Paul Bragg facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Paul Bragg
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Bragg in 1932
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| Born | February 6, 1895 |
| Died | December 7, 1976 (aged 81) |
| Nationality | American |
| Spouse(s) |
Neva Parnin
(m. 1915; div. 1928)Betty Brownlee
(m. 1930; div. 1932) |
| Children | 3 |
| Relatives | Patricia Bragg (daughter-in-law) |
Paul Chappuis Bragg (born February 6, 1895 – died December 7, 1976) was an American health expert. He was a big fan of healthy eating and staying fit. Bragg wrote many books about topics like healthy eating, fasting, and living a long life. He also talked a lot about physical exercise. Some medical experts, however, thought his ideas were not always based on science.
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Paul Bragg's Early Life
Paul Bragg was born on February 6, 1895, in Batesville, Indiana. His father worked as an editor and printer for a local newspaper. Paul grew up in Washington, D.C. with his parents and two brothers. His father worked for the U.S. Printing Office.
When Paul was 16, he reportedly had a serious illness called tuberculosis. He claimed he got better by going to a special sun sanatorium. This experience might have made him interested in health and wellness.
Bragg's Career Journey
Paul Bragg joined the Washington, D.C., National Guard for three years. Later, he worked for the YMCA and in schools as a physical education or athletic director. He even coached football for a season.
In 1915, Bragg married Neva Cecelia Parnin. They moved to Indianapolis, where he worked for an insurance company. Later, he and his family moved to California. There, he continued to work in physical education at high schools.
Around 1926, Paul Bragg started his own health businesses. He opened places called "Health Center of Los Angeles" and "Bragg Health Center." To tell people about his ideas, he wrote a weekly health column in The Los Angeles Times.
Health Lectures and Books
Starting in 1929, Paul Bragg began traveling around America to give health lectures. He would rent a place, advertise a lot, and then give talks for several evenings in a row. His lectures were free to attend, but he charged money for private health advice afterward.
In 1929, he also published his first health book, Cure Yourself. These lecture tours helped him promote and sell his books to more people. He even gave health lectures at churches.
Later Life and Influence
Paul Bragg lived in Burbank, California for many years. His food company, Live Food Products, Inc., was also located there. Later, he moved to Desert Hot Springs, California, and spent some time in Hawaii.
Bragg was a big inspiration for many famous athletes. He advised Olympic athletes like Murray Rose and Betty Cuthbert. Jack LaLanne, a well-known TV fitness star, said that Paul Bragg helped him greatly when he was 15 years old.
Education and Business
Paul Bragg claimed to have advanced science degrees. However, there is no official proof of these degrees. Records show that he likely completed only one year of high school.
After Paul Bragg passed away, his former daughter-in-law, Patricia Bragg, took over his health business. The company, now called Bragg Live Food Products, Inc., sells popular health products like apple cider vinegar.
Bragg's Health Beliefs
Paul Bragg believed in many ways to stay healthy and live longer. He suggested things like deep breathing, fasting, eating organic foods, and drinking distilled water. He also promoted juicing and regular exercise. Bragg was not a vegetarian; his diet included fish, fruits, vegetables, and raw milk.
Some medical experts disagreed with Bragg's ideas. They called him a "food faddist" and said he promoted "quackery." For example, the American Medical Association criticized his views.
Bragg had some unusual ideas about health. He believed that certain foods caused illnesses. For instance, he thought that eating "mucus forming foods" caused tonsillitis. He also claimed that colds were caused by eating white bread or ice cream. He strongly opposed white bread and white flour.
Legal Issues and Claims
Paul Bragg faced some legal problems because of his health claims. He advertised a product called "Glantex," saying it could make people feel much younger. In 1930, authorities took action against him for making false claims.
In 1932, some of Bragg's products were seized because they made false health promises. For example, his "O.K.-Lax" was advertised as a "miracle substance" that could cure many illnesses. However, tests showed it was just made from plants and a laxative. In 1935, he was fined for practicing healing without a license in Washington, D.C.
His products were also investigated by the Food and Drug Administration. He made claims about "Bragg's Grass Tablets" helping health and preventing sickness. He later agreed to stop making these claims.
Bragg also believed that vaccines were dangerous and advised people not to get them.
Paul Bragg's Death
Paul Bragg passed away on December 7, 1976, in Miami, Florida, from a heart attack. He was 81 years old. His daughter-in-law, Patricia Bragg, said that his health had declined after he was injured by a wave six months earlier. He was cremated, and his ashes were scattered in the ocean off Waikiki, Hawaii.
Selected Publications
- Cure Yourself (1929)
- Live Food Cook Book and Menus (1930)
- The Bragg Toxicless Diet Body Purification and Healing System (1967)
- How to Keep the Heart Healthy and Fit (1968)
- Building Powerful Nerve Force (1969)
- The Shocking Truth About Water: A Universal Fluid of Death (1970)
- Bragg Apple Cider Vinegar System (1972)
- The Miracle of Fasting (1972)
- Your Hair and Your Health (1972)
