How Being Raw Vegan Reversed My Diabetes & Boosted Brain Health – FullyRaw Kristina

In this Episode

04:14 – Kristina’s diabetes journey and how it led to a raw vegan lifestyle

15:05 – Starting a farmers market that launched a movement

17:05 – Diabetes symptoms and how it affected Kristina

21:14 – Doctors’ conventional advice vs. the power of self-belief in healing

34:29 – Learning to love raw food 

40:23 – The power of choice, faith, and personal responsibility in healing

47:36 – Kristina’s experience with community health and empowering others

54:02 – Overcoming cravings and maintaining a healthy raw diet

1:00:19 – How eating raw food impacts mental and cognitive health

Resources:

– Top Supplements for Alzheimer’s Guide 

– Book: The Fully Raw Diet by Kristina Carrillo-Bucaram 

Connect with Kristina Carrillo-Bucaram:

– Website 

– Instagram 

– YouTube 

Connect with Dr. Josh Helman, MD:

– Instagram 

– Facebook 

– LinkedIn 

– TikTok 

– YouTube 

– Others 

Disclaimer: Please remember that this podcast is for informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Always consult your doctor or healthcare professional before making any changes to your treatment plan.

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READ THE COMPLETE BLOG POST HERE:

Struggling with diabetes or brain fog? You’re not alone.

Kristina Carrillo-Bucaram was just 18 when she hit rock bottom—chronic migraines, fainting spells, insulin shots, and zero hope for a normal life. But everything changed when a stranger introduced her to the raw plant-based diet. Fast forward 20 years, and she’s diabetes-free, thriving, and helping millions reclaim their health naturally.

In this post, you’ll discover how raw veganism transformed her life, how it can support brain health, and why eating vibrant, unprocessed foods may be the missing link in healing insulin resistance and preventing neurodegeneration.

Let’s dive into the highlights from her inspiring journey—and the science that backs it up.

🎯 Key Takeaways From the Episode:

• A fruit-heavy raw diet helped stabilize Kristina’s blood sugar within days—contrary to what traditional medicine warns about fruit and diabetes (10:15).
  
  

• She reversed type 2 diabetes completely in 18 months, without meds or insulin—just food and mindset (14:00).
  
  

• Brain fog, migraines, and chronic constipation vanished within weeks of cutting out processed and fatty foods (08:45).
  
  
• Raw veganism isn’t about being perfect—it’s about being consistent, and Kristina says even one raw meal a day can make a difference (49:18).

🍑 From Diagnosis to Detox: How Raw Veganism Saved Her Life

A Wake-Up Call at 18

Kristina’s story begins with a devastating diagnosis of type 2 diabetes as a teenager. Despite eating home-cooked meals, her traditional Mediterranean-Latin diet was high in fat—think meat, oil, rice, and very little fruit. By 16, she was chronically constipated, fainting from migraines, and tethered to insulin. Doctors gave her medications and sugar-free granola bars. The results? Worse symptoms and zero hope.

“They told me to eat plastic-wrapped diabetic-friendly snacks… I felt like I was dying.”

The Turning Point: Fruit Over Fear

Everything changed when a stranger at a grocery store suggested she try juicing and a raw plant-based diet. Skeptical but desperate, Kristina committed to raw veganism overnight. She started with 100 pounds of peaches—literally. After three days of monomeals, her blood sugar began to stabilize, migraines disappeared, and her energy soared.

Why did this work? As Dr. Josh Helman explained, whole fruit actually increases insulin sensitivity—the opposite of what many believe. It’s the fat that blocks insulin receptors, not natural fruit sugars.

🧠 Rebuilding Body and Brain Through Raw Food

A Slow, Sustainable Reversal

Kristina’s journey wasn’t overnight. It took:

1. 2 weeks of fruit monomeals to stabilize her system
   
   
2. 6 months to start feeling consistently great
   
   
3. 18 months to completely reverse diabetes
   
   

But the results were worth it. Once her system reset, she gradually reintroduced variety—salads, nuts, seeds, even raw versions of traditional Lebanese dishes like hummus and tabbouleh.

“I finally felt like I found something that worked, and I wasn’t going back.”

Brain Health: The Overlooked Bonus

While her initial goal was to reverse diabetes, Kristina also noticed sharper focus, emotional clarity, and resilience—benefits now being linked to reduced neuroinflammation and improved mitochondrial function from clean eating.

Dr. Helman points out that brain inflammation, like that in migraines and depression, is often tied to high blood sugar and processed fats. A raw plant-based diet cuts those triggers off at the source.

💪 How to Start a Raw Plant-Based Diet (Without Going Crazy)

If you’re not ready to go fully raw, Kristina offers a realistic approach:

1. Start with one raw meal a day.
   A smoothie or fruit bowl is an easy, energizing first step.
2. Focus on whole fruits and vegetables.
   Don’t get lost in complex recipes—simplicity helps your body reset.
3. Don’t let perfection stop you.
   Even imperfect efforts yield results when you’re consistent.
4. Recreate comfort foods.
   Kristina used raw versions of family recipes to win over loved ones (like raw hummus or garlic “pasta”).

Want recipe inspo? Check out her YouTube channel here.

💬 Conclusion: The Power of Food, The Power of Choice

Kristina Carrillo-Bucaram didn’t just reverse her diabetes—she rewrote her entire life story. By trusting in the healing power of a raw plant-based diet, she found energy, clarity, and purpose. Today, she teaches others to take charge of their health through real food, community, and mindset.

If you’re battling chronic illness, inflammation, or cognitive decline, consider this: what if your fridge holds more healing potential than your medicine cabinet?

If this episode moved you, check out this one on fasting and Alzheimer’s prevention or subscribe for weekly breakthroughs in brain and metabolic health.

💬 What’s your experience with raw veganism—or switching to a whole-food diet? Let us know in the comments below!