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

Four years ago I was obese and my blood pressure was averaging 155/95, and now it's consistently around 105/65 . . .without medication.

My 86-year-old mother, Helen, gave herself injections of insulin four times a day for over twenty years, and today she’s no longer taking it.

Ronnie, after suffering from open heart bypass surgery, and then stent procedures, woke up in the recovery room with more chest pain and was sent home to die with $600 of meds a month. He is now the epitome of health and fitness, and taking absolutely no medications.

Pam, having ovarian cancer, and told by a couple of physicians that she only had a few months to live, decided not to accept that fate -  and that was fourteen years ago. Today she glows with a vibrant radiance seldom seen in women her age. (Pam's interview will be featured on Disease Proof in the near future; stay tuned.) 

Elisa, in her late 20’s, was bedridden and unable to function due to the devastation of lupus symptoms. She was put on nearly thirty medications to no avail. Today, in her early 30’s, her blood tests are normal, and she’s off all medications, except one as needed. She has her life back and shines with exuberant health.

Anthony, a young high school graduate was obese and heading down a dangerous path. Today he is slender and buff, and most importantly bypassing a future of obesity related diseases.

Bonnie was a young woman who had cystic acne so bad that it was painful to smile, and the blemishes eroded her self esteem. Her dermatologist said that diet wouldn’t help, and she was put on several prescription drugs over the years. Nothing worked. However, today she no longer has acne flare ups and is medication free.

Augie, at the age of 83, takes no medications, feels great, and has run in 40 marathons since his 70^th birthday. His youthfulness is evident to all.      

Barb was succumbing to the typical symptoms of middle age women; increase in PMS, bloating and fatigue that led to inactivity. Today she’s trim and active; hiking mountainous terrain and riding her bike to work.

Scott, having lost 333 lbs without gastric bypass surgery is no longer homebound and today is a serious cyclist.

Jodi, having suffered with incapacitating psoriasis for over 30 years and the terrible side effects of meds to alleviate the rashes finally is symptom free without medication. Today her skin glows with radiant beauty.

Mark was on four prescriptions for asthma, and used an inhaler every morning upon waking up. Being a middle aged man who lost his father to heart disease, Mark lived in fear of experiencing a heart attack. Today he no longer has asthma, is medication-free, and is off the radar screen for heart disease. 

I’ve personally interacted with each person named above. They are the real deal. And they are just the tip of the iceberg of people all over America and beyond who are getting their health restored by following Dr. Fuhrman’s high-nutrient eating style. 

 

For years we've been led to believe that disease is just a part of the aging process; lulled to sleep by scribble marks on a prescription pad.

Perhaps some doctors and pharmaceutical companies have been misleading us. 

Perhaps in the past we didn’t know any better, but now that we know the truth we will choose to no longer live in ignorance. 

Enough is enough. It’s time to get smart.

The time has come for all of us to wake-up and jump on board the food revolution; and I’m not talking about the Jamie Oliver Food Revolution that adds butter and cheese to cream sauces, or grass fed beef to homemade noodles, or campaigns relentlessly for the removal of chocolate flavored milk from school lunches.

I’m talking about the kind of food revolution that eradicates unnecessary and expensive diseases from our bodies; the kind that prevents and reverses diabetes, hypertension and heart disease, and kills cancer . . . .the nutritarian food revolution!

The change of one person is a transformation. 

The change of many is a revolution.

Let the real food revolution begin ~ the nutritarian revolution!   

 

Related posts: 

Jamie Oliver Food Revolution

Dr. Fuhrman's thoughts on Emily's 'Jamie Oliver Food Revolution' post

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Here in my hometown of Flemington we have our local public school system featuring the famous Jamie Oliver’s menus and recipes. A third grade student was inspired by Jamie’s Food Revolution and approached school officials to set aside this week as “Food Revolution Week.” 

