Is Whole Foods being foolish enough to promote vegetarian-only diet?
An obvious uproar has ensued within the high-fat, low-carb diet community this week as a result of the seemingly sudden decision by the most well-known health food retailer in the world to actively market and promote a low-fat, vegetarian diet in their 289 stores. Whole Foods Market has strongly branded itself as the go-to place for people desiring to make healthier food choices for themselves and their family and they have long offered customers with a variety of dietary choices that ability to select what best meets their specific needs. But all of that has changed now that they are pushing what they are calling their “Health Starts Here” campaign.
Promotional banners and shelf talkers dominate local Whole Foods stores
According to their press release about this educational effort, they are hoping to “help shoppers and Team Members who want to improve their health easily and naturally” by implementing “healthy eating education.” They define this as a low-fat, plant-based diet full of vegetables, fruits, legumes, whole grains, nuts and seeds. Although they do discourage the consumption of highly-processed and sugary foods, the focus is very clearly on limiting dietary fat and increasing carbohydrate intake. They even have a page on their web site for “Maximizing the Vegetarian Diet.”
To help “educate” their customers on the vegetarian way of eating, prominent displays of popular low-fat vegetarian diet books like The China Study by Dr. T. Colin Campbell (who you’ll recall I had a recent encounter with on Amazon.com), The Food Revolutionby John Robbins, The Engine 2 Diet by Rip Eppelstyn, cookbooks by Dr. John McDougall, and a full line of products from Dr. Joel Fuhrman whose “Eat Right America” logo and message is plastered all over Whole Foods since he was one of the primary consultants for formulating the new nutritional mission for the stores. Dr. Fuhrman is the author of a book I reviewed several years back entitled Eat To Live and is certainly no fan of animal-based, high-fat, low-carb diets. I’ve given him an opportunity to explain the basis for his beliefs in an interview on my podcast show but he has refused.
Whole Foods CEO John Mackey views animal fat as an “addiction”
Now when you walk into a Whole Foods store, you are bombarded with pamphlets urging you to begin a low-fat, plant-based diet and cut back or remove animal foods from your menus altogether. Worse than that, there are no alternative books by respected low-carb authors like Dr. Robert Atkins, Drs. Mike and Mary Dan Eades, Dr. Barry Sears, or anyone else who is not on board with the vegetarian dogma. So people who are livin’ la vida low-carb will find no reinforcement for their particular way of eating when they shop at Whole Foods stores which is why I think this makes them more accurately described as Whole Fools!
A new Aggregate Nutrient Density Index (ANDI) rating system now appears on the foods located throughout the stores which gives plant-based foods a way to appear more nutrient dense than animal-based foods which are just as chock full of vitamins such as A, D and K, DHA, EPA arachidonic acid, taurine, iodine, biotin, pantothenic acid, and vital minerals like sodium, chloride, potassium, sulfur, phosphorus, copper, manganese, boron, molybdenum and chromium, according to Sally Fallon Morell from the Weston A. Price Foundation in a press release responding to this move by Whole Foods.
Many of the phytochemicals that Fuhrman includes in the index he
developed for Whole Foods play no essential role in the body and may even be
harmful, Fallon noted. Animal foods like meat, liver, butter, whole milk and eggs contain ten to one hundred times more vitamins and minerals than plant foods. Plant foods add variety and interest to the human diet but in most circumstances do not qualify as ‘nutrient-dense’ foods.
Fallon is not alone in her concern over this radical change in store policy by Whole Foods which sources from within the company management informed me includes a phasing out of some meat products in favor of more vegetables and grain-based products. I decided to ask a cross-section of the leading low-carb voices in the blogosphere to give their reaction to this decision and here’s what they told me:
Gary Taubes, author of Good Calories Bad Calories
I obviously think this is misguided from a health perspective and obviously if John Mackey was fully informed (as we define fully informed) he wouldn’t be doing this. That is, unless he thinks it’s good business practice.
Tom Naughton, documentary filmmaker/blogger for FAT HEAD
I think John Mackey is preaching to the choir. I think the proper response for low-carbers is to buy from local farmers if you can. If you can’t, then shop at Whole Foods but be sure to stop by the meat counter, loudly order a porterhouse, then begin chewing it raw as you push your cart around the rest of the store. This won’t change the policy, but the other shoppers may be shocked into horrified expressions that will injure their brittle vegetarian jaws.
Lierre Keith, author of The Vegetarian Myth
I’m appalled at this new marketing scheme. A whole generation of us tried that low-fat, plant-based diet and it destroyed our health. I was a vegan for 20 years and I did permanent damage to my body. I am on disability with a decaying spine no thanks to a diet that is seriously deficient in the fat, protein, and minerals that the human template needs. I will be in pain for the rest of my life because of it. Whole Foods is seriously misguided in their efforts to promote health and I hope they reconsider what they are pushing on the public.
