Aterhov

Arshavir Ter Hovannessian (Aterhov) was the author of the book ""Raw Eating"." The book was originally published in Persian, but was translated into several other languages. Aterhov was unique in that he was largely unaware of similar movements and ideologies, such as Natural Hygiene. His relative isolation in Iran prevented him from being well known to the raw foodists of the West, and his work was not widely cited by similar researchers like Herbert Shelton. Aterhov was only credited in the introduction to the book "Nature's First Law: The Raw Food Diet" after it was discovered that it was copied almost verbatim. David Wolfe, Stephen Arlin, and R.C. Dini chose to completely plagiarize his masterpiece without giving a shred of acknowledgement. They could have reprinted his book, giving full credit, they could have concerned themselves with the idea that perhaps the man had family or friends, or children, in Iran who could have benefited from the proceeds of the book, they could have at least acknowledged their source. Instead, they passed off as their own creativity and thought some of the most compelling, forceful words ever written on the subject of raw veganism.

Aterhov had two of his children die of chronic diseases, and set about to investigate alternative health. His research and thought led him to the raw vegan diet. He raised his third child on a 100% raw vegan diet, and also managed to tremendously improve his own health along the way. Aterhov worked tirelessly to promote the raw food diet, and refused to accept money for his efforts. He spent a tremendous amount of his own money to publish his books and distributed them worldwide, mostly to research institutions. Aterhov was imprisoned for criticizing the quality of the Tehran water supply, and it is widely believed that he was killed shortly after the Iranian revolution.