Notes

[←1 ]

Many people assume that Ehret is referring only to bowel constipation. However, his use of the word is much broader in scope, referring to constitutional encumbrances on the cellular level that have been obstructing one's organism since birth. Although Ehret does assert that the foundation of cellular constipation is bowel constipation, which is the definite result of eating pus- and mucus-forming foods, Ehret's concept of the term extends beyond the bowels. Back to the Lesson

[←2 ]

The word "mucus" is from the Latin mucus which means "slime, mold, snot, etc." Mucus refers to a thick, viscous, slippery discharge that is comprised of dead cells, mucin, inorganic salts, water, and exfoliated cells. It also refers to the slimy, sticky, viscous substance left behind by mucus-forming foods in the body after ingestion. Back to the Lesson

[←3 ]

This fact may be hard to believe at first. Later in this book, Ehret will discuss cases where he helped people eliminate a lot more than 10 pounds of fecal matter from the bowels. Also, since the time of Ehret, other naturopaths have observed and documented the elimination of pounds of mucoid plaque (rubber-like strings of rotting mucus found in the intestines), feces, decades-old feces stones, and other toxemias. To look at some compelling pictorial examples of such waste, see Bernard Jensen's Tissue Cleansing through Bowel Management . Keep in mind that most of the dietary prescriptions in the book are problematic, and I do not recommend using them. However, the real pictures of the kind of internal waste that humans harbor are profound. Back to the Lesson

[←4 ]

"Mucusless" refers to foods that are not mucus-forming. Such foods digest without leaving behind a thick, viscous, slimy substance called mucus. These foods include all kinds of fat-free and starchless fruits and vegetables. Back to the Lesson

[←5 ]

The word "fruit" refers to the ripened ovary or ovaries of a seed-bearing plant, together with accessory parts containing the seeds and occurring in a wide variety of forms. Ehret is specifically referring to mucusless fruits: fat-free and starchless fruits that leave behind no mucus residue. An unripe banana is an example of a starchy fruit, while an avocado is a fatty one. "Green leafy vegetables" refers to various mucusless leafy plants or their leaves and stems that may be eaten as vegetables. Back to the Lesson

[←6 ]

The word "fast" means to abstain from the intake of food and drink for a period of time. It may also refer to various forms of dietary restriction, which include abstaining from solid foods (juice or liquid fasting), mucus-forming foods (mucusless diet), animal products, and so forth. Fasting may also refer more broadly to abstaining from modern conveniences or unnatural additions, for example, a fast from electricity or the use of electronics for a period of time.

"Mucus-forming" refers to foods that create or leave behind uneliminated mucus in the human body. Such foods include meats, dairy, grains, starches, and fats.

Ehret periodically uses the term "disease" to refer to human illness. Yet, Ehret suggests that the word is inherently problematic, hence appearing in quotations. With that said, Ehret does not ever purport to "treat" diseases, but to naturally heal human illness through a change in diet toward mucusless foods and short-term fasting. Since the initial publication of the Mucusless Diet , the use of the word "disease" by non-medical professionals has been vigorously contested. In many countries, people face legal consequences for diagnosing, or claiming to cure, what the medical profession refers to as "disease."

To gain insight into the meaning of the word disease, we must consider its etymology (historical origins). The term "disease" can be traced back to the early fourteenth century, when it meant "discomfort" or "inconvenience." It derives from the Old French "desaise" meaning "lack, want; discomfort, distress, trouble, misfortune, or sickness." Literally 'des (dis)' meaning "without, away" and "aise" or ease meaning comfort, pleasure, or well-being. The word was first used in the literal sense in the early part of the seventeenth century.

Ehret uses the term "disease" in its original sense, which is to refer to a distressing or uncomfortable condition of the body. Yet, he identifies the express purpose of this condition to be "an effort of the body to eliminate waste, mucus, and toxemias." This is a significant definition of disease because it is one of the foundational concepts for the mucusless diet—that we eat for the purpose of cleansing and not to obtain nutritional sustenance. Yet, in subsequent lessons, Ehret does critique the medical notion of diseases, and shows how a mucusless diet expert can interpret and use medical diagnoses to determine what type of transition diet and fasting protocols to suggest to their patients. Back to the Lesson

[←7 ]

The term naturopathy was coined in 1895 by John Scheel and made famous in the United States by one of Ehret’s students named Benedict Lust, who founded the first school of naturopathy in 1902. Naturopathic medicine favors a holistic and drugless approach to healing and seeks to find the least invasive measures necessary to relieve symptoms and heal human illness. "Natural Hygiene," or orthopathy, is a healing philosophy derived from naturopathy that advocates plant-based diets and periods of intermittent fasting. Although many prominent naturopaths and natural hygienic practitioners were, and continue to be, greatly influenced by Ehret's works, their healing practices and philosophies about nutrition usually greatly differ from Ehret's. Back to the Lesson

[←8 ]

"Science" comes from Latin "scientia," meaning "knowledge." The term refers to a systematic enterprise that builds and organizes knowledge in the form of testable explanations and predictions about the universe. Also, it may be identified to be the methodical study of the structure and behavior of the physical and natural world through observation and experimentation. "Medical science" refers to an institution specializing in the treatment of diseases. Back to the Lesson

[←9 ]

The term "system" in this sense refers to a set of principles or procedures according to which something is done, and/or an organized scheme or method. It is important to remember that the mucusless diet is a systematic approach to eating. It is important to not become overzealous and rush through or skip over aspects of the systematic transition discussed throughout the book. Back to the Lesson

[←10 ]

In Genesis 1:29, the voice of God tells Adam and Eve that their diet should consist of fruit. Although there are many different translations of the verse, they all have a similar meaning that suggests the first humans were at best fruitarians, or, at worst, raw, and mucusless fruit and vegetable eaters. One common variation is from the Vulgate, which is a late fourth-century Latin translation of the Bible:

And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb [plant] bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed: to you it shall be for food [meat]. (Vulgate translation)

According to this verse, the fruit of a tree yielding seed, as well as the seeded fruit from herbs (plants such as a grapevine), are to be the food of humans. Such foods perfectly situate humans into the circle of plant and animal life on this planet. In theory, when humans living in nature eat fruit, they either consume its seeds or discard them onto the fertile ground. Seeds that were eaten would eventually return to the earth following a bowel movement. The seeds then have the potential to germinate and produce a new tree or plant which will grow more fruit. Humans cannot eat processed foods or dead animal flesh and hope to directly produce more packaged foods or living animals.

Genesis 1:29 is the second utterance from God to humans. The first is in Genesis 1:28:

And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth. (Vulgate translation)

It must be pointed out that humans were to have dominion over animals, but not to eat them. In

fact, animals did not even have the right to eat other animals in Eden. Genesis 1:30 states:

And to every beast of the earth, and to every fowl of the air, and to everything that creepeth upon the earth, wherein there is life, I have given every green herb for meat [food]: and it was so. (Vulgate translation)

This would suggest that the first animals were inherently herbivores when not fully fruitarian. I point this out because many readers have interpreted "herbs" in Genesis 1:29 to signify that humans are also inherently vegetable eaters. My interpretation is that humans are to have the fruit from the herbs (plants). Thus, a grapevine is an herb that produces seed-bearing fruit. We need not eat the vine or its leaves, but the grapes that are produced from it. With that said, Genesis 1:29 and 1:30 together offer the proposition of a mucus-free world inhabited by mucusless humans and animals.

In sum, volumes can and have been written about these several verses and principles of life on earth. Many spiritual and religious philosophies have suggested that superior humans are fruit eaters and frequent fasters. Christianity, Judaism, Jainism, Buddhism, Hinduism, Taoism, Islam, Ancient Egyptian Mystery Schools, and more all have strong fasting traditions, and many propagate various forms or degrees of fruit dieting. Ehret, a student of world culture and religion, took note of this fact and would periodically invoke Genesis 1:29 and discuss various fasting traditions in his teachings. Back to the Lesson

Back to Contents

[←11 ]

The word "elimination" refers to the removal of physiological wastes and encumbrances from the bloodstream, lymph system, or body. The term is also used by many practitioners of the Mucusless Diet Healing System to identify short or extended periods of intensive waste elimination. These practitioners use the term instead of the word sick , as the connotation of the latter is believed to be problematic. In parlance, a practitioner may say "I’m going through an intense elimination today!" meaning that he or she is presumably eliminating large quantities of waste and experiencing various symptoms of human illness. Instances of elimination usually spur a practitioner to detoxify, fast, or abstain from mucus-forming foods. As waste is loosened, the body will try to eliminate it by any means necessary. Elimination may occur through the bowels, kidneys, skin, sinuses, eyes, ears, hair, mouth, and so forth. Back to the Lesson

[←12 ]

In 2007, the World Health Organization distinguished over 12,420 disease categories. This number increases every year. Back to the Lesson

Back to Contents

[←13 ]

Neither Ehret nor the editor of this book purports to "diagnose" medical diseases. Ehret uses the word diagnosis to simply mean the interpretation of health issues based upon observable physiological factors. Ehret's approach may be identified as the Mucusless Diet Healing System diagnosis, as it is different from medical, and even many naturopathic, diagnostic approaches. As mentioned in Lesson II, the medical name of a disease is not particularly important, although such information may be used to determine the best way to apply the Mucusless Diet Healing System . Back to the Lesson

