Fresh off her Wimbledon doubles championship victory, a stunning Venus Williams stopped by CBS This Morning to discuss tennis, the Olympics, and how she is feeling since following a raw vegan diet.

Since 2011, the Venus’ family, friends, and fans have been concerned about her health after she was diagnosed with Sjögren’s (show-grens) syndrome, a little-known autoimmune disorder.

For over a year now, after opening up about her battle with this incurable disease of the immune system, which affects the body’s moisture-producing glands, Venus has made it her mission to change her lifestyle by adding yoga to her workout routine to combat joint pain and exploring alternative wellness practices.

Venus admits that her she forgives herself often for mistakes while on a diet that restricts a majority of foods some of us grow up being comfortable with eating, such as dairy and meat. But when Western medicine gives no other alternatives, an holistic approach can help mitigate the symptoms of debilitating diseases.

For those of you who are curious, raw veganism is a diet that combines veganism and raw foodism. It excludes all food of animal origin, and all food cooked above 48 degrees Celsius (118 degrees Fahrenheit).

A raw vegan diet includes raw vegetables and fruits, nuts and nut pastes, grain and legume sprouts, seeds, plant oils, sea vegetables, herbs, and fresh juices.

If you’re looking to break your body’s addiction to sugar and other unhealthy chemicals or simply looking for a lifestyle change, the raw vegan diet could be for you.

Venus and Serena are now preparing to represent the US tennis team in the 2012 Olympics, hoping to secure their third gold medal.

Check out Venus’ interview below:

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17 Comments

  1. She looks healthy and radiant. I love it!

  2. I have a question. How do raw vegans get their protein?

    • @NoitAll: Hi NoitAll

      Thanks for asking that question. Hopefully, these articles can help you find some answers about protein.

      Where Do You Get Your Protein?

      How to be a Healthy Vegetarian

      Plus check out our Transition section under the Vegan/Raw tab. There’s tons of helpful articles about raw food and protein.

    • @NoitAll: Actually, a better question is this: why do you believe vegetarians are protein deficient? It’s a myth actually. There’s no problem of protein deficiency in most American diets. In fact, some foods have just as much or more protein that meat: black beans, cashew seeds, flax seeds, I could keep going.

      When I went raw one summer, I lost tons of weight, only needed 4-5 hours of sleep per night, and my skin glowed naturally to the point where people were asking me what kind of makeup I was using. It’s a great way to eat.

      • @Mona: I experienced the same things when I went full raw for a few months last year. The glowing skin, tons of energy, not needing much sleep and tons of other benefits.

    • @NoitAll: Just how, most of all the other creatures on earth who are naturally herbivores like cows, elephants, rhinos, hippos, etc.. Beans, legumes, nuts, soy, greens, sprouts and the list goes on.

  3. Thanks for posting this story! Venus and Serena are such an inspiration. I didn’t realize that Venus had become a raw vegan. Although her illness is unfortunate I think she has an amazing opportunity to inspire others to make healthier food choices! Can’t wait to see them represent the U.S. at the Olympics!!!

  4. Venus looks awesome. I can’t wait for Olympics. Serena and Venus have revived my love for tennis. It’s not the same when they’re not on top much like golf without Tiger

  5. She looks great! I am vegan not fully raw and I feel fantastic. it does take a lot of will power to stick to an all raw diet. Good on her

  6. She looks great, softer and more radiant. Raw veganism will do that I’ve dabbled in it and the benefits inward and out are off the charts, but it’s so challenging to stay on. My main problem with eating all raw is that I’m literally starving all the time. Right now I’m at about 50% raw. I’d really like to figure out a way to stay at 80 to 100%
    raw without feeling so hungry all of the time.

  7. Lena – Try out 30bananasaday.com, it is the largest raw vegan forum out there! And no you do not actually have to eat 30 bananas in a day

  8. Ajayi Babatunde Oluwaseyi

    please how can i meet serena william? i want her to train me (over ten years av been looking for a good teacher on Lawn tennis)
    I stay in lagos NIGERIA

  9. Hello Venus, I have a cure for your disease. I am also a vegan. Look forward to talking to you. Dr. Donise Dillard

  10. Is your dad is the president or treasure chairman???

    because i can´t figure out how you can afford her coaching services and pay her an extra money to leave tjhe USA and stay living in your horrible half islamic half homophobic full of dirt country.

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