Thriving on Fruits

It is relatively easy to get lost navigating through endless list of nutrition suggestions that the world has to offer in the 21st century. Humans have familiarized themselves with countless ways of eating – consuming a lot of animal protein on Atkins diet, or following Ketogenic diet and absorbing fats, or intermittently fasting and restricting calories, or excluding animal products altogether and pursuing a plant-based lifestyle. People tested eating an extensive variety of edible products that nature supplies them with and took it a step further by regularly cooking their food and altering its raw state. They even invented chemical products, various E-lettered preservatives, and synthetic solutions – something that not a single other animal on this planet is exposed to. The extent humanity went to in exploring possible nutritional resources is amazing and mind-blowing, but how do we actually achieve our optimal health? How do we start thriving instead of merely surviving? Avoiding obesity, heart-related disease, diabetes, and other dangerous health conditions prevalent in our current society should be one of the top priorities. Our current lifestyle leads to premature aging and steady decrease in quality of life. How do we turn the tables and stay active, slim, flexible and energetic until our very last day on this planet? The key is to evaluate human beings from anatomical perspective, trust nature, and embark on a raw vegan fruitarian journey – and your body and mind will forever be thankful for this crucial decision. Raw veganism with high fruit intake is an optimal diet for our species.

CURRENT STATE OF HEALTH - SOS

The state of health for human species has been declining for decades – the obesity rate is skyrocketing with two thirds of adults either overweight or obese, cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death worldwide with 17.9 million global victims in 2016, another 350 million people on Earth have been diagnosed with diabetes, and in the United States one out of four deaths occurs due to cancer (World Health Organization). Human population is getting sicker and sicker with every year, and it is important to detect correlation between current condition and standard human diet. The lifestyle that the majority of people adopted includes outrageous amounts of processed foods, mostly sedentary behavior, increasingly high levels of stress, lack of sleep, and disturbingly high amount of time indoors. These are some of the factors hindering us from reaching our full potential, and although all of them are definitely significant, incorrect nutrition might cause the biggest strain on our health. In contrast with our current state of well-being, humans could live longer, be active and flexible even in senior years, have better immune system and catch viruses and flues less often. We could stay young for longer, have glowing skin (which would be indicative of balance in our inner organs), and experience the world from a perspective of healthy, fulfilled people. We truly have nothing without our health.

HUMAN SPECIES

What if humanity stopped necessarily treating human beings as individuals and instead evaluated them as biological species? Apes, for example, do not categorically consume different products based on their blood type, koalas abstain from impatiently plugging their food intake into an Iphone app to calculate their protein intake, and zebras have never cooked their meals. Why do people behave so differently from other mammals? It would be understandable to pursue all-inclusive diet if humans shared zero commonalities with animals but anatomically we do. From a biological and evolutionary perspective, humans can be best described as frugivores (species that eat primarily fruit). Human digestive track varies lengthwise from those of omnivores (species that eat meat and plants), herbivores (species that eat grass and greens), and carnivores (species that eat meat) – a portion of food completely passes through it in approximately 12-18 hours (Dubs). For herbivores, same process takes 18-24 hours, for omnivores –10-18 hours, and for carnivores – 2-4 hours. Human body pH levels are similar to those of frugivorous creatures like apes: our blood lingers on the alkaline side of the pH chart with its healthy values ranging from 7.35 to 7.45 (University of Sydney). Our saliva in its healthy state also has pH of 7.4. While the value of 7 is considered neutral (water, for example, is at pH 7), anything below will be acidic. Carnivores like lions, on the contrary, have an acidic saliva and lack ability to break down starch because their saliva misses ptyalin – an enzyme that aids in deconstructing starches (Dubs). Human teeth are far from resembling sharp canines of a true carnivore, and our jaws fail to open nearly wide enough to successfully combat our victim. The list of differences continues, but all of them clearly indicate that humans anatomically greatly vary from carnivores or even omnivores.

