Marla Miller 0:35

Welcome back to Open Minded Healing. For more than a decade and a half, my guest, Akshay Shaw, has been living a 100% plant-based raw food lifestyle. What is unique about him is that he's been meticulously tracking over 21 years of medical data to document his health reversal and his athletic journey. So at 66 years old, he remains medication free with optimal blood markers. And he's still running marathons with energy to spare. Today's episode is about empowering you to understand your own data, overcome mindset blocks, and build sustainable, nature-aligned habits so you will have vitality even as you age. Welcome, Akshay.

Axay Shah 1:24

Thank you, Marla. Thank you very much. It's been an honor to be with you.

Marla Miller 1:28

So you decided to do this 100% plant-based raw food lifestyle. You said about a decade and a half ago.

Axay Shah 1:37

Yes, exactly. I started 6th of December 2009.

Marla Miller 1:42

Oh, that's good. It must have had an impact for sure.

Axay Shah 1:46

It was very memorable day. We were celebrating my mother's birthday on 5th of December. And I just uh casually said, you know, I want to go for New Year resolution, 1st of January on raw food. And my brother-in-law says, you know what? Today is your mom's birthday. You already ate. So I said, Yeah, what is in 1st January? Let's do it from tomorrow. And so from 6th of December, I am on raw food.

Marla Miller 2:16

So it's that saying don't put off what you can do today.

Axay Shah 2:20

Yeah, actually, I didn't had any medical condition. I didn't had any any reason to do it. But out of curiosity, out of just uh experiment, I started it. And without any knowledge how far I'm going to go, whether I'm going to go for one week, one month, six months, I had no idea. But I just started. And I started feeling so good. More energy. Everything was working out very well with the body and mind. So I said, why not? Let's continue. And that day and today, you know. 16 plus years. Yeah.

Marla Miller 3:00

Wow.

Axay Shah 3:00

I'm enjoying it.

Marla Miller 3:02

So, how did you decide exactly what to eat? You were just kind of going through the store and picking out just vegetables and stuff. Was there a particular book or person that gave you insight?

Axay Shah 3:15

No, no, nothing like that. Nothing planned. I was not following anybody. I had no idea what I'm going to do. Only thing I wanted to adopt is raw food. So in the beginning, it was not that hundred percent raw food. I continued eating, let's say, uh granola bar in the morning, which is not raw, which is a process. And with my tea, which I used to eat before, so I continued it. And after two years, I realized that hey, this is not right. This is not raw. So I discontinued. I tell people, make your own rule. This is your body. You own your body, and you know, you don't have to follow anybody, including me. You know what your body needs, you know what is important for your body and mind. Go for that. Then slowly, slowly, you are going to evolve yourself. You are going to then take out a few things, you are going to add more things, and that's how you progress. First baby step is to start. You are not going for perfection. You are going for progress. Even after 16 years, I'm still learning, I'm still understanding, and it is giving you little upper hand once you have at least two, three years of experience. Then you can tweak it very well. So now it is very easy for me.

Marla Miller 4:44

So when you're talking about raw food, you're talking about anything that's not processed. So it could be vegetables and it's 100% plant-based, so no meat. And does it include fish or no?

Axay Shah 4:57

So as a vegetarian, I was not eating fish, meat, chicken, eggs before even. I was vegetarian, but I was eating cooked food. So what I did, I eliminated the cooked and processed food. So still vegetarian, but only fruits, vegetable, nuts, and seed. Those things I adopted very well. I know it is difficult for most of the people. And my wife is a very good cook. Most of the Indians, they are very fond of eating spicy food, nice hot meals, so I was also one of them. I used to eat mindless, you know. Whatever I see, I used to eat. And then once I started this, I become more aware. And it instead restriction, I did it in such a way that I was enjoying it. Only thing is instead hot, warm food I'm eating now, room temperature or cold food. It takes, let's say, a two, three weeks to adapt. But if you have that willpower and willingness to do it, it is easy.

Marla Miller 6:09

And then what are you drinking? Is it mainly just water or what else are you having?

