Yes, it’s true.  Jae and I are fully committed to a whole food, plant-based (WFPB) lifestyle.  Variations on this theme include the Mediterranean, Flexitarian, Nordic, Ornish, DASH, Engine 2, Mayo Clinic and Vegan diets.  All of these diets emphasize eating fiber-rich, low-fat unprocessed whole plant foods to maximize health, prevent or reverse disease, and increase longevity.  WFPB diets minimize or avoid processed foods, junk foods, added sugar, meat, eggs and/or dairy. 

 

The January, 2020 issue of US News & World Report includes their annual “Best Diets” report ranking 35 diets based on multiple criteria selected by a nationally recognized panel of experts in diet, nutrition, obesity, food psychology, diabetes and heart disease.  Whole food plant-based diets took most of the top 10 spots.  www.health.usnews.com/best-diet 

 

We’ve both been “woke” (slang for self-educated and newly awakened) to the impressive health benefits of living a mostly whole-food, plant-based lifestyle. For us, there is no turning back.  Jae’s new company, PLANTATUDE® offers a wide variety of services including helping individuals and families make a successful transition to a healthier lifestyle.  Jae also works with restaurants seeking to add high quality plant-based meal alternatives to their menus.  See www.PLANTATUDE.com for a complete list of services.  

 

If your new year’s resolutions include losing weight or pursuing a healthier lifestyle, you will find the following list of our favorite health supportive videos, books and websites helpful, if not essential.  These resources will help you become “woke” too and increase your odds of a successful transition.    

 

Documentaries and Videos:

 

The Gamechangers (2019) available on Netflix and https://gamechangersmovie.com/

 

What the Health (2017) available on Netflix and at https://www.whatthehealthfilm.com/

 

Eating You Alive (2015) available for free at www.youtube.com/watch?v=DpwkgU6NYkM

 

PlantPure Nation (2015) available for free at https://www.plantpurenation.com/

 

Forks Over Knives (2011) the movie that started it all available for free on Netflix or for purchase at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n1LUj3kxB9M

 

Books and Audiobooks (click on hyperlink):

 

How Not to Die: Discover the Foods Scientifically Proven to Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease by Dr. Michael Greger MD

 

How Not to Diet:  The Groundbreaking Science of Healthy, Permanent Weight Loss by Dr. Michael Greger MD (the sequel to How Not to Die)

 

The China Study: (revised and expanded): The Most Comprehensive Study of Nutrition Ever Conducted and the Staring Implications for Diet, Weight Loss and Long-Term Health by T. Colin Campbell, PhD

 

The Engine 2 Diet: The Texas Firefighters 28-Day Save-Your-Life Plan That Lowers Cholesterol and Burns Away the Pounds by Rip Esselstyn

 

Food Over Medicine:  The Conversation that Could Save Your Life by Pamela Popper PhD

 

The Cheese Trap  How Breaking a Surprising Addition Will Help You Lose Weight, Gain Energy and Get Healthy by Dr. Neal Barnard

 

Forks Over Knives: The Plant-Based Way to Health by T Colin Campbell, PhD and Caldwell B Esselstyn, MD

 

Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease: The Revolutionary, Scientifically-Proven, Nutritionally-Based Cure by Caldwell B Esselstyn, Jr., MD

 

The Healthiest Diet on the Planet:  by John A. McDougal, MD

 

Eat to Live: The Amazing Nutrient-Rich Program for Fast and Sustained Weight Loss by Joel Furhman, MD

 

UnDo It!How Simple Lifestyle Changes Can Reverse Most Chronic Diseases by Dean Ornish, MD

 

Websites:

NutritionFacts.org is a non-profit, science based public service providing thousands of bite sized videos on the latest in nutrition research:  www.NutritionFacts.org

 

Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine leads a revolution in medicine that puts a new focus on health and compassion:  www.pcrm.org/

 

Recipes and more from the author of The Engine 2 Diet:  www.plantstrong.com/

 

The nation’s first Medicare-approved program to reverse heart disease by making comprehensive lifestyle changes.  www.ornish.com

 

McDougall Research & Education Foundation offers the second of only two Medicare-approved programs to reverse serious illness including high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, and others all without drugs:  www.drmcdougall.com 

 

Cornell Universities online program on the science of a plant-based diet and the role nutrition plays in chronic disease:  www.whole.nutritionstudies.org

 

US News & World Report annual report ranking 35 popular diets based on multiple criteria selected by a nationally recognized panel of experts in diet, nutrition, obesity, food psychology, diabetes and heart disease.  Whole food plant-based diets took most of the top 10 spots.  www.health.usnews.com/best-diet