• Facebook
  • YouTube
  • Instagram
  • Nav Social Menu

My Energy Shift

It's time to shift your life into high gear

  • Home
  • Coaching
  • Reiki
  • Food Over Medicine Classes
  • Healthy Living Workshops
  • Hula Hooping
  • Meet Your Energy Body Program
  • Contact Me
  • About Me
  • Book Recommendations
You are here: Home / Nutrition / How Not to Die — A Great Read

October 21, 2019 By my energy shift 4 Comments

How Not to Die — A Great Read

I have read so many great books on plant based eating since I made my transition for better health.  I’ve learned a lot but there is always something new to learn.  I learned so much from the book How Not to Die by Dr. Michael McGreger.  In this book he dedicates many chapters to very familiar chronic diseases many people face in this country.  For example, there are chapters on:  heart disease, lung disease, brain disease, digestive cancers, infections, diabetes, high blood pressure, liver disease, blood cancer, suicidal depression, prostate cancer, Parkinson’s disease,  and Iatrogenic causes.  That is a LONG list of problems and they can all be helped (or even eliminated) by eating a plant based diet.

Dr. Greger’s story started with his grandmother who was diagnosed with heart disease at the age of 65.  She was sent home to die after several failed surgeries.  However, she went on a plant based diet and got better.  In fact, she lived another 31 years because of her diet and lifestyle changes.  This fascinated Dr. Greger and is the reason why he wanted to become a doctor.  When he entered the medical profession, he was dismayed by the status quo of using pills and procedures to cure disease.  He knew there was a better way through nutrition.  Thankfully, Dr. Greger became one of the leaders in plant-based nutrition.

Each chapter in the first half of book is dedicated to a disease. Dr. Greger gives scientifically based research into why a plant based nutrition approach is the best.  Page after page gives irrefutable evidence that shows eating plants can alleviate or reverse these diseases.  It is really hard to argue with great research.  While some of these research studies can be a bear to get through, Dr. Greger summarizes them in an easy to read format that anyone can understand.  This is a large book, but very well written and so interesting, you just want to keep reading.

He also includes little nuggets of information tucked into each chapter.  For example, he talks about using Brazil nuts to control cholesterol, using saffron to treat Alzheimer disease, reversing rectal polyps with berries, and even how to test your own pH using purple cabbage.  Again, these little side notes are well written and give easy tips anyone can try at home.

Dr. Greger sprinkles information throughout the book about misinformation we have been given regarding our health.  He calls out many government agencies for being more concerned about profits than human health.  For example, he talked about the FDA and their role in giving misinformation about anti-depressants.  The FDA claimed that “published” studies proved that pharmaceutical drugs are effective for treating depression.  The key word there is “published.”  When independent researchers filed a Freedom of Information Act request to get all the studies — published and unpublished — they learned that placebos were just as effective as the drugs.  The FDA was protecting Big Pharma by not releasing all the studies.  They were more concern about their pocketbooks than in public health.  As an American citizen, I want to know this information and Dr. Gregor provides it.

In the second half of the book, Dr. Greger discusses how to eat a better diet.  He outlines his daily dozen foods people should eat everyday and also gives food a label of Green (unprocessed plant foods), Yellow (processed plant foods/unprocessed animal foods) and Red (Ultra-processed plant foods/processed animal foods).  Like a stop light, he recommends that green light foods be maximized, yellow light foods be minimized, and red light food be avoided.  He provides oodles of information about beans, berries, cruciferous vegetables, greens, flaxseeds, nuts and seeds, herbs and spices, whole grains and beverages.

If you are suffering from any of the diseases listed above, or know of someone who is, please consider reading this book.  You will not regret the information you will learn.  Dr. Greger also has a website called nutritionfacts.org.  This website is full of information as well.  There, you can subscribe to his video blogs for even more information.  I wish you the best of health as you start, or continue, your journey into plant based nutrition.

Sign up for my blog updates and healthy living emails
I specialize in energy work. Need energy or more wellness in your life? I can help!
Your information will *never* be shared or sold to a 3rd party.

Filed Under: Nutrition Tagged With: Dr. Michael Gregor, plant based nutrition, the daily dozen

Previous Post: « Killer Kale Salad
Next Post: Moroccan Stew »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Lauren says

    October 22, 2019 at 7:51 pm

    I need to learn more about plant based diets. I am trying to eat so much healthier but these seems like a huge and hard change, But if it could help me live a longer and healthier lofe, I’m game.

    Reply
  2. Karen Austin says

    October 23, 2019 at 7:21 am

    I always feel better when I increase the amount of unprocessed (or rather very lightly processed by me at home) plants. This is a good reminder to make more time to eat higher quality food. Thank you.

    Reply
    • my energy shift says

      October 24, 2019 at 9:30 am

      Glad I could steer you in the direction of higher quality food. 🙂

      Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Mac and "Cheese" - My Energy Shift says:
    May 5, 2020 at 5:45 pm

    […] which will definitely benefit you and your family’s health overall.  In case you missed it, CLICK HERE to read my blog about this wonderful book.   I hope you and your family have wonderful health as […]

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

My name is Jen Mowrer. I am a former elementary teacher who has made the shift to a career in energy work. I am a certified Reiki Master, Life Coach, and Hula Hoop Instructor.

Read More…

Archives

  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • November 2020
  • October 2020
  • September 2020
  • August 2020
  • July 2020
  • June 2020
  • May 2020
  • April 2020
  • March 2020
  • February 2020
  • January 2020
  • December 2019
  • November 2019
  • October 2019
  • September 2019
  • August 2019
  • July 2019
  • June 2019
  • May 2019
  • April 2019
  • March 2019
  • February 2019
  • January 2019
  • December 2018
  • November 2018
  • October 2018
  • September 2018
  • August 2018
  • July 2018
  • June 2018
  • May 2018
  • April 2018
  • March 2018
  • February 2018
  • January 2018
  • December 2017
  • November 2017
  • October 2017
  • September 2017
  • August 2017
  • July 2017
  • June 2017

Footer

Subscribe To The My Energy Shift Newsletter!

Copyright © 2021 · My Energy Shift.com · Privacy Policy · Terms and Conditions · Maintained by The Blogging 911.com · Log in
Sign up for my blog updates and healthy living emails
I specialize in energy work. Need energy or more wellness in your life? I can help!
Your information will *never* be shared or sold to a 3rd party.
We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.OkNoRead more