5th grade, almost 40 years. I've had plenty of jobs and nothing, nothing approaches this. This, is a privilege beyond me. Words poorly describe it, so I won't try. We think that the food, not anything we might say, works it's magic, absent our commentary. I wrote a little poem that's on the wall behind the counter to remind me: Like a silent messenger bearing inward the food stole into my very essence and spoke in a quiet whisper "I love you" I feel very grateful for all the good things in my life. I get to work next to Kathy all day long, but we have this great job that allows us to share what we love, from our love, with everyone who eats. I serve. The food works.
Written by Tonya Kay , January 02, 2011
Well said, Amanda! It's that energy that consistently shows up in the raw scene that keeps me immersed in the community! This lifestyle seems to provide SO much joy to those who experience it that the social support is always present. The people are so radiant and POSITIVE about life. From an outsider's perspective, it might seem as if just a few "special" people are activated, but that's exactly why I wanted others to shout out about their own health miracles here in the comments - it's EVERYONE. What's the most notable: get a group of raw fooders in a room. I'm not what I consider hippie or metaphysical, but even I can only describe the phenomenon as "high vibration". Groups of these newly positive and radiant raw fooders is a contagious inspiring energy. That alone is the social support that everyone is worried they are gonna miss out on when the transition. I'm rah, rah, raw, too:-)
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Written by Amanda , December 30, 2010
I have to agree, my skin is my #1 favorite part of going raw... That, as well as the clear head/mind, increased athletic ability, higher spiritual awareness, and so many other benefits! I'm always in a stellar mood (and people always notice!), I have faster reflexes, can think faster, and seem to score better academically as well...
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When I first started transitioning into raw, it was crazy how much I seemed to be learning from the universe...But once you open yourself up, detox, and can see behind lies and pollutants, it's amazing... There's just so much I love about being raw, and I guess another favorite is seeing hope in peoples' eyes when I tell them about the lifestyle. No, you weren't born to be unhealthy, balding, or insecure, and there truly is a better life for everyone... The greatest lesson might be that I've been able to see people for who they truly are, special and unique children of God... :) I kinda went off on this, but I just have to agree with you analogy... Why keep pounding myself on the thumb? I've found the ultimate path to bliss, and it's called ditchin the hammer and choosing to be happy... Thanks for all you do!
Written by Tonya Kay , November 15, 2010
I've heard, Jocelyn, that the raw diet has helped other friends' digestion and assimilation. I am delighted to know that you've noticed improvements, too. My digestion has changed (in a positive way) personally. I guess I'm not considered regular? Let that not be confused with average, though!
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Written by jocelyn , November 14, 2010
I have celiac and my body completely deteriorated. I was always a performer and athlete, but 16 years into eating gluten I had very little intestine left to absorb anything. People wanted me to eat meat, which I was not inclined to do. I've been vegan for almost seven years and started going vegetarian since I found out what meat was (went fully veggie at age ten). Although I am still small, eating raw proteins and doing proper food combination has allowed me to develop some lean muscle which has improved my performance. As well, I wasn't absorbing anything and was anemic, which I no longer am. I eat some steamed asparagus and Brussels sprouts here and there, but having a high raw diet has definitely improved my health.
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Written by Tonya Kay , November 12, 2010
Wow! It sounds like you are really living the dream Tracy! What an inspiration you are - growing your own food, going vegetarian, taking care of your health and extending that great feeling to others ... these really are the most noble pursuits in life.
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Yes, hjb, there are more miracles to come! Keep reading.
Written by hjb , November 10, 2010
tonya, you rule. this is only part 1. are there more miracles to come?
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Written by Tracy Tenny , November 10, 2010
I'm always reading your articles, I find them inspiring. I was not only a meat eater before reading them, but also a major junk food junkie. Now I'm a Veggiesaurus all the way, lol. I'm not 100% raw yet all the time, but I am transitioning & about 95% there. I still like my oatmeal, always plain. Fruits & veggies were easy as I'm an indiscriminate fruit & veggie eater & have always preferred mine uncooked & as pure as I can get. My health miracles include....ready for this??? I am completely off medications for severe depression & anxiety, asthma & allergy medications (which I had to take daily & included a major steroid), I turned my pre-diabetes stage completely around, and I also got rid of a major Candida problem. I train daily in martial arts & I am the spryest & most ALIVE I've ever been. Once I decluttered my body & started the karma cleansing process, something else happened also. I started looking around me to see what else in my life I could declutter & improve, not only in my own immediate home, but in the community as well. I am fortunate enough to live where I can grow a very large majority of my edibles (completely organic), my sister refers to my place as “The Garden of Eatin’ “. A simple dietary lifestyle change had a positive ripple effect for the whole rest of my life & those that are a part of it. I experienced that moment where you finally see your real self that’s been hidden away in the mirror & say out loud “there you are”. Why on Earth would I ever want to go backwards? Eat well, Live well, Be well!
