A raw food enthusiast gets pushback:

"Ever since switching to eating nutrient-dense, I’ve had way more energy and mental clarity but now people are saying I’m being ‘too intense’ about food! Is that normal???"

It definitely is.

And it’s a very good thing.

You’re right where you need to be.

Over time I’ve been accused of all kinds of bizarre things by people who didn’t like how I talk about food, calling me “health nut”… “extremist”… and even “fanatic,” especially those who express the most frustration with the challenges of maintaining a whole food diet. They battle ingrained habits… wrestle with mental resistance… and hit the limits they think are baked into eating this way. (Except, according to them, just not a very “flexible” fanatic. What does that mean I’m not flexible? Really???)

And you know what?

I enjoy all of it.

It tells me something is working.

Maybe even several things are.

Believe it or not, you can often measure how well it’s working by how many people question it, mock it, or say you’re “taking it too far” because most people still think it’s about calories… or portion size… or macros… when really, it’s about feeding your body where it actually matters: the cells. That means giving your body the full spectrum of nutrients it needs to repair, protect, and energize everything from your metabolism to your immune system to your brain. And once that happens, once your cells are finally well-fed, the cravings go quiet, the energy holds steady, and your body stops begging for fake fuel because it’s finally getting the real thing. That’s usually when people start calling it obsessive but only because they’ve never experienced what it’s like to be truly fed.

So keep going.

Also, understand this:

Anyone who dares step outside the dopamine-driven eating loop and puts real nutrients into their body is going to make others uncomfortable. So when you eat in a way that repairs your cells, you’re almost guaranteed to hear how it’s “not sustainable” or “too extreme.”

Don’t let it get to you, though.

It’s a quiet signal of alignment.

It’ll strengthen your immunity.

And, it can also stabilize your cravings.

I outlined more on this here: RawFoodSecrets​

Irina Valeva

​www.IrinaValeva.com​