How Not to Die: Discover the Foods Scientifically Proven to Prevent and Reverse Disease

Excellent. Excellent. Read this book and prepare to fall in love with fruits and vegetables, beans, nuts, seeds and whole grains. Love spices: turmeric, cinnamon, oregano, cumin, cardamom, saffron. How could you not?"You should eat more fruits and vegetables as if your life depended on it, because maybe it does," writes Dr. Michael Greger.And not just a few more — a lot!In How Not to Die: Discover the Foods Scientifically Proven to Prevent and Reverse Disease, Dr. Greger dives into nutrition science providing overwhelming compelling evidence for food as medicine. He takes the reader through numerous well-conducted scientific studies that show how foods nourish and protect us. He points the eater to foods (like flaxseeds) proven to be more powerful and beneficial than medicine — if only we will eat to live.Dr. Greger became interested in nutrition science because of his grandmother, Frances. She was put on hospice due to a heart condition and told there was nothing more doctors could do. Instead of dying, his grandmother found Nathan Pritikin, changed her diet and lived 31 years longer. She was featured in Pritikin's biography: Pritikin: The Man Who Healed America's Heart.Greger was inspired to study medicine, became interested in nutrition science and changed his own diet after reading Dr. Dean Ornish's 1990 landmark Lifestyle Heart Trial study which showed how heart disease could be reversed with a plant-based diet and other lifestyle changes (no drugs, no surgery).Greger repeatedly points out that a whole-foods, plant-based diet can prevent and reverse heart disease — and he doesn't stop there. In part one of the book, Greger goes through the 15 leading causes of death and systematically shows how a plant-based diet may prevent or even reverse each of these ills."It turns out a more plant-based diet may help prevent, treat, or reverse every single one of our fifteen leading causes of death," he writes.He makes the case that there's an opportunity cost to food. At every meal, we can choose lifesaving nourishment, which builds our strength and resilience — or we can eat junk. Eating is about so much more than satisfying a craving or indulging a taste — it's about truly satiating hunger and sustaining and fortifying our bodies.Dr. Greger takes issue with silent doctors and watered down dietary guidelines. Rather than assuming what people can or can't do, Greger recommends providing people with the evidence and letting them make their own choices about their health, "First, it shouldn't matter what I or anyone else eats, says or does. The science is the science.""That one unifying diet found to best prevent and treat many of these chronic diseases is a whole-food, plant-based diet, defined as an eating pattern that encourages the consumption of unrefined plant foods and discourages meats, dairy products, eggs, and processed foods. In this book(How Not to Die), I don't advocate for a vegetarian diet or a vegan diet. I advocate for an evidence-based diet, and the best available balance of science suggests that the more whole plant foods we eat, the better—both to reap their nutritional benefits and to displace the less healthful options."How Not to Die reads a lot like The China Study to start. It systematically goes through a bunch of horrible, chronic diseases and presents scientific studies, which conclude that the disease is preventable with a plant-based diet. It becomes a familiar refrain — and increasingly frustrating.Why is this not more widely known and practiced? Dr. Greger has been talking about plant-based diets and food as medicine for 25 years (and he's certainly not a lone voice in the wilderness - see pairs well with below). Still, when the International Agency for Research on Cancer (22 experts from 10 countries) of the World Health Organization, after considering more than 800 studies on cancer in humans, showed a causal link between processed meat and colorectal cancer and declared bacon a known carcinogen and red meat a probable carcinogen, people who would on any other day say, "F* cancer!" were suddenly defending it. Eating death and suffering— for the love of bacon! How bizarre.What if there is already a cure?"Diets that revolve around whole plant foods — vegetables, whole grains, fruits and beans—cut the risk of many cancers, and other diseases as well." — American Institute for Cancer ResearchDr. Greger points out that agribusiness is big business and that U.S. dietary recommendations are mixed in with the Department of Agriculture's goals of promoting consumption. There is money to be made in processed foods, whereas watermelons, sweet potatoes, kale and turmeric are inexpensive health solutions.Then, people claim they would not enjoy life if they had to give up certain foods. Again, Dr. Greger looks to the science. On the contrary, studies show people feel better and enjoy eating plant-based diets. For diabetic patients, for example, a plant-based diet is less restrictive, easier to follow and more enjoyable than other options. It's a particularly great choice for people who love to eat. Following a plant-based lifestyle, you are encouraged to eat a lot of healthy, tasty, colorful, flavorful foods at every meal.Despite the sad state of the average American diet today, How Not to Die remains upbeat. Throughout the book, Greger amply employs wit, humor and silly puns (my favorite of which is "Them's some block-rockin' beets!" in reference to the benefits of beets for athletic performance.).The second part of How Not to Die talks about how to make those food choices — it's about eating a lot of certain fruits, vegetables, legumes and spices every day. Dr. Greger talks about his favorites and how much to eat. Again, lots!"One of their (World Cancer Research Fund) summary cancer-prevention recommendations is to eat whole grains and/or legumes (beans, split peas, chickpeas, or lentils) with every meal. Not every week or every day. Every meal!"To be clear, How Not to Die is not a book about immortality. It is a book about preventative medicine and living well — how not to die prematurely and how not to suffer from chronic disease.As the president of the American College of Cardiology, Kim Williams, MD said in advocating for and adopting a plant-based diet as written in "Heal Thyself," in the University of Chicago Magazine (Jan./Feb/ 2015), "Unlike those who find enjoyment or comfort even in foods they know are unhealthy, Williams takes solace in the belief that, with each bite, he’s doing no harm. 'I don’t mind dying,' he says, 'I just don’t want it to be my fault.'"The book ends on a sweet and loving note as Dr. Greger acknowledges the transience of life: "And we need to make each day count by filling is with fresh air, laughter, and love—love for ourselves, for others, and for whatever we are doing with our one precious life."

