There is no such thing as a Basic Raw Food Diet. Within the movement, the only thing we can all seem to agree on is that food must be consumed raw and live, but beyond that there are many differences of opinion as to how to proceed.

Many Natural Hygiene principles are very good, but some of the ideas within Natural Hygiene or as taught by Natural Hygienists that I disagree with are the following:

1) I do not believe that we should eat an all fruit diet. Most fruit on the market today has been picked green (unripe). This does not allow the fruit to develop all it's mineral and phytochemical factors. Consequently it is not what Nature intended. But, even if fruit was consumed as intended, there are so many other foods provided by the diversity of Nature, that to just limit oneself to one category, fruit alone, doesn't feel right. A wide variety of food types within the diet insures that all the vitamins, minerals and as yet undiscovered nutritional factors are ingested.

I am not saying not to eat fruit, just not to eat fruit exclusively. Other important categories of foods are vegetables, green leafy vegetables, sea vegetables, roots, nuts, seeds, fermented foods, olive and flaxseed oil.

2) In my experience, I have met many former fruitarians who have either lost their teeth or had a lot of problems with their teeth. I believe that the fruit was not the culprit here but the rapid exodus of acidity from the body that the fruit effects. Elimination of acidity is a good thing – but the acid coming out through the tissues of the mouth could damage the teeth. To mitigate this somewhat would be to slow down the process a little with ingestion of vegetables, leafy green vegetable juices, sea vegetables, etc. Another thing to do is to swish some water with Celtic sea salt in it around the mouth once in a while. The minerals in the salt serve to alkalize the tissues. These are things I suggest in the beginning of converting to a raw food diet when the elimination of acidity from the body is at its highest.

3) Natural Hygienists say not to consume oil of any kind. Recently a Natural Hygienist of my acquaintance (approx. 15 years on fruit) developed itching, scaly eczema which started at her ankles and worked its way up her body. After going to a doctor knowledgeable in the raw/live food diet, he suspected a fatty acid deficiency which was confirmed through tests. The remedy: she had to take several tablespoons of flaxseed oil per day to correct her condition.

4) Some Natural Hygienists advise that it is not necessary to drink water because fruit has a high water content. I disagree with this. Yes, fruit has a very high water content, but it is still food, not water that can be utilized right away. And in order for the body to break it down into usable water, the body needs water to do it. Conventional wisdom applies here. Drink 6-8 glasses of water per day and more if you exercise or sweat alot.

5) Natural Hygienists say fermented food is rotting food. I disagree. Fermented food has not rotted. . . yet. It is food which has developed ferments which are valuable to our digestive system and help to keep the correct acidophilus type bacteria implanted in our intestines. These foods are sauerkraut, veggie kraut, nut & seed cheese, nut & seed yogurt and rejuvelac. They are considered to be pre-digested foods – which means the carbohydrates have been converted to simple sugars, the protein to amino acids and they are very easy to digest.

6) Some Natural Hygienists say vegetables are not natural for us to eat because the body doesn't naturally want them like it wants fruit, which is sweet. I disagree because from my experience as a long term raw food person, my body asks me for vegetables and it does appreciate the flavors of vegetables. I can eat a nice crisp Jerusalem artichoke or other vegetables right from my garden and be very happy and satisfied. The body naturally wants to satisfy its need for different flavors, such as sweet, salty, sour, bitter, etc.

7) Natural Hygienists say that there is no need to do enemas or colonics, that the body will just cleanse itself naturally. In some cases, this might be true, but for others, who have abused themselves too much, enemas and/or colonics do perform an important function in relieving the body of much old and impacted waste. So these are just a few of the issues I have with Natural Hygiene.

To answer your second question, I don't really have a typical day of eating because it's different each day as I try to incorporate a wide variety of food. But I know that you are trying to get an idea or pattern to follow. I have recognized that people need this and so in my next book, I am going to give some daily menu ideas or plans, and some shopping lists too.

Here's what I had today:

Breakfast:
3 oz. wheatgrass juice
then 20 minutes later, large glass of apple, beet, cilantro juice. I separate some of the juice into another glass and add in a heaping tbsp. of green powder called Greener Grasses, a tsp of pollen, and a tsp of Truly Natural Vitamin C (dried acerola berries).

Lunch: Green Power Soup made in the blender with: cucumber, kale, chard, parsley, buckwheat lettuce, sunflower greens, tomato, avocado, garlic, flaxseed oil and miso. On top of the soup I put fenugreek sprouts and finely chopped bell pepper, and scallions.

Dinner: Borscht Soup with Almond Yogurt (recipes in my book). Green salad and Piroshkis dipped in a sauce. (Piroshkis are a new recipe in development for me, but it had cabbage, carrots, celery, almonds, flaxseeds, garlic and cumin).

Sometimes I have more fruit in the day, especially in the summer.

Hope this gives you some idea.

With blessings and peace,