Anopsology

Anopsology is a raw food diet created by Guy-Claude Burger. It is also called instinctive eating or anosology. It should not be confused with anopsy, a term for blindness.

Theory
Anopsologists claim that raw foods are best for the body: "The human body evolved over millions of years breathing, drinking, and eating what it found in nature as it was found in nature. Evolution 'designed' the human body to survive best on what it found in nature. What it found was fresh, raw, unprepared." (Frederick Mann)

Smell and Taste
Anopsologists believe that the senses of smell and taste tell a person what food is needed by the body. That which smells and tastes good is good, or needed, and vice versa. When a food becomes distasteful, the body has consumed a sufficient amount of it. When eating, anopsologists pay close attention to the body's reaction to a food, and the body's senses. Supposedly, all foods have a "taste change" and taste less attractive when the body has had a lot of them. Some say organic foods have a more pronounced "stop" point.

Food alteration
People cook food to alter a food from the way it is found in nature by heating it. However, there are many other ways we alter our food from the way it is found naturally. For example, we might put salt on our watermelon or salad dressing on our lettuce. We might genetically engineer our strawberries to be sweeter, or our tomatoes to be juicier. In all of these instances, the point of our action is to make a food more palatable so that we can eat more of it, with increased enjoyment. Anopsology claims that by doing this, we are 'tricking' our taste buds - we will no longer find the food distasteful as soon as our body has eaten enough of it.

The Best Diet
The best diet, therefore, according to anopsologists, is one that contains foods that our bodies are already adapted to so that our senses of taste and smell are capable of telling us when our bodies are sated.

Origin
The diet was created by Guy-Claude Burger. Burger was diagnosed with lymphoblastic sarcoma, a form of cancer. He didn't believe his doctors when he was told that there was no cure - he went on a raw-food diet as part of a 'back to nature' regimen. Burger's cancer soon after disappeared. He decided that his diet was the cause for its remission and disappearance, and began studying the eating of raw foods. He wrote about his observations and began encouraging others to follow a similar diet.

Credibility
The beneficial effects of anopsology are debated. Most evidence towards either side is anecdotal and therefore cannot produce a definite answer. Some people have reported improved physical health through anopsology, but no medical institution has conducted the extensive research required for mainstream medical approval.

Criticism
Anopsology shares criticisms made of other raw food diets. In addition, some claim that the anopsology diet can be harmful, creating a false sense of health immediately but hurting the body in the long term.

Anopsologists admit that the diet can cause physical discomfort or more serious problems. Discomforts include headaches, nausea, upset stomach, diarrhea, and changes in energy level (feeling listless, tired, and weak; or feeling hyperactive and jumpy). Anopsology can worsen health problems such as anorexia nervosa.

Anopsology vs Other diets
While some anopsologists do not eat meat, anopsology itself is not by definition vegetarian. Some anopsologists consume raw, uncooked meat. In fact, Burger struck down the vegetarian diet, saying that a true vegetarian diet was never possible.

Similarly, the anopsology diet is not related to the vegan diet. Burger's original diet did not include milk, but some anopsologists consume raw milk.

Anopsology has much in common with the Raw Paleolithic Diet.