Controversial vegan advocate known as ‘Freelee the Banana Girl’ has shared a rare photograph of herself at the age of 20 before she switched to a raw plant-based diet.
Leanne Ratcliffe, who goes by the fruity moniker online, is known for her passionate yet often eyebrow-raising stance on veganism and clean eating.
And determined to provide proof her raw vegan lifestyle produces results, the 37-year-old Queensland woman posted an image of herself 17 years ago while on a paleo diet with a noticeably fuller figure.
Determined to provide proof her raw vegan lifestyle produces results, the 37-year-old Queensland woman shared an image of herself 17 years ago while on a paleo diet with a noticeably fuller figure (Pictured left before and right after)
Leanne Ratcliffe, (pictured) who goes by the fruity moniker online, is known for her passionate yet often eyebrow-raising stance on veganism and clean eating
‘On the left I was eating a paleo diet, low carbs with excess protein and fat causing a bunch of terrible health problems,’ Leanne on her Instagram.
‘At an age where I should have been my happiest and healthiest I was constantly depressed, lethargic, had CFS and irritable bowel syndrome, brittle nails, constant thrush, cystic acne and low thyroid function to name a few.’
The social media sensation reveals she has since lost a total of 18 kilograms since ditching paleo and going vegan and ‘healed’ her digestive system through her excessive clean eating.
Flashing her lean stomach and toned abs in her ‘after’ photo, Leanne says her skin is now radiant, her hormones are in check and she is no longer depressed – adding she is now fitter at the age of 37 than she was at 20.
At an age where I should have been my happiest and healthiest I was constantly depressed, lethargic, had CFS and irritable bowel syndrome, brittle nails, constant thrush, cystic acne and low thyroid function to name a few,’ Leanne (pictured before veganism) said
The social media sensation reveals she has since lost a total of 18 kilograms since ditching paleo and going vegan and ‘healed’ her digestive system through her excessive clean eating
Leanne says a raw vegan diet helped to eliminate a plethora of health problems, including cystic acne and thrush
But according to Freelee the Banana Girl, the biggest victory in adopting veganism is no longer taking the life of ‘innocent’ animals for her meals.
‘I no longer eat my friends or byproducts that cause them pain and suffering,’ Leanne added.
‘Please never forget the voiceless victims of your meals.’
The vegan blogger first rose to internet notoriety after claiming to eat 51 bananas a day and starting a war with fellow Instagram star Kayla Itsines.
The vegan blogger first rose to internet notoriety after claiming to eat 51 bananas a day and starting a war with fellow Instagram star Kayla Itsines
Leanne (pictured) swears by her diet ‘raw until four’ which means no cooked or heated food until 4pm
She claims an extreme, low processed, low-fat, high-carb raw vegan diet – including an vast daily consumption of bananas – is the key to gut health and her ultra-slim physique.
Freelee remains ‘raw until four’ – meaning she eats no cooked or heated food whatsoever until 4pm – and blends up to 20 bananas daily into smoothies.
Leanne discovered raw veganism in 2001 and often tells her legion of fans that it saved her life.
‘This lifestyle saved my life and now I’m so grateful to help do the same for girls around the world,’ she wrote on Instagram.