Tragedy of Nutrition
By Prof. Arnold Ehret, circa 1915
PART II [originally published with Thus Speaketh the Stomach]
Life is a Tragedy of Nutrition
The Great Event
Nutritional Deficiencies
The Value of the Fast
Return to Paradise
Nature’s Warning Voice
Fundamental Causes of Disease
Recapitulation
Life Is a Tragedy of Nutrition
Nature’s voice inspires those willing to listen to her teachings to a spiritual veneration and deep respect for our Creator! The power of health, beauty, grace, truth and wisdom, everlastingly immune to all forms of disease is probably one of the most sought after attainments of man. But the habit of eating, striking all civilized mankind, involves and proves the saying I coined many years ago – “Life is a tragedy of Nutrition”. Man of today must constantly eat merely to assuage the pains caused thru elimination of poisons accumulated in the stomach!
And to those willing to listen and give heed to the undeniable voice of Mother Nature it becomes simple; for all of these bless ings are within easy reach and obtainable! Vigorous health, life long usefulness and a happy care-free future is the rightful heri tage of every individual, promising a happier and spiritually en lightened future, with that greatly desired longevity a certainty.
My teachings are “old” yet “NEW”; hopefully acceptable to all truth-seekers anxious to participate in the supreme embodiment of abundant, joyous health! The fundamental truth that we must all first learn is the importance of obedience to the laws of Nature. Mankind of today seems indifferent to the great harm done to both body and soul thru eating unnatural foods.
Health culture has always been a matter of religion, for the body and soul are difficult to separate. We find Priests and Phy sicians were generally one and the same person! But the truly Natural mode of living was ignored and now practically forgotten. Primitive man was strong physically, mentally and spiritually. For many centuries past; behind the walls of secluded cloisters; meal eating, gluttony and drunkenness held full sway. Many false doc trines which originated thru these unnatural environments are still accepted today! Before proper nutrition can be restored it is essential that the blood stream be improved and regenerated, in order that it might, after dissolving and eliminating the disease deposits contained in every tissue of the body, successfully carry away these poisons and waste.
When I first became interested in dietetics and followed a strict vegetarian life, my food intake consisted mainly of starchy vege tables, wheat products, “nourishing” nut preparations and all of the dairy products, ie: milk, butter, cheese and eggs. In fact, drinking milk regularly with each meal was scrupulously carried out; only to find that my physical condition became worse and worse!
Stimulants in daily use, such as alcohol, coffee, tea, cocoa, tobacco and spices, together with sugar and salt are “poisons” so we are told, and should be avoided! My present attitude toward these so-called “poisons” has changed considerably. Stimulants and condiments if continually used will undoubtedly affect the nervous system. BUT, they most certainly are not solid obstruc tions, nor do they leave sticky wastes or mucus stored up in the human body which occurs when unnatural and wrong foods such as starchy foods and dairy products, ie: milk, butter, cheese and eggs are eaten, all of which play such an important part in the vegetarian diet. I have found that condiments are far less harmful than gluttony, so that compared to over-eating they are practically harmless. They stimulate more or less, at the expense of vitality and the efficiency of the nerves, but as stated above, they do not produce, nor do they leave any substantial amount of waste in the body as do all of the wheat products, starch foods and the meat, fats and dairy products.
Admittedly, alcohol is surely a “poison”; but the English phy sician, Dr. S. Graham, originator of Graham flour certainly struck the nail squarely on the head when he wrote, “A drunkard may become old. but a glutton NEVER”! Every centenarian that I have ever known used alcohol moderately – and a few were even heavy users of tobacco. But without exception, all of the cen tenarians were very, very restrictive eaters – in fact the total amount of their daily food intake would scarcely keep a bird alive! And here we uncover and reveal the evident secret of longevity – RESTRICT YOUR FOOD INTAKE TO A MINIMUM! Many of the Saints of the Catholic church lived to a ripe old age and records show that they lived on only a “handful of food” a day!
So much is sure – there are not two known truths regarding the physical and spiritual perfectness of the human being. I have shown by “classic” examples that the highest degree of real civili zation of mental and spiritual standards was attained and could be reached only through a most perfect body, enjoying splendid, superb health in every line; the result of physical culture, dietetics and fasting. No individual can hope to attain this much desired state if he fails to free his mind of all superstition, nor properly care for his body in accordance with Nature’s methods in every respect. He cannot hope to be saved from disease and imperfectness. Mankind all over the world, must soon take up – in the broad est way, a program of care of the body and physical culture, patterned exactly like that followed in the classic age of ancient Greece, and from that alone will depend the salvation of our present civilization!
A “sudden” or “too rapid” change from the “wrong” foods to an exclusive fruit diet often causes undesirable disturbances even in the body of an entirely healthy individual. It is therefore preferable that the change from today’s accepted diet of meat, bread and potatoes be accomplished thru following the Transition diet as taught in my book, the “MUCUSLESS DIET HEALING SYSTEM.”
While it is true that you may experience a more “vigorous” feeling during the first few days of an exclusive fruit diet – it often happens that a feeling of weakness; fatigue accom panied by headaches; and even heart palpitation set in. This is caused thru the loosening and dissolving of “poisons” filth and morass which the body has accumulated over the years thru “overeating” and which are now being eliminated thru the cir culating bloodstream. This can easily cause more or less systemic disturbances; and unless you are thoroughly convinced of the efficacy of a natural diet, you can easily become dissuaded to a point where you will not only question, but actually lose all faith in continuing with further attempts to accomplish this necessary internal purification. It is for this reason that the “healing crises” must be understandably recognized and carried on. The appear ance of a “haggard face” or a feeling of “general depression” must not cause you to lose sight of the ultimate goal you are anxious to achieve – the hoped for GOOD HEALTH!
Thousands of seriously ill persons have succeeded in overcoming their ailments thru following a “non-breakfast” plan alone! Two meals a day has proven ample for the average individual. The “breakfast” or first meal can be eaten at 10:00 a.m. and the next meal as early as 4:30 p.m. or whatever later time proves more convenient. There are also many followers of the one-meal-a-day plan – and they prefer their meal in the late afternoon. They at least receive the benefit of a 24 hour fast, since no solid food of any kind is eaten between meals. Liquids, both water, fruit and vegetable juices can be used anytime, if or when desired.
My mucusless diet consists of starchless vegetables and fruits. With this knowledge you can choose and combine food correctly – and the possession of another important truth of life is now revealed to you!