here is the latest version, in which I tried to incorporate all suggestions
to date, yet stay within the limits of 1 page (66 lines). Let me know if
you see any problems with it. Thanks to all who made suggestions!

Tom Billings
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TYPES OF RAW FOOD DIETS: A BRIEF SURVEY

There are many types of raw food diets. A list, with comments, follows.

* Sproutarian - one whose diet is predominantly sprouts. Those eating only
sprouts are extremely rare; most sproutarians have a varied raw food diet.

* Living Fooder - version of sproutarianism. The Ann Wigmore-style living
fooder has a diet centered on sprouts, raw fermented foods, and raw blended
foods. Hippocrates Institute (Brian Clement) and Gabriel Cousens teach similar,
but slightly different, versions of living foods diets.

* Natural Hygiene - natural hygienists disagree sharply among themselves
regarding the details of natural hygiene. A diet of raw fruits, vegetables,
nuts, seeds. The diet is usually vegan, but Tilden (co-founder of natural
hygiene in modern times) encouraged use of non-vegetarian foods. Following high
(%) fruit diets is discouraged by most hygienists. However, some who consider
themselves to be hygienists, do advocate high fruit diets.  There is very wide
variation in diet and health practices among hygienists; e.g. disagreements on
the use of sprouts, seaweeds, dried fruit, etc.  Some otherwise "orthodox"
hygienists make occasional use of raw milk/cheese/eggs in their diet (this is
discussed by Ward Nicholson in the January 1997 issue of the "Health & Beyond"
newsletter). The American Natural Hygiene Society reportedly promotes a
predominantly raw diet, but advocates a place for cooked grains and steamed
vegetables in the diet.  (Note: the preceding remarks are intended to show the
wide diversity of hygienic views; it is not meant as criticism.)

* Fruitarian - one whose diet is predominantly fruit. As a standard, suggest
using 75+% fruit as the marker for using the term fruitarian. Here 'fruit'
usually conforms to the common usage of the term - the reproductive parts of
trees, vines, bushes, rather than the botanical definition.  Some fruitarians
do eat small amounts of sprouts, and many fruitarians (but not all) do eat
leafy greens.

* Essene -  one whose diet is based on the Essene Gospels of Peace, which
claims that Jesus was a member of the Essene sect, and a raw food vegetarian.
Diet consists of raw sprouts, wheatgrass, vegetables, and fruit. Use of raw
dairy is explicitly authorized by the Essene gospels, so the diet is often
lacto-vegetarian rather than vegan. Many Essenes use fermented dairy products,
specifically yogurt.

* Instinctive Eating (Anopsology) - sequential mono-eating, guided by the senses
(smell, and taste change = signal to stop eating). In practice, the instincto
diet often centers on raw fruit and raw meat, with some vegetables, and excludes
dairy and grains. Some instinctos eat very little meat.  A similar diet, the
Paleolithic diet, has recently become more  popular in raw food circles.

* Liquidarian - one who consumes only liquids/juices. Usually a short-term
cleansing diet, extremely rare as a long term diet.

* Breatharian. Not really a diet; one who does not eat but gets energy from
the air. A rare practice of an obscure Tantric sect. If you want to be a
breatharian, you should go to India and try to find a genuine teacher. (This
is a difficult/dangerous path - not to be pursued for frivolous reasons!)

* (Generic) Raw Fooder - one whose diet is raw foods but who doesn't fit so
neatly into a category, or prefers to not be categorized. Generally a vegan
diet, but can be lacto-vegetarian (those who consume raw dairy), or non-
vegetarian. Suggest that the diet should be 75+% raw before using the term
'raw fooder'.

Other raw diets. Johnny Lovewisdom (of Ecuador) promotes Vitarianism,  a diet
that includes raw yogurt, vegetables, and a high % of raw fruit. Also, I have
heard that one can follow a raw version of the currently popular "Zone diet".

Tom Billings