It’s amazing to me that I ever thought my diet and my health were unrelated. I’ve been studying nutrition and health and raw foods for so long now that it’s easy to forget how I used to separate the two in my mind. But it’s true.

You see, I grew up eating fast food, microwave dinners and canned vegetables. I used to drink diet soda like it was water, and I was a such a sucker for those brightly colored, foil wrapped, crinkly paper packaged goodies in the sweets section of the stores… I really had no concept that what I was eating was creating my body and my level of health.

I was too caught up in my love-hate relationship with food and eating. I loved to eat but eating was also my go-to coping mechanism for helping me to manage my emotions and my loneliness.

Food was my best friend and my greatest enemy all in one package. I struggled with my relationship to food for two decades until I was given a very real gift: my health began to suffer.

You might be wondering why I call my health challenges a gift. Bear with me here for a few moments as I explain.

All of those years of eating junk, being at war with my body and loving and hating everything on my plate finally caught up with me. And no doctor could offer me any solution other than pills, antibiotics, and comments like, “That’s just the way it’s going to be for the rest of your life.” I knew there had to be a better way.

So I tried something that was completely new to me. I began to take note of what I was eating and how it affected me. I started removing foods from my diet that made me feel worse, and I increased the foods that made me feel better. My health challenges forced me to shine the light of awareness on what I was eating and how my food choices were creating my health, or not.

I began using my diet as a way to reverse the long list of health complaints I’d had for years. And it worked! As I changed my diet and began to really listen to and honor the feedback I was receiving from my body, my health improved.

However, the real turning point for me was when I began eating raw foods. I was in awe of how delicious the food tasted, how simple it was to prepare, and how amazing I felt when I ate it. That was enough to completely convince me that raw foods were going to be a big part of my life from that moment forward.

But there was more.

My food cravings, my struggle with food and the 20-year war I had waged with my body completely stopped when I began to eat a high percentage of raw foods. Completely stopped!!!

For the first time in decades, I felt completely free from emotional eating and a long list of health complaints. I was completely surprised and totally dumbfounded by this unexpected discovery. And over the years, it’s only gotten better.

I’ve been eating a high percentage of raw foods on a daily basis for over a decade now, and I still think my health challenges were a divine gift of awakening for me. I also continue to think that raw foods are miraculous.

Eating raw, for me, is an incredible way to eat because it suits my busy lifestyle, it keeps me energized and mentally clear, it’s quick, easy and delicious, and it helps me maintain the level of health, vitality, beauty and success I desire in every area of my life.

Yes. What you eat does matter. It matters more than most of us would like to admit.

But don’t believe me. I invite you to experience this truth for yourself!

I’ve created a week-long raw food cleanse that will give you the opportunity to discover first hand how great you can look and feel when you incorporate raw foods into your diet.

I’ve done all of the thinking for you, and everything is completely mapped-out. All you have to do is plug yourself into the information and the community I’ve created for you, and you’ll be well on your way to feeling fabulous in just 7-days time.

It’s the perfect time of year to unveil a gorgeous, vibrant and powerful new you! And the 7 Days to Radiant Program is an amazing way to embrace a new relationship to your health and what you eat every day.

The next 7 Days to Radiant Program begins on April 1st, 2014.

Will you be joining me for 7 days of deliciousness? Click here to learn more!

To all of your radiant possibilities,

PS: You don’t need any special kitchen equipment or special culinary know-how. Everything in this program can be prepared in just minutes and will leave you feeling satisfied, radiant, and energized. It’s really that easy!

“Alicia, I love your recipes and they are so easy to follow. Not only do I enjoy eating the foods you have guided me towards but my body also appreciates the nutrients it is getting. My husband, who loves his steak and chicken, even enjoyed the recipes outlined in the 7 Days to Radiant!”

-Emily Roberts, Littleton, CO

“It was an amazing week in so many ways.  I have thought many times about doing a cleanse, but never thought I could- and definitely not for 7 days! I was surprised at how easy it was to try the recipes, and lay out the menu plan.  The food was delicious and satisfying, and that was a really great experience because so many times I want to keep eating, knowing that I’m full… but I want to keep putting whatever it is I’m eating into my mouth.  I did not have that experience with this food.  I was satisfied and full, and I thought to myself, “This is so cool!”

I’m very surprised to be saying this, but I plan to continue to incorporate raw foods into my daily life.”

-MM, age 60, Oregon