ORGANIZATIONS
American Dietetic Association. 120 South Riverside Plaza,
Suite 2000, Chicago, Illinois 60606-6995. Telephone:
(800) 877-1600. Website:http://www.eatright.org
Novartis Medical Nutrition, US. 445 State Street, Fremont,
MI 49412. Telephone: (800) 333-3785. Website:
http://www.novartisnutrition.com
OTHER
Optifast.com2007.http://www.optifast.com(March 26,
2007).
Optifast.Videotape. 1984.
Helen DavidsonOptimum health plan
Definition
The Optimum Health Plan is a program created
by Andrew Weil, M.D. that uses ideas from integrative
medicine to improve a dieter’s physical and emotional
health.
Origins
Dr. Andrew Weil developed the Optimum Health
Plan. He attended Harvard University, from which he
received a bachelor’s degree in biology in 1964. He
then attended Harvard Medical School, from which
he received his medical degree in 1968. Dr. Weil
believes strongly in integrative medicine. Integrative
medicine is described as choosing among the best of
both conventional and alternative medicine. Conven-
tional medicine is the scientific and technological med-
icine that most people think of when they think of
going to a doctor or hospital. Alternative medicine
encompasses techniques that are more natural, such
as using herbs to try to heal patients. Integrative med-
icine attempts to choose the least invasive alternatives
when attempting to help a patient and does not use all
methods used in alternative medicine. Instead, it
makes use of the ideas in alternative medicine that
have been scientifically proven. In this way, doctors
who practice integrative medicine try to treat the entire
patient, including both physical and emotional com-
ponents, using the best of alternative and conventional
medicine.
Dr. Weil released his book8 Weeks to Optimum
Health: A Proven Program For Taking Full Advantage
of Your Body’s Natural Healing Power in 1997. He
released a revised and updated version of the book in
- He has also written a number of other books
designed to go with his program including;Maximiz-
ing the 8 Weeks to Optimum Health Plan. He has
released both a compact disc version on the program
and a video version. He has authored a recipe book
and many books on other topics in integrative
medicine.DescriptionThe Optimum Health Plan is available in a number
of different formats. It is available in Dr. Weil’s book 8
Weeks to Optimal Health,in his 72 minute educational
video of the same title, and online through the ‘‘My
Optimum Health Plan’’ program on his Web site,
<http://www.MyOptimumHealthPlan.com>.Theidea
behind the various Optimum Health Plan products is
that for best results change should be accomplished
slowly, one step at a time.
Dr. Weil lays out an eight week long plan that
makes changes slowly over that time period, so that by
the end of the program the dieter has made significant
diet, exercise, and lifestyle changes, all accomplished
little by little. Dr. Weil uses ideas behind integrative
medicine, such as the idea that there is a tie between
mental healthand physical health, to make health and
well-being recommendations for the whole person.
This means that, according to integrative medicine, it
is important to treat the entire person, even if the
complaint or problem seems to be just medical,
because the physical body and the mind and emotional
aspects of a person are all interconnected. Dr. Weil
believes in the uses of various aspects of both alter-
native medicine and conventional medicine, and his
plan reflects this.
The Optimum Health Plan makes recommenda-
tions for diet, exercise, and emotional and spiritual
well being. Dr. Weil advocates a diet that does not
contain very much meat or other animal products.
Instead, he advocates getting most protein from
healthier sources such assoy. He also recommends a
diet that includes a wide variety of fresh fruits and
vegetables. He suggests that dieters stay away from
most processed foods, especially fast foods, and
instead prepare healthy, nutritious meals from fresh
ingredients.
Dr. Weil makes recommendations about exercise,
as well as many other aspects of health. He suggests
vitaminsand supplements, herbs, breathing exercises,
relaxation, stress-reduction techniques, and other
ideas to help make the dieter healthier in every respect.
There are various changes to the plan suggested to
help personalize it for people who have differentOptimum health plan