
Steve Jobs, the late CEO of Apple, was known for his peculiar eating habits. Jobs' diet was a topic of interest to many, and his approach to food and health was often considered extreme and restrictive. From an early age, Jobs followed a primarily vegetarian or vegan diet, with periods of fasting and a preference for fruits and vegetables. This included an all-fruit diet, which some have tried to emulate, with mixed results. Jobs' dietary choices were influenced by his beliefs about health and healing, and he once said, Eat your food as your medicine. Otherwise, you have to eat medicine as your food. This paragraph will explore the unique dietary world of Steve Jobs, a billionaire inventor and business tycoon.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Diet type | Vegan, vegetarian, fruitarian |
| Fasting | Yes, for days or weeks at a time |
| Meals | Small and simple |
| Food choices | Fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, grains, juices |
| Alcohol consumption | Occasional glass of wine |
| Water preference | Mineral water like SmartWater |
| Exercise | Jogging |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
- Steve Jobs' diet was largely plant-based
- He was a fruitarian, eating mostly fruit, but also nuts, seeds, and grains
- He drank a lot of carrot juice, turning his skin orange
- Jobs would fast for days, believing it created feelings of euphoria or cleansed his body
- He was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2003 and died in 2011

Steve Jobs' diet was largely plant-based
Jobs' interest in plant-based diets began during his freshman year at college when he started going to the Zen centre for free vegetarian meals. He was influenced by the book "Diet for a Small Planet" by Frances Moore Lappe, after which he swore off meat for good. He also read "The Mucusless Diet Healing System" by Arnold Ehret, which further reinforced his belief in the healing properties of fruit.
Jobs' diet was not only plant-based but also highly restrictive. He experimented with a fruitarian diet, which involved eating mostly fruits, as well as some nuts, seeds, and grains. This type of diet is considered extremely restrictive as it eliminates dairy, and experts caution that it can lead to nutrient deficiencies. Jobs' diet consisted of a lot of fresh fruits and vegetables, and he was known to eat carrot salad and fruits for dinner.
In addition to his plant-based diet, Jobs also incorporated prolonged fasting periods. He believed that fasting could create feelings of euphoria and ecstasy, and he would fast for several days at a time, even as his health declined. Jobs' diet and fasting practices continued even after he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2003. Despite his illness, he delayed surgery for nine months and stuck to his vegan diet and alternative treatments. Unfortunately, his health deteriorated, and he passed away in October 2011.
Diet Pepsi and Captain Morgan: Calorie Count
You may want to see also
Explore related products
$14.75 $14.95
$14.87 $14.95

He was a fruitarian, eating mostly fruit, but also nuts, seeds, and grains
Steve Jobs was a fruitarian, which is a subset of veganism that involves eating mostly fruit, but also nuts, seeds, and grains. This type of diet contains some very healthy foods, but it is extremely restrictive, and experts caution that it may lack essential nutrients. Jobs' diet consisted of whole and dried fruits, vegetables, and juices, with a particular focus on apples and carrots. He also consumed a lot of water.
Jobs' interest in this diet began in college when he read "The Mucusless Diet Healing System" by Arnold Ehret. The book influenced him to believe that a diet of fruits and starchless vegetables could prevent the body from forming harmful mucus, and he became determined to regularly cleanse his body through prolonged fasts. Jobs would fast for several days at a time, believing that it would induce euphoria and create a sense of ecstasy.
After being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2003, Jobs delayed surgery for nine months and stuck to his fruitarian diet, believing in the healing properties of fruit. He continued this diet even as his health declined, and by 2011, he was eating almost no solid foods. Jobs' unusual diet attracted attention, with some speculating that it may have contributed to his cancer and death.
While fruit contains vitamins, nutrients, and antioxidants, it is recommended that fruit intake should only be about 30% of a person's diet. Jobs' diet, which was low in fat and protein, went against this advice, and some believe it put him at risk for nutrient deficiencies. Despite this, Jobs maintained a fairly healthy lifestyle, and he is known for his quote, "Eat your food as your medicine. Otherwise, you have to eat medicine as your food."
AIP Diet: Reducing Antibody Counts and Inflammation
You may want to see also
Explore related products
$39.59 $41.99
$79.99 $85.99

