How did naturopath Paul Bragg plan to live to be 120 years old? His story and methods

Alternative medicine has always existed. At the end of the 20th century in the United States, the main propagandist of a healthy lifestyle was the famous naturopath Paul Bragg. His name is known to every American, but behind him there is a trail of secrets and scandals. Paul Bragg was idolized, then criticized and exposed. We offer to learn about his life and disassemble the methods he proposed, together with experts – a nutritionist and a doctor.

Where did it all begin?

His life is shrouded in mystery. So authentically unknown, when Paul Bragg came into the world. According to him – in 1881. However, according to official data, he was born on February 6, 1895.

Most of the facts from his biography are full of discrepancies. There is only information that he served in the National Guard, worked as an insurance agent, after which the future naturopath moved to the East Coast of the United States. Here he began working as a physical education teacher, and also coached the soccer team of the local college.

How did ZOJ appear in the life of the average American? Paul became interested in it after he contracted tuberculosis at the age of 16. Doctors gave disappointing prognoses. Parents decided to send their son for treatment in Switzerland. Local doctor Auguste Rollier healed his patients with sunbaths and physical therapy. This method helped Bragg quickly get back on his feet. Moreover, he had a dream – to become a doctor.

In 1926, Paul opened a medical center in Los Angeles. In parallel, Bragg began to lead a news column in the newspaper with advice on leading a healthy lifestyle. Over time, these grew into full-fledged speaking engagements and lectures that he gave in various cities across the country.

He talked about the importance of physical activity and proper nutrition. Initially, the consultations were free, but soon the American began to take money for his recommendations. This allowed him to earn hundreds of dollars.

Soon Paul Bragg decided to write a book “Heal Yourself” to promote his ideas to the masses. True, very quickly he was accused of copyright infringement. The text of the work had already been published earlier by another person.

Paul Bragg’s methodology of recovery

The American naturopath developed several dozen methods of recovery of the human body. However, the most famous is the algorithm of fasting, which was described in the book “The Miracle of Fasting”.

Bragg believed that a strict diet helps not only to get rid of excess weight, but also to cure a large number of diseases.

The essence of the approach is fasting for one, three, seven or ten days. It is allowed to drink only distilled water, as well as to use once a day honey and lemon juice. At the same time, it is important to perform special gymnastics for muscles, joints and spine.

It is also necessary to walk a lot, breathe properly and think positively, be kind to the world and others. It is necessary to exclude minerals, coffee and alcoholic beverages. It is necessary to come out of such a diet regime carefully.

Expert opinion

Fitness nutritionist, nutriciologist, detox coach

“This diet has a number of pros and cons. Starvation improves the processes of intestinal cleansing. However, a daily 12-16 hour fast is effective: dinner at 6:00 pm and breakfast at 9:00 am. An excess of dairy and flour products reduces immunity because they feed unhealthy microflora in the intestines. There are no immune-boosting foods here. These are greens, vegetables, seaweed, fruits.”

Get positive, walk and move – these tips alone are probably good for everyone. If you were deficient in iron or vitamin D3 before the fast, there is a risk that your numbers will become even lower. As a result – dizziness and weakness already on the second day of such a diet. If you are addicted to sugar/coffee, abrupt refusal from them can lead to increased anxiety. Water with honey and lemon on an empty stomach is unsafe for gastritis and hyperacidity. It will irritate the walls of the stomach.

Exercises from Paul Bragg

Paul Bragg developed techniques to restore the spine. They are still popular to this day. As the author states – the exercises work only in a complex.

Exercise 1:

1. It is necessary to lie on the floor face down.
2. Raise the pelvis and arch the back so that the pelvis is above the level of the lowered head. The support should be on your toes and palms.
3. Keep your feet shoulder width apart and your knees and elbows straight.
4. Lower the pelvis as close to the floor as possible, raise the head and then tilt it back.

There is a positive effect on the part of the nervous system that is responsible for the eye muscles and on the nerves that connect the stomach and intestines.

Exercise 2:

1. Repeat the position from Exercise 1.
2. Now turn your pelvis to the right so that your side is as low as possible.
3. Do the same on the other side.

