The Fruitarian Diet
Fruitarians (frugivores or fructarians) eat mostly or only the fruit of plants.
There are different variations of fruitarianism. Many fruitarians hold the definition to one that eats 100% fruit, others have diets that are 75% or more fruit, with the rest being a raw vegan diet.
Others consider themselves to be aspiring fruitarians when fruit is the main part of their diet.
More About The Fruitarian Diet:
Fruitarians use differing definitions of what is considered a
"fruit."
When discussing fruit as food, the term usually refers to just those
plant fruits that are sweet and fleshy (including plums, apples, and
oranges). Botanically, though, many common vegetables (including the
bell pepper, tomato, and cucumber), as well as nuts and grains, are
fruit.
Definition of fruitarian
Some fruitarians will eat only what falls (or would fall) naturally
from a plant, namely, culinary fruits, nuts, and seeds (excluding
grains). Many do not eat grains, which are usually not palatable
unless cooked, (most fruitarians are raw foodists). Some feel that
it is improper for fruitarians to eat seeds. Others eat seeds and
cooked foods.
Another may eat a similar diet, but including other botanical
definitions of fruits and consume pulses. Other fruitarians argue
that the slippery slope of what 'would' fall from the plant leads to
including foods that would otherwise be taboo.
A minority of fruitarians only eat fruit in the culinary
sense.[citation needed] Others include green leafy vegetables and/or
root vegetables. Some occasionally include some dairy products in
their diet as well.
Motivation
Some believe fruitarianism was the original diet of mankind in the
form of Adam and Eve as quoted at Genesis 1:29. They believe that a
return to an Eden-like paradise will require simple living,
surrender of anything "modern" (electricity, medication, housing,
clothing, etc.) and a holistic approach to health and diet.
Other fruitarians wish to avoid killing in all its forms, including
plants. They point out that eating some types of fruit does the
parent plant a favor. Fleshy fruit has evolved to be eaten by
animals, to achieve seed dispersal. Fruit seeds passed in feces may
sprout in a pile of ready-made fertilizer, encouraging proliferation
of the plant, but only if one defecates outside, which most
Westerners do not. Fruits with cores or pits, however, will be
tossed aside to sprout too near the parent plant to gain any
benefit.
Others still become fruitarians after a casual study of human
physiology.[citation needed] Many of these fruitarians make
physiological claims to support their diet, and believe that by
following such a diet, enhanced health can be achieved. (See Health
below)
Noteworthy Fruitarians
Ancient Fruitarians
In the story of Rama (a Hindu avatar) he lives in exile in the
forest for 14 years on a partially fruitarian diet, supplemented
with root vegetables.
Possible Biblical Examples
Some believe that Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden were
Fruitarians (Behold I have given you herb yielding seed. To you it
shall be for meat; Genesis l:29).
A "lost" gospel, the Essene Gospel of Peace, claims that the Essenes
were raw foodists and Fruitarians. The only person claiming to have
seen the original manuscript, Edmond Bordeaux Szekely, continues to
publish new portions of this text, well after his death in 1979.
A small minority of scholars believe Jesus was an Essene who
practiced a mainly fruitarian diet, although this contradicts the
mainline Bible (Matthew 15:34-37) and some scholarship on the
Essenes.
Modern
* Mahatma Gandhi was a briefly followed a diet similar to
fruitarianism. He and his followers repeatedly discontinued these
diets as in the long term they proved unsustainable.
* Sri Yukteswar, the guru of Paramahansa Yogananda, was a fruitarian
and author of The Holy Science, a book with a chapter on "natural
living", including a fruitarian diet.
* Dick Gregory wrote the book Cooking With Mother Nature For Folks
Who Eat about his odyssey from lacto vegetarianism to fruitarianism.
He ran 3000 miles across the US on fruit juice.
http://www.dickgregory.com
* Steve Jobs (co-founder of Apple Computer, Inc.) for a period in
the 1970s.
* Hall of Fame basketball player Pete Maravich, for a short
period.[citation needed]
* Walter Siegmeister a noted Hollow Earth theorist, under the pen
name "Dr. Raymond Bernard", promoted fruitarianism as part of his
plan for a "super race".
* Morris Krok, South African author, wrote Fruit: The Food And
Medicine For Man, later recommended against fruitarianism.
* Johnny Lovewisdom, author of The Buddhist Essene Gospel of Jesus,
suffered from numerous health problems attributed to fruitarianism.
* Johanna Brandt of South Africa advanced a grape diet in 1925,
saying it had cured her cancer. Her Harmony Healing Center was the
target of regulatory and legal action by the FDA and U.S. Post
Office, citing fraud and practicing medicine without a license.
Fictional
* The K-PAXian in Gene Brewer's K-PAX book series and film.
* The Eloi from HG Wells's The Time Machine.
* One of Hugh Grant's potential love interests in the film Notting
Hill
* The evil Medusa Johnson (Gloria Foster; the Oracle in The Matrix
Trilogy) in the feature film "Leonard Part Six" also starring Bill
Cosby
Criticisms
In addition to health risks particular to fruitarianism, all risks
associated with veganism apply as well.
* Serious nutritional deficiencies: Some long-time strict
fruitarians will develop nutritional deficiencies as a result of the
diet. Many will develop health problems and switch to a broader
diet. (Specific health risks are discussed below.)
* Lack of Vitamin B12: Vitamin B12 can only be synthesized by
bacteria and archaea. Unless they regularly use supplements,
fruitarians will not get sufficient amounts of this nutrient. Years
of deficiency in vitamin B12 may lead to megaloblastic anemia,
macrocytic anemia, serious neurological and mental damage, increased
homocysteine (associated with heart disease and arterial
deterioration), degeneration of the peripheral nervous system and
spinal cord, paranoia, hyperactive reflexes, impotence and
infertility. As with all vegans, fruitarians are at risk of serious,
permanent bodily damage or death if they do not add B12 supplements
or fortified foods to their diets. Natural food sources of vitamin
B12 are limited to foods that come from animals.
* Lack of evidence of successful, long-term fruitarians: Many
notable advocates of fruitarianism in the past, including Morris
Krok, Johnny Lovewisdom, Walter Siegmeister/Raymond Bernard, and
Viktoras Kulvinskas ate considerable quantities of vegetables and
occasional cooked foods and vegetables. Others switched to other
unorthodox lifestyles (including breatharianism and liquitarianism
(juices only), or recommended against the diet once they stopped
(Morris Krok).
* Dental problems: The high organic acid content in many fruits can
strip minerals from teeth. A number of fruitarians have given up the
diet due to tooth loss, receding gums and similar problems