Living on raw diet

AFTER being diagnosed with Stage IV colorectal colon cancer, Mitieli Baravi lives with a simple rule — no meat and no dairy products.

The 53-year-old father of five was diagnosed with Stage III cancer in 2015.

Mr Baravi said sadly for him, his body had been giving signs that he was not well but he chose to turn a blind eye to the signs, resorting to herbal treatment and advice from what he now calls "bush doctors".

"I blame my current condition on my ignorance, but I will live believing in the power of raw food and my motto to fellow patients is 'early detection is the best prevention'," he said.

"The initial symptoms that told me everything is not right was the fact that I used to pass blood in the toilet which worsened every year.

"In 2016 I had my first surgery but I had been on strict raw diet before the operation and I witnessed the power of raw diet.

"I still could not believe that my surgical wounds had healed faster and I was sent home earlier than two other cancer patients who had been treated earlier before I was admitted."

The Dogotuki native said after the operation, he thought that since the cancer had been removed, he could return to his former diet but his condition worsened and he was hospitalised again.

"Earlier this year I was told by my doctor that if things worsened, I would be gone by November this year," he said.

"This did not dampen my will and passion to live so I continued with my raw diet again but this time with a stricter regime.

"My condition has picked up again and my doctors say that my body is healing again.

"At this point my advice to cancer patients is refrain from consuming dairy products and meat because it will worsen their condition as it only feeds the cancer cells."

Mitieli Baravi's daily menu

Breakfast: Carrot juice — three carrots, half apple, and three to four inches celery, small piece of ginger and garlic.

Lunch: Pawpaw, banana diced, peanuts, sultana, soy milk with porridge — hand mixed and eaten.

Dinner: Wholemeal bread, sliced tomatoes, thin spread of peanut butter, with grated carrot and blended carrot juice.

Source: Living on raw diet