Vegan raw food diet influencer Zhanna D’Art ‘dies of starvation’

A popular influencer who subsisted exclusively off a diet of exotic fruit has “died of starvation” at age 39, according to her friends and family.

Vegan influencer Zhanna Samsonova has reportedly “died of starvation” after subsisting exclusively off a diet of exotic fruit in Malaysia, according to her friends and family.

She was 39.

The Russian national – who frequently promoted raw foods on social media where she was known to her millions of viewers on TikTok, Facebook and Instagram as Zhanna D’Art – reportedly died on July 21, the New York Post reports, after finally seeking medical treatment during a tour in Southeast Asia, according to local media outlets.

“A few months ago, in Sri Lanka, she already looked exhausted, with swollen legs oozing lymph,” one unidentified friend told Newsflash.

“They sent her home to seek treatment. However, she ran away again. When I saw her in Phuket, I was horrified.”

Her friend added, “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.”

Samsonova’s mother attributed her daughter’s passing to “cholera-like infection”. However, her official cause of death has not been declared.

A proponent of uncooked fruit and vegetables, Samsonova claimed she ate a “completely raw vegan diet” for the last four years, consuming just “fruits, sunflower seed sprouts, fruit smoothies and juices”.

Vegan influencer Zhanna Samsonova has reportedly 'died of starvation'. Picture: Newsflash

'A few months ago, in Sri Lanka, she already looked exhausted, with swollen legs oozing lymph,' a friend of the deceased said. Picture: Newsflash

Meanwhile, a friend claimed that for the last seven years, Samsonova had only eaten jackfruit and durian, a spiky, mace-like fruit known for its custardy meat and noxious odour.

“I see my body and mind transform every day,” she said when describing her restrictive eating regimen. “I love my new me, and never move on to the habits that I used to use.”

The foodfluencer said her raw foods regimen was reportedly inspired by seeing “peers” who looked a lot older than their ages, which she attributed to their “junk food” diets.

She used social media to spread her raw diet doctrine, writing: “I eat simple food, although I have a lot of experience as a raw food chef. I love creating my own recipes and inspiring people to eat healthier.”

Unfortunately, her friends believe her so-called healthy food choices were to blame for her death.

“You don’t need to be a doctor to understand where this will lead,” one friend said of her all-durian and jackfruit diet.

Samsonova under a coconut tree. Picture: Newsflash

“Zhanna’s idle stagnation was causing her to melt before our eyes, but she believed everything was fine,” said another.

“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.”

While a raw foods diet can have multiple health benefits – including weight loss, improved heart health and a lower risk of diabetes – there are downsides to this regimen, especially when not well planned, according to Healthline.

These include deficiencies in calcium and vitamin D, which are needed for strong bones. This can also lead to suboptimal B12 levels, which can result in anaemia, nervous system damage, infertility and, somewhat paradoxically, heart disease.

A study published earlier this month in the Journal of Nutrition found that 100 per cent of participants on a raw vegan diet ingested less than the recommended 2.4mcg of vitamin B12 per day.

Despite the potential downsides to Samsonova’s diet, many of her devoted followers refused to believe her eating choices led to her death, instead claiming that she was killed by chemicals in the fruit she ate.

Samsonova’s family is awaiting a medical report and a death certificate that will determine her official cause of death.

A Butterfly Foundation spokesperson warned against severe restrictions of food.

“Severely restricting the quantity and range of food you eat can be extremely dangerous,” the spokesperson said.

“This kind of disordered eating is one of the biggest risk factors for developing an eating disorder, and can result in malnutrition, low energy levels, low moods, reduced coping and increased risk of health complications.

“If you or someone you know has concerns about disordered eating it is important to seek help immediately, as receiving support early is key to improved health and quality of life outcomes.”

This article originally appeared on the New York Post and was reproduced with permission