Dr. Michael Aziz, author of The Perfect 10 Diet
This is horrible and a very bad move for the public who is already confused. Vegetarians are more likely to get heart disease and strokes as their
homocysteine levels are sky high. All centenarians eat animal products. It is a big myth that vegetarians live longer. Vegetarian diets are bad for thyroid health as they are too low in protein and iodine. They also favor soy which is horrible for us in excess. They are bad for growth hormone secretion, the hormone that keeps us young. We have to fight back against this kind of nonsense because our voices are lost in all the bad noise.
Dr. Kendra Pearsall, creator of Enlita
Speaking as a former fat vegetarian who could not lose weight on a low-fat vegetarian diet, Whole Paycheck (oops I mean Whole Foods) is out of its mind (not surprising since low-protein diets tend to lead to brain chemistry imbalances). I recommend skipping Whole Paycheck and getting your healthy food locally at farmer’s markets, local farmers, local health food stores.
Dana Carpender, popular blogger and bestselling author of a series of low-carb cookbooks
It seems to me that narrowing your market appeal is generally not a brilliant business model. Even among non-low-carbers, stuff like grass-fed meat, pastured eggs, and wild-caught salmon are making a strong showing, and are perceived as healthful. I cannot imagine that Mr. Mackey is fully informed about the health benefits of fat, and particularly of animal fat and other traditional saturated fats, or he wouldn’t be doing this. The low-carb response should be the same as it would be to any store that is not serving our needs: To spend less of our money there. Local farmer’s markets are also a great source of healthful food — not only fruits, vegetables, and herbs, but also grass fed meat, pastured small farm eggs, and local grass-fed dairy products.
Gracie, blogger at “Girl Meets Health”
I think that what Whole Foods is failing to realize is that not all of their customers follow a low-fat, high carb diet. As someone who follows a low-carb, high fat diet, I focus mainly on eating whole, clean, and mostly organic foods including meat, dairy, and ample amounts of produce. Naturally, Whole Foods was one of my favorite places to shop for this reason. So to see them promote one diet or lifestyle as being “better” or healthier than another makes me wonder why I should continue to shop there. Instead, I’ll probably start shopping more at my local health food stores and farmers’ market. When I buy food, I want it to be based on my own choices, not some grocery store executive.
Dr. Kurt Harris, blogger at “PaNu”
I rely on local farmers and hunting for grass-fed meat and local friends for pastured eggs. I get my pastured butter by mail order. Whole Foods belongs to John Mackey and his shareholders. If he wants to leverage it for a private propaganda campaign to promote an inferior diet based on bad science, then I will certainly advise my readers of that and encourage them avoid his store altogether.
Connie Bennet, blogger/author of SUGAR SHOCK!
Of course, all shoppers will decide for themselves, but what most people need to realize is that NO one diet fits all. Each person has to find and decide what foods and supplements work best for her or him. While, in an ideal world, everyone should quit sugar and refined carbs, not everyone should follow the same diets. For instance, for one person, a vegetarian diet may be ideal, but for someone else who isn’t opposed to it, a meat-filled diet (preferably grass fed, free-range) will allow him or her function optimally. And everyone needs ample amounts of healthy omega-3 fats.
Fred Hahn, blogger/author of The Slow Burn Fitness Revolution
The nutritional approach Whole Foods is now taking may have its heart in the right place, but its head deeply embedded in the sands of dogma. Low-fat/high carbohydrate diets are not healthful nor are high fat diets unhealthful. Science suggests that for humans, animal products are the most nutritionally dense food sources available with grains being dead last; comparatively devoid of nutrients. If our country adopts and follows the high carbohydrate, low-fat Whole Foods/Fuhrman nutritional model, we’ll see obesity and heart disease grow to even greater proportions. Be forewarned Whole Foods — the lawsuits will be comin’ ’round the mountain.
J.P. Fanton, blogger at “Healthy Fellow”
As a loyal customer of Whole Foods, I would prefer to see the company live up to its name and continue to provide the real, whole foods that have served countless generations very well, such as free-range eggs, grass fed dairy and meat, organic fruits, nuts, seeds and vegetables. Refined foods typically found in a grain-based, low-fat, vegetarian diet are a relatively modern invention with little proven history. In essence, this type of eating plan is a nutritional experiment at best.”
Dr. Robert Su, author of Carbohydrates Can Kill
This may be a smart move for the time being by Whole Foods if the consumers continue to believe the misinformation on diet and health. However, this will be a big backfire on them if we can bring the truth about diet and health out to the public. John Mackey personally is a diligent thinker not a blind follower. He is currently misinformed about the health benefits of fat. He could become a real healthy food advocator if he discovers the truth. People who understand the health benefits of high-fat, low-carbohydrate diets should try to contact Mr. Mackey and educate him with the truth about diet and health. We must convince him to join in our crusade. In the meantime, we should find some well-recognized grocery chains, which are interested in partnership with our crusade. We do not have to and should not campaign against vegetarian diets but the heavy consumption of carbohydrates in the diets. As soon as we are able to start our crusade in partnership with one or more reputable nationwide grocery chains, Whole Foods will begin to lose their consumer base if they continue to endorse a low-fat, vegetarian diet.
