This information is current as of the date of original publication or update. It may have changed by the time you read this. I invite you to fact-check what you read here.
This information is not intended for diagnosis or treatment. Before making health decisions, discuss with your physician or other qualified healthcare provider to decide what is right for you.
EAT PLANTS FEEL WHOLE
Harness the healing power of plants and transform your health
By George E. Guthrie, MD, MPD, CDE
Disclaimer: This review is not necessarily an endorsement or recommendation unless otherwise stated.
If you think a whole-food, plant-based diet is boring, bland, expensive, or difficult, you should read this book. The author, George Guthrie, M.D. a Family Physician, pursued extensive education in nutrition and lifestyle medicine.
Dr. Guthrie developed several lifestyle-change programs, including the Complete Health Improvement Project (CHIP), the Wellspring Diabetes Program, and AdventHealth’s CREATION Health program. He is active in the American College of Lifestyle Medicine having served as president.
Food can be addicting…some of us eat because it makes us feel better.
Dr. George Guthrie
How “SAD” eating makes us sick
Dr. Guthrie focuses on the major non-infectious diseases-obesity, diabetes, hypertension, and heart disease-those that we see daily in family medicine. He explains how evidence shows these are chiefly due to SAD-the Standard American Diet.
Many people struggle with the same issues: mindless snacking, overeating, or consuming whatever is most convenient. Refined foods are designed to stimulate the pleasure centers in our brain and bring us back for more.
Dr. Guthrie
Plants have power to heal
In thorough but easy-to-understand language, he explains the components of nutrition. He starts with the major categories-fats, carbohydrates, and protein. Then he reviews the micronutrients, which are vitamins and minerals.
Dr. Guthrie shows we can get all we need from food. Only in specific situations are supplements necessary for health.
Food has power to transform health
He offers multiple examples of patients from his practice who transformed their health with this whole-food plant-based approach. (Using care to change details to protect confidentiality.)
By making simple changes in what they ate, they
- lost weight,
- lowered their blood pressure, glucose, and cholesterol with less or even no medication, and
- increased stamina.
This essential companion journal will help you track your journey to feeling whole.
This short e-cookbook is available to download for free at Dr. Guthrie’s website
Plant-Powered Recipes to Help You Feel Whole
Listen to Dr. Guthrie’s Podcasts at this link.
Eat Plants Feel Whole
The whole-food, plant-based eating plan
The book concludes with a detailed outline of the whole-food, plant-based eating plan, which he emphasizes is not just another version of vegan or vegetarian diets, which are not necessarily healthy. Dr. Guthrie recommends using the 18-day QuickStart Plan.
The book concludes with easy-to-follow recipes. I appreciated that the ingredients are ones that you likely already have at home, or can buy at a regular food store, without the need to seek out a specialty store or buy online.
“PUBLISHER’S NOTE: This book is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified healthcare professional but as a sharing of knowledge and information from the research and experience of the author. You are advised and encouraged to consult with your healthcare professional in all matters relating to your health and the health of your family. “
About my review of Eat Plants, Feel Whole
Note: I received a complimentary digital advance copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This post does contain affiliate links. Thanks.
Even if you don’t have a chronic disease, this diet plan is worth considering as it can prevent high blood pressure, diabetes, and heart disease.
Before I read this book, I considered my eating habits healthy. From reading Dr. Guthrie’s plan I discovered changes I can easily make for improvement. I believe most of my readers will also.
exploring the HEART of healthy eating
However you choose to do it, eating healthy requires desire, motivation, and a plan. I hope this review gives you some tips for all 3 of these steps.
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