Aloha, I’m Analea—founder and chef at Eat Plants Elevate. This journey didn’t begin as a business at first; it started with my own path to healing. As a teenager, I was stuck in a cycle of medications and constant antibiotic intake for over 1o years. By my mid-20s, my immune system was already severely compromised, and as a result, I struggled with chronic inflammation and illnesses.
Discovering the healing power of a plant-based lifestyle, juice cleanses, and a holistic lifestyle changed everything. I fully healed—without medication—and since 2010, I’ve been medication-free and thriving on plants. This transformation became the spark behind Eat Plants Elevate, a way to share what worked for me and help others feel their best, too.
Along the way, I trained at Matthew Kenney Culinary School and Viva La Raw - raw vegan retreat in Costa Rica. While I am mostly a self-taught cook, and I constantly continue to expand my knowledge and skills, I also worked at Que Se Raw Se Raw, a raw vegan café in California. I’m a graduate of the Institute for Integrative Nutrition and HMI Wellness, with a focus on plant-based nutrition, detoxification, and whole-body wellness.
Cooking is my passion and creative outlet. I’m always learning, testing new techniques, and creating nourishing dishes that are as healing as they are delicious. I’m also proud to be a published co-author of Healing Foods by Joey Avniel, where I shared my story and recipes—my raw vegan pizza was even featured on the cover.
Eat Plants Elevate Mission
Eat Plants Elevate’s mission is simple: to elevate your health with plant-based nutrition and a holistic lifestyle.
More about my healing path
By my mid-20s, my health was in crisis. I struggled with chronic sinus infections, frequent antibiotic use, inflammation, migraines, digestive issues, fatigue, and even early signs of knee arthritis. I felt trapped in a cycle of sickness and medication, with no clear way out. Conventional medicine and doctors were not helping me, and I started searching for natural ways to heal myself.
How Yoga Led Me to a Vegan Lifestyle
In 2007, while living in New York City, I began practicing yoga to relieve chronic back pain. What began as a physical form of therapy, yoga quickly evolved into a profound spiritual path, transforming my life in many ways. I found myself practicing and learning yoga almost every day of the week. My teacher, Dharma Mittra, my guru and the primary catalyst for a deep inner transformation, emphasized in each class the importance of Ahimsa. Ahimsa is the first principle (rule) of the true yoga path. Ahimsa means non-violence and compassion—compassion towards all living beings, which has to go beyond our pets. Dharma says that Ahimsa is the most essential principle in yoga, and that “without Ahimsa, yoga is just like gymnastics”.
Dharma told us in every yoga class about how consuming animal products can disturb the mind and body, hindering inner peace and clarity. His message resonated deeply: compassion isn't just a philosophy—it’s a practice. I transitioned to a vegan lifestyle in 2010 and also became a certified yoga teacher.
Healing with Plants
As my diet shifted, I also introduced regular juice cleanses and detoxes. Within a year, I was off all medications, and my chronic symptoms began to fade. I’ve remained medicine-free and illness-free ever since, sustained and energized by whole, plant-based foods. Since 2010, I have not taken any medications, zero pills, not a single Advil even, with excellent health and energy levels as I continue thriving on plants for over a decade now.
Deepening My Knowledge
My transformation sparked a desire to help others heal. I studied holistic health at the Institute for Integrative Nutrition and a specialized plant-based nutrition program at the HMI Wellness. I also trained as a raw vegan chef at the Viva La Raw retreat in Costa Rica, gaining hands-on experience working at a raw vegan café, Que Se Raw Se Raw, in Burlingame, California.
From Cooking Classes to Private Chef Services
It all started with raw vegan cooking classes first in Brooklyn, which led to custom dessert orders and small catering requests. When I moved to the Bay Area, my offerings grew to include private cooking classes and weekly meal prep for families. My work spread through word of mouth, and my client base expanded.
In 2024, I relocated to O‘ahu, Hawai‘i, where I continue to offer personalized plant-based meal prep, private chef services, and cooking classes. Today, my mission is simple: to help others feel their best—physically, mentally, and emotionally—through the healing power of plant-based nutrition.