INTUITIVE FOOD FOR HUMANS

For every single animal species out there, nature initially developed products appetizing to them – in its raw, unaltered state. Animals behave instinctively and allow their appetite to guide them in their nutritional choices. However, humans, the smartest of all, still struggle to figure out what to eat, how often to eat, and how to achieve their optimal well-being. We clearly know how to survive on our current worldwide nutrition, but do we thrive? To unveil what actually makes people thrive on their nutritional choices, one should think back to our roots. Humanity emerged from wild nature, and long before human brain developed our ancestors fed themselves just like animals did. Back in the past, homo erectus, an ancestor of homo sapiens, were still relying on their gut instinct instead of altering food state to achieve desirable results and make it appetizing, but surprisingly, up until this day, most of us preserved that intuitive feeling guiding us to pick correct products out of broad natural assortment (Graham). If a person happened to be in wilderness without the possibility of cooking and masking tastes with different spices and condiments, what would he pick? Possibly he would strive to chase a deer, attempt to kill it with his bare hands, and then deal with its raw bleeding flesh, thick hairy skin, and inner organs. This option could be a nauseating experience for most people though. Maybe he would imitate behavior of a bear, try to catch a fish in a stream and bite through its shining fish scale not minding branched out bone structure. Does that sound like an ideal option? He could, potentially, opt for digging for raw potatoes and beets instead and pulling these root vegetables out of the muddy ground. Or maybe he would pick grass and plant leaves alternative? Or, lastly, he could reach for a perfectly ripe and sweet mango hanging from a branch.

WHY FRUIT

Dr. Douglas Graham, famous natural hygiene practitioner and raw foods enthusiast of thirty years, in his book The 80/10/10 Diet thoroughly explains why other raw products suggested by nature seem unappealing to us, and given a choice humans would go for fruit with its beautiful colors, smells, and satisfying water content. Dr. Graham, Don Bennett, and other influencers in raw vegan movement under the definition of ‘fruit’ imply its botanical classification: it is a ripened ovary of a plant containing seeds (Bernarr, Graham). Fruit is created to be consumed. The entire idea behind growing fruits is reproduction of plants because as humans and other frugivores consume fruit and travel further, the seeds, indigestible by our bodies, travel as well, get lost in the soil, and guarantee the survival of their species. In botany, fruits include the following so-called culinary vegetables: cucumbers, tomatoes, pumpkin, zucchini, avocado, bell peppers. All of these are varieties of fruit perfect for human beings, absorption of nutrients, and digestion.

HUMANS FROM TROPICS

Our dependence on warm climate also implies that humans originated in the area near the equator, where the weather conditions accommodate our specific feeding needs. As history unveiled further, human population started increasing, and for the lack of territories some of our ancestors ventured out to explore the northern regions. Fresh fruit was clearly and unfortunately lacking there, and humans desperately turned into hunters for the sake of survival. However, thousands and thousands years later we still, sometimes artificially, maintain or create that tropical environment everywhere we go. Citizens of northern countries failed to adapt to local weather conditions which is indicated in how they dress in winter time and try to maintain 70°F indoors. Tropical environment remained crucial for human survival, comfort and well-being all throughout history, and this information is yet another hint at our ideal natural foods – fruit.

PROTEIN

Some of the primary concerns associated with fruitarian diet would be lack of proper nutrients, insufficient supply of protein, and sugar overdose. Debunking these concerns should provide a solid foundation to stop fearing fruits – our biological foods. To start with, fruits have plenty of vitamins and high water content, fatty fruits (avocado or durian) and nuts have necessary fats, greens have minerals like calcium. All of the mentioned in the previous sentence foods have protein: even watermelon has 7% of protein in its flesh (Nutrition Data). Humans currently have a misunderstanding that in order to properly function, we need to be loading up on protein, but this belief is no more than a myth which originated from meat and dairy industries in attempt to increase demand and, as a consequence, sales. In order to demystify this ubiquitous misconception, it is essential to look at the carbohydrates-proteins-fats ratio in breast milk. A misinformed person would assume that human milk is loaded with protein because human beings tend to experience the most rapid growth in the first year of their lives and protein is widely recognized as cell-building material (World Health Organization). Research conducted by World Health Organization demonstrates that girls, on average, grow from 49 centimeters in length to 86 centimeters over the first 2 years of their lives. However, breast milk barely has any protein! National Center for Biotechnology Information published comprehensive research report in which the authors claim that “the mean macronutrient composition of mature, term milk is estimated to be approximately 0.9 to 1.2 g/dL for protein” (NCBI). This comes down to approximately 1 gram of protein per 100 grams of breast milk, or 1%. If toddlers happen to grow rapidly on a substance that has only 1% of protein, why would mature adults at stable height and weight need more?