[←14 ]

Bernarr Macfadden (1868–1955) was an influential American proponent of physical culture and health. He also founded the long-running magazine publishing company, Macfadden Publications. One of his most famous magazines, Physical Culture , was first published in 1899. He was the predecessor of Charles Atlas and Jack LaLanne, and has been credited with helping to begin the culture of health and fitness in the United States. Macfadden was a strong proponent of fasting and felt that it was the best way to achieve physical health. Many of his subjects would fast for a week with the goal of rejuvenating their body. He claimed that "a person could exercise unqualified control over virtually all types of disease while revealing a degree of strength and stamina such as would put others to shame" through fasting. Back to the Lesson

[←15 ]

The word "pus" is from late fourteenth-century Latin "pus" (related to puter [putrid] "rotten"), from Proto-Indo-European *pu- compared to Sanskrit puyati "rots, stinks," putih "stinking, foul." Pus often refers to a thick white, yellowish, or greenish opaque liquid produced in infected tissue, consisting of dead white blood cells, bacteria, tissue debris, and serum. It also refers to the substance that dead animal flesh is chemically changed to after being consumed or while rotting. Thus, the ingestion of meat and dairy products create pus residue in the body. Back to the Lesson

[←16 ]

Johann Heinrich Lahmann (1860-1905) was a German physician and pioneer of naturopathic medicine. He earned his medical doctorate at the University of Heidelberg, and became a general practitioner in Stuttgart. On 1 January 1888, he opened a sanatorium called the "Physiatric Sanatorium" at Weißer Hirsch, outside of Dresden, which became internationally known. He eventually abandoned traditional medicine as he became disdainful of drugs and unnatural medications. He became a proponent of a vegetarian diet, exercise, and fresh air, and was an ardent practitioner of physiotherapy and hydrotherapy. Back to the Lesson

[←17 ]

Gustav Jaeger (1832-1917) was a German naturalist, hygienist, and professor of zoology. In 1884, he abandoned teaching and started practice as a physician in Stuttgart. He advanced the first version of the pheromone concept and wrote various works on biological subjects. He also advocated wearing rough animal-based fabrics, such as wool, in close proximity to the skin and objected to the use of plant fibers like cotton. His teachings inspired the creation of the Jaeger clothing brand (1884). Back to the Lesson

[←18 ]

Alexander Haig, MD (1853-1924) was the author of several books on diet and human illness. He is known for his theory that "uric acid" and foods that promote uric acid in the body are the foundation of human illness. For further reading, see Uric Acid: An Epitome of the Subject (1906) and Uric acid as a factor in the causation of disease; a contribution to the pathology of high blood pressure, headache, epilepsy, nervousness, mental disease, asthma, hay fever, paroxysmal hæmoglobinuria, anæmia, Bright's disease, diabetes, gout, rheumatism, bronchitis, and other disorders (1908). Back to the Lesson

[←19 ]

Ehret is referring to the handful of illnesses in which medical doctors order people to avoid eating fruit and tell them to eat albuminous, or pus-forming, foods. From Ehret's perspective, this is very problematic, as he finds mucusless fruits to be the key to cleaning the body and healing it. In such cases where fruit produces uncomfortable and dangerous symptoms, Ehret suggests that the patient must control their eliminations by eating a more vegetable-heavy transition diet integrated with short periods of fasting (this will be covered in subsequent lessons).

It must also be noted that simple sugars (carbohydrates), particularly fructose, which Ehret often refers to as grape or fruit sugar, is instrumental to healing. Simple sugars (monosaccharides) should never be confused with complex sugars (or complex carbohydrates) that come from starch, milk, etc., which are injurious to the body and should be avoided. Back to the Lesson

[←20 ]

The word "albumen," also spelled "albumin," was originally used to refer to the "white of an egg," deriving from Latin albumen, literally "whiteness," from albus "white." It is a class of simple, water-soluble proteins that can be coagulated by heat and are found in egg whites, blood serum, milk, and many other animal and plant tissues. Albuminous refers to something consisting of, resembling, or containing albumen. Albuminous foods decompose into pus inside the body. Back to the Lesson

[←21 ]

Arnold Ehret categorizes human physiology into two main categories: fat (also called mucus) and lean (also called uric acid) types. People with uric acid physiologies are often said to have "high metabolisms," and can seemingly eat a lot and not gain any weight. The misconception is that this person is healthier than an overweight person. This is often not the case, as their body only handles mucus and pus differently than someone with a fatty or mucus physiology. This condition often occurs in people who are one-sided meat eaters, a condition that produces uric acid, other poisons, and pus. Essentially, instead of depositing mucus as fat throughout the organism, such waste is converted to poisonous acid. Low-carb diets that emphasize eating meat, such as the Atkins Diet, essentially transform one's body type from fat to lean. Thus, weight loss for people on such a diet is a negative proposition because they lose weight at the expense of creating much internal toxicity. Thin people who participate in competitive eating are usually lean, uric acid types. Contrarily, when someone with a fat, mucus type of physiology eats pus- and mucus-forming foods, it will usually result in weight gain. Eating great amounts of such foods is the cause of obesity in people with this type of physiology. Back to the Lesson

[←22 ]

One of the most misunderstood and often ignored elements of the Mucusless Diet Healing System is the recommendation to adhere to "only a SLIGHT CHANGE toward an improved diet" at first. Although this is discussed in detail throughout the book, many people who endeavor to practice the diet without expert assistance try to skip the transition and go directly into long fasts and aggressive fruit diets. It cannot be emphasized enough how wrong such an approach is. Ehret does not recommend any patient do long fasts or extended fruit dieting in the beginning. What does a "slight change" in diet look like? What is too slight and what is too aggressive? These questions will be explored further in subsequent lessons. Back to the Lesson

[←23 ]

"Consumption" is an archaic term for what is currently referred to as pulmonary tuberculosis. Ehret's discussion may also be generally applied to all "obstructive lung diseases," which are respiratory illness characterized by airway obstruction. Terms used to denote various forms of constipation of the lungs include asthma, bronchiectasis, bronchitis, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Back to the Lesson

[←24 ]

By "lime-poor," Ehret is referring to foods that lack minerals. Consider the concept of "lime-rich" soil which is highly alkaline and may be used to neutralize acidity. From Ehret's perspective, the importance of mineral-rich foods is their cleansing properties. Back to the Lesson

[←25 ]

For a detailed exploration of the fetid internal condition of the human stomach, see Ehret's book, Thus Speaketh the Stomach . In this unique work, Ehret gives voice to the stomach through a first-person perspective that allows the reader to intimately explore the foundation of human illness. Back to the Lesson

[←26 ]

Today, "stammering" is more commonly referred to as "stuttering" or "disfluency." It is a type of communication and speech issue where a person speaks with sudden involuntary pauses and a tendency to repeat the initial letters of words. Back to the Lesson

[←27 ]

Most people, no matter how healthy they seem, have weakened kidneys. As a result, they fail to filter as much cellular waste from their body as they should. As you progress with the mucusless diet, your urine may become very yellow or contain sediment. This happens as the kidneys begin to better filter the accumulated wastes that you are now loosening. Back to the Lesson

[←28 ]

Mercury is no longer used to treat venereal diseases. As early as the 1300s, it was used as a treatment for skin conditions, and there are reports of it being used to treat syphilis in 1496. Mercury is toxic to humans, and although the treatment harmed many people, it was commonly used for over three centuries. During the early 1900s, non-mercury treatments for venereal diseases developed, and scientific studies on mercury poisoning, notably from the German chemist Alfred Stock, confirmed to other members of the scientific community its toxicity to humans. Although its use for venereal diseases fell out of fashion, mercury-based dental amalgam fillings continue to the present day in the midst of much controversy. If you had, or have, mercury fillings, you will want to be careful as you begin to use the Mucusless Diet Healing System . When the dormant poisons from heavy metals begin to reenter your system in order to be eliminated, many unpleasant symptoms may arise. In general, be careful to not be too aggressive with strict fasts or fruit-only periods while you are eliminating these poisons. For support and guidance in safely confronting mercury-related issues using the mucusless diet, it is advisable to seek assistance from an expert Mucusless Diet Healing System practitioner. Back to the Lesson

[←29 ]

In addition to congestion, eye strain can also cause eye issues. To learn about methods that have helped people remove eye strain, see William Horatio Bates' (1860–1931) Perfect Sight without Glasses (1920). Support groups with modern practitioners of the Bates Method are also accessible online. Back to the Lesson

[←30 ]

Earlier in the text, Ehret critiques naturopathy suggesting that it "does not explain sufficiently the source, nature, and composition of 'foreign matters' as the fundamental one-ness of all disease." (See Naturopathic Concepts .) Yet, Ehret does identify himself as naturopath. Essentially, he contributes a much needed perspective to the discipline. Ehret's methods may be viewed as "true naturopathy." Back to the Lesson

[←31 ]

In most cases, liquids should be used during the fast. For full instructions on how to fast safely and effectively, see Fasting Lessons Part 1 through 4 . Back to the Lesson .

