Re: Why break a fast with fruit?

Hello Chava,
many thanks for your input...very interesting as always.

Natural Hygienists have always been proponents of breaking fasts of all lengths with the juice of fruits that are in season, or the whole fruit if genuine hunger has returned, as this has always been considered to be a nutritious food that is predigested by Nature and requires the minimum of digestive energy. However, this does not make us into "fruitarians", and where it is believed that fruit should only constitute a small part of the regular diet thereafter.

Metabolic typing?
I know that Dr Mercola advocates this nutritional approach & where proponents claim that each person has a unique metabolism, and that therefore the nutrients and their balance which are appropriate for one person may be inappropriate for a second, and detrimental for a third.
I would go along with this approach in so far as individuals have differing needs as to the quantities of certain nutrients, dependent on factors such as prolonged stress for example, which requires greater amounts of the B Vitamins and Vitamin C, but I'm afraid I don't buy into the difference in metabolisms and malabsorption problems, and for the following reasons.........

Fasting will basically "normalize" metabolism by lowering its rate to conserve nutrients for as long as possible, in the prevention of starvation in times of food shortages and illness/injury, but if the fast is extended for a long enough period of time, the digestive system will also benefit by recovering its powers, not only of digestion but also in the the assimilation of nutrients.
It is well known within Hygiene that there are many thin people who can "eat like a horse" but still remain underweight, but where after a fast they will gain weight quite easily and achieve a normal BMI on LESS food than was the case previously.
I am one example of this: I was underweight for all of my childhood and into early adulthood, but where my two extended fasts allowed my powers of digestion/assimilation to recover and normalize my weight, allowing me to put on solid flesh and regain health.
I think it is also true to say that many people need a "tailored" approach of their nutritional requirements, but I believe this to be of a genetic rather than a metabolic origin, and where yet again I am a prime example of this: I have a genetic predisposition or sensitivity of my Brain/nervous system, which I have found requires a greater need than the "average" person of targeted nutrients for the health and functioning of those body organs, and which is the premise of Orthomolecular Medicine (a term coined by Linus Pauling) into achieving wellness via Nutritional means.

Your examples of Eskimos being of a protein type, to my mind, means that their bodies were forced to adapt to the consumption of protein as they had very little choice in their natural diet, and where the same could be said for peoples within a warmer climate where carbs and and fruit were the only real choices. I believe this to be an "adaptation" to ones environment, rather than anything else.

I am on record here as being a non-believer in "fruitarianism" and where I would agree with you about its long-term and adverse effects on health.

Yes, overweight people do have a problem with Sugar and carbs......too much of it in my opinion and where if the diet consisted of one that is of a high-water-content, this would not occur, and especially so if foods are combined properly.

In my opinion there are three major problems as to the causes of being overweight, borne out of experience and that of thousands of others.......
#1. Eating too much of the wrong types of food which does not satisfy the body nutritionally and therefore keeps the body in an almost constant state of hunger.
#2. The ingestion of a protein with a starch at the same meal which produces putrefaction and fermentation resulting in excessive weight gain.
#3. An addiction to food resolved thru emotional counseling and other methods.

Breaking fasts with fruit or their juices represents only a very tiny introduction to nourishment, and in the experience of Hygienists since the mid 1800's, hasn't presented any problems.

Good to hear that you are following the guide of food combining, but I'm afraid I just don't buy into the metabolic typing approach.

We will have to agree to disagree on that score.

Each to their own.

Take care.

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