The Fruitarian Diet is a special diet where users consume only fruits for a specific period of time, along with an occasional serving of vegetables, nuts and seeds. It is a diet with a long history dating back hundreds of years; even Leonardo di Vinci practiced what is known as fruitarism. There is plenty of skepticism with this diet, but there have also been many who have used it with results attained. So, is this a diet to try or to leave alone?
Inside the Fruitarian Diet
Participants in the Fruitarian Diet have seven fruit groups from which to choose from. This includes acidic fruits like oranges, strawberries and kiwi; sweet fruit like grapes and bananas; sub acid fruits which include blackberries, peaches, blueberries and cherries; seeds including sunflower; nuts including cashews, pine nuts, walnuts, almonds and pecans; and dried fruits such as apples, raisins, cranberries and dates and figs; and oily fruits like coconuts and avocados.
Because of low quality fruit selections found inside the supermarket it is recommended that all fruit selected for the diet be organic or naturally grown.
Benefits of the Fruitarian Diet
People use the Fruitarian Diet for a number of reasons, with weight loss goals the most common. The juice from the fruit without anything else helps detoxify the body, thus it can help keep you healthy. The benefit of being animal product free is also a benefit. No plant, or animal, is harmed when fruit is the diet of choice. Eating fruits can help you lose weight because they’re high in fiber and very filling, and made of water.
Another benefit is that fruit contains natural sugars so you can feel satisfied and are less likely to reach for a chocolate candy bar( although there is a bit of controversy related to fructose which we will cover in a later post). You may also have more energy through the diet since you are not eating the highly processed junk food that is found in many diets so life can be more enjoyable and fun once again. There are many variations of the diet, so you never have to worry that it will become boring or bland. There’s always something new and exciting for you to try and to experience.
Disadvantages of the Fruitarian Diet
There are numerous disadvantages noted with this particular diet. Many people who start it stop within a period of a few months or years.
One of the biggest hardships with the diet is that it is really hard to maintain. It is hard to consume nothing but fruits all of the time, and you can really begin to have strong cravings and desires along the way. This is likely the bodies way of getting more nutrients into the system that it feels are deficient. It can even cause psychological and emotional problems for some people, and later eating disorders and obsession with eating/foods.
Is this the Diet for You?
The Fruitarian Diet may provide short-term results, however there has not been enough research conducted to determine long-term benefits. The pluses include an elimination of the processed junk foods that take up so much of our food today. Yet, there are a number of problems that can result from long term use of the diet. If you are interested in the Fruitarian diet it is a must that you talk to your doctor. He can help determine if this is the right diet for your needs and give you further tips and advice.
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