Dr. William Davis, blogger at “The Heart Scan Blog”
It pains me to say this, since I’ve always favored a vegetarian lifestyle, mostly because of philosophical concerns as well as worries about the safety of our factory farm-raised livestock and rampant inhumane practices. But, stepping back and objectively examining what nutritional approach appears to stack the odds in favor of optimal health, I believe that only one conclusion is possible: Humans are meant to be omnivorous, meant to consume some quantity of animal products in addition to vegetables, fruits, nuts, and other non-animal products.
Nora Gedgaudas, author of Primal Body-Primal Mind
Whole Foods has clearly overlooked the overwhelming abundance of science to the contrary and the entire history of the human species in favor of these seriously flawed guidelines. As a clinical neurofeedback specialist of more than twelve years I can tell you that by far, the most dysregulated brains and nervous systems having the poorest overall health I have ever worked with have been that of vegetarians and especially vegans. One can only hope that Whole Foods shoppers will not be duped into adopting these unfortunate dietary superstitions.
Jon & Cathy Payne, hosts of the “Our Natural Life” podcast
I think that John Mackey is sadly misinformed and misguided on this one. They are sure to hear a backlash. Whole Foods is where I go to buy my local pastured pork, liver pate, heavy cream, and Amish butter. It seems like a poor move to encourage low fat and vegetarian eating since they will lose my customer base and others. While I applaud their support of nutrient dense food, they must not be aware that the most nutrient dense foods are animal based and high fat. The removal of books advocating the consumption of animal products is censorship of the worst kind. Of course, the monetary markup is highest in grains and low-fat processed products. This could be a ploy to make a bigger profit. I believe the best place to purchase the foods we need is directly from our local farmers whenever possible.
Kelly the Kitchen Kop, blogger at Kelly the Kitchen Kop
I was saddened to read this news about Whole Foods Market. I have to wonder why they wouldn’t take a stand in a more positive way. For example, imagine the splash they’d make if they announced that they would no longer sell any meat from factory farms. Instead, they basically slam all meats by implementing this new plan without acknowledging that there’s a major difference depending on where you buy.
Mark Sisson, blogger/author of Primal Blueprint
I heard about this from one of my readers who is an employee of Whole Foods and is appalled that they are going down this dead-end road. I think Whole Foods owes it to their consumers (and to their shareholders) to offer the best natural “whole” foods they can, including meat, fish, fowl, eggs, dairy and other forms of animal protein. So, are they now going to get rid of their meat and dairy sections? I mean if they are fully endorsing this ill-advised low-fat approach, wouldn’t it be hypocritical to be offering any saturated fat from any source. It would be like a convenience store embracing an anti-smoking campaign but still selling cigarettes. Okay, not quite, but you see the irony.
Can you sense the outrage, disgust, and disappointment from my fellow colleagues in the low-carb diet and health community over this move by Whole Foods? It’s disappointing to say the least and it begs the question: What should the call to action be for those of us who support a high-fat, low-carb, animal-based diet? Fallon believes we should make Whole Foods feel it in their bottom line by shopping elsewhere to obtain the real, whole foods that make up our low-carb diets.
Consumers can send a message about Whole Foods’ misinformed scheme by voting with their feet. Most major grocery store chains now carry basic organic staples and a larger array of organic fruits and vegetables than Whole Foods markets. And citizens should purchase seasonal produce and their meat, eggs and dairy products directly from farmers engaged in non-toxic and grass-based farming. It’s not appropriate for Whole Foods to promote a scheme that has no scientific basis and that bulldozes their customers towards the higher profit items in their stores.
While I’m all for people deciding not to purchase from Whole Foods in protest of this asinine decision to ostracize a segment of their customer base, I also think they need to hear from people like you and me whose lives have been radically changed for the better as a result of high-fat, low-carb living that includes delicious and nutritious cuts of meats with healthy saturated fats. You can e-mail your personal low-carb, high-fat success story to the Whole Foods corporate customer service department at customer.questions@wholefoods.com to let them know what you think about their change in corporate policy.
Incidentally, I called the media relations department for Whole Foods on Wednesday requesting a brief 10-minute interview with John Mackey about this decision to promote low-fat vegetarian diets in his stores since there would be concern among my readers and podcast show listeners. The very nice media relations representative informed me that he was not doing any interviews at this time, so I requested ANYONE from Whole Foods to come on to share more about why this decision was made. I sent my request to her via e-mail as she requested and here was the response back:
Thanks so much for your enthusiasm and kind words about Whole Foods Market and our new Health Starts Here initiative! I’ve checked with my colleague, and unfortunately, we don’t have anyone available for an interview. As I said on the phone, please feel free to use any and all of the information available on our web site.
In other words, thanks but we’re not interested in being put on the spot to try to explain an ill-advised decision made by our CEO. I’ve looked on their web site and it doesn’t give me any reason to spend one more red cent of my hard-earned dollars with a company that refuses to acknowledge the healthfulness of my particular way of eating. Now it’s so long Whole Foods and good luck with maintaining your market share and customers peddling an outdated and soon-to-be obsolete diet program!
