Vegan influencer’s 'extreme' diet may have contributed to her death at 39, says mum
A vegan influencer’s mum claimed that an unconventional diet was a contributing factor in her daughter’s death at just 39.
The Russian-born Zhanna Samsonova, amassed over 10,000 Instagram followers whilst sharing details of her raw, plant-based diet and recipes.
Zhanna had followed the diet for over 10 years, focusing primarily on fruits, seeds, and smoothies.
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She supposedly also gave up drinking plain water in favour of fruit juices and smoothies.
"No salt, less fat, and no oil and no dehydrated food!," she told her followers in one Instagram post. "Just simple mono meal! That's all! And this is my level after 10 years (of being a) raw vegan."
On 21 July 2023, Zhanna sadly passed away in Malaysia after developing what her mother described as a “cholera-like infection”.
In an interview with Vechernyaya Kazan, a Russian newspaper, Vera Samsonova said she believed the raw vegan diet had a major part to play in her daughter’s untimely death.
While she said at the time that the infection had been the primary cause, she speculated that her body had been unable to fend it off as it was exhausted by the extreme diet.
Many outlets reported that she had indeed died of “starvation”.
Despite trying to convince her daughter to abandon the diet, Zhanna had not confided in her about any health concerns.
Many of her friends, however, agreed that the diet had been slowly wearing Zhanna down.
"It was scary to look at her, to be honest, her hands were like those of my 12-year-old sister, thin," one friend told Russian news outlet 116.ru. Another said they had seen her in Sri Lanka a few months before her death and that she was “looking exhausted”.
Another said: "Ms Samsonova's idle starvation was causing her to melt before our eyes, but she believed everything was fine.
"Only her eyes, merry eyes, and gorgeous hair compensated for the dreadful sight of a body tortured by idiocy. Forgive me if it sounds harsh."
Another came forward to say: "I lived one floor above her and every day I feared finding her lifeless body in the morning. I convinced her to seek treatment, but she didn't make it."
It seems that Zhanna never saw it that way. In one post to her followers she said: "I never revert to my old behaviours because I adore the new version of myself.”
She also said she felt her “body and mind transform every day”.
There are many reported benefits of adopting a raw vegan diet, including lowered cholesterol levels and improved heart health thanks to the focus on fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds.
However, when following a diet such as this, it’s vitally important to consistently consume enough calories to maintain a healthy weight, as well as to ensure you’re getting enough protein and carbohydrates to ensure your body has the energy to work and repair itself.
A raw vegan diet also increases the risk of low iron and vitamin B12, an absence of which can significantly weaken your muscles and bones whilst also significantly lowering your energy levels.
If you are considering adopting an unconventional diet, it is highly recommended that you speak to your doctor to understand the potential risks and get a strong understanding of how to follow any diet safely.
Rachael Davis