[←32 ]

Not only is fasting until the tongue is free of mucus dangerous, but depending upon the quantity of your internal uncleanliness, it can be near impossible early in your transition. Back to the Lesson

[←33 ]

The "Magic Mirror" can be a very helpful and enlightening tool to understand and use. Yet, it is important to put it into its proper perspective and not obsess over it. As Ehret says, your goal should not be to try to fast all of the mucus off your tongue at once. It takes years, perhaps decades, to totally clean the body to the point where your tongue will not secrete excess mucus. Yet, the "Magic Mirror" can remind us that our body is one whole organism and not merely a collection of unrelated parts. In Western society, we have been conditioned to think about the body as a bunch of individual parts. Bones, organs, vessels, etc., can become compartmentalized in our consciousness. Yet, the mucus that is secreted from your tongue is the same that is being secreted along the walls of your stomach, intestines, and colon. Your entire digestive tract may be viewed as one long, continuous tube that goes from your mouth to your colon.

Many people wonder why they end up with a mouthful of mucus after eating fruit. This causes some to erroneously believe that the fruit is causing the mucus. Now, you may understand that the astringent properties of the fruit are pulling on the mucus membrane and causing the release of excess mucus. If your body is encumbered with waste, then the release of mucus in this way is necessary; yet as you rid your body of mucus, this kind of elimination happens less and less. Back to the Lesson

[←34 ]

Many beginners of the mucusless diet wonder how long it will take to totally cleanse the body. Ehret says, "For the ordinary person, it will require from 1 to 3 years of systematically continued fasting and natural, cleansing diet before the body is actually cleansed of 'foreign matters'." However, this statement is often misinterpreted to mean that it will only take 1 to 3 years to reach the highest levels of a mucusless lifestyle. In actuality, transitioning for 1 to 3 years is only the beginning of the process. If you have followed the program, within the first several years you should have eliminated the pounds of excess fecal matter from your bowels and started to deeply cleanse on the cellular level. But, based on the experiences of many long-term practitioners of the mucusless diet, it takes decades to totally cleanse the body and reach the highest levels. Yet, this should not deter you, as I suggest that you not be concerned with "how long" the diet will take. Time is relative to each person and we did not produce our physical ailments overnight. We must make compensation for the past, and it will take time. The key is to keep transitioning! Back to the Lesson

[←35 ]

Dr. Julius Hensel (1844-1903) was a pioneering agriculturalist, chemist, and author of Bread From Stones and Life: Its Foundations and the Means for its Preservation; A Physical Explanation for the Practical Application of Agriculture, Forestry, Nutrition, the Functions of Life, Health and Disease and General Welfare , the latter of which is quoted by Ehret in Lesson VIII of the Mucusless Diet Healing System. Back to the Lesson

[←36 ]

The word "spirit" is from the mid-thirteenth century, first meaning the "animating or vital principle in man and animals," the Old French espirit, and from Latin spiritus meaning "soul, courage, vigor, breath," related to spirare or spira, meaning "to breathe." Back to the Lesson

[←37 ]

Ehret offers the equation Vitality = Power - Obstruction as an eloquent solution to the most injurious dietetic and physiological paradox in history: the belief that our body needs to consume so-called "nutritious" materials that will ultimately promote its death. He criticizes many commonly held theories of metabolism, protein, and nutrition, and offers new physiological explanations derived from experimenting with his mucus theory. Ehret’s findings suggest that our bodies do not need to take in substances that cause illness to live, and that pus- and mucus-forming foods are the greatest proponents of human illness. Thus, the most fundamental human right is that we do not need to consume harmful, mucus-forming foods. In other words, we need not consume that which is unnecessary and damaging to human life. Instead of being obsessed with eating nutritiously , Ehret asserts that our focus should be on the most fundamental aspect of human life, which is breathing and the natural elimination of internal waste.

What is meant by V = P - O (Vitality = Power - Obstruction)? It is an equation devised by Ehret that he calls the "formula of life." Ehret’s proposition is that the human body is a perpetual motion air-gas engine that is powered exclusively by oxygen and that the body ceases to function when obstructed with waste. He asserts that mucus-forming foods create obstruction in the human body, and that a diet consisting of starchless, fat-free fruits and green, leafy vegetables is the only diet that does not leave behind obstructive residues in the body and will aid the body in the process of natural healing. If these acidic obstructions are not able to be eliminated from the body, the deterioration of internal organs becomes almost inevitable.

If you were to put sand into the gas tank of your car, how far do you think your car would go? If your car engine is caked with gunk because you have not had the oil changed in years, how well does the car work? Chances are, it would work much better if gasoline was used instead of sand and the gunk (obstruction) was eliminated with a good oil change. If the basic laws are ignored, the obstruction in the engine becomes too great, and it cannot function and ultimately stops (dies). The engine of your body acts the same way. Your body is an air-gas engine that was never designed to take in mucus-forming foods. Over time, these mucus-forming foods create so much obstruction that your body can no longer receive efficient amounts of oxygen into the bloodstream. This obstruction is then given some name, such as heart attack, stroke, high cholesterol, etc. To describe this basic principle, Ehret created the equation Vitality = Power - Obstruction, i.e., V = P - O. As soon as Obstruction (O) becomes greater than the body’s Power (P) deriving from the breath, the body comes to a standstill.

It takes many people a great deal of time to truly understand Vitality = Power - Obstruction. It is very simple, yet elegant and profound. People often ask the difference between "vitality" and "power." More specifically, how "power" should be defined. Energy/vitality is the ability to do work; i.e., the more energy a device has, the more work it can do. Energy cannot be created or destroyed, but only changed or diverted. Power is the amount of work that can be done within a particular unit of time. Obstruction is the friction that prevents this work from functioning properly, therefore negatively impacting energy/vitality. In sum, energy/vitality is what is transferred, and power is the rate at which it is delivered.

In physics, power is the rate at which energy is transferred, used, or transformed. In this equation, Vitality may be likened to Energy, and Obstruction to Friction, i.e., Energy = Power - Friction. From Ehret's perspective, Power is the unknown constant and the rate of its transfer is based on the amount of friction afforded by an obstructing medium. Essentially, Vitality = Power would suggest that the human body is a perpetual motion air-gas machine that continues indefinitely without any external source of energy or change. In other words, the motion of a hypothetical machine that, once activated, would run indefinitely unless subject to an external force or to wear. Back to the Lesson

[←38 ]

William Harvey (1578-1657) was an English physician and professor noted for being the first to completely describe the systemic circulation and properties of human blood in detail. However, earlier writers had provided precursors of the theory. Back to the Lesson

[←39 ]

The albumen theory , or nitrogenous-albumin metabolic theory , purports that humans must eat protein-rich, pus- and mucus-forming foods to provide fuel for, rebuild, and sustain the body. Back to the Lesson .

[←40 ]

John Harvey Kellogg (1852–1943) was an American medical doctor in Battle Creek, Michigan, who ran a sanitarium using holistic methods with a particular focus on diet, enemas, and exercise. Kellogg was an advocate of vegetarianism and is best known for the invention of the corn flakes breakfast cereal with his brother, Will Keith Kellogg. Back to the Lesson

[←41 ]

The term "vegetarian" refers to a variety of dietetic modalities that include the eating of plant-based foods (fruits and vegetables) and certain mucus-forming foods (starches or grains and fats). Some vegetarians may or may not also choose to include pus-forming foods such as dairy products, eggs, or fish. Back to the Lesson

[←42 ]

The "additive principle" is a term used by modern-day practitioners of the Mucusless Diet Healing System to refer to the belief that humans need to consume, accumulate, and use various forms of material matter to exist. Modern theories of nutrition and metabolism emerge from an additive concept, whereby it is thought that the human body must take in and metabolize various elements not obtained through the process of breathing to live. Ehret rejects the foundation of the additive principle and proposes his "formula to life" (Vitality = Power - Obstruction), which asserts that human life exists as a result of the non-accumulation, and elimination, of unnecessary matter. Therefore, emphasis is put on using food to help the body "eliminate" waste rather than obtaining "nutrition." Back to the Lesson

[←43 ]

A "fakir" is an ascetic mendicant or holy person, especially one who performs feats of endurance, rejects worldly pleasures, and lives solely on alms. Back to the Lesson

[←44 ]

Ehret refutes the notion of nutrition. From Ehret's perspective, the kind of attention that is paid to nutrition should be focused on the elimination of wastes from the body. The word "nutrition" (circa 1550) derives from L. nutritionem (nom. nutritio) meaning "a nourishing," from nutrire "nourish, [to] suckle." Here, we see that the original notion of nutrition had to do with nourishment, particularly that of a mother nursing her baby, i.e., to suckle ("nurse" is also related to "nourish"). Thus, the original concept of nutrition did not have to do with mathematical figures which seek to define the way in which elements must be replaced in the body. It was more of a natural concept connected to the means by which a person, especially an infant, sustains him or herself. From an Ehretist perspective, the primary purpose for an infant to consume their mother's milk is to slow down or aid in their own elimination. It may also be observed that infants initially consume only liquids and must be slowly transitioned into solid foods. Contemplating this process may be helpful while learning the principles of the transition diet and fasting. Back to the Lesson

[←45 ]

