Why We Both Abandoned 100% Raw Vegan Dogma after 29 Years

In this episode, John and Kaelash delve into their transformative journey from strict raw veganism to a more inclusive and balanced approach to diet. With nearly three decades of experience, they reflect on how their initial zeal for raw foods sometimes led to rigid beliefs and social isolation. Kaelash shares his current projects, including the Vital Influence Portal, which focuses on holistic wellness through somatics and yoga therapy, highlighting the importance of gentle, mindful movement for pain relief and overall well-being.

As the discussion unfolds, viewers will learn about the nuanced perspectives both John and Kaelash have developed over the years regarding cooked foods. They candidly discuss their initial resistance to anything cooked and how life circumstances and deeper understanding have led them to appreciate the benefits of incorporating minimally processed cooked foods into their diets. This shift is not just about diet but also about fostering a more inclusive and less dogmatic approach to health and wellness, emphasizing balance and individual needs over strict adherence to raw food ideologies.

Ultimately, this episode offers valuable insights into the evolution of personal beliefs and practices around diet. Viewers will gain a deeper understanding of the potential pitfalls of rigid dietary dogmas and the importance of flexibility and open-mindedness in maintaining long-term health. By sharing their journey, John and Kaelash encourage viewers to find their balanced path, free from the pressures of dietary labels, and to prioritize kindness and inclusivity within the health and wellness community.

Jump to the following topics:
00:00 Episode Starts
00:36 What has Kaelash been up to?
01:42 What is somatics?
03:01 Why we got into eating Raw Vegan
05:10 Is Cooked Food Poison?
06:18 What we originally learned about Raw Vegan
09:15 Our definition of being Raw Vegan
11:19 Why Kaelash Started Eating Cooked Food
12:21 What reaction from Cooked food did you get?
12:53 Did you just start eating lots of cooked food?
15:05 The hypocrisy of raw veganism
17:05 Breaking free from the Raw Vegan Dogma
20:15 John's Style of Eating Raw Vegan
21:30 What is your identity?
23:20 Why Kaelash Started Eating Cooked Foods
25:35 Thoughts on Microbiome and Cooked Foods
27:10 Importance of Resistance Starch
28:00 How much cooked food does Kaelash eat?
30:40 I am particular about the heat processed foods I eat
31:31 Kaelash still makes all Raw food for himself
33:08 What cooked foods have you eaten in the last month
34:20 Did eating small amounts of cooked food cause any health problems?
36:02 Why John started eating heat processed foods
36:45 How much fruit is best to eat?
41:35 What does John eat that is heat-processed?
43:55 Kaelash Sharing His Words of Wisdom
48:00 Learn more about Kaelash and his current project

After watching this episode, you will learn John and Kaelash's views on cooked foods has changed over the years.

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Referenced Episodes:
Are all cooked foods addictive?

Importance of resistant starch

He ate No Fruit for one year

How much Cooked vs Raw Food

26 Year Raw Vegan now eats cooked foods
 
Avoid Cooked food toxins

Get enough calories on raw foods
  
More Videos with Kaelash 
55 Years of Raw Vegan insight so you succeed instead of fail

Eat these 9 Living Foods for Better Health

Don't Just Eat Raw Foods, Eat this instead

Next Level Vacuum Blended Energy Soup

fruits, fats, or sprouted grains

Traveling Raw on the Plane with John and Kaelash

Buy Kaelash's 3 DVD Heal Yourself from Pain DVD at

[okraw]

Jump to the following parts of this episode:
00:36 What has Kaelash been up to?
01:42 What is somatics?
03:01 Why we got into eating Raw Vegan
05:10 Is Cooked Food Poison?
06:18 What we originally learned about Raw Vegan
09:15 Our definition of being Raw Vegan
11:19 Why Kaelash Started Eating Cooked Food
12:21 What reaction from Cooked food did you get?
12:53 Did you just start eating lots of cooked food?
15:05 The hypocrisy of raw veganism
17:05 Breaking free from the Raw Vegan Dogma
20:15 John's Style of Eating Raw Vegan
21:30 What is your identity?
23:20 Why Kaelash Started Eating Cooked Foods
25:35 Thoughts on Microbiome and Cooked Foods
27:10 Importance of Resistance Starch
28:00 How much cooked food does Kaelash eat?
30:40 I am particular about the heat processed foods I eat
31:31 Kaelash still makes all Raw food for himself
33:08 What cooked foods have you eaten in the last month
34:20 Did eating small amounts of cooked food cause any health problems?
36:02 Why John started eating heat processed foods
36:45 How much fruit is best to eat?
41:35 What does John eat that is heat-processed?
43:55 Kaelash Sharing His Words of Wisdom
48:00 Learn more about Kaelash and his current project
Referenced Episodes:
More Videos with Kaelash

[Bad_Kitteh]

Thank you! I was a big part of the raw movement (90's) but was driven away by the rigid rules, and the 100% mindset. My current health has turned me back toward raw and I'm moving forward less rigidly and more lovingly I def. appreciate this post.

[Rabbitunderground]

Happy to have found your channel via Cara & Markus and your inspiring vacuum blender demo!

[healthfullivingify]

Fun video, John and Kaelash. It is mature to outgrow being fanatic about anything. You both eat as well as anybody I know. Factoring in a little cooked food, prepared in the most healthful way, shows balance. I ate raw foods for a year long ago, felt great, light, clear in my dreams, super sensitive and so on and so forth. I added cooked vegetarian foods for a few years, then went vegan and have enjoyed that for decades. I eat the best of raw and cooked and am happy with it. I make juices and smoothies, take lots of herbs and all plant-based supplements. I don't preach about it. I accept others as they are and if an opportunity to be a good influence arises, I share. I do have big plans for how to share this way of living on a wide scale, offering world's best meals worldwide. Keep on doing what you guys are doing- you are both super inspirations. Thanks, John and Kaelash.

