"He developed a philosophy that assumed that the sun was the venerable source of all life, and since the coconut was the fruit that grows nearest the sun, it must be the most perfect food for people."
That may sound comical, but I think the reasoning behind some modern diets (e.g. Paleo Diet) isn't too different.
If he really believed that which grew closest to the sun must be the most perfect, he should have eaten plants growing on some mountain top, not low-altitude coconuts.
What grow on the mountain top? Only things I've seen are flowers, maybe apple or apricot and wallnuts.