Movies and Books by the Experts

Forks Over Knives

"A FILM THAT CAN SAVE YOUR LIFE" says Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun Times.

This documentary primarily covers the careers of Dr. Colin Campbell and Dr. Caldwell Esselstyn as they discover how many of the foods we commonly eat are killing us. This is a highly personal yet scientific journey, with comments along the way by such luminaries as Dr. John McDougall, Dr. Neal Barnard, Dr. Matt Lederman, and Dr. Pam Popper. Also woven into the movie are the stories of patients who struggled with a variety of chronic illnesses, were treated by changing their eating habits, and are now dramatically healthier as a result. This is truly a must-see movie.

The movie's web site: www.forksoverknives.com

The China Study: Revised and Expanded Edition

by T. Colin Campbell, Ph.D. and Thomas M. Campbell. Dr. Colin Campbell is Professor Emeritus of Nutritional Biochemistry at Cornell University. The China Study is the most comprehensive study of health and nutrition ever conducted. The book covers results from analysis of field data from China, other research by Campbell, and summaries of landmark nutrition research by others. Dr. Campbell and his son weave these scientific findings into a coherent story and prescription for action to live a long and healthy life. If you want to avoid the leading killers of heart disease and cancer as well as 20 or 30 other diseases, read this book.
(version en español)

Author's web site: www.tcolincampbell.org

Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease

by Caldwell Esselstyn, MD a surgeon, clinician, and researcher at the Cleveland Clinic. This book, based on meticulous research of the literature as well as the author's own study of tracking a set of his own extremely sick heart patients, tells us the causes of heart disease and how we can prevent and reverse heart disease. If your total cholesterol blood test is over 150 or you are taking statin medications, you must read this book. And buy a copy to give to your doctor. They generally are not up to date on the research in this book. Mine wasn't. The last half of the book is a cookbook. I keep my copy in the kitchen and refer to it often.

Author's web site: www.heartattackproof.com

The Starch Solution

by John McDougall, MD, a practicing physician in Santa Rosa California. In his book he describes how his own medical practice and the careful scientific research of others have found that the consumption of animal products and oils leads to sickness and death. A healthy plant-based diet that avoids the harmful overdose of protein and fat, by necessity provides most of our calories from starch. Thus a heavily starch-based diet leads to weight loss, health, and long life. This way of eating is also good for animals, our world energy problems, and our environment. This book ends with a 7-day sure-start menu plan and nearly 100 delicious recipes compiled by John's wife Mary. Dr. McDougall's conclusions are backed up by 381 references, mostly to refereed scientific journals. We highly recommend this book.

In addition to writing several cookbooks, Dr. McDougall offers weekend study programs, 5 and 10 day immersion programs, and healthy adventure trips to Cost Rica (highly recommended!). In addition to his books, Dr. McDougall maintains an extensive web site which is a treasure trove of meticulously researched information on a variety of health and nutrition topics. He also authors an e-mail newsletter that you can sign up for from his web site.

Author's web site: www.drmcdougall.com

Dr. Neal Barnard's Program for Reversing Diabetes

by Neal Barnard with Bryanna Clark Grogan. If you have diabetes or have a loved one with diabetes, you should read this book. Many people are told that diabetes is not reversible. But people who take up Dr. Barnard's diet plan do in fact reverse the progression of diabetes, and for most type 2 diabetic sufferers, cure the disease. Scientific studies show a 3 times improvement in blood sugar control with this diet compared to the American Diabetes Association diet. The book includes a recommended meal plan and 50 pages of recipes.

Author's web site: www.pcrm.org

Dr. Dean Ornish's Program for Reversing Heart Disease

by Dean Ornish, M.D., the founder and research giant of the lifestyle approach to heart disease reversal.  This book uniquely (among the list here) focuses on more than the diet approach alone, although the diet recommendations coincide with the others recommended on this page. But this book (and Dr. Ornish's program in general) also bring in the role of relational and emotional support and stress reduction through meditation and other lifestyle changes. Dr Ornish's humanity and humility comes through as he, an accomplished researcher and scientist, acknowledges unseen spiritual and emotional realities that play a role in human health, and as established by his robust scientific studies over decades.

Author's web site: https://www.ornish.com/

The Forks Over Knives Plan

This book is authored by Alona Pulde, M.D. and Matt Lederman, M.D., who are featured in the movie, Forks Over Knives. Once you understand the health and longevity benefits of a low-fat plant-based diet, this book can help you plan and execute a nutrition plan to keep you healthy and trim. This book gets you started with an initial four week plan and then keeps you going with over 100 simple tasty recipes. And if you want to follow up on the science, this book contains over 75 references to research articles.