Axay Shah 6:15

Before I started this raw food, I was not taking any soda or anything before, no juice. So mostly it was water. I am drinking hot green tea in the morning. So that is something which is an exception. A lot of people say, hey, you know, this green tea is cooked. I said, yeah, it is cooked, but it is not food. It is just a drink. And this is my rule. If you don't like it, don't do it. I I love it and I'm continuing it. And I'm not, as I said, I'm not following anybody. I just started out of curiosity. I was seeing that lack of energy. That was the one most important thing I observed that at age 50. So this was the kind of experiment I wanted to see it, and I gained back that energy. Then when you gave me an introduction, you said 66 years old. I say this 66 years young.

Marla Miller 7:15

That's good. That's good for the mindset. So you got into this diet, but then how did you get into running marathons? When did that start?

Axay Shah 7:24

Marathon also started like this. I'm telling people I'm crazy. I I do I do crazy things. So it is not normal for most of the people. Marathon also started like this. One December 31st, party, New Year's Eve party. We were celebrating with a few friends. And I just said casually that I want to run marathon. And my friend started laughing at me. Hey, you are 50, you never ran even one mile, and you want to run 26.2 miles? Are you crazy? You are going to die at uh mile 15 or 20. So they started betting on me. They said, okay, if you run, I will give you $1,000 of your wish charity anywhere you want to. Another guy said, okay, I want to give you also $1,000 charity if you finish the marathon. And third guy said, okay, I will give you $10,000. So now $12,000 is a lot of money. $12,000 for charity. It's a good cause. It gives me some motivation to start. So 1st of January, without knowing again how far I'm going to go, I tied up my shoes and that's it. You know, I started running. First day I did eight miles. And that was good. My legs were jammed. It was muscle were sore. Eight miles first day. But that gave me positive boost that I can do it. If I can do it eight miles, I can do it 26 miles. And that's it. That's how I started out of uh challenge. And I did it well. I never got that 12,000 dollars all flipped, but it gave me new life.

Marla Miller 9:16

Wow. Well, when you were doing the marathons and you just started the running, had you been on the raw food diet for a while at that point, or what was the timing?

Axay Shah 9:26

It happened almost the same time. In 2008, actually, they started, and this is 2009. But then I I finished another six. So far, I did seven marathons with the raw food. And I'm going to do this the coming March, the eighth one. All with the raw food.

Marla Miller 9:46

That's amazing. So you documented, right? All your blood work and lab work. What were you finding over those years? What was changing in your blood? Like maybe you can name some things that really stood out to you.

Axay Shah 10:01

So two things is very obvious and very important and noticeable. One is uh the ALT, the liver enzyme, which was 40 at 2009. People generally then liver goes from 40 to 50. In my case, what happened? From 40, it went to 21. So 52% improvement instead. And even today at my age, 66, they said if you have 30, that's optimum. That's the best. So I'm better than optimum, even. And that shows on my skin, and it's not only the outer look, but now your liver is so clean and nice, your whole body is getting a nice nutrition. And I tell you the truth, I was not doing this for numbers. I was not keeping even numbers meticulously before. Because I was not knowing you know how far I'm going to do what. But uh fortunately, my hospital was keeping this number, so I extracted that and I said, okay, now I can give it to the people, and uh they can compare not only ALT but everything else. It is cholesterol, triglyceride, everything is giving the right marker. And now I'm more aware of numbers. But when I started, I was not doing that for numbers. I was feeling good. That was my number.

Marla Miller 11:35

Well, and I like how you brought up too when that liver enzyme, when that's functioning optimally, then your skin looks healthy and cleared up and the texture is good because the liver gets all clogged up and isn't functioning properly. Yeah, it does affect a lot of areas of your body, including your skin.

Axay Shah 11:56

Yeah, skin is the reflection, direct reflection of your liver. So your liver is not that good, your skin starts showing it, your wrinkles and everything else. So, especially for women, this is so good. If they can beautify themselves without any makeup or without any kind of surgery and stuff, this is natural beauty. You get it free of charge from Mother Nature. And it is so good, your skins start glowing, the elasticity is there. That is what not only the look-wise, but once you see in mirror every day, now you feel young. Not only look young, you feel young, and that gives you additional boost to your life, and that's that's what I'm doing it, and I'm really very happy.

Marla Miller 12:47

I know that is a thing when you see yourself in the mirror every day, and as you age, and then you lose that elasticity and fresh look, it does plague your mind. So it would be a really great boost to see that change from the raw food diet.

