Anyone who has followed me in the plant-based world for a while knows I’m not a big supplement person, meaning the whole triad of pills, powders, and packaged boosters, which is exactly what most people now picture when they hear the word “supplement.”

That said, there are situations where certain supplements may serve a short-term, supportive role, especially during transition, recovery, or when correcting a known deficiency.

Personally, I think so-called supplements, what people now call “nutrition,” are a lie even in their premise (they are not real nutrition) as well as an overblown distraction... mainly fueled by industry-backed confusion & wellness influencers driven by corporate-sponsored FOMO, almost all of whom are parroting what food chemists and Instagram “experts” say.

Obviously they have occasional use, like a bandage (which even they admit they are).

But to use them for anything better done with real food is a loser’s game long term, in my opinion. Plus, as I’ve said many times to my fellow nutrient seekers: I assume everyone and anyone promoting pills, powders, and packaged “boosters” in the health space is guilty until proven otherwise.

Drop any influencer’s name you want, I don’t care.

I see marketing. I see product pushing. I see a false solution that’s an illusion.

I also believe whatever “optimized biohacking formula” ends up being after the New Age Wellness Gold Rush will be far less beneficial and far more underwhelming than the wellness-chasing crowd living on branded powders and freeze-dried smoothies believes, and, frankly, now needs it to be.

Which brings me to the point:

There is one single source, the ONLY source I've paid attention to for over a decade, that is how the growing field of longevity science was years ahead, showing how raw phytonutrients and enzyme activity repair cells, how fat buildup drives insulin resistance, how obesity made it worse, and how eating plant-based could help reverse diabetes, while the modern food industry was still busy biohacking its way to brittle bones and fatty livers.

I’ve studied under these frameworks and applied the nutrient logic across every protocol I’ve personally tested.

And I’ve learned and cross-referenced these principles for years through books, lectures, and workshops.

Most recently:

The studies show how live enzymes in raw foods can activate cell restoration and DNA repair, like flipping the body’s “healing switch” back on after years of damage and imbalance. I may not have every technical detail exactly right, but that’s the essence.

Anyway, I’m talking about the collective evidence from practitioners whose teachings are actually rooted in human biochemistry, not supplement affiliate commissions.

If you want to rebuild your gut, immune system, skin, hormones, connective tissue, and energy at the same time - raw plants are the first place I’d start.

However, before you get too eager, let’s be real: raw food has no “sexy marketing hook” and no flashy promise designed to lure you in.

Running a raw lifestyle isn’t about trendy boxed subscriptions. Instead, it’s about daily habits that support repair starting at the cellular level. Unlike me (I loathe the idea of blending powders for lunch), the science itself digs deep into digestion, enzyme reactions, and nutrient synergy.

It guides people while they’re still confused, hungry, and sick and helps them build a body that can adapt, recover, and stay strong.

And yes, there’s a long list of people who’ve healed from things doctors said were “chronic.”

Plus, raw isn’t even about extremes, it’s about reclaiming your body’s design: regenerating with food, not fighting symptoms. This science shows you how to rebuild with what your body already recognizes as home.

In other words, the opposite of selling you one-size-fits-all macros or supplement packs.

Still, it can be broken down with step-by-step precision when needed.

And before you ask... I am NOT an affiliate for any raw or plant-based course or protocol.

I am simply stubborn about what raw food science proves, and the people I’ve met who live this way (some of them in their 70s still backpack mountains) impress the hell out of me. These are people who’ve integrated high-nutrient principles and raw food fundamentals into a system that works seamlessly with plant-based living, and vice versa.

All right, I’ll just say one more thing.

There are a lot of people out there, usually just starting to eat better, who keep saying they’re confused by all the conflicting advice, not seeing results, unsure who to trust or where to begin.

That’s why some of them have asked me if they should try supplements or “balanced diets” again.

But I don’t do the moderation thing.

I just point them back to the food.

Raw plants take better care of you than any powder ever will.

If you want a place to start rebuilding, start with raw or lightly steamed crucifers, green smoothies, big salads, and simple seed dressings.

The link between raw plants and human repair isn’t a wellness trend. It’s basic human biology.

Irina Valeva

P.S. Also, one more thing:

If you do commit to 3 months of a predominantly raw, high-nutrient diet (most meals raw fruits, vegetables, and greens, with some cooked whole foods as needed), start by heading to my Amazon page. You’ll find exactly what you need to begin. I want to point you there, just as a little nudge to help you stick with it and prove to yourself what food can really do. But you won’t be able to use it in context until you’ve lived it consistently for 90 days minimum.

And no, I won’t tell you here what changes you’ll see.

But I suspect it will be quite a surprise.

​​www.IrinaValeva.com​