A couple of years ago in the British Medical Journal, a researcher looked at the statistics on food and health and projected that if you could create a meal out of seven well-studied ingredients or foods, and get everyone to eat that meal regularly, you could reduce heart disease by over 70% and give people an average of 9 extra "good" years of life. He called that meal the POLYMEAL. We devised all our recipes and meals using the principles of the polymeal- the best variety of documented health benefits in the most delicious combinations.
What is the myth behind the low-fat diet?That it's inherently healthy (which it's not) and that it will prevent disease (which it does not). The percentage of fat in the diet has absolutely no relationship to any health outcome. The TYPE of fat (i.e. trans-fats) and the TYPE of carbohydrate (i.e. processed food, high sugar) does indeed make a difference.
Your thoughts on sugar?
See above. It's the biggest problem in the American diet as well as in the diet of all "industrialized" nations. And by sugar i don't just mean table sugar, i mean high-fructose corn syrup and any starch that converts quickly to sugar in the body (which includes the vast majority of commercial cereals, pastas and breads). This stuff should represent no more than a small fraction of our diet, but the dietitians tell us it should be 60% which is patently, utterly absurd- at least if you want to be healthy.
Describe the "perfect meal"?
One that tastes delicious, is cooked at home, eaten with family and is a sensual and textural delight. AND which contains the maximum amount of health giving compounds from omega-3's to fiber to protein to healthy fat to vitamins, minerals, and phytochemicals. Example: Wild salmon, vegetables with extra virgin olive oil, a piece of fruit, some nuts, a piece of fruit, red wine and a square of dark chocolate.
Why should people switch to organic foods? Aren't Americans living longer than ever before?
I'm not sure every single food we eat has to be organic, but many foods that are highly sprayed and contaminated should be- strawberries for example. The advantages of organic go beyond the considerable health benefits- organic soil holds more moisture and actually contributes to saving energy.
Child obesity - Sugar, fast food and too much television
Diabetes: Ditto, plus a ridiculous reluctance on the part of the dietary establishment to embrace one of the most effective anti-diabetic strategies in the world- a low-carb diet!
Processed Foods: See above. We need a whole new food sensibility in America. It's going to be slow coming, but we can see glimmers of hope on the horizon.
Fiber: Good stuff. Associated with an awful lot of good health outcomes including weight loss!
Antioxidants: Army. Powerful army of cellular protectors!
Tips for Selecting a Weight Loss Program
You have seen the before and after pictures on television. Before the 250-pound woman went to XYZ Weight Loss program, she looked dowdy, depressed and huge. After she completes the program, the picture shows a slender woman (almost unrecognizable) smiling at her new wardrobe and her new slim life. You look at her and think, I want to be thin.
Two things are true. The first is you can lose weight and keep it off. The second is there is no magic pill for losing a lot of weight fast and keeping it off. Weight loss requires a change of lifestyle. This means changing what you eat, how much you eat and how active you are. Permanent weight loss can be yours if you change your eating and exercise habits.
Sometimes its hard to make big changes on your own. Sometimes we all need some help. But with all the weight loss programs out there, how do you make a sensible decision about which one to choose? Here are some tips to consider.
