Joel Fuhrman - Eat To Live

188 Joel Fuhrman, M.D.

and three to five servings of animal products and dairy, is certain to

obtain insufficient antioxidants and phytochemicals, depriving him-

self or herself of the opportunity to maximize prevention against

common diseases. However, I do not recommend a grain-based diet.

Potatoes, rice, and even whole grains do not contain the photo-

chemical power of fruits and vegetables. As I showed earlier, a high

intake of refined grains in the diet is linked to common cancers. A

high intake of fruit has the opposite effect. Fruits protect powerfully

against cancer.^7

Going for Broke: Serious Health Conditions

Require Serious Intervention

Before coining to my office, most of my patients had failed to achieve

the results they sought. They had experienced either a worsening of

their heart condition or weight gain no matter what program they

chose, even those who followed a vegetarian diet. In my care, these

same patients were able to achieve impressive results, for the first

time because they "did it" 100 percent. For some, "trying" is defi-

nitely not good enough; it doesn't work. The 10 percent of optional

calories of low-nutrient foods is just that, optional; you might find

that you feel better and don't need to include even that much. If you

want to lose weight more rapidly; if you have a particularly slow

metabolic rate, diabetes, or cardiovascular disease; or if you are a

health and longevity enthusiast, kiss even these 150 (low-nutrient)

calories good-bye and make the Six-Week Plan your Life Plan. Con-

sidering what a struggle it is to make a 90 percent change, it is not

much harder to do it all the way.

I will now turn to the most commonly asked questions I hear in

my office.

What if I Fall Off the Diet?

Since the goal is to eat at least 90 percent of your diet from nutrient-

dense plant foods, if you fall off the plan in one area, make up for it

in another. If you accomplish the goal stated above — eating all the

recommended amounts of green vegetables, beans, and fruits — you

will have consumed fewer than 1,000 calories of nutrient-dense

food, with more than 40 grams of fiber. By consuming so many cru-

cial nutrients and fiber, your body's drive to overeat is blunted.