Fruitarianism From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Fruitarianism is a diet that consists entirely or primarily of fruits in the botanical sense, and possibly nuts and seeds, without animal products. Fruitarianism is a subset of dietary veganism. Fruitarianism may be adopted for different reasons, including ethical, religious, political, medical, environmental, cultural, aesthetic, economic, and health reasons. There are many varieties of the diet. Some people whose diet consists of 75% or more fruit consider themselves fruitarians.[1] Contents 1 Definitions 2 Motivation 3 Scientific studies 3.1 Dental studies 3.2 Clinical studies 4 Nutritional concerns 4.1 Nutritional deficiencies 4.2 Vitamin B12 4.3 Growth and development issues 5 Notable adherents 5.1 Historical figures 5.2 Fictional Close-up of a fruit bowl with 6 See also apples, grapes, prunes, 7 References nuts, dates, tomatoes, 8 External links lemons, mandarins, pears, and a pumpkin Definitions Some fruitarians will eat only what falls (or would fall) naturally from a plant: that is, foods that can be harvested without killing or harming the plant.[2][3][4] These foods consist primarily of culinary fruits, nuts, and seeds.[5] According to author Adam Gollner, some fruitarians eat only fallen fruit.[6] Some do not eat grains, believing it is unnatural to do so,[7] and some fruitarians feel that it is improper for humans to eat seeds[8] as they contain future plants,[6] or nuts and seeds,[9] or any foods besides juicy fruits.[10] Others believe they should eat only plants that spread seeds when the plant is eaten.[11] Others eat seeds and some cooked foods.[12] Some fruitarians use the botanical definitions of fruits and consume pulses, such as beans, peas, or other legumes. Other fruitarians' diets include raw fruits, dried fruits, nuts, honey and olive oil,[13] or fruits, nuts, beans and chocolate.[14] Motivation Some fruitarians of the Judeo-Christian faiths believe, based on Genesis 1:29, that fruitarianism was the original diet of humankind in the form of Adam and Eve.[12] They believe that a return to an Eden-like paradise will require simple living and a holistic approach to health and diet.[15] Some fruitarians wish, like Jains, to avoid killing anything, including plants,[12] and refer to ahimsa fruitarianism.[16] Some fruitarians say that eating some types of fruit does the parent plant a favor and that fleshy fruit has evolved to be eaten by animals, to achieve seed dispersal.[11] Scientific studies Dental studies In 1979, Professor Alan Walker, a Johns Hopkins University paleoanthropologist, reported that preliminary studies of unmarked tooth enamel in early hominoids suggested that pre-human ancestors apparently had a diet of mostly fruit. Walker said, "I don't want to make too much of this yet. But it is quite a surprise."[17] Clinical studies In 1971, a short-term study by B. J. Meyer was published in the South African Medical Journal[18] describing how lipid profiles and glucose tolerances improved on a particular fruitarian diet.[19] An earlier 1971 study by Meyer tested a 45-year-old teacher who claimed she had eaten only fruits for the past 12 years, who was found to be in "excellent health".[20] In a further trial in the study, body weights of overweight subjects showed a tendency to "level off" at the " 'theoretically ideal' weight".[21] Nutritional concerns According to nutritionists, adults must be careful not to follow a fruit-only diet for too long,[22] a fruitarian diet is not suitable for teens,[23] and a fruitarian diet is wholly unsuitable for children.[22] Nutritional deficiencies Fruitarianism is more restrictive than veganism or raw veganism.[24] The Health Promotion Program at Columbia University reports that a fruitarian diet can cause deficiencies in calcium, protein, iron, zinc, vitamin D, most B vitamins (especially B12), and essential fatty acids. Additionally, the Health Promotion Program at Columbia reports that food restrictions in general may lead to hunger, cravings, food obsessions, social disruptions, and social isolation.[23] Vitamin B12 Vitamin B12, a bacterial product, cannot be obtained from fruits. According to the U.S. National Institutes of Health "natural food sources of vitamin B12 are limited to foods [25] that come from animals." Like raw vegans who do not consume B12-fortified foods (certain plant milks and breakfast cereals, for example), fruitarians may need to include a B12 supplement in their diet or risk vitamin B12 deficiency. Growth and development issues In children, growth and development may be at risk. Some nutritionists state that children should not follow a fruitarian diet. Nutritional problems include severe protein- energy malnutrition, anemia and deficiencies including proteins, iron, calcium, essential fatty acids, raw fibre and a wide range of vitamins and minerals.