Axay Shah 13:07

Not only feeling good, you know. Last year I did backpacking with my two sons, and we went three days backpacking, 8,000 feet elevation, 65 pounds on my shoulders at age 66, you know, and I did it for the first time. I did camping many times, but not backpacking. My son, they did it before me so many times. So they were equipped and they knew what they are doing. So when I did it, they were surprised. They said, Dad, you did good. It gave me another joy to be with the kids two nights, three days, going 8,000 feet up. I was like a kid. I was with them, I was also like a kid, and I enjoyed it.

Marla Miller 13:52

Yeah, so it really opens up so many aspects of your life. So, what are some other ways it's changed your life? Like that, like being able to spend time with your kids doing a rigorous activity that you all enjoy.

Axay Shah 14:08

Now I have uh more time because I'm more energetic. Time is everybody have 24 hours a day, no matter who you are. But how then you use it that 24 hours is important. Now, because I have more energy, because I'm getting better sleep, because my mind is working better, I'm doing so many things. I'm doing beekeeping, I'm doing gardening, I'm doing my pond cleaning, running, writing poems, writing a book, my new book is coming out. So many things I'm doing, and still I have energy to do. I have energy to do podcasts, I have energy to talk to people, I have the energy to write a blog. So all those things is giving me energy, which is everybody wants it. And in fact, most of the people, they say, Oh, I don't have time. That I don't have time is just an excuse. Actually, they are tired. They don't have energy. Most of the people, by the time they come from the job and they are so tired, they collapse on the couch, eat dinner, watch TV, and go sleep. So instead of that, if you have time, you can do some extra work. You wake up early, now you have energy. So all those things is correlated. And when you have a total accomplishment in your life, you do many things and now you are actually enjoying your life. You are not dragging it, you're not doing the job for doing job. Now you are doing with your optimum energy, you are going to perform well. No matter what you do. If you have good energy, it shows.

Marla Miller 15:55

Yeah. Well, what about other blood markers or any kind of data you collected? Was there something else in addition to the liver enzyme that stands out?

Axay Shah 16:07

Yeah, so another thing is uh very important is A1C, which it was good, but at one one time it went all the way up to 6.7. And my doctor says, Akshay, it's like pre-diabetic. I have to prescribe you medicine. I said, Doctor, give me 90 days. I don't want to take medication. Give me 90 days, I will come back. At that time, you check me out, and then we talk. So I from 6.7 I went back to 5.9 without medication. The reason is at that time what I was doing wrong, this is what I understand. What I was doing wrong means I was on raw food, but I was drinking red wine. I used to be watering.

Marla Miller 17:00

You were drinking red wine.

Axay Shah 17:02

Yeah. So red wine, I I used to love it, you know. So almost five, six days a week. And sometimes when it's party, you know, not in only one glass, maybe two, three glasses. And so I asked her doctor, maybe this is a red wine. Doctor said no, not red wine is good for health. But still, I discontinued. I discontinued and I went after 90 days back, and it was 5.9. Wow. So what I I saw that this is extra sugar was going in my body, which was not good. Doesn't matter. I'm not against anything. I'm there again, one one more thing I want to clarify to everybody that I am not against anything. Whatever your life is, your life. You do whatever you want to do it, you do it. This is working out well for me, and I'm trying to give back to the world that hey, this is how it works for me. I'm not saying this is bad or this is good. You judge what is good for you, you decide, you convince yourself. I'm not here to convince anybody. And that that's what you know, doctor says, you are fine. You you are now 5.9. Fantastic. He wrote me an email that this is remarkable. Without medication, you did it on your own. So this is how you know all other markers also, you know, triglyceride. One time it was shoot up so high in during the COVID because uh lack of physical movement. Uh I was not running, I was not doing anything. So it was it it shoot up, but immediately it came down. So once you have those numbers, all those markers, uh, and you monitor it and you understand it, now you listen to your body and take proper action, it gives the result.

Marla Miller 19:00

Yeah, so when you gave up, well, you were already eating a healthy lifestyle. You said before the raw food um you know took over.

Axay Shah 19:11

I I don't agree with you.

Marla Miller 19:13

You said or you said you weren't eating what was it? I mean, you ate the granola bar and things, but no, no, no, not only that.

