Why a “Fruitarian” Diet is Not Actually Healthy

Although there have multiple studies that show the benefits of a plant-based diet, how healthy are diets consisting mostly of fruit?

Some people say that eating a raw fruit-based diet can get rid of cancer, reduce bloating, and even eliminate body odor, but there is currently no evidence to Support these statements.

A fruitarian diet is one branch of a plant-based diet, but unlike a plant-based diet, this fruit-based way of eating has very few scientific benefits.

A fruitarian’s diet usually consists of 55% to 75% fruit with the rest being vegetables. Some fruitarians will also eat other foods like grains, nuts, and legumes but not all. Although fruit is recognized to be very healthy and necessary for a balanced diet, a diet made up mostly of fruit is going to lack important nutrients like protein, iron, omega-3 fatty acids, calcium, and vitamin B12.

In addition to nutrients that are lacking from a fruit-based diet, the amount of fructose being consumed should also be considered. Scientific studies have shown that high levels of fructose in a diet are bad for health and can cause weight gain. Even fructose from fruit when consumed in excess can become bad for your health.

Because a fruitarian diet is so restrictive, it also opens the floodgates for severe malnutrition and disease. Two cases specifically show this severe side effect as a nine-month-old girl died from severe malnutrition after being fed a fruit-only diet. A 53-year-old man also developed reversible dementia after eating a fruitarian diet.

All of these things lead us to believe that a fruit-only diet is just not realistic or healthy. It’s better to stick to a more balanced plant-based diet, filled with variety and all of the nutrients that you need. 

Learn How to Cook Plant-Based Meals at Home!

Reducing your meat intake and eating more plant-based foods is known to help with chronic inflammation, heart health, mental wellbeing, fitness goals, nutritional needs, allergies, gut health, and more! Dairy consumption also has been linked to many health problems, including acne, hormonal imbalance, cancer, prostate cancer and has many side effects.

For those of you interested in eating more plant-based, we highly recommend downloading the Food Monster App — with over 15,000 delicious recipes it is the largest plant-based recipe resource to help reduce your environmental footprint, save animals and get healthy! And, while you are at it, we encourage you to also learn about the environmental and health benefits of a plant-based diet.

Here are some great resources to get you started:

• Weekly Vegan Meal Plans
• Plant-Based Health Resources
• Plant-Based Food & Recipes
• Plant-Based Nutrition Resources
• The Ultimate Guide to Plant-Based Nutrition
• Budget-Friendly Plant-Based Recipes
• High Protein Plant-Based Recipes
• Plant-Based Meal Prep