I. Introduction
When Michael Greger’s grandmother was 65, she was diagnosed with end-stage heart disease and sent home to die. But she refused to give up. Instead, after watching a 60 Minutes segment about nutritionist Nathan Pritikin, she made an appointment to see him. Pritikin had a reputation for reversing terminal heart disease in patients who followed his plant-based diet and exercise program. At the time Greger’s grandmother signed on as Pritikin’s patient, she was so weak she had to be wheeled into his center. Just three weeks later, she was walking miles a day — and went on to live another 35 years.
This experience launched Greger on a mission to promote the healing power of food. Diet, he points out, is the No. 1 cause of both premature death and disability in the United States. By marshaling scientific evidence, Greger argues that embracing a whole-foods, plant-based nutrition plan can decrease your likelihood of getting a large panel of diseases, from heart disease to Alzheimer’s, freeing you to live a healthier life.