[26] Notable adherents Some notable advocates of fruitarianism, of diets which may be considered fruitarian, or of lifestyles including such a diet, are: August Engelhardt,[27] Arnold Ehret,[28] Raymond W. Bernard,[29] and Essie Honiball[30][31] adhered to a fruitarian diet for some time. Actor Ashton Kutcher told USA Today that his pancreas levels went "all out of whack" after following a fruitarian diet in preparation for his role as Apple CEO and onetime fruitarian Steve Jobs, in the film Jobs. Jobs died of pancreatic cancer.[32] Others such as Ross Horne[33] and Viktoras Kulvinskas[34] appeared to only describe the fruitarian diet.[35] Some, like Johnny Lovewisdom, experimented with different diets, including juicy fruitarianism,[36] liquidarianism (juices only),[37] vitarianism (fruit, vegetables, raw dairy)[38] and breatharianism.[39] Others like author Morris Krok, who at stages during his life, lived "only on fruits",[40] allegedly advised against a diet of "only fruit",[41] although it was subsequently reported that Krok's diet consisted of "just fruit",[42] with dietary practices of fruitarians as varied as definitions of the term 'fruitarianism'. Diet author Joe Alexander lived for 56 days on juicy fruits.[43] Historical figures Idi Amin, the Ugandan military dictator, became a fruitarian in Saudi Arabia during his exile there.[44] Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, better known as Indian political and spiritual leader Mahatma Gandhi, sustained a fruitarian diet for 5 years.[45] He apparently discontinued the diet and went back to vegetarianism due to pleurisy, a pre-existing condition, after pressure from a Dr. Jivraj Mehta.[46][47] Ben Klassen, white supremacist, founder of the Creativity Movement,[48] and author of The White Man’s Bible, advocated a fruitarian diet to include fruits, vegetables and nuts.[49] Steve Jobs, who supposedly named his company Apple because he was experimenting with a fruitarian diet.[50] Fictional Ayesha ("She-who-must-be-obeyed") of H. Rider Haggard's She and its sequels. The Eloi from H. G. Wells's The Time Machine. The monster in Mary Shelley's Frankenstein.[51] The evil Medusa Johnson in Leonard Part 6. Keziah in Notting Hill. Keziah states that fruitarians only eat fruit that has fallen from the tree or bush.[52] Characters such as Mr. Mick in Gilbert K. Chesterton's "The Napoleon of Notting Hill". Ryūko Mifune in the light novel series Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko by Hitoma Iruma. See also Frugivore Raw foodism Raw veganism List of culinary fruits Veganism References 1. "Living and Raw Foods: Types of Raw Food Diets: A Brief Survey". 2. Sins of the Flesh: A History of Ethical Vegetarian Thought, Rod Preece, UBC Press, 2008, "Since plants have life, it is necessary, if one is not to starve, to live from the fruit of the plant in such a manner that the host plant itself does not die." 3. Nutrition for the recreational athlete, Catherine G. Ratzin Jackson, page 95, “The fruitarian diet usually consists of consuming those parts of the plant that are cast off or dropped from the plant and that do not involve the destruction of the plant itself.”, 249 page, CRC Press, 1995, ISBN 0-8493-7914-8, ISBN 978-0-8493-7914-7 4. Handbook Of Pediatric Nutrition, Patricia Samour, “A fruitarian diet consists of only fruits. Any plant food that is botanically a fruit or can be obtained without killing or harming the plant is considered a fruit." Jones & Bartlett Publishers, 2003, page 143. 5. "The Vegetarian Society UK — Information Sheet — Definitions". 6. 'The Fruit Hunters, Adam Leith Gollne, "Some factions eat only fallen fruit. Others refuse to eat any seeds because they contain future plants." 7. "Human Dietetic Character, I — Are We Grain Eaters?". 8. "To Those Considering A Fruitarian Diet". 9. The Ascensional Science of Spiritualizing Fruitarian Dietetics, Dr Johnny Lovewisdom, Ecuador: International University of the Natural Vitalogical Sciences, 1999, Introduction: "Nature is betrayed when man ingests the seeds of plants, depriving them of their means of propagating their own species"; chapter: Sugar & Starch-Friends Or Foes? "grains, nuts and other seeds are wrong as food sources" 10. "Ascensional Science teaches the damaging effects of chlorophyll leafage, earthly roots and lower passion producing seeds. We are healed by levitational forces in fruit sugars and acids." Introduction to Ascensional Science of Spiritualizing Fruitarian Dietetics, Johnny Lovewisdom, International University of the Natural Vitalogical Sciences, 1999 11. Living and Raw Foods: Alternative Eating Plans - USA TODAY (http://www.living-foods.com/news/alternative.html) 12. What is a Fruitarian? (http://www.acorn.net/fruitarian/what.html) 13. Food, nutrition, and diet therapy: a textbook of nutritional care, Marie V. Krause, "The fruitarian diet consists of only raw or dried fruits, nuts, honey and olive oil." page 343, Saunders, 1984, Original from the University of Michigan, Digitized Aug 19, 2008, ISBN 0-7216-5514-9, ISBN 978-0-7216-5514-7 14.