Disease Proof : Disease Proof : Health & Nutrition News & Commentary : Dr. Joel Fuhrman

Alanis Morissette has transformed her health using Dr. Fuhrman's Eat to Live program.  Two weeks ago, her weight loss success was reported in People Magazine. 

Now, her journey to excellent health has been featured on "E! Original Countdowns: 15 Remarkable Celebrity Body Bouncebacks."  Dr. Fuhrman was interviewed and appears on the show - he comments that Alanis was drawn to the focus of his diet-style on disease prevention (rather than only weight-loss) and that this will be instrumental in her continued success.

The show aired Wednesday night - you can view the segment below, and read a transcript here.

 

 

Future airings of the show are as follows:

Sat.  Nov. 14: 2-4 pm

Sun.  Nov. 15: 5-7 pm

Thurs. Nov. 19: 8-10 pm

Fri.   Nov. 20: 3-5 pm

Sun.  Nov. 22: 12 midnight - 2 am

Sun.  Nov. 22: 7-9 pm

• Email This
• Print
• Comments (7)
• Trackbacks
• Share Link

My kids always look forward to Halloween, even though they don’t eat the candy (at least in front of me). They look forward to dressing up in costumes, being out with their friends, and staying up late on a school night.

I, on the other hand, I do not look forward to Halloween. I don’t like the focus on fear of ugly-looking creatures and giving of toxic items to children. (I don’t call the candy “treats” because they certainly aren’t nourishing.) The sad fact is that even normally well-behaved children can start acting crazy after consuming all the highly-sugared, chemicalized junk they get. And the disrupting behavior can last for as long as a month afterward.

So, I'm not a person who believes in letting eating choices turn my home into a war zone. Read my recent "War Zone" post on DiseaseProof. I believe in providing an education in healthful eating—and setting a good example! I keep unhealthful foods out of the house, and trust my kids to use their best judgment. Thankfully, we have figured out how to make Halloween a happy time for all of us, without joining in the candy craze. Here are some tips that have worked for us.

1. Hand out inexpensive toys or gifts instead of candy. By setting this good example, perhaps a neighbor will pick up on the idea. Even if nobody follows your lead, you will feel good about your decision. Toys are perhaps a little more expensive than candy, but not much, and they definitely send a great message to both the kids and the parents.
   
   My children help choose what they think is cool. In recent years, we have been giving out glow-in-the-dark necklaces and bracelets*. The best thing about these toys is that they make kids safer in the dark because cars can see them when they are walking in the road. Kids say, “Wow!” or “Cool!” when they see the glowing gifts, so I know they love them. Plus, my kids are proud to hand them out. Now that my kids are older, they always remind me when it’s time to place my order (which is right around now). Other toys that we have purchased include small cans of Silly String, glow-in-the-dark animals, and glow-in-the-dark balls.
    
2. Make your family's favorite dinner on Halloween night, including their favorite desserts. There are great healthy fall menu ideas in the Member Center recipe guide. With full stomachs, your kids will be less tempted to eat the junk they receive. You also can try the Halloween treat recipes in the September 2006 Healthy Times Newsletter, or have some delicious Pop'ems on hand from DrFuhrman.com.
    
3. When the children come home, set a limit on how many candies they are allowed to eat. I suggest you allow them two pieces of candy, which they can pick out—and then discard or give away the rest. We let our children pick one or two candies to eat. Most of the time they only take a bite or two before tossing the rest out. Our youngest, Sean, has no desire to even taste the stuff, because as he explains, "I don't eat junk food." Luckily for us, he is too finicky to try anything new. He rejects anything he is not accustomed to.
    
4. Some people find it easiest to throw out all the candy after the children go to sleep. Little ones probably won't even remember it once it's gone, and getting rid of it eliminates temptation for the adults in the house.
    
5. Life is full of compromises— and this day will pass! I believe that with a little advance planning you can ensure that your children will have a good time and not be tempted to hide or sneak candy. Plus, you will be happier knowing that they will be eating a lot less candy this year than they did last year.

