To pink05 re: Dad's diet

Most doctors know next to nothing about nutrition and I just want to scream everytime I hear the word "Ensure." It is nothing but oil and sugar. Eating more fat is just going to feed the cancer. I have giant respect for so many doctors who do the incredible surgeries, the ridiculous hours they keep, etc. I'm just stating a stone cold fact - nutrition is not a priority in med school and they usually don't eat well themselves.

Dealing with my own doctor it is very apparent we have very different views when it comes to diet. I'm the one who got my OWN cholesteral down without any words of advise or questions from him about what I was eating. I still adore him but I've looked to other sources when it comes to nutrition.

I am a big fan of Dr. John McDougall, a name I've mentioned on this board a couple of times. He's an internist that practiced for 30 years in Hawaii. Over the years he became bewildered with the patients he'd treat that would just become sicker. He'd prescribed drugs for whatever ailment he was treating and they would just get worse. He was only doing what he learned in med school.

Over time he discovered a strong connection between diet and disease, made some major changes and now specializes in getting patients OFF drugs. He works with many diabetics, heart patients, etc. I've met and made friends with Dr. Ruth Heidrich (ruthheidrich.com) who is a 20 year + breast cancer survivor. She had a double mast. and was pressured by her doctors to do intense chemo. She just happened to find an ad in the paper about a clinical trial conducted by McDougall. She met with him and was convinced he could help. She followed his program and never had a need for the chomo. This woman is 70 years old and an award winning athlete. She gives McDougall all the credit for her survival.

This "program" is, in a nutshell, about eating simple foods most of the world eats anyway. Parts of the world where diseases are scarce and focus is on eating a plant based diet. More affluent countries have more diseases - they can afford the junk. I don't want to upset anyone by implying that cancer is ALL about the food we eat but it does make a major impact. There is still stress, genes (although bad habits are also inherited), environment, etc. Still, a decent diet can help someone with cancer - it definitely cannot hurt. I've been cooking for my friend Mark and he's handling his chemo very well. Can't prove it's the diet but he's definitely had more energy and better spirits since he's been eating this way.

Please go to drmcdougall.com and look around. He has his entire program online for FREE. His books are outstanding (12 Days to Dynamic Health...), his three day weekends are dirt cheap for the amount of information and time he spends answering questions and in his ten day session he works his magic and gets people off their lifelong meds. He's kind, compassionate and truly wants to help people. If that doesn't sell ya, Dr. M answers ALL his email. Tell me of another doctor that will do that. He get's scads of email but somehow finds the time to do this.

Your dad does NOT need more fat, cholesteral and sugar. Please email me if you have any questions. McDougall is for real and I'm a huge skeptic.