What in the World is a Nurtitarian or Please Don’t Take My Decaf Away

I thought this was pretty incredible:

Apparently, in 1939 there was a study conducted by the Rockerfeller Institute which involved 1000 rats being fed the equivalent to that of the average American.  Those rats developed 39 different diseases of affluence, same as those seen in the human population.  Another 1000 rats were fed a diet modeled after the a tribe that lived in the Himalayas, which was raw vegetables and fruits and was also calorie-restricted.  NOT ONE RAT IN THE SECOND GROUP BECAME SICK IN TWO AND HALF YEARS.  That story, of course, made it to the front page of the New York Times.

Dr. Joel Fuhrman, a best selling author and nutritionist will be on the Dr. Oz show today and I will definitely be watching.  He has been on before and I have read much of his stuff and it is radical, for sure.  In his new book, Eat to Live, he makes incredible claims for weight loss and a return from illness to wellness, by eating enormous amounts of raw and cooked vegetables, fruits and beans, and eliminating (at least for the first 6 weeks) most all animal products including dairy, oils, added salt, caffeine, fruit juices, alcohol, potatoes and all refined carbs.  The plan allows for a minimal amount of eggs and fish (no more than 10% of calories).

Dr. Furhman calls this a nutritarian diet.  He claims that eating a nutritarian diet will cut the immediate risk of cancer in half and decrease cancer rates by 90% in the long-term.  He promises the average person will lose about 15 pounds in the six-week first phase as well.  There is no calorie counting but you do have to eat a lot of fresh produce.  I just finished reading an article in Men’s Journal about Dr. Furhman and his plan and the author of the article, Mark Adams, tested the plan.  He allowed himself a cup of black coffee a day and said he avoided hunger pangs with “punchbowl-size portions of leafy greens. ”  After a couple of weeks he said his skin was clearer and felt more supple, he slept a little better, didn’t catch any of the colds his kids brought home and noticed that a stomach bug that had been bothering him for months, vanished.  His blood pressure dropped, his stamina improved and his personal trainer saw no decrease in his strength despite eating NO animal protein.  He lost 9 pounds and a couple of inches from his waist.

With all the issues regarding health care, we owe it to ourselves to get behind the wheel and drive our own bodies to better health.  While this plan might be a bit extreme for most, there is much to be learned from Dr. Furhman’s research and findings.  I can’t wait to hear what else he has to say, this afternoon.  You know I will happily be sharing it.  And yes, for the record, I am upping my produce and eliminating some of the foods (and drink) that I already know shouldn’t be such regular staples in my diet…but “I am definitely not willing to give up my decaf coffee,” she says as she lifts her lime green coffee cup to her lips and say ahhhh.”