Arnold Paul DeVries (November 30, 1921 – February 16, 1996) was an American natural hygienist, alternative health writer and pioneer of the Paleolithic diet.

Biography

DeVries was born in Kesley, Iowa, and graduated from Aplington High School in 1939."Arnold P. DeVries, 74, died Friday (Feb. 16, 1996) at home"
Mason City Globe Gazette Obituaries February 16 - 21, 1996. He attended the

University of Iowa The University of Iowa (U of I, UIowa, or Iowa) is a public university, public research university in Iowa City, Iowa, United States. Founded in 1847, it is the oldest and largest university in the state. The University of Iowa is organized int ...

. During

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

, he worked at an aircraft plant, and at the end of the war he worked as a bus driver in

Los Angeles Los Angeles, often referred to by its initials L.A., is the List of municipalities in California, most populous city in the U.S. state of California, and the commercial, Financial District, Los Angeles, financial, and Culture of Los Angeles, ...

. His 1946 book, ''Fountain of Youth'', advocated a fruitarian raw food diet. He later distanced himself from this viewpoint, consumed animal products, and embraced a Paleolithic diet in ''Primitive Man and His Food'', 1952. He also started his own publishing company, Chandler Book Company. He married Dorice E. Shemtob in 1959, she died in 1981. He married Mary K. Parmely in 1981, they divorced in 1993. DeVries was associated with the Universal Church of the Master and was an ordained minister. The Universal Church of the Master is a religious organization that takes influence from

Christianity Christianity is an Abrahamic monotheistic religion, which states that Jesus in Christianity, Jesus is the Son of God (Christianity), Son of God and Resurrection of Jesus, rose from the dead after his Crucifixion of Jesus, crucifixion, whose ...

and spiritualism.Michael, George. (2009). ''Theology Of Hate: A History Of The World Church Of The Creator''. University Press of Florida. pp. 73-74. DeVries was involved in the natural hygiene movement.Berry, Damon T. (2017). ''Blood and Faith: Christianity in American White Nationalism''. Syracuse University Press. pp. 95-96. He recommended exercise,

fasting Fasting is the act of refraining from eating, and sometimes drinking. However, from a purely physiological context, "fasting" may refer to the metabolic status of a person who has not eaten overnight (before "breakfast"), or to the metabolic sta ...

, sleep, and avoidance of medical drugs. DeVries was the co-author of Ben Klassen's 1982 book ''Salubrious Living''. Twenty-one of the book’s twenty-two chapters were written by DeVries. It was basically a reprint of his 1946 book ''The Fountain of Youth''. Klassen noted that apart from the introduction and last chapter on

eugenics Eugenics is a set of largely discredited beliefs and practices that aim to improve the genetic quality of a human population. Historically, eugenicists have attempted to alter the frequency of various human phenotypes by inhibiting the fer ...

, "the entire balance of the text has been written by Arnold DeVries, who compiled the study in an excellent book entitled ''The Fountain of Youth''."''Introduction''. In ''Salubrious Living'', 1982. Historian

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noted that it was "surprising that DeVries would collaborate with Klassen with whom he seemingly disagreed on many issues." For example, DeVries admired

Pacific Islander Pacific Islanders, Pasifika, Pasefika, Pacificans, or rarely Pacificers are the peoples of the list of islands in the Pacific Ocean, Pacific Islands. As an ethnic group, ethnic/race (human categorization), racial term, it is used to describe th ...

s for their physical beauty and criticized the dieting and lifestyles of

Western culture Western culture, also known as Western civilization, European civilization, Occidental culture, Western society, or simply the West, refers to the Cultural heritage, internally diverse culture of the Western world. The term "Western" encompas ...

. The book endorses fasting, sunbathing, fruitarian, and

raw food Raw foodism, also known as rawism or a raw food diet, is the diet (nutrition), dietary practice of eating only or mostly food that is cooking, uncooked and processed food, unprocessed. Depending on the philosophy, or type of lifestyle and resu ...

dieting. DeVries eschewed medical treatment and believed that fasting could treat most illnesses. DeVries believed that correct diet and exercise would improve one's beauty and health. He gave specific instructions for women to be fit mates for strong males. Klassen promoted this idea to "upgrade" the white race by improving the offspring.

Publications

*''Nude Culture'' (1946) *''The Fountain of Youth'' (1946) *''Primitive Man and His Food'' (1952) *''The Elixir of Life'' (1952) *''Dangers In Modern Foods'' (1958) *''Health From the Soil'' (1958)
''Therapeutic Fasting''
(1963) *''Salubrious Living'' (with Ben Klassen, 1982)

References

External links

Arnold Paul DeVries
- Find A Grave {{DEFAULTSORT:DeVries, Arnold 1921 births 1996 deaths American health and wellness writers Fasting advocates Orthopaths Paleolithic diet advocates Writers from Iowa Pseudoscientific diet advocates Raw foodists University of Iowa alumni

Biography

Publications

See also

References

External links