Zhanna d’Art, influencer and fan of raw food, died at 39. Her relatives believe that she would have starved to death because of her diet.
- A Russian influencer, follower of raw food, died at 39 years old.
- Raw food is eating only raw foods.
- Zhanna Samsonova had been eating only sprouted seeds and fruits for several years, according to her relatives, her extreme diet was the cause of her death.
Zhanna Samsonova, better known as Zhanna d’Art, died at the age of 39 on July 21 in Malaysia. Followed by more than 30,000 people on social networks, she shared her vegan and raw food diet. Veganism is the exclusion of all animal products, including dairy and honey. As for raw food, it involves consuming only raw foods. According to his relatives, who spoke in various media, his diet could be the cause of his death
Raw food: a diet consisting of raw foods and juices
For four years, the Russian influencer had only eaten fruits, sprouted sunflower seeds, smoothies and juices. She regularly performed strict fasts where she did not drink or eat for several days. As reported by New York Post, her friends and family believe that she died of starvation. Her mother, Vera Samsonova explains that her daughter did not listen to her when she warned her of the risks associated with her very restrictive diet. “The 39-year-old, who friends say suffered from anorexia, became so weak in the last weeks of her life due to her extreme diet that she was practically bedridden and needed ‘several minutes’ to walk or climb a step on a staircase”specifies the Daily Email. For the time being, doctors have not confirmed the cause of death, but her mother believes that Zhanna Samsonova died of a cholera infection, aggravated by her extreme diet.
Crudivorism: what are the risks?
In The Parisian, Faïza Bossy, general practitioner, warns of the risks of this type of diet. “When you’re on an exclusive diet, it’s never good, she explains. Whether it’s raw, meat or vegan, you’re bound to create deficiencies somewhere.” This can in particular lead to vitamin D or calcium deficiencies, both necessary for good bone health. But it can also lead to a lack of vitamin B12, essential for the nervous system.
A diet consisting only of raw products presents another risk: contamination by bacteria. Fruits and vegetables must be properly cleaned to eliminate bacteria and toxins. However, eating raw vegetables or fruits is not inadvisable, you just have to take care to keep a varied and balanced diet, with sufficient intakes of carbohydrates, proteins and fats. In an article published in Tea Conversation, Laura Brown, nutrition and food specialist, points out that vegan food can be beneficial for health, but in the case of raw food, it is important not to go overboard. An only raw and vegetable diet must be limited in time taking into account the “many risks it presents”. “If you are considering following a raw vegan diet, it is important to plan it carefully to ensure you are consuming all the nutrients you need for optimal health, in the required amounts.”she concludes.
