I was born a sickly child. As an infant I had double pneumonia. All through my childhood I suffered with chronic ear, nose and throat problems. I was on the STandard American Diet (SAD) diet. I would eat meat and sweets for the most part. I remember eating whole cakes in one day. I was overweight and constipated. I would go sometimes as long as two weeks without a bowel movement. It would affect me so bad that I would have to leave my school classes sometimes. I remember in school where the teacher had to send a student into the restroom to get me. I was so sick I could not leave the bathroom.

In college I remember my stomach was so bloated that I went to the hospital. I told them my stomach hurt. The next thing I knew they were doing an exam to see if I was pregnant. I had never had sex at this time nor ever been to a gynecologist. During this time my tonsils were bothering me so bad I had them surgically removed. I thought this would be better but I got worse. I came down with mononucleosis. My symptoms only got worse.

I decided to look into healthy ways of eating. My boyfriend at the time was a vegetarian, so this helped me on my journey. I began to read books and start to change my diet. During this time I also was diagnosed with pre-cancer of the uterus. The doctor wanted to do surgery but I refused and went on a macrobiotic diet. A year later I went back to the same doctor and he said I was fine. I ate macrobiotic for years. This diet helped me but I still did not feel good.

I tried acupuncture, herbs, vitamins and other alternative healing methods. I personally did not get the results I wanted from these methods. I then began to study classical homeopathy. I went to a naturopathic college in Seattle, Washington, and studied acute homeopathy. Homeopathy is by far the best medicine to use if used properly. There are many sources of homeopathy available but only a handful are reputable. The older books on the subject are the best to study.

I still wanted to eat better to feel better so I started to eat a vegan diet. I ate a lot of tofu, fake meat, pasta, etc. I gained weight and felt bad. I then heard about the raw vegan diet. I started on this and felt better. I have been experimenting with the diet. Since I like sweets I have had a tendency to eat too much fruit and not enough vegetables. My enamel started to come off my teeth. I now am working on balance. This is key to eat a balance diet of fresh raw fruit, vegetables, nuts and seeds.

I go and fast every year. A water fast is the best. It is a major experience. Never do a fast without a qualified doctor and a place to go and be monitored. Fasting can be the healthiest thing you ever do. It is the best way to clean out your body and give your body a chance to be at its best. You will feel and look great after a fast.

I am 47 years old now and feel and look great. It has been a long journey to health but now I feel I have finally found it.

Tawana Jurek