Welcome to my ever-expanding list of recommended resources. These books, podcasts, apps, websites, and films will give you tons of information regarding living healthy and the motivation to make the switch.
Books
How Not To Die. Michael Greger
A pretty important topic, right? Dr. Greger and his team scour through all the nutritional publications in the english language, so we don’t have to. Follow the recommendations in this book to live long and prosper. Plus, all the proceeds from all of his books go to charity.
How Not To Diet. Michael Greger
Dr. Greger breaks down all the many ways you should not diet, and leads you to the most successful way to lose weight in a healthy way.
How To Survive A Pandemic. Michael Greger
I wish everyone would read this book. Not only do we learn how to survive the current Covid 19 pandemic, but we also learn how to avoid the next pandemic, which unfortunately may be much worse than the current one.
The Blue Zone. Dan Buettner
I love the Blue Zones series, and this was the first book. National Geographic writer Dan Buettner has been working with physicians, scientists, and city leaders to bring the lessons learned studying the areas of the globe with the healthiest, longest lived people in the world. What do the people from Sardinia, Ikaria, Okinawa, Nicoya Peninsula in Costa Rica, and the Seventh Day Adventists in southern California all have in common that allows them to lead such long and health lives? It’s not just good genes. Take a look and see what you might change in your own life based on these amazing people.
Dr. Neal Barnard’s Program For Reversing Diabetes. Neal Barnard
This is a solid, easy read to get you on the road to reversing many types of diabetes,and getting off of medications. I recommend this book first to the majority of my patients with diabetes.
Mastering Diabetes. Cyrus Khambatta and Robby Barbaro
Cyrus and Robby know diabetes inside and out, and they both have had type 1 diabetes for a long time. They get into the details on why processed food and animal foods cause diabetes, and how to get healthy quickly and safely.
The China Study. T. Colin Campbell
Whole. T.Colin Campbell
Prevent And Reverse Heart Disease. Caldwell B. Esselstyn
Engine 2 Seven Day Rescue Diet. Rip Esselstyn
The Pleasure Trap. Doug Lisle and Alan Goldhamer
Written by the folks at True North Health Center in Santa Rosa, this book looks at the addictions that have lead our nation to its current disease state and how to address them.
Fiber Fueled. Will Bulsiewicz
Both interesting and funny, Dr. B takes you on quite a journey. By the end you will be convinced of the power of fiber and the human microbiome to save your life.
The Starch Solution. John McDougall
Dr. McDougall does not mince words. He lays out in straight forward language how to prevent and reverse disease on a starch based diet.
UnDo It!: How simple lifestyle changes can reverse most chronic disease. Dean and Anne Ornish
Dr. Ornish is one of the godfathers of the lifestyle medicine movement. His research published in the early 1990s on reversing coronary atherosclerosis was a game changer. His message is simple: eat well, move more, stress less, and love more. This is his latest book, and it brings it all together.
Younger Next Year – Live Strong, Fit, And Sexy Until You’re 80, And Beyond. Chris Crowley and Henry Lodge, MD
They tell you why you should work out 6 days a week for the rest of your life. I was pretty motivated by this book. I like the idea of being healthy and able to go for a run at 80.
Tiny Habits, by BJ Fogg
Atomic Habits, by James Clear
Websites
nutritionfacts.org – by far my favorite place to get information on using diet to prevent, treat, and reverse chronic conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure, obesity, autoimmune disease, etc.
https://www.pcrm.org – the Physicians Committee For Responsible Medicine. A group of health care specialists with advice on healthy eating, advocacy, and research.
www.forksoverknives.com – recipes, motivating success stories, more info on their apps (see below) and movie
https://www.chickpeaandbean.com/about-chickpea-bean/ – read Marc Ramirez’ story of overcoming diabetes with a plant based diet
www.doctorklaper.com – info on plant based nutrition, as well as how to take an on line course for med students and clinicians new to the field of plant based medicine
www.drmcdougall.com – free advice and recipes on plant based nutrition, as well as how to attend his intensive 12 day on-line program. My friend and fellow Santa Rosa Family Medicine residency grad Anthony Lim helps run the program.
https://plantbasedtelehealth.com/category/weekly-webinars/ check out the Q&A webinars by the docs at plant based telehealth
https://www.brendadavisrd.com – Brenda Davis is a wonderful dietician who has been doing this for a long time. She knows her stuff. Check out her websites for info and some good recipes.
https://plantbaseddietitian.com/recipes/ – Julieanna Hever is the Plant Based Dietician. She wants you to eat vegetables, fruits, legumes, whole grains, nuts and seeds, mushrooms, herbs and spices in infinite tasty combinations!
Cookbooks
Unprocessed. Chef AJ
A great, short read. The first half covers her amazing story, and the second half are whole food, plant based recipes that don’t add salt, oil, or processed sugar. Check out her awesome YouTube channel, too.
The How Not To Die Cookbook. Michael Greger
The How Not To Diet Cookbook. Michael Greger
The Blue Zones Kitchen. Dan Buettner
Beautiful book looking at recipes cooked in the 5 places around the world with the highest concentration of healthy centenarians. Covers Sardinia, Ikaria (Greece), Nicoya Peninsula (Costa Rica), Okinawa, and Loma Linda, California.
Mango And Mint. Nicky Garratt
Vegan Indian, Arabian and North African cooking. I learned how to cook Indian food from this book and really love it. I do recommend cutting the amount of salt and oil used in the recipes, in general. And it turns out Nicky is also a rock star (literally) and an amazing table tennis player occasionally seen in the North Bay.
Podcasts
The Exam Room – by the Physicians Committee
Interviews and Q&As with plant based specialists
Healthy Human Revolution
Dr. Laurie Marbas interviews specialists and patients that believe in the power of a plant-based diet
NutritionFacts Podcast
Both a video and an audio podcast by Dr. Michael Greger that brings the latest science about healthy eating
The Rich Roll Podcast
An amazing plant based athlete interviews specialists in healthy living
Mastering Diabetes Audio Experience
Cyrus Khambatta and Robby Barbaro chat about using a whole food plant based diet to treat and reverse diabetes.
Plant-Strong
Rip Esselstyn leads motivational interviews with physicians and other leaders in the plant-based movement.
Apps
Daily Dozen
Brought to you by Michael Greger. Simple free app to track your healthy eating, also with “21 tweaks” to help with weight loss.
21 Day Vegan
Free vegan kickstart by the Physicians Committee (PCRM) with recipes, short videos, and general how-to
Forks meal planner
Plan your meals, set up grocery shopping lists, how to speed prep for batch cooking, plus tons of recipes
Vegan Maps
Find healthy restaurants near you. Especially nice when you’re traveling.
Headspace. Guided meditation practice.
Calm. Guided meditation practice.
Films
I’d watch this one first. See sick people get healthy on a plant- based diet.
This is an impressive film that looks at plant based super athletes crushing the myth about animal-based protein.
A film about conspiracy in the business of food/medicine.
“Fed Up”
A look at government’s and big business’ role in the health of our children. Here is a review of the film on NPR.
A look at why we are so sick, even with modern medicine’s advancements.
“Some people think a plant-based, whole foods diet is extreme. Half a million people a year will have their chests opened up and a vein taken from their leg and sewn onto their coronary artery. Some people would call that extreme.”
Caldwell Esselstyn, MD
Jeffrey M Pierce, MD 