This is a very important statement, as it simply and elegantly shows how wrong it is to think that we must eat dead animal flesh, or drink animal milk, to create human flesh. What cow needs to drink milk to produce milk? What cow eats dead animal flesh to produce its own beef? Cows are herbivores and will eat only grass if in the proper environment. Also, many primates will live on fruits only, or fruits and herbs, if in the correct environment. Many of these animals are not small, weak, or deficient in any way. Back to the Lesson

[←46 ]

Russell Henry Chittenden (1856-1943) was an American physiological chemist and professor. He is known for having conducted pioneering research in the biochemistry of digestion and was a founding member of the American Physiological Society in 1887. Back to the Lesson

[←47 ]

Mikkel Hindhede (1862-1945) was a Danish physician and nutritionist, born on the farm Hindhede outside Ringkøbing on the Danish west coast. He was the manager of the Danish National Laboratory for Nutrition Research in Copenhagen 1910-1932 and food advisor to the Danish government during World War I. In his research, he challenged prevailing theories about the amount of protein humans need to eat, and as a practitioner, he recommended eating less meat and more plant-based foods. Back to the Lesson

[←48 ]

Horace Fletcher (1849-1919) was an American health food enthusiast of the Victorian era nicknamed "The Great Masticator" from his strong arguments that every bite must be chewed about 100 times per minute before being swallowed. He and his supporters advocated the practice of "Fletcherizing," that is, chewing each bite numerous times, as well as a low-protein diet. See Ehret's discussion of FLETCHERISM . Back to the Lesson

[←49 ]

"Book with seven seals" is a phrase that refers to or suggests some kind of secret (esoteric) knowledge that is not easily accessible or understood by humans. "Seven seals" is a phrase originally used in the Book of Revelation of the Bible which refers to seven symbolic seals that secure the book, or scroll, that John of Patmos saw in his Revelation of Jesus Christ. The opening of the seals of the Apocalyptic document occurs in Revelation Chapters 5-8. Back to the Lesson

[←50 ]

In the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, a surge of medical researchers whose evidence challenged the newly developed theories of protein and albuminous foods emerged. In his book entitled Fundamentals and Requirements of Health and Disease (1909), Dr. Thomas Powell, MD challenged what he calls the "Nitrogenous Food Theory." He wrote "this theory has enjoyed a long season of popularity and yet it is an undeniable fact that the notion that nitrogen is the prime essential of food is wholly fallacious, having no other foundation than an erroneous supposition and a misinterpretation of facts—errors which have led to a desperate misuse or abuse of the most valuable of all foods" (Powell, 41). He goes on to challenge the germ theory and asserts that albuminous foods play the most important role in most human illness. "The biologic, physiologic and much of the dietetic and pathological teaching of this day and age is founded upon the assumptions that the 'white blood corpuscle' is a 'living cell'; that it is 'differentiated' into the tissues of the body; that it is a 'phagocyte' or germ-devourer and that the material in which it is found and from which it is formed . . . is the 'physical basis of life'" (Powell, 263). He then asks the following question:

Is it not entirely reasonable to suppose that the motility of the white blood corpuscle is due to the forces not of life, but of death; to the processes not of vital duplication, but of chemical dissolution—that is, to the combined effects of chemotaxis, disintegration and gaseous expansion . . . ? (Powell, 275)

Powell’s argument parallels Ehret’s by asserting that the leukocyte (white corpuscle) is "not a living cell, but a particle of dead and perishable material" (Powell, 292). He adds that "the irony of the situation into which the leukocyte addendum to the cell-theory has led us is not only perfectly discernible, but as cruel and relentless as the grave, since it is to the effect that the more 'tissue-building' material (white corpuscles) the sick person carries in his circulation, that more pronounced is his debility and emaciation, and that the more 'vigilant policeman' (phagocytes) he has to guard and defend him, that more certain and speedy is his destruction" (Powell, 294). (For further reading please see Powell, "The Cell-Theory," in Fundamentals and Requirements of Health and Disease 263-294). Back to the Lesson

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Ehret's proposition is that skin color and other physiological traits primarily reflect the degree to which a person is internally encumbered with waste on the cellular level. It challenges the popular notion that the radical physical morphology of humans occurred based primarily on adapting to non-tropical climates further away from the equator. Back to the Lesson

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To understand this statement, it is important to consider the role of iron in the blood. When iron that is mined from the earth comes into contact with oxygen, dark rust is produced (iron-oxide). When our blood iron comes into contact with air, i.e. oxygen, it also rusts. Clean blood that is free of waste easily rusts when oxidized. To demonstrate this argument, Ehret tells of his experiments with self-inflicted bleeding. He found that when he ate a mucusless diet for an extended period of time, a knife wound would heal immediately with no secretion of pus and mucus. He would also suffer no pain or inflammation. Thus, the oxygen would mix with the iron in the blood and rust immediately. However, when he ate mucus-forming foods, his wounds did not easily heal, and he suffered from pain. He also became paler. This experiment suggests that 1) a mucusless diet promotes clean blood, 2) clean blood is free of white waste materials, and 3) clean blood becomes darker when oxidized. Given that blood becomes dark when mixed with oxygen on the outside of the body, to what extent does this happen inside the body? When clean blood is oxidized through the act of breathing, can it rust and darken? Hensel’s argument may shed some light on these questions: "In our blood albumen is a combination of sugar-stuff and iron oxide, but not to be found or recognized (discovered) in such a way that neither the sugar nor the iron can be found by ordinary chemical tests. The blood albumen must be burned first to make the test perfect" [Ehret summarizing Hensel’s Life , Lesson 8]. Consequently, the red color of blood is due to iron-oxide, i.e. rust. Furthermore, the ability for red blood to become oxidized is dependent upon the absence of albumen, i.e. mucus/waste.

Ehret's perspectives on the nature of blood are controversial and challenging. But, one does not need to initially believe in them to benefit from practicing the mucusless diet. Ehret offers a fresh perspective, and it is important to keep an open mind as you move forward. It is helpful to remember that Ehret is a masterful philosopher of diet and physiology. As a philosopher, Ehret's work questions and challenges the very foundation of Western dietetic theory and physiological science. Yet, in order to truly understand many of these concepts, it will be important to practice and experience the diet. Much of what Ehret discusses tends to become self-evident through a dedicated adherence to his dietetic principles. Back to the Lesson

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In other words, your health and the diseases you suffer depend almost entirely on your diet. The wrong foods harm you and produce disease, while the right foods heal you and keep your body in ideal condition through building natural, good blood. The harmful foods build wrong, bad, acidic, diseased blood. Back to the Lesson

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Stimulation means to temporarily increase the activity of an organism or its body organ. Ehret's proposition is that mucus-forming foods are not nurturing or "nutritious," but serve only to unnaturally stimulate the body like a poisonous drug. Back to the Lesson

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"Carbon hydrates," more commonly referred to as carbohydrates, are any of a large class of organic compounds consisting of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen. They are produced in green plants by photosynthesis. Sugars, starches, and cellulose are all carbohydrates. For Ehret, the highest forms of carbohydrate-containing foods for humans are fresh, fat-free fruits derived of simple sugars. Back to the Lesson

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Mrs. Mary Baker Eddy (1821–1910) was the founder of Christian Science (1879), a controversial system of religious thought and practice adopted by the Church of Christ, Scientist. She is the author of the movement's textbook, Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures , and the founder of the Christian Science Publishing Society in 1898, which continues to publish a number of periodicals including The Christian Science Monitor (1908). Back to the Lesson

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See discussion of Genesis 1:29 in the notes of Lesson I . Back to the Lesson

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The meaning of Ehret's statement "a tragedy of nutrition" is often misunderstood, especially by those not familiar with his work. Many assume that Ehret is suggesting that the tragedy refers to the idea that people are not getting enough, or the right kind of, nutrition. But, as articulated in previous chapters, Ehret denounces what has become the traditional Western dietetic theory of nutrition. If Ehret does not support most concepts of "nutrition," then what does he mean by a "tragedy of nutrition"? Historically, the word tragedy initially referred to a play or other serious literary works with an unhappy ending. Later, it also came to be used to identify any unhappy event or disaster. My proposition is that the "tragedy of nutrition" is not about the lack, or poor choice of, nutritious foods. The tragedy is that the concept of nutrition 1) erroneously exists, and 2) is dietetically opposed to the truth of natural laws governing animal life on earth. In other words, the tragedy is not only that people eat poorly and die, but think that they are eating healthy, or taking drugs responsibly, and die not realizing that pus, mucus-forming foods, and drugs are the foundation of their demise. Nutrition is the great scientific paradox of our time, insofar as its doctrines teach that we must eat certain mucus-forming foods to survive, yet mucus-forming foods are not only unnatural for humans, but the foundation of human illness. For more of my thoughts on the concept of nutrition, see Spira Speaks . Back to the Lesson

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This statement often raises questions about what foods are, and are not, truly mucus-forming. First, the assertion that nuts are mucus-free contradicts what is said later in the book, when they are identified to be mucus-forming. Also, many readers assume that avocados are mucus-free because they are technically a "fruit." Although avocados are not addressed specifically by Ehret—as they did not become a prevalent salad item until the 1950s—Ehret’s discussion about nuts can help us to understand the mucus-forming nature of avocados and other fatty fruits or vegetables. With that said, the mucusless diet does contradict itself regarding nuts.