That's a good start!

Continue Reading...

• Email This
• Print
• Comments (2)
• Trackbacks
• Share Link

Editor’s Note: Agatha and Nick share their story and talk about the great time they had at this year’s Health Getaway at Hawks Cay.

We would like to thank all of you for an extraordinary job in putting together this year's Health Getaway. It was a stupendous, fun filled, life changing, informative event. Your warmth, approachability and individual attentiveness to all the attendees made us feel welcome and special.

I want to update you on our progress since last year’s getaway. Our excellent blood work is our report card to good health. Our doctors are especially amazed with Nick's progress.

Twelve years ago Nick walked in the hospital emergency and could hardly breathe. He had pulmonary edema and ended up having a quadruple bypass surgery, during the surgery damaged was done to his perennial nerve which left him with a drop foot, neurological damage and pain. Between the heart and nerve damage done to his leg and foot, his doctor's prescribed tons of meds, pain killers and told him to stay on a low-salt diet and sent him home. Nick was wheelchair bound for two years and was able to walk only a few steps with an ankle foot orthotic and had incredible pain. The pain was so severe that he wanted to have his leg amputated.

Then in 2003, Nick was diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma stage three with two symptoms which included severe itchiness and night sweats. He had six months of chemo, blood transfusion, a double port to administer the chemo, temporary loss of sight, endless emergency runs to the ER, weeks in the hospital with a high fever and now both of his legs were swollen and painful. Although, it's been 6 years that Nick has been in remission, he was still on lots of meds and eating a Standard American Diet. He also had gout, kidney stones, high-blood pressure and was border line type-2 diabetic.

I read Eat To Live and we both had office visits back in January of 2008, however, when we attended last year’s getaway is when it made a tremendous impact and changed our lives.

At this year’s getaway at Hawks Cay, you told Nick that he didn't need to take amlodipine besylate and carvedilol. Now Nick is nearly medication free.

Within the past 12 years, Nick has been seen and treated by cardiologists, neurologists, nephrologists, oncologists, hemotoligists, pathologists, physiatrists, rheumatologists, podiatrists, physical therapists and the like. It was a full time job to keep track of doctor appointments and medications for him.

With all the doctors and years of treatments and lots of meds Dr. Fuhrman was the only doctor that was successful in taking Nick off all his medications, within 13 months. Now feels like a million bucks!

Both of us are no longer the living sick. We are now healthy and happy!

Continue Reading...

• Email This
• Print
• Comments
• Trackbacks
• Share Link

Editor’s Note: Thomas Boeve, MD, an Otolaryngologist from Virginia, shares his story and talks about the good time he had at this year’s Health Getaway at Hawks Cay.

Dear Dr. Fuhrman, I would like to take a minute of your and Lisa’s time to thank you for incredible info-packed week at Hawks Cay this past week.

As you may recall, I am an Otolaryngologist in Virginia, but am scheduled to leave for Kenya with my wife, Jolene, and 4 children in January to begin a training program for African Surgeons. Unfortunately, I also have a terrible family history of heart disease as my mother died at age 56 from her first, and only, heart attack and my father and grandfather had open-heart surgery prior to age 65.

So, in March, I scheduled my physical exam and blood work. Unfortunately, the stark reality of the “Standard American Diet” was evident. I weighed 190 lbs, blood pressure 140/100 (on Lisinopril), Total Cholesterol was 204 (LDL 133). I was also on Allegra for environmental allergies, Prevacid for reflux disease, and a multivitamin.

I contacted a Cardiothoracic Surgeon friend-of-mine and he suggested stronger BP medicine and a Statin drug, as soon as possible. It was then that my wife introduced me to Eat To Live. She had found and read the book a few months prior, but knew I would not be interested. However, knowing how badly I wanted to be “medicine-free” in Kenya and did not want to follow in my family’s cardiac footsteps, she recognized the opportunity.

