Two things happened this month that caused me to rethink my diet, supplement regimen, and disease-prevention strategy. First, I read Michael Pollan’s latest book, Food Rules: An Eater’s Manual (Penguin, December 2009), which wasn’t so much surprising as confirming of his stance taken in his other nutritional tomes, In Defense of Food: An Eater’s Manifesto (Penguin, 2009) and The Omnivore’s Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals (Penguin, 2007). In short, Pollan believes the standard American diet is woefully deficient in vegetables–not lean proteins, not low-fat dairy products, not healthy whole grains–and thereby void of important vitamins, minerals, and other micronutrients. Our dietary shortage of vegetables and other plant-based foods is the reason why rates of “Western” diseases–cancer, Type 2 diabetes, obesity, and cardiovascular disease–are significantly higher today than they were when people ate more plants, say 100, or even 50, years ago.
But what upsets me, a relatively “healthy” eater whose diet is made up of mostly lean animal proteins, couscous, nutty breads from Whole Foods, Greek yogurt, and that must-have weekly bag of wild-rice sesame sticks, is that, in his advocacy of a plant-based diet, Pollan isn’t just talking about a side of broccoli with dinner every night. As he says: “Eat food. Mostly plants. Not too much.” And by mostly plants, he doesn’t mean mostly chicken and rice, with an accompanying half cup of green beans.
And this is the same point Joel Fuhrman, MD, author of Eat For Health: Lose Weight, Keep It Off, Look Younger, Live Longer (Gift of Health Press, 2008), tried to hammer home during an in-person interview yesterday. To live your best, lose weight, and help prevent cancer and other common “American” diseases, you have to eat micronutrients, found mostly in leafy green vegetables, and not submit your body to a toxic digestive cycle that ebbs between food addictions and empty calories on a tide of animal products, flours, sugars, salts, and other non-plant-based products.
While such a dietary approach may seem restrictive at first, it makes complete sense when you do the reading–or in my case, the listening–and Whole Foods Market is so taken with Fuhrman’s philosophy that the store has installed the doctor’s Aggregate Nutrient Density Index (ANDI) in all its markets to teach customers the micronutrient-to-calorie ratio of many common foods. (For example, kale has the highest ANDI rating of 1,000, while chicken breast rings in at a disappointing 27.)
But don’t just take my word on the vegetable imperative: Do the reading yourself. Pollan’s book is 112 short, easy-to read pages. And soon, Whole Foods Market will start selling Dr. Fuhrman’s literature and self-analysis software for a slight $19.99–the package allows consumers to input their daily diet and family history to discover their own micronutrient deficiencies and nutrition-based disease risks. And in the meantime, what do you think: Can we save America’s healthcare crisis if people just simply ate more, or mostly, vegetables?
I’ve been following Dr. Fuhrmans program for five months now: I’ve lost 40 lbs, I’ve got more energy, I feel great and I have been able to exercise every day so far this year, something which was impossible before I began this program.
This is now my eating plan for life
Congratulations, Grahame! That’s amazing. Keep up the great work. It’s amazing how changes in diet can change our world.
We’ve been reading and following both Dr. Fuhrman and Michael Pollan for a few years now. One of the main reasons for eating according to their precepts is your brain and your mood. There is a powerful connection between what you eat, how you feel and how you think. Another great book is “The Ultramind Solution” by Dr. Mark Hyman. As an R.N & holistic nutritionist, I have found that by eating the right food issues like ADD, ADHD, anger issues, depression and hyperactivity can be modulated by a plant-based diet and the right natural supplements. Stop feeding your children junk food, processed foods and then trying to heal them with pharmaceutical medications.
Thanks for your comments, Ann, and I agree absolutely–and the more I speak with people who have adopted a plant-based diet, the more I’m convinced of how doing so not only affects health profoundly, but also mood, perception, cognitive abilities, and appearance. And at Natural Solutions, we believe in Dr. Hyman’s philosophy, too, and speak frequently with him as he’s one of our contributing editors. Keep sharing with us what works for you!
I must admit this is the second time I have read your site and I am loving it! I added your blog to my rss reader. Cant wait to see more updates!
I have been hearing lectures, reading and following Dr Furhman’s advice since the early 1990’s. He has always been frank and way ahead of others in his revealing testimony of the latest research. His desire to educate people on the truths of superior health is commendable. It may not be for fad followers but his reccommedations are welcome by those of us who desire to know the truth without the gimmicks. I always look at http://www.drfuhrman.com
to see what he has to say about the latest fad news reports on health. No need to become sidetracked as he always sets things straight. If people would listen, many health issues could be eliminated or controlled as I have personally experienced.
Thanks for the comments, Dale. Glad to hear you’re a strong supporter of Dr. Fuhrman–and gee whiz, if he ever needs a marketing person, you should apply! But I agree that many health issues can be avoided or lessened in severity by following a plant-based diet–certainly not what most people want to hear, which is why fad diets and gimmicky solutions exist. I also hope you’ll keep reading the blogs here and commenting on the nutrition and health-based information you see. If you’ve been a Fuhrman follower for years, your insight will be certainly welcome!
S