Are there any other national health food chains willing to step up to the plate and promote the health benefits of fats in their stores to counter this move by Whole Foods? I can guarantee you there will be a HUGE following of people who are livin’ la vida low-carb flocking to your stores if that kind of an educational marketing campaign were to be implemented. Is there any company willing to make it happen?
Comments
Why can't you understand that some people prefer to eat this way? Is it always "your way or the highway"? It sure seems that way. You come off as pretty intolerant of other people's choices. Chill out and have a cookie.
This HUGE FOLLOWING only exists in your tightly controlled little butter-covered world.
I don't think the point that Jimmy's trying to make is "it's your way or the highway." Personally, I've been a loyal customer of my local Wholefoods stores for over 10 years now. I've patronized them despite higher prices because I felt I was getting better quality food that didn't have the additives, trans-fats, and their meat didn't come freom CAFO's with anti-biotics, hormones and all that mess. Wholefoods can promote whatever they want, it's their store, I just think they are shooting themselves in the foot because they are pushing their own judgement on what diet is best for me, so every time I walk into the store I'm getting judged in a negative way. Sorry, doesn't motivate me to go there any more than I absolutely have to. I'd rather patronize local farmers markets, local farmers, heck, even Costco now that they are selling (at a much cheaper price) organic fruits, veggies, meats, and eggs.
Dr. Fuhrman's approach is NOT a vegetarian diet and it is inaccurate to call it one. It is drastically different than all the typically unhealthy vegan and vegetarian diets.
WOW, great response guys! I'm happy to address each of you:
Give it, I really don't care if people choose to eat a vegetarian diet or not because it's none of my business. If you've read any of my writings before, then you know my philosophy is for people to find what works for them and then do it whether that's vegetarian, low-fat, low-carb or whatever. The point is Whole Foods is EXCLUDING those of us who advocate high-fat, low-carb for ourselves by pushing a monopolistic agenda like they are.
Beatrice, there are millions of people following a carbohydrate-restricted lifestyle and it continues to grow as people discover the solid science behind this amazing way of eating.
Levi gets it. Whole Foods is ostracizing an entire segment of their consumer base by making the decision to exclude a perfectly healthy dietary option (livin' la vida low-carb) from their marketing strategy.
Elijah, Dr. Fuhrman clearly calls for an increase in grains and a decrease in meat. It's low-
Continued for Elijah: Dr. Fuhrman's plan is low-fat vegetarian by using meat as a very infrequent condiment rather than the centerpiece of a meal. The bulk of calories in his plan come from starchy vegetables, legumes, grains, nuts, seeds, and the like as I noted in my column. While this kind of diet may be "healthy" for some people who can tolerate carbohydrates well, my personal blood sugar and insulin levels would be off the chart sending me into a ravenous hunger since my body would be starving from the lack of fat. It's okay if John Mackey wants to exclude low-carb customers from his marketing efforts. We'll just take our business elsewhere.
Vegetarian eating just made me fat and pushed me into hypothyroidism; low-carbohydrate eating is slowly healing me. I won't tolerate being lectured by a retailer--especially when its message is so misguided--and the more I read about Mackey and his politics, the less likely I am to shop in his stores. Thanks for exposing this issue, Jimmy.
Interesting... I like how OTHERS' ideas/ interpretations of the data are 'dogma', but yours apparently are not! That's some tricky manipulation of logic & reason...
I'm a quasi-vegan; eat pet-chicken eggs & local honey, on occasion, but no other animal foods... feel great; strong athlete; healthy BMI; lots of energy. Not telling anyone else how to be; maybe *NOTHING* regarding the human masses is 'one size fits all'... but I'll shop MORE at WF, not less, bc of their recent changes. I think everyone should just decide for themselves what to eat -- but based on logic, reason, & personal sense of what's right: NOT on ANYONE's dogma... even the low-carb gospel sung here.
EVZ you miss the point. They're PUSHING a diet. It may be offered in good faith for the health of their customers but it is in the same spirit as the HHS or AHA nutrition guidelines. Those were aimed at reducing TOTAL disease load, but by championing a single diet for everyone based on some peoples' susceptibilities they instead may have caused the current obesity and diabetes epidemics . Like you say veryone metabolises food and nutrients differntly. Individual vs. individual, men vs. women, children vs. adults. Whole Foods' diet is just another example of lumping everyone together without regard to individuality. It's the aggressive marketing of the Whole Foods' diet, the HHS guidelines or even a "low carb" diet as RIGHT FOR EVERYONE that is harmful and wrong.
More outstanding comments guys! THANK YOU!
Joanna, I think the public deserves to know when companies are promoting such a radical agenda at the expense of a way of eating that many of us have found saved us from a lifetime of health woes.
Evz, the difference between what I promote and what Whole Foods/Dr. Fuhrman are doing with this marketing campaign is I don't personally tell people what they NEED to be doing to be healthy. So in that sense, I'm not dogmatic. My philosophy is find what works for you and then do it whether that's low-fat, vegetarian, low-carb or whatever. John Mackey is not giving that choice to his customers and is instead ramming vegetarianism down their throats.