Axay Shah 19:20

Most of the people think that the vegetarian people eating healthy food. That's absolutely wrong. Vegetarian people are eating even more unhealthy. They think that okay, vegetarian people are eating healthy, but when they cook the food and they add so many poison in there, it becomes totally unhealthy. So I was not eating healthy food. I was vegetarian. But that is the biggest difference. Because once you cook, you are killing most of the enzymes. The nutrients are going to get depleted. Now you have to eat more and you get less energy. And on top of that, the phi poison, the sugar, salt, processed oil, the milk, dairy, everything, and grains. All those I I consider as a phi poison. I eliminated that phi poison. I introduced the real energy source, the fuel for my body. So now I'm doing both ways better, you know, eliminating the bad thing and introducing the good thing. It gave me the healthy food. But I don't agree that uh vegetarian food, even vegan food, is healthy. And I'm sorry, you know, I'm not against, I'm not against anybody. The vegan people, they are doing good, but I'm seeing that they are not doing good health-wise.

Marla Miller 21:01

Well, how do you get your omega-3s and sixes and nines?

Axay Shah 21:07

So omega-3 is available in in uh natural food. So let's say when you eat walnut, when you eat avocado, that is enough omega-3. And I know most of the people have lacking, you know, in omega-3. Uh, also sometimes they they talk about protein and beat well. So I'm checking all these things, and it is uh when I go to the doctor, doctor says all numbers are good. So omega-3 is, as I understand, is very important. And I think if uh there is enough omega-3 in natural foods, you know. So I'm eating walnut almost every day, uh, avocado almost two or three days a week.

Marla Miller 21:52

So the omegas are essential fatty acids that you need, but your body does not make. I guess that's why they're called essential. So yeah, you do need to find the right foods. And even if certain foods had it once it's cooked, then it makes it a really essentially a poison. Even if it's essential fatty acids, say in a particular kind of oil, it would then degradate as soon as you heat it up.

Axay Shah 22:22

Yes. And and more importantly, I I say this okay, it is important what you eat, but more important how much you absorb, how much your body is absorbing it, it is more important. Because if if you eat the best food, but your body is not absorbing it, it is going out next day. I mean it's useless. No matter what you are eating, how much you are eating, now you the machinery inside the body becomes more efficient. If once you start this five poison, you know, you you give up. Now the inflammation is the biggest culprit for the body. When there is inflammation, your machinery is not working that well. Once you stop having all this five poison, inflammation is going to be restricted. Your machinery is now working at the optimum level. Now every tiny bit of nutrients is going to absorb. You I I used to eat like a pig before when I was vegetarian.

Marla Miller 23:35

So you can check your inflammation with the HSCRP blood work, and that'll show. Yeah, and from what I understand, it should be below three. Like anything above three means you've got inflammation throughout your body.

Axay Shah 23:55

Yeah, yeah, it is important. Even my dentist, when I go and see my dentist, you know, every six months, says it's amazing. You don't have inflammation on your gum. Most of the patients I see that there is so much inflammation, and you don't have anything. I said, Well, thank you raw food.

Marla Miller 24:19

That's amazing that it extends to the dental work, to your gums and your teeth, which I mean, of course, makes sense, but you don't necessarily think of that.

Axay Shah 24:29

Yeah, most of the see, we we don't understand all this thing as a layman. I I don't have any medical degree. I don't have even any medical study, you know. I'm not nutritionist uh certified or this, that, anything. I'm a businessman and I'm doing this, I'm experimenting. So this is for me, it is also as I said, the learning process. But now I'm seeing more the inflammation is the important to restrict it. And once you have that, your whole machinery is now working well, not only on gum, but in your organs now, they are so happy. It's not inflammated, and then your muscles and every tissue of your body is is is now happy. So once every cell is happy, your body is going to be happy. Because now no more inflammation, it is now no more that punishment to the cell. People don't understand, but it is inflammation is causing so much problem. Now you're wasting so much energy to eliminate it, and you're not getting the result exactly the way this body is designed.

Marla Miller 25:41

Yeah.

