Cindy M. (RenascenceC) reviewed on 1/16/2011 + 77 more book reviews

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!

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