Eric C., you got it right on! They ARE promoting it exclusively over all other dietary choices to the exclusion of anything else deemed healthy by others. This idea of a one-size-fits-all diet is ludicrous and yet that's exactly what Whole Fools is doing.
I'm shocked at the response of some of the so called experts. I find my body cannot take animal flesh! I can't digest it without drugs. I'd rather be healthy than supporting our pharmacy culture. I wonder how much stock some of the experts have in "live stock" or is it "dead stock"? I've always been more shocked at how "health food" stores press the dead animals on people. I applaud Whole Foods on suggesting a healthy lifestyle to customers.
PLEASE be open minded when considering Dr. Joel Fuhrman's advocacy of the "nutritarian" eating style. Dr. Fuhrman absolutely starts from the best valid nutrition science information currently available. For example, while there is substantial profound epidemiological evidence that diets consisting of more than 15% of calories from animal sources are not healthful, there is not yet evidence that eating only that much animal food is harmful -- so Dr. Fuhrman refrains asserting that a 100% vegan diet is optimal.
The characterization of nutritarianism as "low fat" is untrue (though that is true of Dr. Caldwell Esselstyn's recommendations, which are related -- but really intended for people with dire heart disease). Nutritarianism is about avoiding unnecessary calories while maximizing high quality nutrients. PLEASE check out one of Dr. Fuhrman's books or videos. (I recommend the book Cholesterol Protection for Life as a succinct presentation of Dr. Fuhrman's most important ideas).
Expecting Whole Foods to implode at some point.
found this quip in another article. Loved it. Folks at Whole Foods should contemplate the meaning.
"Just because it says organic on it doesn’t mean it was grown by meditating hippies living on a commune in a geodesic dome being at one with nature on their cute little farm. "
I'm sure Whole Foods is really nervous that your low-carb dogmatists will take your business elsewhere.
Besides, they don't sell your precious Diet Coke With Lime anyways.
Oh, and too much "recreational thyroid hormone" can give you a heart attack. What are you thinking???
Everyone has the right to eat the way they choose. Whole Foods has always catered to those who desire to eat natural foods in their WHOLE and unprocessed state. To assume that everyone should jump on your low carb (fad) bandwagon is arrogant at best.
If you'd bother to look at the other side, you'd see that there is even more evidence for following a healthy diet using whole grain carbs (with or without animal proteins). Quoting people with no health background just because they've written something they aren't qualified to write means nothing.
Dr. Fuhrman's recommendations are based 100% on science, and his plan is not vegetarian (unless you choose it to be that way) or low fat. He does not advocate eating more grains - he makes it clear that grains are the least nutrient dense of all the whole plant foods.
I've heard Sally Fallon speak. She talked for 2 hours and didn't reference a single scientific study. Not one. She showed pictures of people's teeth and told us about how she puts a half stick of butter in her oatmeal in the morning. I was not impressed.
I've stopped reading your articles because they are so one sided and ludicrous. Apparently since YOU lost weight doing this it must be the ONLY logical thing for the world to do. Go ahead and ignore the rest of the medical community who knows otherwise...and we'll ignore you.
Wow, Jimmy, thanks for covering this issue. I am the publicist for WAPF and really appreciate all the quotes from low carb experts/bloggers you have amassed here.
My own story is that when I switched to a low carb diet is when I began shopping at Whole Foods. I have been a loyal customer for 5 years, and will continue to be. WAPF is not calling for a boycott of Whole Foods, although that may be an option or choice some will make. But, we do want Whole Foods to receive lots of emails from folks that would prefer their supermarket not to be dispensing nutrition advice.
There is an inherent conflict of interest, particularly when they are selling product. They are also not licensed to do health care, while they may have nutritionists on staff.
This program will push a plant-based diet on vulnerable, uninformed people, that may not know how to evaluate whether this diet is suitable for them, based on health history, metabolism, etc.
Please, everyone email this. I will tweet/fb
Whole grain food items are to the food biz what slot machines are to casinos. There's no profit in being right in this case.
Whole foods is an awesome supplier of healthy foods, especially their grass fed steaks, and while I personally don't agree with Mr. Mackey, I thank him for bringing us Whole Food Stores.
Furhman's diet, to his credit, does not include grains. I think that if you for some reason really dont want to eat animal sources of fat and protein, his diet is probably the way to go.
That said, there is no scientifically valid reason to deprive yourself of the pleasures of beef, fish, chicken, etc. Anyone who tells you should knows nothing about a)human evoluion and b) the current science on the matter. Find me a study that proves sat. fat is bad for me and I'll eat my hat. With butter!
You simply cannot argue with this "Eating more of whole foods = better health" Whole foods wants us to eat more Vegetables, Fruits, etc.. the stuff that will give us better health in the long run. Let's not loose focus of what's really important. I think it also will help Jamie Oliver's wish bit.ly - aDX5pA
Bob, I'm glad you've found what works for you regarding your vegetarian lifestyle, but that way of eating is not for everyone.
Phil, I disagree that there is anything even remotely harmful from consuming quality grass-fed, pastured meats and eggs that are chock full of healthy nutrients for your body. Dr. Fuhrman does not have a monopoly on the research in this realm.