In Lesson XVI on the Transition Diet, Ehret writes, "Other kinds of grated nuts or nut butter may be served once in a while for this purpose (transition diet), but are too rich in protein and will produce, if continually used, mucus and uric acid." In Lesson XXII "Destructive Diet of Civilization," he explains

All nuts are too rich in protein and fat and should be eaten only in winter, and then only sparingly. Nuts should be chewed together with some dried sweet fruits or honey, never with juicy fruits, because water and fat do not mix.

With the possible exception of nuts, the above represent about all of the foods which have to be prepared in some manner for eating; in fact they are tasteless unless specially prepared. ( Lesson XXII )

The contradiction arises when Ehret asserts, "All fruits, raw or cooked; also nuts and green-leaf vegetables are mucus-free" (Lesson XI ). To be clear, nuts are mucus-forming. But why was this statement made? There are several explanations for this, but the two main ones are that 1) in comparison with meat, nuts are virtually mucus-free, and 2) that Ehret’s editor Fred Hirsch took certain liberties during the assemblage of early editions of the Mucusless Diet and may be responsible for the mishap. Some of these changes, or contributions, can be easily identified, as we will see later in the "Vegetarian Recipes " section, whereby the editor, obviously Hirsch, explains why he added the mucus-lean menus, although Ehret resisted requests to do so.

Ehret ultimately asserts that:

Fats of any kind, including the ordinary butter, are unnatural and therefore should not be eaten. (Lesson XV )

All fats are acid forming, even those of vegetable origin, and are not used by the body. You will like, crave and use them only as long as you can still see mucus in the "Magic Mirror." (Lesson XXII ).

This principle extends to all fatty fruits or vegetables, including avocados, nuts, coconut meat, olives, durian, etc. Back to the Lesson

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Reverend Sylvester Graham (1794-1851) was a Presbyterian minister and dietary reformer in the United States. He advocated vegetarianism, temperance, and the control of sexual urges through a clean lifestyle. Today he is most known for inventing Graham bread and crackers. Back to the Lesson

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Dr. Emmet Densmore (1837-1911) was a medical doctor, inventor, author, and strong advocate for a progressive fruit and vegetable diet. He authored several influential books on health, including The Natural Food of Man: A Brief Statement of the Principal Arguments against the Use of Bread, Cereals, Pulses, and All Other Starch Foods (1890), and How Nature Cures: Comprising a New System of Hygiene (1892). With his brother, he also invented the Densmore typewriter. Back to the Lesson

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"Raw-foods diet," or a raw-vegan diet, refers to the practice of consuming uncooked, unprocessed, plant-based, and often organic foods as a large percentage of one’s diet. In practice, some raw foodists find it acceptable to frequently use blenders, food processors, juicers, and dehydrators, although other practitioners view these as forms of processing and avoid them. Some will also periodically eat cooked foods or mucus-forming raw foods. The term "vegan" was coined by Donald Watson in 1944 to draw a distinction between a person who abstains from all animal products, including eggs, cheese, fish, etc., from vegetarians who avoid eating meat, but still consume certain animal products. Once all non-plant based items are eliminated, the mucusless diet becomes, by definition, vegan. Yet, many foods thought to be acceptable in veganism and raw foodism should be avoided, or systematically transitioned away from, when practicing the Mucusless Diet Healing System . Back to the Lesson

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Many people mistakenly believe that Ehret's work is inherently, or only, raw foodism or fruitarianism. Yet, as you can see, Ehret emphasizes moving away from mucus-forming foods above all else. Although the highest levels of the mucusless diet are raw, mucus-free foods, Ehret advocates using cooked mucusless foods, and even some mildly mucus-forming items, when necessary during the Transition Diet . Details about the Transition Diet will be discussed later in the book. Back to the Lesson

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Johann Schroth (1798-1856) was a pioneering Austrian naturopath and haulage contractor. At age 18, he successfully treated the injured knee of a horse using cold compresses. He eventually earned a reputation as a healer of domestic animals and subsequently used his methods on injured humans. Around 1830, Schroth founded a health spa at Bad Lindewiese that gradually grew to prominence. He introduced the use of steam baths and full-body wraps as forms of naturopathic healing. After he observed that sick animals refuse to eat, Schroth propagated the idea of a strict diet for humans that included a regimen of intermittent days of dry and liquid fasting. His methods were touted as a means of purification and detoxification of the entire body by seekers of natural healing. Back to the Lesson

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In general, the removal of physiological wastes and encumbrances is referred to as "elimination" by modern-day practitioners of the mucusless diet. In addition to the removal of physical waste from the body, the term may also be associated with the uncomfortable symptoms that may arise during a period of great healing.

The term "healing crisis" is a commonly used and related naturopathic term that refers to a period of intensive physical and emotional cleansing. Common symptoms include the expectoration of various colors of mucus from all orifices, fever, aches and pains, headaches, dizziness and vertigo, mood swings, diarrhea, vomiting, loss of appetite, depression or anxieties, heart palpitations, localized pain at the area of obstruction, etc. Back to the Lesson

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Non-fat fruits and green leafy vegetables are the best foods. Plant-based starches, grains, and fats are mucus-forming, but some of them may be used moderately during the transition phases. Meat and dairy are the worst foods and should be avoided at all costs. Back to the Lesson

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It can be very helpful to use vegetable broth to extend a liquid fast. However, be mindful to not lose control and eat the cooked vegetables used to make the broth. Overcooked vegetables would not be the best foods with which to break any kind of fast. Back to the Lesson

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When Ehret mentions "coleslaw," he is referring to shredded cabbage without mayonnaise or dressing. Back to the Lesson

[←69 ]

Ehret is against vinegar, although he does not explicitly say so. Twice he mentions that "lemon juice" should be used instead of vinegar for dressings. Some people believe that vinegar or fermented foods become alkaline after eating. Yet, Ehret suggests that the only acidic foods that naturally become alkaline during digestion are raw, tree-ripened "acid fruits." Although vinegar does not leave behind mucus, it is certainly acid forming. It is also a common relapse trigger that causes a mucusless diet practitioner to crave worse mucus formers. Thus, it is best to avoid vinegar. Back to the Lesson

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Many mucusless diet practitioners are able to use wheat products during the transition with no major problems. But like lactose intolerance, people's ability to tolerate certain mucus-forming foods is beginning to wane. In recent years, more attention has been paid to the negative effects of wheat products, as more people are starting to experience negative physiological reactions toward them. If you are sensitive toward wheat gluten (mucus), then avoid using it. Find bread that is made from gluten-free grains such as quinoa or buckwheat. However, avoid gluten-free items that use rice flour, potato starch, or other excessively gluey items. It must be stressed that if any kind of bread is used during the transition, it be very well toasted to aid in elimination. It should also be 100 percent grain (sprouted is preferable), have as few ingredients as possible, toasted well, and eaten toward the end of your vegetable meal. Also, it is advantageous to not eat any toast in the vegetable meals that follow a fast, especially as you become more advanced. It is best that such meals be mucusless. Keep in mind that wheat-free mucus-forming items may have the same negative physiological effects as those with gluten. If this is the case, then these kinds of mucus-formers will need to be eliminated earlier in your transition. Back to the Lesson

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Ehret wrote the Mucusless Diet before the existence of modern-day supermarkets that offer a wide variety of fresh fruits and vegetables from around the world, year-round. When available, it is always better to use raw fruits and vegetables for your transitional meals. Frozen fruits and vegetables may also be used when there are few fresh vegetables. If no fresh produce is available, canned items can be used as specified by Ehret. If used, be sure to obtain cans that have no preservatives, sugar, or corn syrup. Back to the Lesson

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One surprising item that Ehret suggests people use in the early stages of the transition is cottage cheese. Although it is dairy and certainly mucus forming, it eliminates relatively better than other dairy products. Yogurt also falls into this small category of transitional dairy products. This may be something to explore if you are coming from a particularly bad diet. However, it is certainly not a requirement. If you do not crave or feel the need to use cottage cheese, it is advisable not to do so—and it is certainly not something to be eaten after you have been transitioning on the diet for an extended period of time. Back to the Lesson

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As a rule of thumb, it is advisable to transition to baked sweet potatoes as soon as possible. Back to the Lesson

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The word "enema" refers to the injection of liquid into the rectum through the anus for the purpose of cleansing and evacuating the bowels. Many practitioners of the mucusless diet regularly use enemas and view it as a form of general hygiene. Enemas, or "internal baths," will be discussed by Ehret in forthcoming lessons. The word "laxative" refers to a food that stimulates the evacuation of the bowels. It must be stressed that Ehret does not promote the use of unnatural laxative medications or store-bought saline enemas, such as a Fleet enemas. Many modern-day practitioners of the mucusless diet exclusively use lemon juice enemas. For detailed instructions about how to perform lemon enemas, see Spira Speaks: Dialogs and Essays on the Mucusless Diet Healing System by Prof. Spira. Back to the Lesson

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Ehret does not discuss the use of medicinal herbs in detail within the Mucusless Diet except in this section pertaining to his intestinal broom formula. In The Definite Cure for Chronic Constipation, after discussing the danger of unnatural laxatives, Ehret says this about his formula:

Among numerous laxatives on the market, those of botanical origin are the least harmful. After many years of experience, I have prepared a "special mixture" of this kind. It has the advantage of removing the old, solid feces, obstructions, and mucus from the intestines, without causing the usual diarrhea and constipation as an aftereffect. It is to be used in the beginning only, as an aid, and will not have to be used continually. As soon as the intestines are cleansed from the retained masses of feces and other obstructions, and the mucusless or mucus-lean diet is taken up, you will realize the truth of the previously stated facts (The Definite Cure for Chronic Constipation ).