Axay Shah 25:42

Our body is designed in a certain way to make it work. We have to maintain it. You have to make sure it works in the right direction. Whatever, right now, let's say you're you're using a microphone. Microphone has certain property, you have to use it, otherwise, it started giving you echo and all those things. Uh, your your headphone, whatever machine is you are using it, once you understand it, you can use it right way. And once you use the right way, it gives the best result.

Marla Miller 26:13

Yeah, the body is so super intelligent if we just don't bombard it with all the bad things that you know, don't let it do its job. So I wanted to ask, well, do you want to talk about your book? Can you tell us the name and what that's about?

Axay Shah 26:33

The name of the book is In Nature We Trust. That is the title of the book. And subtitle is A Raw Food Manifesto for energy, healing, and longevity.

Marla Miller 26:53

Sounds like a great name.

Axay Shah 26:55

So it is available everywhere, Amazon and all other stores. If anybody goes on my website, rawfootist.com, raw foodist name is R-A-W F O O D I E S T. So there is extra E there. So raw foodist was not available. I had extra E for education.

Marla Miller 27:24

Okay. That's good to know. So is the book about your journey and how you documented the blood work and what you were eating and the marathons, is it about your whole journey?

Axay Shah 27:39

Whole journey and the result in some study, some research. This book is once people understand, because you know what, no matter how much I talk, one hour, ten hours, it is hard to digest this thing. So, first of all, you know, people if they can lead and they can understand and then they digest, okay, yeah, this is it makes sense. If whatever I'm talking, it makes sense, okay. Now let's let's see how I can adopt it. So in it it takes time. So even the the foreword is written by the MD doctor, and he he himself is a 70% raw foodist, but not 100%. And he admires that actually, if you can do it, 100% is very good. So in general, the book gives you the guideline and how to do it. And I'm telling people, I want to change the world. It's a very bold statement. But if once people understand this, that we don't have to slave off marketing. We don't have to slave off, you know, culture and tradition, what is what whatever is going on. Once you think rationally, and if I can do it, you can, anybody can do it. And if it is one can do it, and this is the advantage, this is what you are going to get it mentally, physically, physically, and monetarily. A lot of people think that you know raw food is expensive. But on the contrary, I actually documented it also. I went to farmer market and I, you know, doing video and I said, okay, this is how much I spent. It came out $150 per month. That's my so five day, five dollars a day I'm spending on my food. I'm not taking any medication, no supplement, and so I'm saving a lot of money on the food. On the other hand, I'm I'm free. I have more freedom to do the stuff. That's what everything is in the book. So, you know, it gives in general kind of eye-opening, mind-opening matters. So once people read it, uh, they can challenge me, they can say that. So far, I have not seen even a single doctor to tell me that actually what you are doing is wrong.

Marla Miller 30:10

That's great to bring up at the cost, because I do hear that too, to eat the organic that's not sprayed with chemicals and glyphosate in particular. And people will say, well, the organic's more expensive. But when you're eating the healthy food and you eliminate the cost of snacks and all the chips and ice cream and whatever that might be, like that stuff is what really adds up and impedes your health. So it's definitely more important to feel vital mentally and physically, emotionally.

Axay Shah 30:49

Yes, yes. That also, emotionally, also, you are so much now better. It's all about uh, you know, body-mind connection. And that uh vagus nerve and this is gives you all the strength. Now your mood is better because you have better energy. You're not feeling, you know, fogged brain. You don't see that, you know, there's no clarity on thinking. I used to write poems before, but ever since I started doing Rawford, the frequency of writing becomes a little better, and the subject matter is becoming more better. So it is now a win-win situation. And uh it's not that I'm doing some extra effort. I I'm doing exactly the same way which I used to do before, but it is producing the better result.

Marla Miller 31:43

Yeah, that's very interesting. About your writing having more clarity. Well, I'd like to ask three questions. The first is when you adapted this raw food diet and you started the marathons, what was the biggest obstacle for you?

