A natural fruit diet, sometimes called a fruitarian diet, is a strict vegetarian diet that consists of eating only fruits. Although the ideas behind what constitutes an acceptable fruit diet differ, one thing is clear: the dieter cannot eat any type of animal products, including meat, milk and eggs. You might lose weight on this diet but you'll run a serious risk of developing nutritional deficiencies.
History
The idea of a natural fruit diet has roots in millennia-old religious stories, such as the biblical story of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, according to the "Gale Encyclopedia of Diets: A Guide to Health and Nutrition." Other historical figures that might have followed a fruit diet include Mahatma Gandhi, spiritual leader of India, and artist/inventor, Leonardo da Vinci.
Diet Variables
A natural fruit diet might consist of only fruits from trees and plants, or it may include berries, nuts and seeds. Not all fruitarians agree on what to eat. Some consider tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers and other vegetables with interior seeds to be fruits, while other fruitarians include grains in their diets. Still others, according to the ""Gale Encyclopedia" consider a natural fruit diet as one that features at least 50 percent fruit and no animal products.
Philosophy
Most fruitarians adhere to a "do no harm" philosophy by selecting only fruits that can be picked from the plant or tree without harming it. For example, you can pick a pear, apple or cherry from a tree without damaging the tree, but you cannot harvest a carrot or a potato without harming the plant, according to EveryDiet.org.
Potential Benefits
Fruitarians are unlikely to be overweight if they follow a natural fruit diet for long, and the Fruitarian Worldwide Network promotes a fruit diet for raising energy levels and increasing health. Clinical studies confirming those benefits are lacking, although MyPyramid, the USDA's official nutritional guidelines, suggest eating fruit as one part of a healthful diet. The "Gale Encyclopedia" reports that a fruit diet may reduce "bad" cholesterol and increase "good" cholesterol, but the diet has some potential pitfalls.
Concerns
In addition to being a tough diet to follow because of the restricted menu items, a fruit diet can't provide all the nutrients needed to stay healthy, specifically vitamin B-12, iron, calcium, amino acids, protein and zinc. Fruitarians may be at an increased risk of developing hypoglycemia because of the high sugar content in fruit. Talk to your doctor before starting any such diet.
References
- "The Gale Encyclopedia of Diets: A Guide to Health and Nutrition"; Jacqueline L. Longe, 2008
- Every Diet: Fruit Diet
- Fruitarian Worldwide Network: Home Page
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