[truesight]

Living 100% raw and live foods is not dogma although there are many challenges we face today that make it seem so and I will do my best to explain why. See naturally humans are forest dwellers, we thrive in a fresh and pristine forest-like environment full of tropical fruits, this is where our brains and bodies evolved mostly contrary to popular belief... However these days we live in very sick and denatured/unnatural environments completely different from how we lived many thousands of years ago in perfect health. This history is mostly lost but few of us have managed to recover it. Now when we consume 100% live foods, especially fruit, our entire cellular biology changes gradually back to its original blueprint, our cells literally vibrate with cosmic light or energy, they become fully charged and activated, which makes us hyper-aware, super-psychic and hypersensitive to the environment around us. When we start to purify from inside out, our cells literally Rebel and Protest to leave or move away from any environment that is not supporting of the vibration the cells are radiating at. This is why many great sages and yogis go and live far away from society in the mountains in ideal environments to support their vibration. They literally radiate with light/truth and cannot stand to be around a disordered environment full of people living in concrete prisons and mental institutions living a sheep-like rat race, stuck in never ending cycles. At the same time you feel and pick-up everything, every toxin, every frequency, every artificial noise and machine, it drives you mad, I know from experience... so what tends to happen is, if we choose to stay in a sicker / less-ideal environment, we need (denser) food choices to compensate to live in a more balanced and harmonious way with the environment around us or we are driven mad. We tend to go for the cooked and potatoes/nuts ect... to help numb our senses from feeling so much and sensing so much because there is so much sadness, darkness, pain and suffering in city environments let alone toxins, electronics and radiation, if we aren't somewhat NUMB to it, it can drive us insane. This stuff was also expressed in-depth by the great metaphysician Hilton Hotema in his book: Mans Higher Consciousness. I suggest to give it a read. These days I live and eat (intuitively) in touch with my soul, depending on my state of being and the environment I am living in. When I am living in a forest or tropics, I eat nothing but fruits and raw living foods and I actuaally need to eat way less because most of my energy comes from the environment/air around me, on the otherhand when I am in a denser environment, I will eat mostly raw, and have the occasional warmed meal from time to time when it "feels" right. Being in touch with our Soul is crucial for living and thriving in life. This was the Buddhas representation of (The Middle Way). Hope this helps. Namaste ~

[HopeWellCLT]

I really appreciate your video...thank you for bringing some kindness and love to this topic. We all need more of this viewpoint. Much LOVE!

[agingintobeauty]

I commend you for your honesty. It’s difficult, when your brand is based on one philosophy and your subscribers support that, to change, grow and evolve. I have grown and changed also and really appreciate you sharing your journey:)

[Sampozsik]

John Kohler a great wealth of knowledge not afraid to speak the truth!

[mamalovesthebeach]

Hanna Somatics is KING! It saved my climbing arborist husband years ago. He’s been doing Somatics everyday for over 15 years. 65 and still doing full on tree work including climbing. Thanks John, for introducing Kaelash! Beautiful discussion!

[fruityforests]

Thanks so much, John and Kaelash, for sharing your valuable experience. I was also eating "100% raw vegan" for 11 years and in that dogmatic view for 13 yrs. Yet, I realised very early on (within 3 yrs into the rawfood journey) that majority of packaged nuts are not raw living food . Only the seeds, grains and legumes that can be sprouted are truly raw living food. Too many "rawfoods" eaters, especially newbies, couldn't understand the concept of "non-roasted" nuts and seeds are not "raw" and less healthy than steamed veggies. Many of them even prefer to stuck in the "raw" dogma (so they feel fine to binge on nut and dried fruits), not seeing the difference of raw v.s. living food. Totally resonate with 100% Health Wholistically.

[Marinaxp]

Thank you for being open and down to earth and keeping the healthy diet real ❤.

[TheRawAdvantage]

Great video, I love the message of coming together, creating nutritional clarity, and not demonizing simple cooked whole plant foods. I also agree in the 75%+ raw foods definition rather than the black and white view. As an aside, I love something Ive hear Dr Graham say, we are all raw foodists, its just that some people choose to eat cooked foods. Much love to you both🙏

[azzzonline]

Really enjoyed this conversion with you and Kaelash. Such good information. :)

[Michelle-fevw]

Great video- looking forward to the next with Kaelash and his smoothie recipes. Thank you. Will also check out Kaelash’s courses.

[otisjr.]

What do you put in your blended salad? I thought about doing that but not sure how to go about it.

[GenieLupo]

Love the energy between the two of you! Keep them coming please! 🙏🙏🙏

[andrewsmith]

The "Drs" who say raw is "necessary 100% of the time" are simply psychologists or chiropractors who have never had a clinical patient in their life🤔 On the contrary, we have heart surgeons, cardiologists, and MD's like Ornish, Barnard, Klaper,  McDougall and Esselstyn who've had thousand of patients sustain a starch based diet for decades without question🍚🌾🥔

[anitacarrington]

Everyone's path is different, respect everyone's journey and simply love one another.

[alisonbamford]

I feel that whilst raw food is awesome for detoxing & healing it doesn’t need to be a long-term thing, just long enough to really give the body a good clear out. After all, some of the longest lived & healthiest people do eat some cooked foods. Some may need to be raw for a few weeks, some for a few months & others may need a year or more depending on the degree of toxicity, but it doesn’t need to be for life as long as one doesn’t go back to eating garbage.

[meetyadobraw]

Thank you for sharing the experience, appreciate much ❤️