"Fit for Life" was an international bestselling book written in 1985 by Harvey and Marilyn Diamond. In it, the authors propose an eating plan that involves the natural body cycles, based on the time of the day and the corresponding best foods for that cycle. Fruit and vegetable-centered, the diet differs from other popular diets that focus mainly on what to eat, because it also concerns itself with when to eat foods and how to combine various food groups. Before starting a new diet, always talk to your doctor.
Natural Hygiene
"Fit for Life" claims to simplify the fundamentals of a school of thought known as natural hygiene. As the name implies, natural hygiene is based on cleansing the body by eating healthful, natural foods. More specifically, by eating whole, unprocessed foods at the appropriate time of the day, you can allow your body to do what it does best, which is to continuously detoxify. This supports a healthy body weight and maximum energy levels.
Natural Body Cycles
The authors argue that three distinct cycles of the day exist, each lasting eight hours, or 1/3 of the day. Each cycle is characterized by the bodily function that predominates. From the hours of noon to 8 p.m., the body is focused on eating and digestion. This is called the appropriation phase. Between 8 p.m. and 4 a.m., your body is absorbing and using the nutrients and calories consumed during appropriation. This is called assimilation. In the elimination phase, which occurs from 4 a.m. and noon, your body eliminates wastes and food debris.
Fresh Fruit
During the elimination phase, your body's energy is focused on ridding itself of waste and debris. Because a large amount of energy is required to digest and absorb calories, it is best either to avoid consuming solid foods during this time, or to eat food that is easy to digest and rapidly absorbed. This food is without exception, fruit. Until noon, the "Fit for Life" diet, therefore, encourages eating as much, or as little fruit, you need to satisfy your hunger, provided you eat only fruit. It can be in the form of fresh fruit juice, fruit salad or whole pieces of fruit.
Lunch and Dinner
The lunch and dinner meals should feature foods that are properly combined. Because vegetables have a high water content and are, therefore, easy to digest, you can be combine them with more calorically-dense foods such as grains, legumes and animal products. However, you should not consume concentrated foods together; meat and dairy consumption is discouraged on the diet. You should also not consume fruits and vegetables together. A typical lunch is a vegetable sandwich on whole-grain bread. Dinner may be a combination of lightly steamed vegetables and salad, with the heavier food of your choice, such as yams, rice or fish.
References
- "Fit for Life"; Harvey and Marilyn Diamond; 1987
- "The History of Natural Hygiene"; Hereward Carrington; 2010
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