“Nicholas brought his passion for leading a healthy lifestyle, his love of good food and his interest in the Food Revolution straight to the negotiating table. Through his efforts, Nicolas has persuaded the district to offer a full week of Jamie Oliver-inspired recipes in place of the regular lunch menu at Copper Hill School.” ¹

The menu will include Beefy Nachos, Crusty Mac-n-Cheese, Sloppy Joe Sandwiches, Shepherd’s Pie, and Pizza. Are these foods health promoting? View the menu and Jamie’s recipes for yourself. Would you let your kids eat that stuff?

There are no nutritious dishes made with significant amounts of vegetables and beans. Amazing that Jamie Oliver has moved the nation to associate good nutrition with cancer-causing concoctions like Sloppy Joes and Mac-n-Cheese instead of true health-promoting, anti-cancer whole foods like vegetables, berries, seeds and fresh fruits. White flour, ground beef and cheese are not vegetables; and the message is still lacking in this “revolution” that without eating significant vegetables and beans we are going to have a nation of cancer-prone, heart-attack prone, overweight individuals.

Our students graduate from elementary and high schools, colleges, and even professional schools (such as medical schools) without ever learning the most critical information about how to protect one’s precious health.  Even highly educated individuals do not have a clear knowledge of the foods that prevent and protect against disease.  By attempting to improve the nation’s diet without incorporating these health-promoting foods, we are merely moving the chess pieces around aimlessly, and sadly the public does not become more educated about health, only more confused.

We need a real revolution, not a phony one that diverts attention away from the real problem. A revolution that places the power and the responsibility for health in hands of the individual, and gives them the power to live a disease-free life; free of toxic drugs, invasive surgical procedures, and futile and expensive medical care that is all hype but adds little to our quality or length of life.  

1.  frsd.net on behalf of L. Braun; June 3, 2010

image credits: geography-site.co-uk; weightlosssurgerychannel.com; rhinestonesandtelephones.com

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Wow, all those comments on the Jamie Oliver post are great.  That’s what makes this so much fun, I appreciate everyone posting.  Clearly there are some positive aspects to Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution: and certainly he is bringing attention to the deplorable school food situation in this country.

He also genuinely wants to improve health of our country’s children, and he aims to teach people how to cook for themselves.  Jamie Oliver’s passion for healthy eating is admirable, but his recommendations on healthy eating are not scientifically sound.  ‘Made from scratch’ does not mean ‘health-promoting' and the missed opportunity for significant change is enormous.

The science of nutrition unfortunately is not common knowledge.  In order to make meaningful dietary changes, people need to be educated.  They need to be given accurate information, not a diluted version designed to keep them in their comfort zone to avoid making them uncomfortable. When people are given the accurate information, they can make an educated decision, and many will be inspired to make significant dietary changes, excited about the prospect of excellent health.  Others will never be convinced or at least not until their lives are in immediate danger.  Unfortunately moderate dietary changes do not remove food addictions, prevent overeating and do little to nothing to lower rates of heart disease and cancer.   We are not talking about veganism here, but there is both an opportunity and a responsibility when you have a public voice advocating a healthful diet to really advocate something that is healthy.  Large changes do not have to happen overnight, but with the right information, people will know what their eventual goals are and overall many more people could be positively affected. .

Many of the comments on this post call Jamie’s show a “step in the right direction” – but does the show actually represent Jamie’s recommendations as only the first step?  Similar to the U.S. government’s recommendation to eat five servings of fruits and vegetables per day, Jamie’s recommendations are simply not enough to prevent or reverse disease or to result in significant weight loss.  This information misleads people into thinking that the first step is actually the whole journey.  So many people think they already eat healthy diets when they don’t – and it is in part because half measures and baby steps are portrayed as the real thing.