Former Ag Teacher, I LOVE IT! And I do agree that Whole Foods will greatly regret this decision to tick off an entire segment of their customer base.
Woooo, certainly glad you added your senselessness to the discussion.
Ummm, real health professional, I've never claimed people should be eating low-carb. But I have said that they should find what works for them and follow it for the rest of their lives. If that's vegetarian low-fat and it makes you happy, then knock yourself out. Incidentally, I've interviewed numerous MDs, PhDs, and researchers who are putting out quality studies on the benefits of low-ca
Deana, I'm not doubting that Dr. Furhman quotes his own scientific studies, but there are just as many studies promoting the healthfulness of fat consumption, even saturated fat. Did you see the column I wrote about the meta-analysis study showing saturated fat is NOT a culprit in heart disease that was published in January 2010. I wrote an Examiner piece on it. Check it out. As for Sally Fallon, who I have interviewed on my podcast show, she regularly cites the studies at westonaprice dot org. Go see for yourself.
Sick of this, I really don't care if you listen to me or not. My role is to put out quality information for people based on the conversations I have with real health experts and the quality research that is coming out supporting everything I say. The only ones to suffer are the ones who fail to heed the message while obesity and disease run rampant. I have no ill intentions with the work I am doing which is to help people find their journey to health.
Kimberly, thanks for being one of the ones who gets it. We need more people like yourself out there trumpeting the cause.
Joey, I like that analogy to slot machines. Funny stuff! And I agree we should applaud Mackey for providing a place for quality foods...but he shouldn't get so caught up in his own personal vegetarian agenda that he someday deems grass-fed beef as inappropriate to sell in his stores anymore.
MrFreddy, I agree. What's the proof that animal foods are harmful? Anyone?
Tim, I agree eating fresh whole foods is best, but that should also include fresh meats, eggs, cheeses, nuts, and more. Fruits and veggies do not hold a monopoly on being "healthy."
People should ignore Jimmy Moore. He is just a frustrated obese guy addicted to fatty food, sugar and diet Dr. Pepper. Even though Moore lost weight on his fad diet (down 180 lbs from 410 lbs to 230 lbs according to him), he gained a lot of the weight back. He has stopped sharing his weight on his idiotic blog because it was embarrassing how bad his Atkins diet was not working for him. If you look at some of his recent videos on You Tube, you can tell he is just an average obese American. I would estimate his weight at 270 lbs. Clearly, he knows nothing about having a healthy weight. Unfortunately for him, he is in great danger soon of dying of heart attack or cardiomyopathy like his good buddy the late Atkins. His blog will go down in history as detailed documentation of how the worst diet can kill you within a few years. Jimmy Moore, eat more vegetables and fruits, cut down on butter and beef, do some real exercise, lose weight, don’t worry too much about your blood sugar, find a rea
Jimmy Moore, eat more vegetables and fruits, cut down on butter and beef, do some real exercise, lose weight, don’t worry too much about your blood sugar, find a real job and leave Whole Foods alone.
Jimmy Moore lives in Alice in Wonderland. In his world, the basic laws of physics don't apply. If you read his stupid blog, you will find things like "cholesterol doesn't matter", "Jimmy Moore is thin", "Jimmy lost weight and maintain his healthy weight on Atkins". This is all pure non sense. Jimmy lost some weight by simply cutting back on excess calories. For example, instead of drinking 2 gallons of regular Coke and wolfing down two dozen donuts, he probably decided to switch to diet cola and eat six “low-carb” donuts every day. Then, as if it was magic, he lost weight and concluded it was due to Atkins!!! Jimmy Moore associates losing weight with health but that’s totally false. Losing weight is a side-effect of a healthy lifestyle. You can snort cocaine or amputate a leg and lose weight too. That wouldn’t be healthy. If you want to maximize longevity and be healthy, read and follow Fuhrman’s advice. He is a real MD who has helped thousands of patients.
If you want to maximize longevity and be healthy, read and follow Fuhrman’s advice. He is a real MD who has helped thousands of patients. He’s a real doctor who meets patients every week. Not some clown on the web who never helped anyone like Moore or the Price Foundation. Moore has done nothing and never cured anyone from their diabetes, headaches, heart disease, or other serious diseases. Fuhrman has done it. In the nutrition world, Fuhrman is a God and Moore is a piece of manure. People, please be careful and ignore this obese moron called Jimmy Moore.
Robert, tell us how you REALLY feel buddy. Amazing how ignorant someone could be, but you've certainly taken the cake on this one. CONGRATULATIONS!
You are the ignorant who knows nothing about nutrition who writes a bunch of dangerous crap all day long. You are only frustrated here because you can't delete my comments like you do on your idiotic blog. Here you are not in control and now for once you have someone who stands up to you to tell you you're just a frustrated unemployed obese. Atkins is a fad diet and that's fact. You and your stupid Price foundation are just a bunch of clowns. There are thousands of medical studies to prove it.
Robert, seriously dude, you need to get some fat and protein in you, and in you fast. Your deprivation diet has obviously had an adverse affect. Why all the harshness?