Without any additional medicine (3 months later), I now weigh 153 lbs, blood pressure is 107/72 (off medicine), total cholesterol is 133 (LDL 71). Furthermore, I am off my allergy and reflux medicine and feeling fantastic. My 12 year-old son was also able to quit his antihistamine and steroid nasal spray despite being plagued by debilitating springtime allergies for several years.

Thank you, again, for all your research, knowledge and desire to enhance our health through nutritional excellence.

Continue Reading...

• Email This
• Print
• Comments
• Trackbacks
• Share Link

Just a reminder, DiseaseProof is having its first offline meeting, Saturday, August 23rd at Sacred Chow in New York City.

You remember Sacred Chow. It’s an Eating to Live on the Outside favorite—making it the perfect place to hang out!

If you’ll be in NYC on the 23rd come chill with me! Now, I haven’t worked out a time yet or if the day will include other activities, but I’ll keep you posted.

This won’t be an official Dr. Fuhrman event, just a casual meet and greet. If you’re interested, send an email to diseaseproof@gmail.com. A bunch of people have already signed up!

• Email This
• Print
• Comments
• Share Link

Yesterday I drove up to the Poconos to pay Dr. Fuhrman’s Health Getaway at Skytop Lodge a visit and from the second I got there I started meeting people. Like avid nutritarians David and Claudia…


And just as I turned around, Carol says hello. She’s loves DiseaseProof…


Okay, after the long drive I was pretty hungry. Off to the dining hall. Looks like a lot of people have the same idea…


Check out Dr. Fuhrman staffer Janice grabbing some grub…


And the lovely Susan—also a Dr. Fuhrman staffer—filling her plate…


Here Dr. Fuhrman demonstrates some unusual table manners…


Hey, look who it is! Susan! I first met Susan at Beaver Brook. She lost 42 pounds at the point…


Now look at her…


Looking good Susan! And I got a chance to meet Sara, a regular on DiseaseProof…


Okay, the real reason I was came up to Skytop was for the talent show and just look at this crowd…


And here’s our host…


Yes, I was a judge. I was the perfect smart-aleck for the job! Alright, here’s our first contestant. David with his self-defense demonstration…


Next little Tommy tickled the ivories…


Then Steve showed off his juggling ability…


Sylvester did some standup comedy…


Some of the kids sung a song…


Ben told some jokes…


Shira sung her heart out…


She did great because Dr. Fuhrman coached her up beforehand…


Oh, and Dr. Fuhrman took the time to thank the Chefs for preparing all the wonderful nutrient-dense grub. Great job guys…


Okay, back to the show. Here’s Dr. Fuhrman staffer Elijah playing the guitar…


Lori played the piano while Claudia juggled…


Ray dropped some spoken word on us…


Scott played the guitar and sang…


And finally, Evelyn got real with a touching speech…


Alright, after some tough judging—and all my stupid remarks—here are the winners…


The kids could hardly wait to open their prizes…


The talent show was great! I had a lot of fun and it was so cool meeting everyone, but all good things must come to an end. Here are some night-time shots I snagged on my way out…

Thanks to everyone who came out! See you later. Peace.

• Email This
• Print
• Comments (2)
• Share Link

In case you couldn’t make it. Here’s a bird’s eye view—and by bird’s eye I mean my eye view—of yesterday’s Eat for Health Seminar at the Beaver Brook Country Club in Annandale, New Jersey. Let’s sign in and grab a packet…



Wait, before we check out the presentations, make sure you stock up on any Dr. Fuhrman goodies, books, and vitamins you might need…




Now that your hands are full, Earl—who is also DrFuhrman.com’s friendly tech-support—will be happy to check you out…


Okay, we’re all set, time to—oh, hello. Nice to meet you David! Yup, I’m the blog guy. I’m glad you enjoy it. Thanks for reading! Hey, what are you reading…


I know the new Food Scoring Guide is very cool. Nice meeting you David—okay, time for the presentations, but first, let me grab something to eat…