He drank a lot of carrot juice, turning his skin orange
Steve Jobs was known for his peculiar eating habits, which included fasting for days and eating only fruits and vegetables. Jobs was a vegan or vegetarian for most of his life and adopted a fruitarian diet, which involves eating mostly fruits, as well as some nuts, seeds, and grains. This type of diet can be restrictive and may lead to nutrient deficiencies if not carefully planned.
Jobs was particularly fond of carrots and drank a lot of carrot juice, specifically Odwalla carrot juice. He drank so much carrot juice that his skin reportedly developed an orange hue. According to actor Ashton Kutcher, who portrayed Jobs in the 2013 movie "Jobs," the Apple co-founder's skin turned "a sunset-like orange hue" due to his excessive carrot juice consumption.
Carrot juice is known to be rich in beta-carotene, which is a precursor to vitamin A. Beta-carotene is a fat-soluble compound, which means it can accumulate in the body if consumed in large amounts. Excessive beta-carotene intake can lead to a condition called carotenemia, which is characterized by a yellow or orange discoloration of the skin. This condition is usually harmless and disappears once the intake of beta-carotene is reduced.
While Jobs' carrot juice habit may have contributed to his skin color change, it is important to note that carotenemia is typically associated with an excessive intake of beta-carotene-rich foods, such as carrots, sweet potatoes, and cantaloupe, rather than just carrot juice alone. It is also worth mentioning that carotenemia is different from carotinemia, which is a more severe condition caused by an excess of carotenoids in the blood and can indicate an underlying medical issue.
In conclusion, Steve Jobs' skin turned orange due to his high consumption of carrot juice, which resulted in a buildup of beta-carotene in his body. This condition, known as carotenemia, is generally harmless and reversible by reducing the intake of beta-carotene-rich foods. However, it serves as an interesting example of how a specific dietary habit can lead to noticeable physical changes.
OMAD Diet: Quick Results or Slow Burn?
You may want to see also
Explore related products

Jobs would fast for days, believing it created feelings of euphoria or cleansed his body
Steve Jobs, the co-founder of Apple, had some peculiar eating habits. He was a vegetarian for most of his life and even became vegan at certain points, but his meals were always small and simple whenever he ate. Jobs was interested in the "healing properties" of fruit and stuck to a fruitarian diet for most of his life, especially after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. This diet involves eating only fruits, nuts, seeds, vegetables, and grains, and absolutely no animal products.
Jobs' fasting habits were extreme, and he would sometimes fast for several days or even weeks at a time. During his college years, he was influenced by the book "The Mucusless Diet Healing System" by Arnold Ehret, which promoted the idea that a diet of fruits and starchless vegetables could prevent the body from forming harmful mucus. This further reinforced Jobs' belief in the cleansing power of fasting, as he felt that it helped to remove mucus and other toxins from his body.
While Jobs' fasting practices were driven by his pursuit of euphoria and a desire to cleanse his body, it is important to note that prolonged fasting can have negative health consequences. Experts caution that fasting and extremely restrictive diets can lead to nutrient deficiencies and other health issues. Jobs' decision to delay surgery and pursue an extreme vegan diet after his cancer diagnosis also drew criticism from medical professionals.
Fried Chicken and Dieting: Friends or Foes?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
$6.29 $7.92

He was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2003 and died in 2011
Steve Jobs was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2003. He had surgery to remove part of his pancreas in 2008, and by 2011, the cancer had spread to his bones. He passed away on 5 October 2011.
Jobs had a peculiar relationship with food and an extreme diet. He was a vegetarian for most of his life and became vegan at certain points, but his meals were always small and simple. He was influenced by the book *Diet for a Small Planet* by Frances Moore Lappe, which he read during his freshman year at college, and he swore off meat from that point onwards. He was also influenced by *The Mucusless Diet Healing System* by Arnold Ehret, which led him to adopt a fruitarian diet, involving eating only fruits, nuts, seeds, vegetables and grains, and avoiding animal products. Jobs believed that this prevented the body from forming harmful mucus and that it could be used to regularly cleanse his body through prolonged fasts. He would fast for days or weeks at a time, believing that it could induce euphoria.
Jobs stuck to his eating patterns even while his health began to decline. After his diagnosis, he continued with a strict vegan diet in an attempt to heal himself, despite doctors advising him to include more protein in his diet. He delayed surgery for nine months and consulted a psychic and a doctor who advised treatments that were not yet authenticated. He believed that "if you eat your food as your medicine, you won't have to eat medicine as your food".
It is unclear what caused Jobs' pancreatic cancer, but it is likely that a combination of factors, including his diet, lifestyle, environmental toxicity, and genetic proclivities, played a role.
Heart-Healthy Eating: A Cardiac Diet Overview
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
Steve Jobs had a very restrictive diet and was a self-described fruitarian. He ate a lot of fresh fruits and vegetables and avoided meat, dairy, and grains. He also consumed a lot of fruit and vegetable juices, especially carrot juice.
Jobs was interested in the "healing properties" of fruit. He believed that eating a fruitarian diet prevented the body from forming harmful mucus and would regularly cleanse his body through prolonged fasts.
Yes, after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2003, Jobs went against doctors' wishes and tried to heal himself by pursuing an extreme vegan diet. He delayed surgery for nine months and consulted a psychic and a doctor who advised treatments that were unauthenticated.
Yes, after his surgery in 2008, Jobs' doctors encouraged him to include more protein in his diet, so his wife started including fish and other proteins in their meals.











































