I recently had the opportunity to watch a film by Dr. Gabriel Cousens on reversing diabetes naturally and I was really inspired and blown away by the results.  Even though genetics play a huge role in one’s chance of getting type 2 diabetes, most of us are also aware that diet and lifestyle play a huge role in the epidemic that we are experiencing today. Even so, most experts are hesitant to say that diabetes can be cured with diet alone. I think that Dr. Gabriel Cousens’s 21-day program, held at The Tree of Life Rejuvenation Center, does a great job at showing us how powerful a change of diet can be on diabetes, insulin needs, blood sugar, weight, and overall physical and mental health.

For those who aren’t familiar, a raw-live food vegan diet consists of fresh unprocessed and uncooked whole plant foods such as vegetables, sprouts, seeds, nuts, grains, beans, dried fruit and sea vegetables. What makes this way of eating unique is that none of the foods are cooked above 112°F (44°C), as it has been found that heat alters the molecular structure of the food and also destroys many of the enzymes, vitamins and phytonutrients found in raw, living food.

The benefits described by those who eat a primarily raw-live food diet (80% or more), unrelated to diabetes, are increased energy, better skin, improved digestion, weight loss and a reduced rate of heart disease. Overall, many say that they look and feel younger and that their long-term health problems begin to disappear.

Raw-live food isn’t just about salads. There are thousands of recipes that include healthy versions of pizza, wraps, burgers, crackers, pasta and even deserts that in my opinion often taste better than their cooked counterpart. Although it takes a little practice and learning to get started on a raw live food diet, many quickly find that it is easier than eating cooked foods and that meals can be prepared in just a few minutes with a little pre-planning.

The main raw food dietary recommendation for those looking to reverse diabetes under Dr. Gabriel Cousen’s program is to eliminate sugar on a completely vegan live food (uncooked) diet. For the initial three months, the diet should be free of sugar (including all natural sugars and fruits except for the herb stevia) and consist of greens, vegetables, sea vegetables, nuts and seeds. Later, once the physiology is stabilized, the diet allows the addition of low glycemic fruits, grains (buckwheat, millet, brown rice, quinoa and kamut) and some fermented foods. For those that wish to reintroduce cooked foods such as cooked grains and beans, an 80% raw, 20% cooked diet is recommended.  This is also a first step ratio recommended for those that choose to make dietary changes on their own from home as opposed to partaking in a supervised program.

In addition to diet, with an emphasis on reducing overall calorie intake, which is said to stimulate the anti-aging and anti-inflammatory cells, moderate exercise and some supplements are also recommended.  There is a lot more information about this topic out there and I think it’s fascinating for those with type 2 (and even type I) who are willing to consider more radical ways in which to alter their situation. However, as Dr. Gabriel Cousens would recommend himself, it’s extremely important to remain under your physician’s care and medical recommendations and to develop a support structure when making diet and lifestyle changes of this nature.