Dr. Joel Furhman is an American celebrity doctor and an internationally recognized expert on nutrition and natural healing. He strongly advocates what he calls a micronutrient rich diet.
A former competitive figure skater, he suffered a serious injury that removed him from competition. He says an alternative medicine therapy helped speed his recovery and led him to become a physician.
Through his medical practice, as well as his New York Times best-selling books and PBS specials, Dr. Fuhrman has helped thousands of people lose weight permanently and reverse chronic diseases, such as heart disease, diabetes, autoimmune diseases and chronic pain syndromes, including migraines, using a nutrient-dense, plant-rich eating style, a Micronutrient Rich Diet, that he calls the Nutritarian diet.
“The nutritarian diet is an eating pattern created by Dr. Joel Fuhrman initially published in his top-selling 2003 diet book Eat to Live. The diet is vegan, gluten-free, low in sodium, and low in fat. The diet also avoids or minimizes processed foods, and focuses on eating nutrient-dense foods that are high in vitamins, minerals, fiber, and antioxidants.
Dr. Fuhrman suggests that following the diet not only prevents, but reverses, chronic diseases, and “maximally slows aging and promotes lifespan.” Nutrient-density in the book is based on a formula and index Dr. Fuhrman created called the Aggregate Nutrient Density Index (ANDI). This index scores food based on nutrient-density to help people identify healthier food options. The six-week diet promises an approximate 20-lb weight loss and improved energy and health—so much so that the book says most people opt to continue following a nutritarian diet after the initial six weeks.” from Cookinglight.com
His book Eat to Live was on the New York Times bestseller Paperback Advice & Misc. list for 90 weeks.[5]
Earlier this year I was incredibly fortunate to have interviewed Dr. Furhman for my series, Happy, Healthy Mama’s and I am thrilled to share our interview with you here.
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Learn more about nutrition and a Micronutrient Rich Diet in this article on Chronic Fatigue and Inflamatory Foods.
Debbie Movsesian is a physician assistant and a health coach. She graduated from the University of Michigan and attended PA school at George Washington University. She has many years of experience treating cardiac patients. Her passion is health promotion and disease prevention and treating the root cause of disease. This passion led her to start coaching as she believes it is the education plus close support and accountability that truly inspires long-lasting health.