Effective for liver and kidney diseases.

Exercise 3:

1. Sit on the floor, rest on straight arms, legs bent.
2. Raise the pelvis so that the body weight falls on the straight arms and bent legs.
3. Raise your torso so that your spine is in a horizontal position. Lower yourself.

The technique helps with lumbar spine pain.

Exercise 4:

1. It is necessary to lie on the floor on your back. At the same time, your legs should be stretched out, and your arms spread to the sides.
2. Bend your knees and pull them up to your chest, wrapping your arms around them.
3. Afterward, push your knees and hips away from your chest. While raising your head in parallel, try to touch your chin to your knees.
4. Hold this position for a few seconds.

The nerves that are responsible for the work of the stomach are developed.

Exercise 5:

1. Repeat the position from Exercise 1.
2. In this position you should step forward for five minutes.

Here the gluteal muscles are stretched.

The complex is suitable for daily training.

Expert opinion

Candidate of Biological Sciences, Associate Professor of the Department of Physical Education at SUUU

“Analyzing the complex of Paul Bragg’s exercises, one can confirm the assumption that movement is life. The body must work. The most known causes of back pain syndrome are congenital injuries or received in the process of life activity. Also insufficient training of the muscles of the spine, which perform the function of a “corset”.

The main principle of restoring the performance of the spine is to create a localized impact. Presented special therapeutic physical exercises (LFK) are able to have such an impact on the muscular perivertebral structures. This will lead to improvement of metabolic and trophic processes in tissues, effective restoration of work in the damaged segments of the spine, reduction of pain syndrome, restoration of normal locomotion.

Criticism and denunciations of Paul Bragg

Paul Bragg was often criticized by the public. The most important claim was that the ZHW propagandist did not have a medical education.

Experts analyzed his books. Pointed out the errors in the approach. He was accused of mislabeling products that were made in his factory. He gave incorrect advice on medications and supplements.

Bragg often said that he participated in wrestling tournaments. His daughter stated that he was a member of the U.S. Olympic team. He even took gold with the national team. However, this is not documented anywhere. Moreover, in the summaries of the Games, he was never listed as a participant.

Death of Paul Bragg

Even the death of Paul Bragg was not without “revelations”. There was a version that he died at the age of 95 while surfing. Steve Shenkman, the translator of Bragg’s books in the USSR, had a hand in spreading it. It was he who wrote that the cause of the naturopath’s death was not old age at all, but a tragic accident – a huge wave that covered him while surfing off the coast of Florida. However, official data refuted this heroic version.

The Miami Herald (December 10, 1976) reported that Paul Bragg died. The cause of death was also reported there. Paul Bragg died on December 7, 1976. The cause was a heart attack. He was 81 years old. This version is confirmed by the death certificate.

Alas, Paul Bragg did not manage to live to 120 years. Nevertheless, it was a passionate man, whose fate can not be called ordinary. What rules did he advise to follow in order not to be discouraged and not to grow old early?

Paul Bragg’s rules of life

1. It is important to exercise your health regularly:

“Remember: health must be earned! It cannot be bought. No one will sell it to you. I am full of health and energy precisely because I study the laws of nature and follow them. The laws of natural nutrition, the laws of self-purification by fasting, physical exercise – this is what leads to a life without old age.”

2. Need to eat less:

“Eat to live, not live to eat. The more food you eat, the more disease you get.”

3- There is no need to rush into anything, it is important to slow down:

“We have forgotten that to live is to feel alive and joyful. A quiet life is the happiness of few in our society. Life now is rush, rush, and rush again. Where are we rushing to? To the hospital or to the grave?”

4. It is worth loving life and being its master:

“I want to live 120 years and even more, and in excellent physical condition. I love life! Every day of my life is a miracle! – I control myself, I want to be the master of my life and I cherish every hour I live!”

5. It is necessary to be young at heart:

“I spend all my free time with young men and women or children who treat me as a peer and are as young in mind and body as I am. I stay away from prematurely aged people, on the other hand, because they have a negative effect on me. They have convinced themselves for so long that they are old.