Disease Proof

From the March 2004 edition of Dr. Fuhrman’s Healthy Times, here is Dr. Fuhrman’s first secret to longevity:

Eating more calories than the body needs to maintain a thin, muscular weight ages us. Extra calories (whether from fat, carbohydrate, or protein) are especially toxic when they are low nutrient calories—the so-called “empty” calories of refined and highly-processed foods. For our cells to be well nourished and maintain a clean internal environment, all of the calories we eat must be nutrient-rich. The most nutrient-rich foods are vegetables, beans, fruits, grains, and nuts and seeds. Refined foods, oil, sugar, and white flour are examples of calorie-rich but nutrient-poor foods. Centenarian studies in Europe illustrate that those individuals living into their hundreds were likely to have consumed a plant-based diet consisting of fewer than 2000 calories per day. Multiple studies have confirmed that the thinnest people live the longest.

Here's more from this DiseaseProof miniseries:

• Intro: Seven Secrets of Longevity
• Secret 2: Prevent Deficiencies with Plant-Based Nutrition
• Secret 3: Regular Exercise Pays Big Health Dividends