American Pioneer of Juice Therapy
Nowadays it seems every consumer magazine seems to feature the latest celebrity detox and juicing regime. Yet the origin of this fashionable trend can be traced back to far less glamorous, more humble beginnings. Its pioneer was Dr Norman W. Walker (D. 06/06/85), a kind and idealistic man who dedicated his life to his quest for optimum health. Through his experimentation with juicing and his insistence on bowel cleansing, Dr Walker developed a programme for detoxification which is as valid today as ever. The perfect example of his own life’s work, he lived to be a Centenarian, although no one really knew how old he was as he did not believe in chronological age and refused to disclose his date of birth. Dr Walker died peacefully in his sleep. Despite his advanced years it is said his mind remained clear and active and that his body was free of disease. A remarkable legacy if ever there was one.
Dr Walker came from a large Scottish family. His father was a minister and his Christian upbringing remained a strong influence throughout his life. As a young man Walker spent a few years working in London. It was during this time that he became chronically ill. Through poor diet and over-work he managed to developed cirrhosis of the liver coupled with neuritis. Refusing to accept various doctor’s terminal diagnoses, he set about looking at ways of reversing his condition. A vegetarian friend offered advice which involved avoidance of medicinal drugs, abstention from foods for three days and the drinking of pure water every half hour. Walker was sufficiently impressed by his friend’s evident good health to follow his advice. After this he embarked on a diet consisting of raw fruits and vegetables. Within six months he was symptom-free and felt better than he had ever done before. Like many other pioneers of natural medicine, he had needed a serious illness to start him on his remarkable lifelong research into nutrition and health.
As part of his rehabilitation programme he travelled to a small French village to stay with an elderly local couple and recuperate at leisure. Here he was able to indulge in the couple’s simple, healthy lifestyle, eating the raw vegetables and fruits grown in their garden. “I was thoroughly enjoying my “dolce far niente” – sweet doing nothing – life, and had noticed some improvement in my strength. One morning Madame was in her kitchen preparing vegetables and peeling carrots. Watching her I noticed how moist the carrots were when peeled, even though they had not been in any water.” This observation led to Walker’s first experiment with juicing: he grated carrots into a pulp which he then squeezed through a cloth and found the resulting juice amazingly vivifying, a true elixir of life.
From these simple beginnings Walker set about exploring methods to obtain the maximum amount of juice from a variety of vegetables. He went on to use a triturator to produce the pulp which he then squeezed through a hydraulic press. This method of juice production continued until demand for home and commercial juicing became overwhelming. He was then compelled to design a juice machine – the famous Norwalk Juicer. This machine is still available today and continues to prove itself as the ‘Rolls Royce of juicers’. It is no surprise to learn that Dr Gerson kept a Norwalk juicer in his surgery. Walker insisted upon high production standards which are maintained today. The juicer continues to be made of quality material and promises operational perfection, coupled with a lifetime guarantee.
In 1910 Dr Walker established the Norwalk Laboratory of Nutritional Chemistry and Scientific Research, in New York. His discoveries were further validated by his collaboration with a doctor friend who allowed him to supply fresh juices to some of his bedridden patients. The results were extremely positive and many of these patients went on to thrive on a raw fruit and vegetable diet. Dr Walker saw the fruit juices as the cleansers and the vegetable juices as the builders and regenerators of the body. This combination provided the patient with sufficient carbohydrates and sugars, as well as all the essential amino acids, mineral salts, enzymes and vitamins necessary to detoxify and regenerate the ailing body. Administering optimum nutrition in juice form meant that the vital ingredients could be absorbed instantly, without having to go through the usual digestive process; also, much more could be consumed in juice form than would have been possible to eat in the normal way. Equal in importance for healing and health maintenance was Dr Walker’s insistence on colon cleansing.
Dr Walker’s pioneering work was able to reach a wider audience with the publication of his first book in 1936. Still available today under the title of Fresh Vegetable and Fruit Juices – What’s Missing in Your Body, it is a complete guidebook to a range of juices and their individual health benefits. A timeless book, it is as relevant to today’s audience as it was in the 1930s. The only factor which dates this book is the current necessity to specify the use of organic fruit and veg; a sad indictment of the diminished quality of produce available today. In a bid to further educate the public in the benefits of raw juicing, Walker opened a juice plant in Long Beach, California. This was the first of many moves Walker was to make in America, but it was here in California where the trend for juicing really began to take off. People could order home deliveries or drink their juice at the plant. This was the very first version of the now popular, juice bar. Walker used the plant to give evening lectures which became increasingly well attended. His second book, Diet and Salad Suggestions was written in response to people’s enquiries about what they should be eating alongside their juices. This recipe book contains useful information about foods and their combinations. Together with his first publication, his diet book epitomizes the model of healthy eating and living.
Dr Walker went on to publish numerous books all focusing on the raw food diet, juicing and the importance of colon health. He also contributed many articles to health magazines. In this way he was able to share his knowledge with as wide an audience as possible. Indeed literally thousands of individuals with so-called ‘incurable’ diseases are known to have credited Dr Walker with their cure. One of these individuals was Jay Kordich, now famously known as ‘The Juiceman’. He was suffering from cancer when he first met Dr Walker in the 1940’s. Through Walker’s raw-food diet and juice therapy, Kordich went on to heal himself of his disease. Inspired by what he had learned, Kordich continued working with him until Walker’s death in 1985. As described by his publisher, Donald Woodside: “Dr Walker was always positive…He never complained about anything, just took everything as it came – always looking ahead and planning for tomorrow.” And so it is that Walker’s work continues today. “Every day more people read his books and learn about a better way of life. “The current juicing ‘craze’ and the trend for ‘juice bars’ is directly attributable to him. Yet as commonplace as these may seem in the 21st Century, it must not be forgotten that Walker’s ideas were truly pioneering in his time. Health trends may come and go but the basic facts of Walker’s work remain true. Ultimately he was the living proof of his life’s work that a raw-food diet coupled with juicing are the key to a longer, healthier, disease-free life.
Bibliography
Fresh Vegetables and Fruit Juices – What’s Missing in Your Body – Walker, N.W. – O’Sullivan Woodside and Company – ISBN 089019033X
The Natural Way to Vibrant Health – Walker, N.W. – O’Sullivan Woodside and Company
Pure and Simple, Natural Weight Control – Walker, N.W. – Norwalk Press – ISBN 089019078X
A Legacy of Love from Dr Norman W. Walker – Woodside, D
Published in the May 2003 edition of Coffee’N’Carrots