He believes that his physical deterioration resulted from plaque build-up in his blood vessels, particularly in the capillaries that supply blood to the muscles. Howard has belonged to a running club in Saratoga, Calif. for years, drawing inspiration from his colleagues, while also learning from their example. So last year, when a new member signed up who ate only raw, living food, Howard paid attention and quickly became a convert. Now he steadfastly avoids dairy products, eats very little animal protein or whole grains and no refined grains. He has also eliminated sugar, honey, caffeine and margarine-opting instead to fill up on nuts, seeds and dark green, leafy vegetables like kale, broccoli and sprouts, seasoned with Celtic sea salt.
Fruit is fine, but only in the mornings.
Howard likens his diet to eating like a hunter-gatherer. I'm convinced that cooking my food and eating food that comes from a factory or a high-tech farm was depositing fat and filling me with toxins. Howard says the bulging abdomen and thick arms and legs that he'd learned to accept as his normal physique over the last 15 years virtually melted away on the raw food diet, and he was surprised to find that he didn't have the stocky muscular build he had long thought. He lost 35 pounds, going from 24 percent body fat to an amazing three percent in the process. And, it certainly doesn't hurt that he practices Hatha Yoga six days a week.