Arnold Paul De Vries

Born in Iowa, Arnold DeVries (1921-1996) was an American author and proponent of natural hygiene and alternative health. After initial advocacy for a fruitarian raw food diet in his 1946 book "Fountain of Youth," he later shifted his views, incorporating animal products and championing the Paleolithic diet, detailed in his 1952 work "Primitive Man and His Food." DeVries also founded his own publishing company, Chandler Book Company.

His philosophy emphasized exercise, fasting, sleep, and the avoidance of medical drugs. DeVries was associated with the Universal Church of the Master, a religious group influenced by Christianity and spiritualism, and was an ordained minister within it. He co-authored Ben Klassen's "Salubrious Living" in 1982, with DeVries writing the majority of the text, much of which was a reprint of "The Fountain of Youth." Despite some apparent ideological differences with Klassen, particularly regarding racial uplift, DeVries's work in "Salubrious Living" endorsed fasting, sunbathing, and raw food diets, believing these practices could enhance beauty and health.

Arnold DeVries was a significant figure in the natural hygiene movement, advocating for a holistic approach to health. His core recommendations included regular exercise, periods of fasting, adequate sleep, and a strong aversion to conventional medical drugs. He believed that the body possessed inherent healing capabilities that could be optimized through these natural practices. DeVries's dietary views evolved over time; he initially promoted a strict fruitarian raw food diet but later embraced the Paleolithic diet, which included animal products. This shift was documented in his influential book "Primitive Man and His Food," where he explored the dietary habits of early humans and their potential benefits for modern health.

Beyond his work in health and diet, DeVries had connections to spiritual and religious organizations. He was associated with the Universal Church of the Master, a religious body drawing inspiration from both Christian traditions and spiritualism. Within this organization, DeVries served as an ordained minister. His philosophical outlook, as reflected in his writings and associations, often intertwined health principles with broader concepts of well-being and personal development. His collaboration on "Salubrious Living" with Ben Klassen, though noted for potential disagreements, also highlighted DeVries's engagement with ideas concerning lifestyle, beauty, and generational health, albeit with specific eugenic undertones promoted by Klassen.