The benefits of a fruitarian diet are mostly promoted
by people on the diet, rather than scientific
research. These benefits include increased mental
power and clarity, creativity, happiness, energy, confidence,
self-esteem, and concentration. Physical health
benefits, according to the Fruitarian Foundation,
include preventing and curing cancer, constipation,
insomnia, depression, and digestive problems, weight
loss, wound healing, strengthening the immune system,
reducing or eliminating menstruation, increasing sexual
vitality, improvements in the health and appearance of
skin, hair, eyes, and nails, improving muscle coordination,
and the ability to control addictions to alcohol,
drugs, and tobacco.
The United States Department of
Agriculture recommends fruit be included in daily meal
planning, although the amount depends on age, gender,
weight, height, level of physical activity, and weight loss
goals. It must be noted that there is no scientific evidence
that eating a fruit-only diet can cure any disease.
Eating a fruit or mostly fruit diet can improve
cholesterol levels: raising the ‘‘good’’ cholesterol (highdensity
lipoprotein or HDL) and reducing the ‘‘bad’’
cholesterol (low-density lipoprotein or LDL). It can
also reduce high triglyceride levels. Most of the cholesterol
that contributes to clogged arteries and heart disease comes from animal products and certain nonanimal
processed fats. Fruits, grains, and nuts contain
little or no cholesterol and can help reduce cholesterol in
the blood, according to the Website The New Earth.
Tom Billings, a writer and long-time vegetarian,
was a self-described fruitarian for about 10 years. His
experiences as both a vegetarian and fruitarian are
chronicled on the Website Beyond Vegetarianism. He
lists the benefits of a fruitarian diet as including:
-Fruit is the best tasting raw food and eating fruit is a
pleasant experience.
-It helps cleanse the body of toxins.
-Fruit grown and sold locally is environmentally
friendly.
-It promotes weight loss.
-It can improve the function of the respiratory system.
-It sharpens the senses, especially those of taste and
smell.
-It reduces the amount of water a person needs to
drink since most fruit has a high water content.
Precautions
To get all of the vitamins, minerals, and nutrients
that a body needs, a fruitarian must eat a wide variety
of fruit and in many cases, large quantities. Very little
protein can be obtained from fruit. To obtain the necessary
amounts, fruitarians must include in their diet
fruits and nuts that are highest in protein, including
avocados, nuts, and dates. Still, it will be difficult to
get the amount of protein the body needs on a daily
basis. Vitamin, mineral, and other nutritional supplements
can be taken to insure that a person is getting the
recommended amounts. However, this does not fit into
the nature-only philosophy of many fruitarians. Doctors
strongly recommend that women who are pregnant
or nursing not be on a fruitarian diet. Doctors also say
children should not be on a fruitarian diet because their
bodies require extra nutrients to sustain normal growth
along with mental and physical development.
Risks
There are many risks associated with a fruitarian
diet and the risks grow as the degree of fruitarianism
increases. That is, a person whose diet is 75% fruit is
likely to have more health issues that a person on a diet
consisting of 50% fruit. There are serious risks associated
with the diet for diabetics, since fruit has a high
sugar content. People with diabetes and insulin resistance
syndrome should not go on an all-fruit diet.
There are also the risks of serious nutritional deficiencies,
including vitamin B12, calcium, iron, zinc,
omega-3 and omega-6 amino acids, and protein.
There is also the risk of severe weight loss, which can
lead to anorexia and other health problems.
In 2001, a husband and wife from Surrey, England,
were convicted of child cruelty in the death of
their nine-year-old daughter. A pediatrician had testified
in court that the infant, who died from a chest
infection caused by malnutrition, was not developing
properly because the mother’s breast milk was nutritionally
deficient. The couple ate a diet of only raw
vegetables, fruits, and nuts.
Research and general acceptance
There is little, if any, scientific research that supports
fruitarianism as a healthy lifestyle, especially
over the long-term, unless foods such as beans, green
vegetables, soy, and whole grains are included in the
diet. However, there is much scientific documentation
on the benefits of a vegetarian diet. There is general
and widespread disapproval of an all-fruit diet by the
medical, scientific, fitness, and vegetarian communities.
Many people experience positive results after
initially going on a fruitarian diet but over time
develop health problems, including emaciation, constant
hunger, weakness, and fatigue.
