Naturopath Dr. Alvenia Fulton (1893-1999) was born in Tennessee in migrated to Chicago where she practiced. From 1971 to 1972 Fulton wrote “Eating for Your Health and Strength,” a column in the Black-owned-and-operated Chicago Defender. The following is her response to a reader’s question about skin care, which I am sharing in two parts. As has been my practice with Dr. Fulton’s ieads, I share them in a paraphrased format when necessary to make it more relevant and accessible and as direct quotes as often as possible.
Dear Mrs. W:
Invariably, where skin problems exist, we have found that either there is a diet deficiency: lack of vitamins, minerals, protein, and enzymes, or that the diet contains an excess of starches, white sugar in its many forms or too much fat. The general remedy is simple: Try eating from 70 to 80 percent of your food raw. For example, use fresh organic lemons with seafood or in drinks like lemonade or tea hot or cold and sweetened with raw honey.* Eat raw organic in season citrus fruit whole or juiced, the pulp as well as juice. The same is true with fresh grapes and rock fruit such as peaches, apricots, nectarines, and plums. Eat organic dried dates, figs, and raisins. If you are not allergic to them, pair dried fruits with almonds, sunflower sides, and pecans for a tasty nutritious snack.
*To my knowledge Dr. Fulton only recommended raw honey and molasses as sweeteners