There are loads of people who have lost weight and maintained that lost weight via low carb, there are loads of doctors with loads of patients who are doing fine on low carb, and why not? It's modeled after the diet our ancestor's evolved on. You guys simply do not have a counter argument for that one, not one that makes a bit of sense anyway.
I personally have maintained a 40 pound loss for over eight plus years now. I am 53, I've had a heart scan revealing a calcium score of... drum role please... ZERO. So has Jimmy. What's your calcium score Robert? What's your triglycerides? What's your HDL? Is your LDL all small and dangerous (typical on a high starch/sugar diet) or all large and safe (typical on a low carb diet)?
Robert, take some Omega 3s, swallow some coconut oil, eat a steak, and mellow out, would ya?
Robert, I could delete every single one of your comments if I wanted to, but the entertainment value of what you say is too juicy to do that.
I am a person who has found the great health benefits of a natural foods diet--unprocessed meat, dairy, fruits, and vegetables. Technically low carb, very low carb in fact, but I fully recognize different things work for different people. I know plenty of healthy vegetarians, vegans, low carbers, zero carbers, raw foodies, etc. Jimmy Moore is a completely irresponsible fraud. Suggesting that consuming these strange 'low carb' processed foods and thyroid medications is wise or healthy is at best a joke and at worst incredibly dishonest and immoral.
Bottom line--Whole Foods is a business. So is Jimmy Moore. Even myself being low carb, I would rather follow a whole foodist like Mackey than an obese (and still gaining) processed food pusher.
Please, those of you that follow Jimmy's blog...do not eat what he eats. Read the books, the studies, and come to your own conclusion. Dreamfield's pasta and constant desserts is not the way to optimal health--something I think we all agree
Wow, I'm honored to have so many people coming out of the woodworks on this one. It's amazing to see the intense reaction people have to exposing something like this for the public to see. Thank you for proving my points both in this column I wrote as well as in LESSON #14 of my new book.
I can't believe there's actually idiots out there trying to argue veganism and vegetarianism are natural/healthy.
Wow, those Fuhrman followers sound crabby. It must be from food deprivation and lack of adequate nourishment.
Amazing to watch what happens when you openingly challenge a large corporation. Amazing the flashbacks I get when I read the over emotional, undernourished vegans vent their unhappiness, whether for their employer or not, these folks so do need a good steak and some sardines. I remember well the biting harsh, rollercoaster I was on before I started educating myself and trying a paleoithic diet plan. It's sad to see, but kinda funny too.
No Ji
So if Jimmy Moore and his Atkins’ buddies write a lengthy article against Whole Foods’ decision to promote Fuhrman’s, they are obviously smart, balanced and right. When someone responds to their nonsense, this person is obviously frustrated and going through some mental episode due to a lack of butter and meat in his system. Do I get it right? Grow up, people. If you think Fuhrman’s advice is dangerous and not healthy, why don’t you cite medical studies that say so? Here is the answer, you won’t find any!!!!
Question to Jimmy Moore: Jimmy, give us one website that provides documentation of a board-certified physician who does all the following: 1) meets patients on a regular basis 2) reverses their diseases like diabetes or heart disease using low-carb diet (Atkins type or variation) 3) website has several testimonials to support disease reversal . I have asked you that question before and you were never able to provide a website. Face the truth, the Atkins folks can’t pull it off! Fuhrman is the only one who has the books, newsletters, discussion forums and an army of patients cured by his lifestyle. All over the web, there is not one single person complaining against Fuhrman (except Jimmy Moore). If Fuhrman is a fraud, where is the evidence?
People, be very careful and educate yourself about nutrition. People like Jimmy Moore cite a few misleading studies to support their Atkins diet is safe. However, the conveniently ignore thousands of studies that say the opposite. Look on the web, there are tons of articles citing the danger of the Atkins, South Beach and other low-carb/high-protein/high-fat diets. There is overwhelming evidence that a diet heavy in meat, butter and animal products is dangerous. You don’t have to be vegetarian to be healthy – all you need is to increase significantly the amount of vegetables, fruits, beans, nuts and seeds in your diet. Fuhrman’s diet is not a low-fat diet or grain-based diet either, as incorrectly repeated by Jimmy Moore. This post is not about frustration. I am honestly concerned about your health if you follow Jimmy’s advice.
People, you know the story about the emperor with no clothes. Well, that’s basically what the people listed in Jimmy’s articles. There are emperors with no clothes. It’s all smoke and mirror. Jimmy portrays them as experts in nutrition. In reality, these people are self-proclaimed gurus who have only written books and never actually helped people. You need to get your advice from experts who have helped people reverse all sorts of diseases through nutritional excellence. And you need proof (videos, articles, testimonials, phone numbers you can call, discussion forums, etc.) Don’t fall for these false prophets. Your health is too important. Fuhrman may not be the only one true expert out there. But based on my research, they are hard to find and Fuhrman is a true expert who can cure most of your health problems.
Jimmy, why are you grouping Dr Fuhrman in with all the other low fat diets? Have you ever bothered to go to his web site or read any of the suggestions in eating that he advocates. His way of eating is not low fat! He simply states that getting our fat from seed/nuts, avocados and such is a healthier alternative than meat and dairy products.
