Category Archives: Whole Food Plant-Based Diet Experts

Whole Food Plant-Based diet experts

The Diet Dropout’s Guide to Natural Weight Loss by Stan Spencer

Reading recipe books and diet and advice books are part of my job these days. Thankfully, I get a lot of advance reader copies for review. Most of them I read or at least skim through, sigh and toss aside. Every now and then I actually find one I am wildly enthusiastic about. This is one.

At the end of last year when I received this very thin volume entitled The Diet Dropout’s Guide to Natural Weight Loss. I rolled my eyes and tossed it aside. I mean really! Who isn’t a diet dropout?! And why the cutsie title? (more…)

by Genene Cote Posted on January 7, 2013

Posted in book review, Stan Spencer, weigh loss, Whole Food Plant-Based Diet Experts, Whole Food Plant-Based nutrition | Tagged Diet, Health, Nutrition, Obesity, Stan Spencer, The Diet Dropout's Guide to Natural Weight Loss, weight loss | 2 Comments

Green Smoothies and Green Juice

We got a Ninja for Christmas. It’s not a VitaMix, but it is a big improvement over our trusty old Osterizer. And so far I am very impressed.

We immediately took a field trip to Costco for bagged organic kale, containers of organic spinach and organic Granny Smith apples, organic kiwi and a bag of regular old carrots. Trader Joe’s was next and there we invested in more greens – arugula, bok choy and chard and some organic frozen fruit: pineapple, mango and blueberries. Finally a stop at the local health food store for ginger, mint and parsley.

We took this embarrassment of riches home and fired up the Ninja. Over the last week I have had a variety of Smoothies. Some good and some putrid. One too sweet and one that was way too green. While we were at it we got out the juicer, blew off the dust and pressed it into service.

by Genene Cote Posted on January 3, 2013

Posted in Fat Sick and Nearly Dead, juice, Smoothies, vegan, vegetarian, Whole Food Plant-Based nutrition | Tagged Fat Sick and Nearly Dead, Juicer, Juicing, Ninja Kitchen Blender, Smoothie, Victoria Boutenko | Leave a comment

Wendell Berry: Agricultural Activist

Over the last year I have spent considerable time studying and thinking about food. I have studied the connections between food and health, food and industry, food and the health industry and food and the government. (more…)

by Genene Cote Posted on December 20, 2012

Posted in environment, GMO foods, Uncategorized, Wendell Barry | Tagged author, Environment, Farming, Food and Health, Food Industry, Michael Pollan, Wendell Barry, Wendell Berry | Leave a comment

I Quit Sugar!

At least once a week someone asks me how in the world I quit sugar. I can’t tell you how many people talk to me about quitting sugar in any given week. They have read Sugar Blues. They know it is an addiction. They can tell me all the reasons they should quit. But the actual quitting? That is a whole other thing! Most people try (and fail) many times before they actually do it.

I know I did! I decided to quit eating sugar 30+ years ago. It was one of those obvious sort of decisions. I was in terrible and chronic pain and finally at the point I was willing to do ANYTHING to feel better. So when this very old chiropractor told me that my pain would be considerably less if I quit sugar, I did it. At least for a few days. . . then for a week and then a couple of weeks. You get the idea. (more…)

by Genene Cote Posted on December 19, 2012

Posted in book review, diabetes, sugar-free food | Tagged I Quit Sugar, MasterChef Australia, Sarah Wilson | Leave a comment

Dr. Mao’s Secrets of Longevity Cookbook: Eating for Health, Happiness, and Long Life

I’m one of those lucky people who gets an advance reader copy of many new books. I get to read and review them before they are even published! For a reading addict, it doesn’t get better than that.

Last week I received a copy of Dr. Mao’s latest book: Dr. Mao’s Secrets of Longevity Cookbook: Eating for Health, Happiness, and Long Life. The cookbook is the latest in his “Longevity” franchise which include: The Secrets of Longevity, The Secrets of Longevity Eight Week Program and the The Secrets of Longevity Eight Week Diary. (more…)

by Genene Cote Posted on December 16, 2012

Posted in book review, kitchen basics, menu, Whole Food Plant-Based nutrition, Whole Food Plant-Based recipes | Tagged Chinese Medicine, Cookbook, Dr. Mao, Health, Mao Shing Ni | Leave a comment

Plant-based or Plant-Strong with Rip

There is a marvelous video that my friend Elizabeth brought to my attention. She posted the link yesterday on Facebook. I took a look and decided it is too good to pass up.

Rip Esselstyn is a former All-American swimmer, pro-triathlete and retired Firefighter. Inspired by his father (Caldwell Esselstyn), he persuaded his Austin Fire Department’s Engine 2 Company to adopt a plant-based diet. The story is written in his best selling book: Engine 2 Diet: The Texas Firefighter’s 28-Day Save-Your-Life Plan that Lowers Cholesterol and Burns Away the Pounds. (more…)

by Genene Cote Posted on December 13, 2012

Posted in Caldwell Esselstyn, diabetes, Rip Esselstyn, vegan, vegetarian, weigh loss, Whole Food Plant-Based nutrition | Tagged Austin Fire Department’s Engine 2 Company, Caldwell Esselstyn, Plant-strong, Rip Esselstyn | Leave a comment

The Journey From the Standard American Diet to a Whole Food Plant-based Diet . . .

Remember that old Alka Seltzer ad with the guy groaning that he couldn’t believe he ate the whole thing? To me it is a most graphic reminder that what we eat directly effects how we feel.

All of us are good at remembering the connection of food and feeling in the short run. The problem is come when remembering to connect the information to our overall dietary habits and quality of life. (more…)

by Genene Cote Posted on December 6, 2012

Posted in diabetes, diary-free food, gluten-free food, John McDougall, plant based diet, T. Colin Campbell, vegan, vegetarian, Whole Food Plant-Based Diet and Chronic Disease, Whole Food Plant-Based nutrition | Tagged cancer, diabetes, Health, heart disease, plant-based food, processed food, SAD, Vegetarianism | 12 Comments

Spinach For Breakfast

Every now and then I come across a book that makes me smile. This one has a full title that is almost as long as the slim 46 page book: Spinach for Breakfast: How to live longer for all ages, particularly for 65 and older . It is written by Sam Almond. whose earlier books have been about trading financial instruments like Contracts for Difference (CFD) and Options.

Sam is 86 years young. He diets and exercises his way to fitness and health and says he “enjoys life to the full.” (more…)

by Genene Cote Posted on November 7, 2012

Posted in book review, Whole Food Plant-Based nutrition | Tagged Diets, Health, Nutrition, Sam Almond, Spinach | Leave a comment

What I Learned by Taking Classes for My Certificate In Plant-Based Nutrition

I finished my certificate course from the T. Colin Campbell Foundation a couple of weeks ago. Since then, I have been reflecting on the things I learned and how it changed my thinking about various aspects of plant-based nutrition. In the end I tally 2 changes and 2 take-aways. (more…)