'My kids are only allowed to eat fruit and vegetables'

A mum has revealed she's raising her children as fruitarians - meaning they eat almost exclusively fruit and veg. Pam Johal, 46, is a raw vegan - meaning she only eats uncooked fruit and vegetables and has done so for the last four years.

She believes humans were designed to "only eat fruit" and claims her children are better behaved than other children due to what they eat. 

Before adopting her diet, Pam eat meat four times a week - but a health scare prompted her to change what she was consuming. The mum suffered from rheumatoid arthritis from the beginning of 2020 - and by August she claims she has reversed the condition by eating fruit.

She cut out lots of her favourite foods, like cheesy pasta and bacon sandwiches, opting to live on mangos and avocado instead.

Now her children - Georgie, seven and Henry, six - have adopted the diet. Pam claims that 'a fruit smoothie a day keeps the doctor away'. Items iike milk, eggs or processed meats are ruled out completely. 

Pam, unemployed, from Southampton, said: "I've lived on 90% fruit for four and a half years - I've never felt better. I feel like I'm five years old. "Even in my twenties, I didn't feel as good as this.

"My kids notice how I eat, I take them to vegan fairs and teach them the truth about food. They love the food I make and they never get sick. I've lived on 90% fruit for four and a half years - I've never felt better.

"My kids are always happy and thriving, they are always singing and dancing, they are much happier now they eat more raw vegan foods."

"I make sure everything is as free from rubbish as much as I can. Becoming fruitarian has changed me in many ways. I feel out of this world."

Occasionally Pam allows her children some vegan chocolate, ice cream and jelly.

In February 2020, Pam was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis - after experiencing symptoms for months on end. Her symptoms included feeling depressed, muscle stiffness, fatigue and swelling. Pam said she suffered when she 'tried to walk, get dressed and perform basic tasks'.

The condition is hereditary - Pam said and her mum has been "suffering" from the condition for years. After visiting her GP eight months ago - Pam was told she may need to use a wheelchair permanently due to deformed joints.

She said: "I used to start my days off having a hot bath to help with the stiffness. Then I'd have to take naproxen in the morning. Tasks like getting out of the bath, completing housework, picking up my kids and even opening bottles became painful."

She found out about the raw vegan diet back when she was 23 and she suffered from ulcerative colitis. She went on a three-day retreat where she fasted for three days. She claims this along with fruit "reversed" her condition. Although there is not enough evidence to support this, but the National Center for Biotechnology Information says a raw vegan diet may decrease some symptoms.

The only known cure for ulcerative colitis is surgery, although patients can go into remission. Pam revealed that her gastroenterologist was "shocked" and "couldn't believe it" when he saw her results.

She was equally "shocked" at the dramatic improvement she experienced after starting the diet. She said: "Within a few months I had changed my life and reversed my arthritis. It takes a while for your stomach to get used to a different sensation, but I've never felt better."

Four years into her fruitarian lifestyle, she believes she's not only reversed the effects of arthritis, but also added years to her life. She even claims she can stay up until the early hours, listening to music and dancing without any pain.

"I have a tonne of energy, no aches or pains," she expressed. "I'm 47 - I have no grey hairs. My family thinks I'm crazy, but in truth, dieting can make you feel incredible."

"I also don't go through my day thinking about protein, it's all a myth. I don't count calories either."

To compensate for any minerals or vitamins she might miss in her diet, Pam also takes herbs. The main ingredient is cordyceps, a type of mushroom, which she claims can be used to cleanse organs.

As a mother of two, she tries to raise her children as plant-based as possible. She gives both of her children smoothies that she claims 'gives them all their daily vitamin needs in one drink'. She puts in "anything she can", which can include bananas, dates, pine nuts, and mangos.

"I can't influence them completely," she admitted. "We haven't needed the GP before like some other children."

Pam claims that her children's plant-based diet has kept them away from the doctor, avoiding common childhood illnesses like the flu. She boldly states, "If I got sepsis, I'd treat it myself at home."

Her kids were vaccinated when they were young, but she vows "not vaccinate them again," insisting "fruit is medicine."

Discussing her daughter's health choices, Pam firmly declares, "I will not be vaccinating her against HPV."

A typical day of eating for Pam:

No breakfast, fasts until 11 am

Lunch: Salad, mangos, orange juice, watermelon juice and grapes

Dinner: Leek and potato soup, fruit

A typical day of eating for the kids:

Breakfast: Fruit

Lunch: Fruit, vegan yoghurt, raisins, vegan jelly and healthy crisps

Snack: Smoothie or vegan KitKat

Dinner: Often their choice but it can often be soup