Wow! Looks like a heard of ravenous nutritarians stampeded through all the grub. No worries, I didn’t come here to eat. Okay, presentation time—hey, how are you…


Thanks for reading Susan! You lost 42 pounds so far? That’s great! Yes, definitely email me about Operation Banana Hunt. See you later—now let me find a seat…



Wow! Talk about a packed house. Here looks good. First up, Dr. Fuhrman’s colleague Jennifer Petrillo, MD is getting ready to give us a research update…


Thanks Dr. Petrillo, lots of great information. Okay, Dr. Fuhrman’s taking the stage, but first, check out my fellow employee Kurt working the camera…


Trust me, he’s not sleeping. He’s just resting his eyes. Now, without any further ado, here’s Dr. Fuhrman talking about his approach to health and nutrition…


Dr. Fuhrman was also joined by a few friends. Here’s Kevin Leville discussing Eat Right America…


Now, nutritarian Beth takes the stage to share her story…


To close the show, Lisa Fuhrman talks about just how easy it is to be a nutritarian…


The day also included some fun and games. Here Dr. Fuhrman staffers Janice and Susan raffle off some prime swag…


Nope, I didn’t win, but then again, when you're a nutritarian, you win everyday. Quick! Let’s head over and get an autograph from Dr. Fuhrman—wait! First, check this out…


I thought that was a nice picture of new nutritarian Billy, leafing through Dr. Fuhrman’s book. Now, back to those autographs…


That was fun! Its great to see so many people taking control of their health. Okay, time to head home—hi there. Wow! All three of you are becoming nutritarians? Cool. Let me get a picture…


Nice meeting you Paloma, Annette, and Marieli! Thanks again for reading the blog, good luck being nutritarians—alright, an exciting day has officially come to an end. I’m out of here. Thanks to everyone who came out! Peace.

• Email This
• Print
• Comments (15)
• Share Link

If you’re going to be Jersey next month, why not stop and hear Dr. Fuhrman speak at the Beaver Brook Country club in Annandale, New Jersey. If you do, side effects may include:

• Fat “melting” off your body
• Dramatic lowering of LDL cholesterol
• Looking and feeling years younger
• Blood pressure plummeting
• Headaches and allergies vanishing
• Increased energy levels
• Strong cravings for fruits and vegetables

Now, if you want to come—you better hurry up—seats are limited! Activities start at 9:30 AM and conclude at 4:30PM. Seats are $99.00 per person or $150 for two seats.

So, for reservations please call: 1-800-474-WELL

• Email This
• Print
• Comments
• Share Link

Over at DrFuhrman.com there is a holiday special going on now: if you buy three copies of Eat to Live or Disease-Proof Your Child, you will get a fourth copy free.

And for those who are members of DrFuhrman.com, there is also a similar discount on Pop'Ems: Buy three, get one free.

(What's a Pop'Em? Here's what Dr. Furhman says: "They are made by finely grinding the raw nuts and seeds into a powder and then kneading the smoothly ground nuts with fresh dates. The cinnamon flavor has some raw carob and cinnamon mixed in, while the chocolate flavor features all natural cocoa powder that is packed full of antioxidants. My active family cruises through over a pound a day and I am reassured that my children are consuming the healthy fats and protein they need on a plant-centered diet." If you want to make your own, here's a recipe for the original Date Nut Pop'Ems.)

• Email This
• Print
• Comments
• Share Link

The Health Care Blog (which was recently praised by the Wall Street Journal) is asking readers to come up with a solution to the American health care crisis in 250 words or less. Of course, I can't help thinking that nutrition is the key. Imagine if the majority of diabetics were treated like this. How much would that alone chop off the national medical bill? (Then factor in asthma, ear infections, cancer, heart disease... go down the left side of this page... all these expensive conditions.)

There are some specific rules you should read before you start writing. Anyone can enter and the winner gets to be a guest on a radio show to talk about their ideas.

• Email This
• Print
• Comments (1)
• Share Link