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Written by Tonya Kay , November 10, 2010
Hi, health enthusiasts! I love feeling good, too! And when someone tells me how good they feel, I am inspired to go further - see how good it can get, you know? Listen to all of you with health miracles to tell! I know I, on an everyday basis, am still so happy that my skin is just full of sunlight and glowing that I wish I could shout to the world and let them know how easy it is. Sometimes people say "isn't it hard to be a raw vegan in this world?" and I say, "eating cooked animal-product based food is a lot like hitting myself on the thumb with a hammer - as soon as I know what's causing the pain, no, it is not difficult, not difficult at all to stop".
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Keep'em coming! Tell me something good! I'm so amped to talk to people about positive and miraculous things!
Written by Emily Kate Boyd , November 10, 2010
You are an inspiration, Tonya. Thank you.
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Written by JamesT , November 10, 2010
Thanks for the wonderful story. When I went vegetarian, I became more regular. When I went vegan, my cholesterol went from danger levels to below normal range. When I went raw, my acne cleared up and my weight slowly dropped to the low end of normal. I'm not 100% raw, but inching closer by the day. Thanks for the inspiration. I'm looking forward to Part 2 and reading your other blogs.
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Written by Tansy , November 10, 2010
It is amazing how good I have felt with my transition into being high raw over the past 2 years! I have experienced depression, anxiety, and bad, dry skin for most of my life, that I can remember. The more I have increased my raw intake, the more I have noted these issues to subside. The most eye-opening occurrence would have to be with my depression. If I allow a sweet treat that is not full of raw goodness, I note a very negative, sad feeling when I am coming off of the sugar high. My family was raised on sweet treats as rewards and I never, ever once felt the way I do now in the aftermath. Raw has made me realize the wonders of health, vitality, and what a "natural high" is all about!
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Written by Lorra , November 10, 2010
TOO true! I went raw vegan to help with my depression (possibly bipolar disorder) and anxiety, which vanished within the first two weeks. It does rear its ugly head sometimes but the instances are brief and usually have a reason instead of being constant and baffling.
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My chronic sex-induced bladder infections stopped - THIS is reason enough for me to keep eating this way. They plagued me for years, to the point where I was either too afraid to have sex, or I would take a low-dose antibiotic when I did. My skin also cleared up and glows. My TEETH have been cavity free for the first time in my LIFE (I am almost 33 and just had x-rays done the other day...and had the news I had no new cavities, which is a first). I haven't really been sick since going raw except for a couple of colds which were due to me deviating to cooked food and then going back to all raw. They were mild colds, too. OH, and I lost 20 lbs without even trying - BONUS! I love hearing people tell me their health triumphs!!
Written by Joanna Steven , November 09, 2010
You are so right. I am so sick of connecting over conspiracy theories, I want to connect about other things, things that make life beautiful! That's why I avoid certain raw food forums now -- too much negativity. Your picture is perfect for the article!
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Written by Steve the Kaleidoscope Guy , November 09, 2010
You are so the right kind of bright light Tanya...thanks.
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Your words make me want to glow too! There are two kinds of light - the glow that illuminates, and the glare that obscures. James Thurber |
Outside of ideals and ethics lies the everyday life of the committed raw vegan. Conversations about the politics of my decision to eat lots of this and exclude all of that are given very little voice at my actual dinner table. And personally, as little time as I spend chatting about the social convictions of my chosen diet, I spend even less time at the actual dinner table. My raw-vegan life is not isolated in the kitchen, away from "horrible" carnivores, toiling over another complicated recipe with expensive ingredients, avoiding the proximity of cooked food and cooked people like the plague. Nope. My raw-vegan life happens quite effortlessly—even rambunctiously—and there are simply too many wonderful things about being a raw vegan to slow me down. 
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