It is not enough to simply switch from very harmful foods to freshly prepared and somewhat less harmful foods.  Moderate changes most often don’t even bring moderate benefits, they bring no benefits.  Complacency in moderate changes will not prevent heart attacks and cancers and people will continue to suffer and die needlessly.  If people do not want to eat healthfully, that is their right, but let’s make it clear, Jamie is well-intentioned, but he is not teaching anything close to a health-supporting diet.  

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Jamie Oliver’s televised Food Revolution is an American sensation. I’m totally blown away and appreciative of his passion, genuine concern, overwhelming commitment, and sacrifice beyond-the-call-of-duty to see America (and beyond) get healthy; however, I’m concerned that zeal without accurate knowledge is potentially leading vulnerable people down a dangerous path.

Yes, Jamie is getting many, especially children, to eat more fresh fruits and vegetables, and that is a noble task. Most certainly he’s leading a renaissance of cooking again; getting both Americans and Europeans back into their kitchens to make food from scratch instead of filling freezers with frozen pizzas and chicken nuggets. We applaud him for accomplishing that wonderful feat!

However, and a big however, just because foods are made from scratch, using fresh ingredients, are they necessarily healthy? They may be healthier than processed foods, but are they truly health promoting? There’s a big difference.   

What struck me recently was watching the tears fall down Brittany’s cheeks, the obese teen from the Cabell County, West Virginia school corporation who only has five to seven more years to live due to complications from obesity. Will merely increasing fruits and vegetables in Brittany’s diet, removing flavored milk, and making food from scratch prevent her from dying an early death? Will it prevent any of us from needing dangerous drugs that have serious side effects such as insulin and diuretics?

I browsed through Jamie’s Food Revolution cookbook¹, and some of his recipes call for for sugar, white flour, heavy cream, butter, eggs, bacon, and cheeses. Are they truly healthy for the heart, pancreas and waistline? Will the following recipes free us from toxic hunger that propels food addiction, the root cause of obesity?

Perfect Pot Roast
Bacon Omelet
Grilled Filet Mignon
Parmesan Chicken Breasts with Crispy Posh Ham
Grilled Lamb Chops
Pork Kabobs
Pan Fried Glazed Pork Chops
Spanish Style Grilled Steak
Baked Creamy Leeks
Braised Bacon Cabbage
Cauliflower Cheese Soup
Dumplings
Bacon and Mushroom Cream Sauce
Macaroni and Cauliflower Cheese Bake (serves 4-6:  8oz cheddar cheese, 4oz parmesan cheese, sea salt, 1 c. sour cream, 1/2 head of cauliflower)
Pastas
Pancakes
Mega Chocolate Fudge Cake (2/3 c. brown sugar, 4 eggs, flour)
Vanilla Cheesecake with Raspberry Topping (serves eight: 13 Tablespoons of butter, 24 oz of cream cheese, ¾ c. sugar, and 1 ¼ c. heavy cream) 
Sponge Cake (made with 2 1/2 c. of heavy cream)
Pudding Cake
Cookies
Fruit Scones
Chocolate Fruit Nut Tart

Salads are doused with oily dressings; three parts oil to one part vinegar or lemon, with the addition of pepper, sea salt, mustard, and sometimes yogurt. 

Among Jamie’s list of essential ingredients to have stocked in the kitchen cupboard are: olive oil, vegetable oil, all purpose flour, super fine sugar, brown sugar, confectioner’s sugar, dry pasta, egg noodles, honey, maple syrup, mayonnaise; plus, ready made pie crusts and puff pastries for the freezer.  

If meals are made from scratch, using fresh and even organic ingredients, at home or in the school kitchen, versus processed through a factory assembly line then they’re health promoting, right?   

You be the judge. 

Jamie's a great guy. I admire his bravery, passion and zeal; but is he truly saving the sinking ship, or is this just more noise adding to the confusion?

image credits:  rhinestonesandtelephones.com; celebrifi.com; geography-site.co.uk  

1.  Oliver, Jamie (2009). Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution; New York: Hyperion Publishing

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