Overall, Ehret supports the use of rational ancillaries that aid cleansing, such as herbs, sunbathing, exercise, colon irrigation, breathing exercises, etc. The criterion is that they help the practitioner safely eliminate constitutional wastes and transition toward a mucus-free diet. It must be understood that these ancillaries do not perform the healing, but the body heals itself once cleansed of waste. It would not be advisable to rely too heavily, or develop a physical or mental dependency, on any particular ancillary, including medicinal herbs. With the proliferation of modern medicine, people have become all too accustomed to getting immediate gratification from popping pills, and herbs should never be thought about, or treated, in this manner. True healing is not a "quick fix" but a regeneration that comes from removing all waste from the body. Ehret also does not advocate the use of any kind of nutritional supplements, as he does not believe that the body can use unnatural, isolated chemicals that do not come from fresh fruits and vegetables. According to Ehret, the primary power of healing comes from a mucusless diet with periods of rational fasting, or as Hippocrates said, "Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food." Back to the Lesson

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Ehret points out here that eating too many nuts will eventually create uric acid in the body due to their rich fat content. This is one of several statements that clarify the "nut contradiction" spoken of earlier in the notes. Back to the Lesson

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This is one of the most misunderstood aspects of Ehret's work. He does not view "nutritional values" to be important. What is important is food's ability to leave the body without leaving behind a great deal of metabolic waste. From this perspective, even canned mucus-free foods would potentially be better than raw mucus-forming ones. To this day, few diet experts have been able to entirely abandon additive nutritional concepts and, as a result, fail to understand this crucial aspect of Ehret's transitional approach. Back to the Lesson

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The juice of fruit such as apples or grapes may also be used as a sweetening agent. You may also dilute the drink with distilled water to form "lemonade," although this will make the drink much less aggressive. Back to the Lesson

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It is advisable to not use mayonnaise that contains eggs or vinegar. Today, vegetarian, egg-free mayonnaise is available, although it is hard to find without vinegar. Overall, I've found that using a sugar-free, fresh tomato sauce during transition is a more sustainable and much cleaner condiment. Back to the Lesson

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Postum is a caffeine-free powdered roasted grain beverage often used as a coffee substitute created by Postum Cereal Company founder C. W. Post in 1895. Post was a student of John Harvey Kellogg , who believed caffeine to be unhealthy. The Postum Cereal Company eventually became General Foods, which was bought by Kraft Foods. Kraft discontinued making Postum in 2007 and sold its production rights to Eliza's Quest Food in 2013. Back to the Lesson

[←81 ]

It is advisable to transition off of coffee as soon as possible. It is a very addictive and an acidic stimulant. The cleaner your stomach becomes, the more irritating such drinks will get. Water, or freshly squeezed fruit or vegetable juice, is always the best and most satisfying beverages. Once you are in the habit of juicing, and you experience the great taste of real juice, it will be hard to go back to coffee-like stimulants. Back to the Lesson

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This may be used as an overall rule of thumb for the transition diet. Sustaining this menu for extended periods of time is a good short- or long-term goal. Back to the Lesson

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The word "mucus-lean" refers to the period of dietary transition in the mucusless diet when mucus-forming foods are used along with mucusless ones. Mucus-lean menus are generally less harmful than standard mucus-forming eating habits by non-practitioners, and are an important part of the overall transition and systematic healing methods employed in the Mucusless Diet Healing System. Back to the Lesson

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Today, many 100 percent grain breads can be bought in the store. They are usually found in the health food or "organic foods" section in the freezer. Always look at the ingredients and avoid loaves with unrecognizable ingredients. In general, the fewer the ingredients on the label, the better it is. Back to the Lesson

[←85 ]

Today, the degree to which salt is a dissolver and eliminator of mucus inside the body is a debatable point. As you eliminate the salt from your body, the mucus that you eliminate actually becomes much less salty. Overall, it is advisable to avoid table salt from the beginning. There are many salt-free seasonings that can be found at stores, or find your own combinations. Garlic and onion granules can make a very nice seasoning. Oregano, thyme, and other herbs are also very nice to use. If salt is badly craved, sea vegetables such as kelp granules or dulse flakes make a safe alternative to iodized table, sea, or crystal salt. Back to the Lesson

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Similar to Lesson XIV with the problematic Ragnar Berg table, this chapter on vegetarian menus needed minor upgrades for the twenty-first century reader. First, it should be noted that much of this chapter was added by the book's editor Fred Hirsch, and not Arnold Ehret. Also, the menus in this chapter have considerably changed over the years. Items like protose (meat substitute made out of wheat gluten) that were heavily used in the sixth edition were eliminated by the 22nd edition.

My goal is not to rewrite this chapter, but to improve on the menus presented. There are about five or six that I eliminated completely, as I find the ingredients or mixtures to be unsalvageable. Essentially, I eliminate all use of eggs (such as mayonnaise with egg, etc.) and most use of rice and milks. I also changed all use of white potatoes, which Ehret strongly advises against eating, to sweet potatoes which are almost mucusless when fully baked. And I got rid of most vegetaric meat substitutes and nut loaves, but left a couple of them for people who feel they need to use them in the beginning. Although some vegans may protest, I keep some of the cottage cheese combinations intact. Many people do not need to use such a menu, yet they can be very helpful in certain cases. It is not something that more advanced practitioners need to explore. Further, if you are transitioning properly, you will not be able to tolerate any kind of dairy for very long.

What I do not want to do is deprive someone of a transitional item that they may need or be able to use to overcome a challenging dietetic obstacle. Since transitional thinking is not finite, but ever-changing, the practitioner should know that such items cannot be eaten for extended periods. Those that only want to use the diet for a short period to heal will now have some things to fall back on that are better than a standard pus- and mucus-forming diet. Overall, for every bad item, there must be an item of lesser evil that is only a step away. Eating the baked banana, apple sauce, and chopped dates meal helped me get off of cottage cheese almost immediately. Wheat/grain toast, wheat spaghetti, etc., were all areas that I visited for varying periods of time to overcome hurdles. (For more details about how I used these foods in my own transition, check out my eBook Spira Speaks: Dialogs and Essays on the Mucusless Diet Healing System ).

[←87 ]

Fresh vegetables should not be immersed and cooked in hot water, but lightly steamed or "stewed." From this perspective, "stewed" onions may also be viewed as "sautéed." An onion sauté is a great way to make the Standard Cooked Mixture taste great. To create a sauté, heat some olive or rapeseed oil in a pan and add chopped onions (and, optionally chopped garlic), and periodically move with a spatula until tender and slightly browned. Chopped celery and carrots may also make a nice addition to the sauté. Back to the Lesson

[←88 ]

This is an editorial note added by Ehret's original editor, most trusted student, and former owner of Ehret Literature Publishing Company, Fred S. Hirsch (1888-1979). This note suggests that many of the mucus-lean transitional recipes listed in the chapter were not put into the original Mucusless Diet by Ehret, but added later by Hirsch. There are also minor changes that have been made from edition to edition. Back to the Lesson

[←89 ]

Cottage cheese, applesauce, chopped dates, and a little brown sugar is a similar variation. Using baked banana instead of cottage cheese is a superior and much tastier upgrade to this recipe. To bake a banana cut, off the tips on both ends and wrap with aluminum foil (with its skin still on). Put it into an oven set to 425 degrees Fahrenheit for 25 to 30 minutes. When it is done, warm banana juice will begin to leak from the foil. Take it out of the oven, unwrap the foil, and empty the warm banana meat into a bowl. This baked banana menu may easily quench cravings for sweets such as cakes or pies, and is almost mucusless. Back to the lesson

[←90 ]

To avoid using honey or brown sugar, you may add the fresh juice of several apples or a handful of grapes. Back to the Lesson

[←91 ]

Many modern-day practitioners of the Mucusless Diet Healing System perform regular lemon juice enemas. For detailed instructions on lemon juice enemas see my eBook Spira Speaks: Dialogs and Essays on the Mucusless Diet Healing System . Back to the Lesson

[←92 ]

Breaking a fast properly is of the utmost importance. I will reinforce Ehret's statements with the following rules:

Rule number 1—Do not break a fast with any mucus-forming foods. In fact, try to eat mucusless for several days after breaking the fast. You do not want to lose control if you start craving mucus-forming foods right after eating your first meal. You can either break your fast with a fruit meal or a vegetable meal. The fruit meal is more aggressive, and if you are not clean enough you could crave mucus afterword. A very laxative vegetable meal or salad can be beneficial. The key is to eat foods that create a laxative effect and travel through the intestines fast and efficiently.

Rule number 2—Do consistent enemas . In light of the above, one of the most important things during and immediately after a fast is regular colon irrigation. It is important that the newly loosened waste is kept moving.