Axay Shah 32:02

For me, there was not much obstacle because by nature I'm very stubborn. I want to do what I want to do. So people say something, but I listen respectfully, but I I just don't take it in as a hurdle. Because nobody, including my family members, nobody supported me when I started it. Everybody called me crazy. In nothing in a bad way. My sister used to call me Akshay, don't do it. You are going to fall sick. It is not good for health, this, that, everything. And out of love and affection. Same sister now says, Akshay, you are doing wonderful. Hope we all can do it. So it is the mind change. Yeah, people will talk, people will tell, but this is your life. You own your life. You make the decision which is good for you. That's what I learned even before. People say something, but yeah, there I didn't have any hurdle. Hurdle means external hurdle, internal means yeah, a lot of people have the hurdle of habit and addiction. So to give up uh hot cooked food, it is not easy. It requires a solid uh you know willpower. And I had that fortunately. I didn't had any issue because I I did this experiment even when I was younger, 15 years. I had no issue, but back in in India, Mumbai, I did one month salad, nothing but salad, and at age 15, young age, um just to check my willpower, how much uh I can say no to other food. Or one month I ate nothing but mung bins, even though it's cook, but it's nothing else but mung bins. So those things gave me kind of strength that if I want, I can do it. And so when I started doing the raw food, there was not much hurdle, but I know that most of the people are going to get that hurdle.

Marla Miller 34:10

So you had practiced that muscle of willpower ahead of time, so that's good. Well, the last two questions one is what was the biggest lesson throughout this?

Axay Shah 34:21

Biggest lesson is you have to listen to yourself, listen to your body. Once you start listening to your body, automatically it gives you one step at a time and you are going to evolve. But you have to be honest with yourself. Once you have this, there is no boundary. You can go up to the sky.

Marla Miller 34:45

Yeah. And what's the kindest thing someone did for you during that time?

Axay Shah 34:51

Kindest thing they acknowledge that, actually, whatever you are doing is good. At this point now, at least now. And nobody tried to push me. In beginning, they are oh okay, Akshay, one day, today is your birthday, eat this, or today is anniversary, eat this. But they know that now he's not going to change his mind. So now nobody is telling me, everybody is supporting. But in the beginning, that is going to happen with everybody's life. One day, you know, what big deal? But that one time you break the rule, whole building is going to collapse.

Marla Miller 35:29

Yeah, and people do still associate food with emotion, like, well, you deserve this, or you know, it's your birthday, or but you're right, you give in that one time, and then you lose that momentum very quickly.

Axay Shah 35:43

Yeah, that one time never ends. So rather, you know, you stick to your role, you have to be that kind of a strong willpower, uh, understanding. Actually, I don't call even willpower. It is once you understand, everybody goes out work to make money. Nobody goes out to lose money. Okay? Why we have to eat to lose our health? It's that simple. If I'm going to eat something and I'm going to lose the health, why? So once you understand this, everyone you can okay, brush it off.

Marla Miller 36:23

Yeah, that's great. Great note to end on. Well, where can people find you if they want to learn more? And maybe you can mention your book name again as well.

Axay Shah 36:36

So everybody can go on raw foodist R-A-W-F-O-O-D-I-E-S-T.com. And uh book name is In Nature We Trust, a raw food manifesto for energy, healing, and longevity.

Marla Miller 37:01

Can people work with you if they wanted to start this raw food diet with a little So I will give the information without anything.

Axay Shah 37:09

But if they want one-to-one coaching, they can send me the email and I I will evaluate. I used to do it before, I used to do even webinar every month, but my priority now is different. I already, as I said, I'm so much tied up with this book. And I already started working on my second book. I'm at 66, I'm at the last inning of my life. I want to do whatever I I wanted to do before, I want to finish it before I finished my visit on this earth. So that is the goal. So, you know, I want to give to people. If somebody really wants to learn, they can send me email. But coaching, I'm doing a little restricted way.

Marla Miller 37:53

And where can people find you on social media?

Axay Shah 37:56

Oh, everywhere. I'm on on YouTube, on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, X, and even TikTok.

Marla Miller 38:07

And it's under X A Sha, like A-X-A-Y, and then S H A H.

Axay Shah 38:15

Or also they can find at Raw Foodist, R A W F O O D I E S T, and they will find on all the social media.

Marla Miller 38:26

Okay, great. Well, I'm glad to see you looking so vital and young at 66. Thank you for sharing this information. It's very interesting to learn how different people approach their health. And I'm glad you've had such success with your own.

Axay Shah 38:46

Thank you, Marla, for giving this opportunity to speak to your audience. At any time, anybody can contact me. And I'm going to send you the link for the book.