Fruit! The Food Divinely Crafted For Humans (part 2)
Welcome back! In part 1 of this blog, I talked about my own experiences as a fruitarian, one who lives primarily on fruit, as well as beginning to look at some of the other types of dietary approaches that represent other animals but, contrary to often popular opinion, do not represent humans. If you want a refresher, or you did not catch it the first time around, click here.
So what about omnivores? This is where the vast majority of you will hang your hat. We have all been taught growing up that a balanced, omnivorous diet is the best fit for our species. It seems to avoid extremes, and fits in well with the world that we’ve been raised in. It seems to be the most socially acceptable approach, and the least controversial. After all, life is about balance. And of course it is. It’s a very compelling argument. But it’s also one that continues to be inaccurate when it comes to the biology of the human body, and the placement of humans in the entirety of it all. Omnivores usually have multiple stomach chambers and teeth adapted for both grinding plant matter and tearing meat. They tend to be on all fours, with their structure focused on eating things closer to the ground. The digestive tract is shorter than herbivores, but longer and more complex than carnivores.
Next we move to herbivores. Many are convinced that this is the best fit for humans. Herbivores primarily eat plants. They typically have large, flat molars for grinding tough plant material. They generally lack or have reduced canine teeth. They have the ability in their gut microbiome to break down plant cellulose, which is a complex digestive process. There are different examples of mammals, birds, and insects that are herbivores.
Despite what you have been taught, and your own personal preferences, none of these preceding categories are the ideal fit for human biology. Humans are frugivores. What is a frugivore? Frugivores are defined by living primarily on fruit. Whilst they may eat some other raw foods, the vast majority of their diet will come from fruit. For most people, this is an incredibly radical position to take, and yet biologically it is self-evident. Frugivores have sweet receptors at the front of their tongue, and salt receptors at the back of their tongue. They do not have protein receptors on the tongue, as carnivores do. Frugivores have intestinal systems specifically designed to absorb fructose (naturally occuring fruit sugar) for energy, and to retain the integrity of seeds (have a look in your shit next time you eat some fruit with seeds in it, the seeds will come out perfectly). This is for the opportunity when living in the natural world to be part of the natural cycle and return the seeds to the earth. If this seems barbaric and strange to you, that might be indicative of just how far humans have moved away from their natural space in the world.
Additional facts about frugivores: The jaws of frugivores are shaped in a way that encourages cohesive mastication for turning fruit into pulp. No carnivore incisors in sight (if you think those tiny pointed things in your mouth are carnivore incisors, you haven’t seen enough carnivores). Frugivores mammals tend to be on two legs. Why is that? So that they can reach the fruit in the trees that those on four limbs are unable to access. Frugivores also have dextrous digits (aka fingers) to tear open the fruit, and to pull it from the tree. Is it all adding up yet?
‘But even if fruit is what we’re meant to be eating, isn’t it full of sugar and therefore bad for you?’ I hear this one a lot. It’s understandable. We’ve been propagandized for many years around this idea. Fruit phobia, an addition to carb phobia, has become a regular component of fear-mongering dietary advice. As with so much of what I’ve talked about in this article, it doesn’t really stand up to scrutiny. Part of what is important to consider here is the distinction between sucrose and fructose. Sucrose is the type of sugar that you find in processed sugar and other processed products. Because it has been removed from it’s natural state, it requires glucose to metabolize it in the body, and thus engages a much more taxing process for the body involving the pancreas and other organs. Fructose on the other hand is found naturally occurring in fruit, and therefore does not require glucose to metabolize in the body because it is ready prepared as nature intended, and works in harmony with the body rather than placing a tax on it’s systems. But wait, there’s more. The human eyes decode a full bandwidth of the color spectrum that many other species cannot decode. Fruit is vibrantly colorful to catch our eyes and draw us to it BECAUSE IT IS OUR FOOD.
I’ve simply scratched the tip of the iceberg here. For those who are convinced that a meat heavy carnivorous or omivorous way of eating is their best option, nothing I have to say will change their mind. I’m not speaking to them. I’m speaking to you. The one who has read this far. The one whose curiosity has been peaked by some of what I have shared. The one who has health issues that other avenues have not been able to answer. The one who is ready to open up their mind and their heart to a new experience, a transformative experience. To that one, I say this: There is a better way of being in your body than you have ever experienced, and this is the gateway to it.
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About The Author
Duncan Collins is a lifestyle coach and practicing psychotherapist. He offers virtual video sessions from anywhere in the world to those who want to go beyond the limitations currently holding them back in their lives, and become the best possible version of themselves. He draws from 20 years of professional experience, as well as a lifetime of experiencing personal growth challenges and victories, to help you unlock the truest and most optimal version of yourself that’s hidden away inside.