Fasting may be viewed as an art form, and the ability to eloquently break one is the mark of a true master. This is one reason why short fasts are recommended in the beginning. As you gain experience with short-term fasting periods, you will learn how to maintain total control when you break a fast of any length. Back to the Lesson

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It must be understood that Ehret does not have a strict or dogmatic definition of what is and is not fasting. In his book Rational Fasting , as well as the Mucusless Diet Healing System , Ehret discusses a spectrum of fasting experiences from water, to juice fasting, to all-fruit dieting. First he explains, "We need only to give a patient of any kind nothing but 'mucusless' food; for instance, fruit or even nothing but water or lemonade; we then find that the entire digestive energy, freed for the first time, throws itself upon the mucus-matters, accumulated since childhood and frequently hardened, as well as on the 'pathologic beds' formed therefrom" (Rational Fasting ). Ehret continued, "If you drink only water during a fast, the human mechanism cleanses itself, the same as though you would press out a dirty watery sponge, but the dirt in this instance is sticky mucus and in many cases pus and drugs, which must pass through the circulation until it is so thoroughly dissolved that it can pass through the fine structure of the 'physiological sieve' called kidneys" (Rational Fasting ). Above, Ehret uses water fasting to illustrate principles related to the way in which the body cleanses itself. Here, Ehret highlights the notion that the body heals itself when properly cleansed of obstructions.

While talking about one of his own water fasts, he explained, "While sojourning in Italy many years ago, I drank about two quarts of fresh grape juice after a fast. At once, I experienced a watery diarrhea set in foaming mucus" (Rational Fasting ). Since he had been water fasting, he viewed the fresh grape juice as breaking his fast. Also, Ehret's famous "public scientific tests of fastings of 21, 24, 32, and 49 days" (Rational Fasting ), conducted under strict scientific supervision of Swiss government officials, were water fasts. With that said, Ehret does not emphasize water fasting as the default modality for most of his own patients or advocate long water fasts. He explained, "As I have stated before, I am no longer in favor of long fasts. In fact, it may become criminal to let a patient fast for 30 or 40 days on water—contracting the avenues of circulation—which are continually filling up more and more with mucus, and by dangerous old drugs and poisons, and at the same time rotten blood from his old 'stock'—in fact, actually starving from necessary vital food elements. No one can stand a fast of that kind without disadvantage or without harming his vitality" (Rational Fasting and Lesson XXI ).

Ehret emphasized the principle of transition and a GRADUAL CHANGE toward cleansing foods when he said, "If fasting is to be used at all, then start at first with the non-breakfast plan; then follow with the 24-hour fast for a while; then gradually increase up to 3-, 4- or 5-day fasts, eating between fasts for 1, 2, 3, or 4 days a mucusless diet, combined individually as an elimination adjustment, and at the same time supplying and rebuilding the body continually with and by the best elements contained in and found only in mucusless foods" (Rational Fasting and Lesson XXI, Fasting Part 4 ).

Ultimately, it is important to understand the various levels of fasting available to you. You will want to use the forms of dietary restriction that are rational for your physiological condition and experience level. Through Ehret's transitional ethos, fasting for humans in their current pathological conditions is a relative proposition. What may be fasting for my body may not be for yours. As Ehret implied, for some, just eating mucusless or a fruit-only diet could be a certain level of fasting. If you have questions or concerns about that type of fast that you should do, it may be advantageous to consult with a mucusless diet professional who can help you make the right fasting decisions. Back to the Lesson

[←94 ]

Be careful not to crave, and then uncontrollably eat, the cooked vegetables used to make the broth. You do not want to break a fast with overcooked vegetables, as they will not eliminate well. Back to the Lesson

[←95 ]

Also, remember that oranges and other citrus fruits that have not been ripened on the tree can sometimes be very acidic. If it is not possible to find tree-ripened citrus fruits, be sure that the ones you use are as sweet as possible. Back to the Lesson

[←96 ]

This paragraph illustrates Ehret's transitional methodology very well. Here, he recommended a gradual change from a more dangerous substance, such as coffee, to improved substances, such as warm vegetable juice or fruit juice. Studying such passages can help you to adopt a transitional way of thinking that can greatly improve your practice of the mucusless diet. Back to the Lesson

[←97 ]

The nature of what Ehret describes as the "Superior Fast" is an interesting question. Above, Ehret said, "And if you simply supply the 'engine' with the necessary water that is used up, you ascend into a higher state of physical, mental, and spiritual condition. I call this the 'Superior Fast'." Some people interpret this to mean that water fasting is a "Superior Fast." In other words, that Ehret inferred that water needs to be replenished through drinking. Yet, in Lesson V Ehret asserted that the body is an "air-gas engine" that runs on air alone. Based on Ehret's arguments in this lesson, many interpret the "superior fast" to be what some call a "dry fast," that is no substances other than air taken into the body (it must be understood that "dry fasting" is not advocated by Ehret and in most cases should not be performed by inexperienced practitioners or without supervision of a mucusless diet professional).

From this perspective, perhaps the H2O created through the breathing process would suffice as the necessary "water" for the human body: C6H12O6 + 6O2 ----> 6CO2 + 6H2O. This equates to Glucose + Oxygen ------> Carbon Dioxide + Water + Energy. In other words, oxygen coming into contact with the bloodstream produces carbon dioxide, WATER, and energy. As Ehret asserted, "The cleaner, the freer from obstructions, from waste, the body is, the easier and the longer you can fast with water and air alone!" (MDHS ) Ehret always makes careful distinction between the ideal "theory" and practical applications of fasting, and the mucusless diet. This often causes people to misinterpret Ehret's work, because the idealistic theory of fasting is seemingly different from the prescribed practical application. This also occurred when Ehret asserted that "humans are by nature fruit eaters" and that "the ideal menu for humans is the 'mono-diet', consisting of one kind of fruit in season." Yet, Ehret did not suggest that we can go from our current diets to an all-fruit diet overnight, as many readers have grievously misunderstood. Essentially, I find the "ideal" and "superior" theorized modalities for humans to be the destination that may one day be reached after the dedicated and effective practice of the Mucusless Diet Healing System . Back to the Lesson

[←98 ]

As mentioned earlier, many readers assume that avocados are mucus-free because they are technically a "fruit." Although avocados are not addressed specifically by Ehret—as they did not become a prevalent salad item until the 1950s—Ehret clearly indicates that all fat-containing foods, including those of vegetable origin, are mucus-forming. Avocados have become a staple food for many self-identified raw-foodists, vegans, and fruitarians. From the perspective of the mucusless diet, it is important to be mindful of how much you eat fatty fruits, or avoid them completely. If they are being eaten, it is best to begin mindfully transitioning off them. Back to the Lesson

[←99 ]

Ehret does not say much about the calorie theory, which suggests his disregard for it. The term "calorie" (circa 1865) derives from the Latin calor, gen. caloris, meaning "heat." The large calorie, also called the dietary or nutritional calorie, is the amount of energy needed to raise the temperature of one kilogram of water by one degree Celsius. A calorimeter, invented by Wilbur Olin Atwater (1844-1907), is the device used to measure the heat of chemical reactions as well as heat capacity. What is known as "food energy" is defined as the amount of energy obtained from food available through cellular respiration. Based on the first law of thermodynamics, that energy can neither be created nor destroyed but only changed from one form to another, Atwater theorized that the amount of unused food energy is left over and stored in the body. Atwater reported on the weight of the calorie as a means to measure the efficiency of a diet. He stated that different types of food produced different amounts of energy, and he advocated that the optimal diet should include mostly proteins, beans, and vegetables, while fats and fruits were to be avoided (see Principles of Nutrition and Nutritive Value of Food by Atwater, 1904).

But, how is it possible for a calorimeter to incinerate food like a human body does? It simply does not. The way in which the body metabolizes food does not resemble the burning process used in a calorimeter. The way in which calories are conceived of in the dietary realm has shifted a bit since Ehret's time, although fats are still estimated to represent nine calories per gram, carbohydrates and proteins four, and fiber (sometimes counted separately) two. Since Atwater's day, the practice of counting calories to restrict food intake in the hopes of losing weight has remained in fashion.