I was trying to be cheap and planning on getting this book from the local library. Turned out there were 45 others on the waiting list for the two available copies...I have to say this is the best $16 spent! It's literally life saving.The author provided a tons of info and approached the sharing with a scientific manner. He'd call out for some of the statistical results that the cause and effect relationship is not sure. He also made the contents very easy to read. You can pick any chapter of interest and start reading without issues.Borrow it from library if you can and decide if you want to buy a copy. But highly recommended to read if you do care about the health and longevity of yourself and your loved ones.

I have read this through twice now and have been using his Daily Dozen as a guide to eating better. He gives great info on how to eat better (more fruits & veggies, cruciferous, berries, beans, flaxseeds, etc) for each of the 15 most common causes of death in the US in part One. In part Two, he goes through many of the foods and talks specifically about the benefits. He shares studies that support what he's saying. Great info from a medical doctor who recognizes the strengths and weaknesses of Western medicine.

If you are looking for ways to remain on this planet longer this book has some clues as to how to accomplish that wish. This book tells you how to avoid some illnesses and focuses on Dr. Greger's "Daily Dozen" which is a list of ways to stay healthy.Reading this book I was absolutely blown away by the knowledge it takes to write so much lifesaving information. This doctor tells you all the foods you can choose to eat so you can determine what to increase!I found reading this book to be very calming! Because of Dr. Greger's insights I'm putting ground flaxseeds in my oatmeal and enjoying refried beans as a dip (which apparently gives me a ton of energy now), plus eating lots of hummus and drinking turmeric lattes made with almond milk which are really delicious.You will laugh a lot while reading this book because Dr. Greger is really funny. And I'm impressed with his compassion for us humans! When I read Dr. Greger's words I feel nurtured and cared for.This book makes a convincing case for the whole foods diet and lifestyle. So pass the pistachios for more romance in your life and learn other brilliant solutions to pertinent health issues and problems. It is rare to read a book that changes your life but this is one of them! I feel healthier taking this doctor's advice and I'm getting a lot more done in life because of the increase in energy plus some weight loss.Read and decide for yourself! I'm very convinced that what this doctor is saying is helping me in real life! I look forward to reading more books by this author I so enjoy them!!! Since reading Dr. Greger's books I've managed to have enough energy to clean nearly my whole house! Before I was sitting a lot just out of exhaustion - now I have so much energy I'm cleaning everything! My marriage is also great at the moment because my husband's love language is acts of service. So he sees me working and doing so much around the house that I think he's impressed! Who knew a health book could change your whole life around? It shows that when someone cares and encourages you, things are bound to get better!!!You may also enjoy the cookbooks by this author. I've tried one so far and love the strawberry banana ice cream. I also have found Lee Hull's Kidney Food Guide helpful to make more meals with vegetables. I highly recommend his pumpkin chili.~The Rebecca ReviewP.S. My GFR is back up to 61 after following this doctor's advice and eating more fruits and vegetables instead of so much animal protein. It was down to 58 so between Lee Hull and Dr. Greger I've got the information I need to stay alive longer with chronic kidney disease. I am however not a doctor, nor is this medical advice. But my blood tests say I'm improving!!!!!! Thank you Dr. Greger for inspiring me and helping me live longer!

An excellent resource to inform and influence changes you know you need to make to your diet, in order to lead a healthier life!

Quite an incredible work or accessible academia that might just change your life. I was prompted to throw my two cents in upon seeing reviews suggesting that you might not like this book as it 'advocates veganism'. Firstly it does not advocate veganism, this book is a rigorously evidence based deconstruction of the western diet. The fact that meat, fish and dairy vastly increase your chances of dying of heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke, many cancers, dementia etc is simply the truth. It would sort of be like telling a smoker that wanted to improve their respiratory health not to take on board any of the data that proves that smoking is going to kill you because the data proves that smoking is likely to kill you! Also ironically Greger blatantly denounces labels like "vegan" and "vegetarian", he advocates a plant based diet but clearly states that it makes sense to still allow yourself the odd treat - you want Turkey at Christmas? Go ahead, but focus on changing your day to day eating routine.Before reading this book I never thought I'd actually take much on board in a practical sense, I just wanted to learn about nutrition but the case is put forward so convincingly that I have now cut out almost all animal based products from my diet except for parmesan cheese and a spoonful of yoghurt on my museli in the morning.

Das Buch ist ein inspirierendes Buch, das einen tiefen Einblick in die Kraft einer gesunden Ernährung bietet. Dr. Michael Greger präsentiert auf wissenschaftlicher Grundlage eine Fülle von Informationen über die Auswirkungen von Lebensmitteln auf unsere Gesundheit und Lebenserwartung. Seine klare und verständliche Schreibweise macht komplexe medizinische Konzepte zugänglich und motiviert dazu, bewusste Ernährungsentscheidungen zu treffen. Dieses Buch hat mein Verständnis für die Bedeutung einer pflanzlichen Ernährung für die Prävention und Umkehrung von Krankheiten vertieft und mich dazu inspiriert, positive Veränderungen in meiner Lebensweise vorzunehmen.

Le livre est hyper intéressant mais il est en anglais.Cela dit, si je le fais ,vous pouvez le faire aussi.

good