Search - The McDougall Program for Women

Well-researched information on why eating a vegetarian diet will help women avoid osteoporosis, cancer, and obesity. Easy to read, delicious recipes, too.

As a follower of Dr. Joel Fuhrman's similar healthy-eating program (drfuhrman.com), I was interested to see what Dr. McDougall had to say. I think his starch-based approach makes good sense for economy and for availability, but for those who tend to have sugar/starch addictions, it could be problematic. Both programs emphasize lots of vegetables and fruit, and Fuhrman calls for an ounce of nuts a day that McDougall would caution against. I would be willing to do Dr. McD's approach if I found myself in other circumstances, but I hesitate to do anything that allows for unrestricted carbs. I note in the appendix that he suggests that obese people emphasize the starchy vegetables (with high fiber) and have less of the grains and potatoes. I agree, but then I think you would end up with something more like the Fuhrman approach.

I am wary of some of the recommendations regarding cancer screenings/testing/treatment. The book plays fast-and-loose with some of the terminology and winds up being self-contradictory at points. I think it's interesting that McDougall both calls for not bothering with breast cancer treatment (doesn't improve life expectancy) and at the same time seems to think some HRT is a good idea.

I realize this book was written a number of years ago and some of the science may have changed enough that Dr. McD. has other recommendations now--I would say to investigate those and see how the science matches.

Some of the recipes look really good--I've turned down the corners of many pages to try some!

John McDougall, M.D. is one medico that I trust implicitly. His recommendations are not EASY, but IF YOU CAN ABIDE by his program, you will reap tremendous health benefits and get off medications swiftly, lose excess weight, and eat a health-supporting diet that makes you feel "clean," through and through. This book explains things from a woman's perspective...why women need plant foods, how to prevent and treat breast cancer, what you can do about hysterectomies, fibroids, etc., how to have a healthy heart, the myth of the efficacy of the mammogram - a cottage industry in medical circles - and the fallacy of "early prevention." You cannot lose by reading and incorporating anything by John McDougall.www.drmcdougall.com

This is a very well researched, documented and written book on why and how we should all become vegetarians. I found it very interesting!