The concept of calories is, at best, not useful and outdated, while the fanaticism surrounding it is most unfortunate. Ultimately, counting calories, or the food energy, of fruit and vegetables in the same way as a bag of white potato chips or a steak is the height of folly. From Ehret's perspective, the latter two are not foodstuffs fit for humans. How many calories does bleach have? Since we do not consider it to be food, the calculation has not been made. Humans, as a tropical frugivorous species, survived for years without endeavoring to measure the amount of heat it takes to raise the temperature of 1 kilogram of water by 1 degree Celsius (1 "large" calorie). Such thinking has nurtured a fundamentally flawed notion of nutrition and metabolism, and enabled people to rationalize eating harmful substances. From Ehret's perspective, what Western dietitians view as "energy" from mucus-forming foods is nothing more than "stimulation" from a poison. Energy, i.e. true vitality in the human body, exists only in an internal environment that is free of acidic wastes, mucus, and uneliminated toxic foreign matters. For more on Ehret's theory of human vitality, see Lesson V . Back to the Lesson

[←100 ]

Earlier in the book, nuts are listed as mucusless. However, that contradicts what is said about nuts here. Ehret explains that all fats are mucus or acid forming. To be clear, nuts are mucus-forming foods. As mentioned earlier, they should always be eaten with dried fruits such as raisins to aid in digestion, and in moderation during the transition. Back to the Lesson

[←101 ]

Hereward Carrington, PhD. (1880-1958) was a well-known British author and investigator of psychic phenomena. His subjects included several of the most high-profile cases of apparent psychic ability of his times, and he wrote over 100 books on subjects including paranormal and psychical research, and progressive health. His most famous book, The Natural Food of Man: A Brief Statement of the Principal Arguments against the use of Bread, Cereals, Pulses, and all other Starch Goods (1912) explores the fruitarian nature of human-beings. Back to the Lesson

[←102 ]

For more on mercury, see note 28 . Back to the Lesson

[←103 ]

In the Hebrew Bible, Samson (meaning "man of the sun") was granted supernatural strength by God in order to combat his enemies and perform heroic feats. His two fatal flaws, however, were his attraction to deceptive women and his hair, without which he would lose his power and vitality. In these verses, Delilah is trying to discover what gives Samson his great strength so that she may find a way to subdue him. He finally admits that his hair had never been cut and that it is the source of his great strength (verses 13-20 are included to provide greater context):

Judges 16:13-20 (New American Bible): So Delilah took new ropes and bound him with them and said to him, "The Philistines are upon you, Samson!" For the men were lying in wait in the inner room. But he snapped the ropes from his arms like a thread. Then Delilah said to Samson, "Up to now you have deceived me and told me lies; tell me how you may be bound." And he said to her, "If you weave the seven locks of my hair with the web and fasten it with a pin, then I will become weak and be like any other man." So while he slept, Delilah took the seven locks of his hair and wove them into the web. And she fastened it with the pin and said to him, "The Philistines are upon you, Samson!" But he awoke from his sleep and pulled out the pin of the loom and the web. Then she said to him, "How can you say that you love me when you do not confide in me? Three times already you have mocked me and not told me the secret of your great strength!" She importuned him continually and vexed him with her complaints till he was deathly weary of them. So he took her completely into his confidence and told her, "No razor has touched my head, for I have been consecrated to God from my mother's womb. If I am shaved, my strength will leave me, and I shall be as weak as any other man." When Delilah saw that he had taken her completely into his confidence, she summoned the lords of the Philistines, saying, "Come up this time, for he has opened his heart to me." So the lords of the Philistines came and brought up the money with them. She had him sleep on her lap, and called for a man who shaved off his seven locks of hair. Then she began to mistreat him, for his strength had left him. When she said, "The Philistines are upon you, Samson!" and he woke from his sleep, he thought he could make good his escape as he had done time and again, for he did not realize that the LORD had left him.

Ehret points our attention to these Bible verses, as they show how the power and vitality of a strong human was lost as soon as they shaved or cut their hair. For Ehret and many of his Back-to-naturist peers, the shaving and cutting of one's hair is not only unnatural, but debilitating and unhealthy. From this perspective, the ability to grow one's hair is a sign of cleanliness and superior health.

(Sketch of a photo of Ehret taken after a 40-day fast that shows a great amount of facial and longer head hair.) Back to the Lesson

Back to Contents

[←104 ]

The term eugenics was coined in 1883, along with the adjective eugenic , by English scientist Francis Galton (1822-1911). It is an analogy of ethics, physics, etc. from Greek eugenes or "well-born, of good stock, of noble race," from eu - "good" + genos "birth." The term is associated with a biosocial movement and philosophy advocating the improvement of human hereditary traits through promoting higher reproduction of more desired people and traits, and reduced reproduction of less desired people and traits. Propagators tended to believe in the genetic superiority of Nordic, Germanic, and Anglo-Saxon peoples; supported strict immigration and anti-miscegenation laws; and supported forcible sterilization of the poor, disabled, and "immoral."

Ehret used the term "eugenics" to make a philosophical point about the potential for developing an improved race of humans through the Mucusless Diet Healing System . For many modern readers, this term is off-putting due to its historic association with racist and genocidal policies. Of course, Ehret wrote this text well before the climax of radical eugenic policies in the United States and by Hitler in Germany. Yet, Ehret's beliefs about a so-called superior race of people are diametrically opposed to the white supremacist mentality that was the foundation of most eugenic programs. Ehret's proposition is that what we identify to be race, which is accepted today as a socially constructed belief system and not a biological fact by most scientists and academics, is a physical expression of the degree to which one's organism is overcome by mucus/toxemias. In other words, the darker you are, the more mucusless you are. This perspective is in line with scientific findings that reveal Homo sapiens to be a tropical, frugivorous (fruit-eating) species that has its origins in equatorial Africa. Ehret is not using the term in a bigoted way, insofar as he proudly speaks of his skin becoming darker while doing long fruit fasts. On the other hand, he said that he noticed that his skin became lighter after eating even one piece of bread. Thus, from Ehret's perspective, skin color is not based upon how close an organism lives to the equator, or on the production of melanin (what Ehret refers to as "mineral salts"), but is based primarily on the amount of uneliminated waste the body contains on the cellular level.

In sum, Ehret's use of the word eugenics is quite unique and different from many of his peers. Today, terms such as genetics, natural selection, evolution, etc., may be more politically correct labels to make the kind of points Ehret is espousing. Essentially, it is a "survival of the fittest" argument, whereby the fittest humans are those that live in accordance with natural laws and eat a mucusless diet. Back to the Lesson

[←105 ]

This is quite a profound statement by Ehret. In these latter chapters, he tends to reveal some of his more metaphysical and spiritual philosophies. Here, Ehret rejects the notion of Darwinian evolution (that humans evolved from the ape family) and suggests that the origin of humans comes from a higher plane. Perhaps humans degenerated from a source that had no beginning and no ending. Many followers of Ehret also reject the theory of evolution and have adopted a theory of "devolution" whereby humans are actively eating themselves downward deeper into the animal kingdom. For more on these concepts, see Spira Speaks: Dialogs and Essays on the Mucusless Diet Healing System . Back to the Lesson .

[←106 ]

Ehret does not advocate excessive exercise for the purposes of loosening and eliminating waste. Historically, there have been various therapies that use intensive shaking and massage as a primary means to loosen waste. For Ehret, rational and natural physical activity is best, and excessive exercise and massage should be avoided. Back to the Lesson

[←107 ]

Practicing the "Science of Breath" or rational forms of yoga go hand-in-hand with the mucusless diet. Back to the Lesson

[←108 ]

Feel free to listen to something other than marches if you are moved to do so. Historically, marches became one of the most popular forms of music around the world throughout the 1800s and early 1900s. Before the advent of phonograph records, if people wanted to hear music they had to either make it themselves or see it performed live. The military band craze of the 1800s is even partly responsible for the marching bands that still play a visible role in school and university music programs. With that said, Ehret was a man of his times, and the prospect of exercising to a phonograph record was innovative and exciting. Back to the Lesson

[←109 ]

The power of sunbathing to aid the body in cleansing must not be underestimated. It is recommended to not use sun-blocking lotions which terribly constipate the pores. As with all aspects of the diet, be sure to transition into longer periods in the sun. The cleaner you become, the easier it will be to safely and naturally lavish in the hot sun for long periods of time. Back to the Lesson

[←110 ]

Two or three quarts of water is the amount that fits in most standard enema bags. Many modern-day mucusless diet practitioners us lemon juice and distilled water enemas regularly. For more details about doing enemas, see the section on lemon juice enemas in Spira Speaks: Dialogs and Essays on the Mucusless Diet Healing System . Back to the Lesson

[←111 ]

There are different schools of thought about what is best to lie on. For a more detailed discussion about this see the lemon enema section in Spira Speaks: Dialogs and Essays on the Mucusless Diet Healing System . Back to the Lesson

[←112 ]

A good rule of thumb is to not put anything on your skin that you would not be prepared to eat. Soap, makeup, lotions, deodorant, etc., all enter your body through your pores. It is recommended to find soaps, etc., made with the most natural ingredients. Many supermarkets now carry natural hygiene products in their "organic" or "natural" foods sections. It is strongly recommended that you avoid using standard deodorants, which terribly clog up the pores of your underarms. Armpit odor comes from one of two sources: 1) the stench of internal wastes, or 2) bacteria tucked away in the outside of your pits. The former source radically decreases as you cleanse your insides of putrid waste. For the latter, I've found lemon juice underarm air baths to be the greatest way to safely eliminate foul odor from the outside of the body. Juice one lemon, then take a clean cloth or paper towel (all natural with no inks is preferable) and sop up some of the juice. Then apply it to your underarms, one at a time. Afterword, raise your arms toward the sky for several minutes and let the lemon juice air dry. Letting the oxygen dry the juice helps to eliminate all odor causing agents. This method can be much cheaper and less harmful than using store-bought deodorants or antiperspirants.

(Many mucusless diet practitioners buy lemons, and other items, in bulk from local grocers or fruit and vegetable wholesalers. Wholesalers often have "cash-and-carry" options and will be willing to sell you boxes of fruits and vegetables for the whole family.) Back to the Lesson