some subtle and often rationalized), you'll find tips for staying alert to psychological quicksands that can have sobering physical consequences.
(Note to those who have seen the 3-part interview previously in Health & Beyond: The version here on Beyond Veg contains extensive updates and additional observations--there are links near the top of the first page to take you directly to them.)
Comparative Anatomy and Physiology Brought Up to Date: Are humans natural frugivores/vegetarians or omnivores/faunivores? The idea that the human diet is naturally vegetarian is often traced back, in natural hygiene, to the paradigm of "comparative anatomy" studies that contrast the physical and physiological characteristics of primates and humans with those of carnivores. This approach, though, is based on ideas and/or evidence that, for the most part, have not been seriously scrutinized or meaningfully updated in over 25 years. During this time science has seen marked advances. Here you'll find out what's changed in the interim. Is natural hygiene falling behind the times, or does the latest evidence show instead how far ahead it has been all along?
Is Cooked Food Poison? Looking at the Science on Raw vs. Cooked Foods. This multifaceted look at the debate over raw vs. cooked foods brings together results from widely scattered studies on the biochemistry of foods and cooking to bridge the gap between the obscure findings of scientific research and those needing practical answers to dietary concerns. Included is a close examination of the logic behind claims that it is most "natural" to eat only raw foods, and whether the behavior and health of primitive hunter/gatherers supports this assumption. Also considered is the question of potential evolutionary adaptation to cooked foods, plus a wide-ranging analysis of the known biochemical effects of cooking on foods, nutrient levels, and digestion. If you've wondered about Maillard molecules, heterocyclic amines, or polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, this comprehensive evaluation covers them here all in one place.
Finally, a number of related issues of perennial interest to raw-fooders are also assessed along the way, such as:
and several other traditional raw-foodist arguments for excluding cooked foods from the human diet.
"The Life & Times of T.C. Fry" (SIZE--98K). Well-known health gurus very often have feet of clay just like the rest of us. This offsite link will take you to the only piece that will probably ever be put into print investigating why maverick Natural Hygiene guru T.C. Fry died recently at the relatively young age of just 70 from a coronary embolism, consequent to atherosclerosis. Written by the voluble Chet Day of Health & Beyond for the newsletter's Nov. 1996 issue, this report looks at the events leading up to T.C.'s death, along with a more telescopic look at his life overall, as told by some of the people who knew him or had met him, or who were affected by his writings, teachings, and escapades. (Requires the PDF helper app Adobe Acrobat Reader as a plug-in for your web browser, or to open and read the file after downloading.)
Check our "Links to Other Sites" page for information about the Natural Health M2M, a snailmail many-to-many where revealing discussions take place about the experiences of those on Natural Hygiene and other similar diets.
