the following is a modified and updated version of a post I made to veg-raw
last year. It describes most of the types of raw foods diets that exist.  A
version of the material below might be printed in the SF-LiFE Expo program
guide/newsletter. Anyway, I am interested in feedback/corrections, especially
on the sections that discuss natural hygiene and instinctive eating. If you
find anything wrong, please let me know - corrections are very much welcome.
I hope you find it interesting. Oh yes, if I have left anything really
important out, feel free to comment on that as well (keep in mind I am
trying to hold it to one page, if possible.)

Regards,
Tom Billings
[log in to unmask]


TYPES OF RAW FOOD DIETS: A BRIEF SURVEY

The following was posted on the veg-raw e-mail list in February 1996. I have
made extensive updates for its re-release.  There are many types of raw food
diets. A brief list of some of them, 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 slightly
different forms 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) allowed use of non-vegetarian foods. Following a high
fruit diet is discouraged by most hygienists. However, some who consider
themselves to be hygienists, 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). [P.S. the preceding remarks are intended to show the very wide
range 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 fruits, vegetables, sprouts, and wheatgrass. Use of raw
dairy is explicitly authorized by the Essene gospels, so the diet can be lacto-
vegetarian rather than pure vegetarian. Many Essenes favor 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 generally centers on raw fruit and raw meat, and excludes or limits raw
vegetables, raw dairy, and grains/wheat. A similar diet, the Paleolithic diet,
has gained some popularity in raw food circles in recent years.

* Liquidarian - one who consumes only 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. (If the
student is ready, the teacher will appear. This is not an easy path to follow.)

* (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. Frequently a vegan
diet, but can be lacto-vegetarian (those who consume raw dairy), or non-
vegetarian (instincto, Paleolithic, or some versions of natural hygiene).
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