He is not in the low fat group in fact, he wrote an entire newsletter explaining the benefits of fat in our diet.
By following his diet style I lost(and still maintain) 140lbs, reversed high blood pressure, reversed high cholesterol and triglycerides, stop taking over $600.00 worth of monthly prescriptions for heart disease (statins,high bp, anti coagulants), had complete cessation of angina, reversed high blood sugar, constant bleeding hemroids I can go on and on.
I am now very fit 50 year old male with high exercise tolerance.
Did I mention that I used to be an Atkins follower for 6 years? What were the results of that? A quad bypass.
Jimmy keeps hammering down that Fuhrman’s diet is vegetarian/vegan, low fat, starch-based and grain-based. These statements are false and just an indication of how misinformed and delusional Moore is. Fuhrman has no problem if you include up to 10% of your calorie intake from animal products because there is no science research that indicates it is not healthy up to that level. Fuhrman’s diet includes a lot of healthy fats from avocadoes, nuts and seeds. These fats can be taken in larger quantity if you are not overweight and/or athletic. Clearly, his diet is not low fat. It can be temporarily lower in fat for someone who is overweight, but that’s just because this person can live off the extra fat on his/her body. Fuhrman’s diet is centered around green leafy vegetables and other nutrient-rich plant foods. It is not centered around potatoes and other starchy vegetables. Fuhrman does not promote grain like common vegetarian diets out there.
Jimmy and his Atkins buddies think in one dimension: the macronutrient ratio of your diet. According to them, the quality of a diet is based on a particular ratio of fat/carbohydrate/protein. This is totally incorrect. Our human bodies need to be filled with micronutrients (vitamins, minerals, phytochemicals, etc.) and calories. Our bodies also need a certain volume of foods to fill up our stomach. You need the calories, the volume and micronutrients to avoid hunger and not over-eat. If one is missing, you will go hungry, over-eat, gain weight and get frustrated. That’s where 99.9% of diets fail. In order to hit on all three, you need to follow Fuhrman’s advice. This will allow you to avoid hunger, maintain a healthy weight and reverse disease. And don’t worry; you will not miss diet colas, doughnuts, cakes, cookies, French fries, butter, luncheon meat, coffee, alcohol if you give your bodies a few days/weeks to get passed the withdrawal symptoms.
Just another quick thought before I move on with my day (I have a job, kids and I do real exercises unlike Moore). Moore says he can’t eat fruits because the glycemic index is too high and it will spike up his blood sugar. This is another example of how uninformed Moore is about diabetes and basic body functions. If he bothered to lose fat around his belly (which is hard on his moronic diet), he would realize his body would process sugar normally without excess insulin. People like me on Fuhrman’s diet can eat lots of fruits and not worry about blood sugar because we are thin and healthy. If you are scared of a banana or pineapple because of blood sugar spikes, then you have serious health problems and you need to get on Fuhrman’s website ASAP. Your life depends on it!
You know, my pug dog might be 10% other breeds, but she's still a pug!
If you want a site that shows reversal of disease, true reversal, as measured by CT scans, go to the heartscan blog site. (sorry, url's not allwed here apparently)
Mr. Quadruple bypass, first of all I don't believe you, second of all, if that's true, you were doing Atkins wrong. Heart disease is caused by inflammation, a proper low carb diet is extremely non inflammatory. What is? Sugar and Starch. At least Furhman got that right.
Thousands of bad studies, thousands of "observational" studies by biased researchers, do not evidence make. In every recent study where sugar is removed from the diet, sat. fat gets exonerated. Check out this metastudy by a die hard anti sat fat proponent:google Krauss metastudy. Here's the conclusion: "no significant evidence for concluding that dietary saturated fat is associated with an increased risk of CHD or CVD."
Freddy, Atkins died of cardiomyopathy due to his stupid low-carb/high-protein diet. It was not due to a virus like his family said. That's a lie. Wake up!
All of you are ignorant on these blogs. Maybe you ought to work at the bedside in the hospital for several months and then you will speak with some knowledge. YOU--Every reseacher, writer, doctor out here has the public so confused about what a healthy diet consists of. If you are so concerned about the mothers, fathers, aunts, children, daughters, sons, friends out here, YOu would publish the FACTS and ONLY the FACTS about all the Diets/Way of Eating above. You really are not being helpful and I more than likely will see you in a hospital bed one day. Yours in healh, a Medical/Surgical Registered Nurse of 18 Years.
Wow, the vile hatred that has shown its ugly head in the comments section to this column is nothing short of breathtaking. Hilarious and yet somehow quite disturbing to know people like this are walking around out there on the street. If you want to see real physicians who are using a low-carb diet with GREAT success on their patients, simply check out my lowcarbdoctors dot blogspot dot com blog for many who are doing great work! They're out there and livin' la vida low-carb is saving lives. I'm not discounting that Dr. Fuhrman is helping people, but I don't think he should be the only one promoted at Whole Foods. That's the main point of what I wrote.
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