Fruiterian Diet

As the name suggests, a fruitarian diet is focused primarily on fresh fruits as the main food source. A fruitarian diet is a subset of a vegan diet, which avoids all parts of the plant except the fruit. Following a fruitarian diet can be challenging, especially if you are accustomed to eating a typical North American diet. Consult your doctor for guidance if you decide to try a fruitarian diet.

Philosophy

Fruitarians hold the belief that removing a vegetable or plant from its roots will cause injury and damage to the plant. A true fruitarian will not cause death or any harm to a living thing, even a plant, just to consume it. That is why a fruitarian only eats the parts of the plants that can be removed without hurting the rest of the plant.

Nutrition

Finding adequate protein and other nutrients may seem like a chore if you were to eat only fruit, but fruitarians consume a little more than just fruit to expand their nutritional horizons. Nuts, seeds, grains and sometimes organic eggs will be on a fruitarian's menu, according to the Every Diet website. These are foods that can also be eaten without causing harm to plant or animal.

Risks

Even with the addition of a few extra foods, a fruitarian diet still carries its share of risks. Vitamin B-12, calcium and iron deficiencies can develop over time if they are not supplemented. Crohn's disease is another possibility, as are eating disorders caused by extreme cravings for sweets and fat.

Benefits

A fruitarian diet is not without its benefits. Foods consumed on the fruitarian diet are generally low in calories, fat, saturated fat, refined sugars and flour. Nuts have a higher fat content, but the remainder of the foods on the diet are essentially free of fat. The fruitarian foods are also higher in fiber, and fruits have a cleansing effect on your body.