Author's web site: www.transitiontohealth.com

Own Your Health

by Glen Merzer and Chef AJ. Glen conveys with lots of scientific backup how our American food choices are unnecessarily killing us. The topic is deadly serious. Yet Glen lays out our current dire situation and the case to improve it with a mixture of tongue-in-cheek comments and laugh-out-loud humor. Never has learning how to save your own life been so much fun. If you or a loved one is suffering from heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure or cancer or would like to avoid having these diseases in the future, get this book. As you learn how to take control of your health, you will enjoy the read. And the recipes in the book by Chef AJ and friends are great.

Author's web site: www.ownyourhealthbook.com

The Secrets to Ultimate Weight Loss

by Chef AJ with Glen Merzer. In this book, Chef AJ describes the challenges and successes of her own weight loss journey and then shares the concepts, tips, tricks, and techniques that not only helped her but have helped countless folks that Chef AJ has guided along the path to healthy weight loss. In this cookbook Chef AJ has compiled many delicious recipes ranging from snacks, main dishes, and desserts using only ingredients that are healthy but combined in a way to make tasty results.

Author's web site: www.chefajwebsite.com

Mad Cowboy

by Howard Lyman with Glen Merzer. Howard Lyman is a former Montana cattle rancher who won’t eat meat. Lyman describes the cycle of increased agricultural chemical usage which harms the environment, the stock animals, and the humans who eat these animals, yet economically drives the rancher to even more chemical usage. He uses his own life story to describe how he became aware that the typical meat production methods were wiping him out financially while impacting negatively the health of consumers. He details how meat production industry processes led to the Mad Cow epidemic and identifies the risks that still exist today. If you are still eating meat of any kind, you need to read this book.

Author's web site: www.madcowboy.com

The Plant Advantage

by Benji Kurtz with Glen Merzer. Morbidly obese Benji failed with many diets before learning about the benefits of plant-based eating. Then the pounds fell away as he lost half his weight!

The book contains a thoughtful discussion of what foods are appropriate for us human animals, with solid scientific references. And it includes over 60 recipes. If you need an inspirational story of how to lose weight for good without starving yourself, this is the book for you.

Author's web site: www.remedyfood.org

Better Than Vegan

by Del Sroufe with Glen Merzer. This cookbook contains recipes based on food that is good for us. Del is one of the new breed of chefs that understand what nutrition science tells us: to live a long and healthy life we need to eat whole plants and avoid not only animal products (vegan) but also avoid added oils and go light on the sugar and salt (better than vegan). Sadly most old-school chefs seem to be stuck on their training that incorporates flesh, butter, cheese, and oil into everything. Not Del.

In this book, we learn of Del’s battle with obesity, even while on a vegan diet. Only when cutting out the oils and high-sugar content foods was Del able to lose weight. Chapter 2 clearly spells out what should and shouldn’t be eaten and touches on the motivations of restaurants and the misleading nature of the FDA Daily Values. In Chapter 3 Del shares his chef’s training advice on how to set up your kitchen with tools and basic food stocks. And then there are the recipes. Wow. From basics like burgers, tacos, and pasta to more exotic dishes like curry, mushroom bourguignon, and bibimbap, this cookbook has it all. Del focuses on flavors and textures individually and in combination throughout these recipes, making life- and health-promoting food a joy to eat.

Wellness Forum web site: wellnessforum.com

The Clear Skin Diet: The Six-Week Program for Beautiful Skin

by Nina and Randa Nelson. These aspiring actresses had a skin problem and solved it by adopting a healthy diet. If you want to have attractive skin, unmarred by acne, you will want to learn what to eat and what not to eat from this book. Included in this book are recipes that taste great and also lead to good looking clear skin.

Author's web site: www.clearskindiet.com/book

El Estudio de China (The China Study, Spanish Edition)

escrito por T. Colin Campbell, Ph.D. y Thomas M. Campbell. Dr. Colin Campbell es profesor emérito de bioquímica nutricional en la Universidad de Cornell. El Estudio de China es el estudio más exhaustivo de la salud y la nutrición jamás realizado. El libro cubre los resultados del análisis de los datos de campo de China, otras investigaciones de Campbell y resúmenes de investigaciones de nutrición destacadas de otros. El Dr. Campbell y su hijo tejen estos hallazgos científicos en una historia coherente y una receta de acción para vivir una vida larga y saludable. Si desea evitar los asesinos principales como enfermedades cardíacas y cáncer, ye 20 o 30 otras enfermedades, lea este libro.
(versión inglesa)

Sitio web del autor: www.tcolincampbell.org