This Chef Was So Tired Of Getting Sick, She Learned To Cook To Heal Her Body

via https://www.essence.com

Before helping hundreds of women transform themselves through food, Chef Ahki was simply tired of getting sick. “For years I suffered from dehydration and random fainting spells,” she says. “I did not realize that my lack of fruit, vegetables, and water [intake] was the cause of this.” At 18 she transitioned to a plant-based diet.

Like many sisters, Chef Ahki recognized that eating from the earth is a part of her legacy. “Black women taught the world how to prepare delicious food. For centuries we have taken the earth’s harvest and with skill and creativity birthed an array of the finest cuisine coveted by many,” she says. “Our kitchen alchemy has always been a major part of our Black Girl Magic.”

The Oklahoma native was raised by four generations of medicine women, who educated her about indigenous foods and alternative modalities. She describes her diet as not just vegan—abstaining from animal by-products—but also electric, which essentially means foods that are not acidic or starch-based.

“I suffered [from] chronic urinary tract infections from my daily soda intake, and [technically] soda is vegan,” she adds. “This is [why I say] my food is electric not just vegan.” Abstaining from meat and processed fare does not have to be boring. “People imagine that vegans eat salad all day and it’s quite the contrary,” Ahki says. “Visit a local Ethiopian restaurant and ask for a vegetable platter. You will find out how fulfilling and flavorful a vegan diet can be. It’s all about knowledge and [figuring out] what tastes are most pleasurable to you.”

BETTER HEALTH FAST

“By any greens necessary” is one of Chef Ahki’s favorite sayings as she travels the country encouraging people of color to consume a wholesome diet. Whether she’s appearing on The Wendy Williams Show or dealing with her …

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