FEAR OF SUGAR

Besides protein concern, human society was conditioned into fearing sugar. Sugar has become our enemy, and while refined sugar is correctly recognized as an unhealthy product, fructose in fruits is a nature’s gift to humans. Unfortunately, though, humans in their majority are yet to distinguish between the two and draw a line. Refined sugar that comes from cane is an artificially extracted and processed food sweetener which actually poses a threat to our health, especially if eaten in large quantities. Sugar in a form of fructose, however, is perfect fuel for our cells, brain, and other organs (Graham). The process of absorption of fructose happens very easily and at a slower rate due to high water content in fruits. Bananas have 74% of water, apples – 84%, cantaloupe – 90% (Engineering Toolbox). Not only do we nourish our cells when we eat fruits, but we also hydrate ourselves.

SHOULD EVERYONE EAT FRUITS?

While human anatomy is best adapted to frugivorous diet, transitioning to this natural way of eating should be a personally customized path for everyone based on their previous lifestyle habits. It is essential to understand that traditional whole-foods diet consisting of meat, fish, grains, legumes, dairy, eggs, starches, fruits, and vegetables definitely provides a sufficient platform for surviving, reproducing, and living up to 70-100 years old. If it was simply untrue, the humanity would have gone extinct many centuries ago. However, in order to unveil full health potential, an individual is recommended to give fruitarian diet a chance. Transitioning over to raw vegan fruitarian lifestyle typically takes years, because every single organism over the course of its existence got adapted to processing different foods and breaking them down. Transitioning overnight would imply causing stress to human body and cutting off essential nutrients. The process of starvation then begins. Going from standard american diet to raw vegan fruitarian lifestyle is a process requiring patience and time, and it should originate from a broader inner understanding of the current health situation rather than from blindly following guru’s suggestions without truly grasping the topic and listening to one’s body.

YUM

Fruits are perfect food for humans. No wonder most people have sweet tooth – they just lack an understanding on how to properly satisfy it. This sugar craving is understandable because every cell in our body is in need of fructose for high performance. While this fruitarian branch of nutrition field is in obvious need for additional research, those rare individuals who transition report not getting sick anymore, avoiding flus and colds, experiencing a lot of energy, requiring less sleep, and overall feeling better (Graham). In century of global health crisis, resolving these troubling wellness issues should be prioritized, and fruits could definitely be one of the promising and awaited answers.

Bibliography

Ballard, Olivia. “Human Milk Composition: Nutrients and Bioactive Factors.” National Center for Biotechnology Information, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3586783/.

Bernarr. “The Benefits of Eating Uncooked Food.” Health101, health101.org/art_raw_foods.htm.

“Cardiovascular Diseases (CVDs).” World Health Organization, World Health Organization, www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/cardiovascular-diseases-(cvds).

“Control of the Hydrogen Ion Activity (PH) in the Body.” University of Sydney, www.anaesthesia.med.usyd.edu.au/resources/lectures/acidbase_mjb/control.html.

Dubs, Joe. “Humans Are Frugivores – We're Designed To Eat Mostly Fruit.” Creation Is Love, creationislove.com/humans-are-frugivores-were-designed-to-eat-mostly-fruit/.

Fuhrman, Joel. “Dangers of Atkins Diet.” Health101, health101.org/art_Atkins_diet.htm.

Graham, Douglas. The 80/10/10 Diet. 2006.

Klaper, Michael. “The Blood Type Diet: Fact or Fiction?” Health101, health101.org/art_blood_type_diet.htm.

“Length-for-Age Girls (WHO Child Growth Standards).” World Health Organization, www.who.int/childgrowth/standards/cht_lfa_girls_p_0_2.pdf.

"Overweight and Obesity Statistics". National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive Kidney Diseases

“Water Content in Food and Other Products.” Engineering Toolbox, www.engineeringtoolbox.com/water-content-d_131.html.

World Health Organization. "GLOBAL REPORT ON DIABETES". 2016

“Watermelon, Raw Nutrition Facts & Calories.” Nutrition Data, nutritiondata.self.com/facts/fruits-and-fruit-juices/2072/2.