How Not to Die: Discover the Foods Scientifically Proven to Prevent and Reverse Disease by Michael Greger

How Not to Die: Discover the Foods Scientifically Proven to Prevent and Reverse Disease by Michael Greger
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is all about following a plant based diet. Many instances of "we're not sure why this is healthy, but if there are no downsides or adverse side effects, why not just eat it?"

I don't know enough to refute or agree with most of what he claims, but it sounds legitimate. It helps that none of the book's proceeds go to him. However, it is interesting to compare this book with other authors. This book seems to follow Perlmutter's advice (author of The brain maker), more or less. A big exception to this is grains (he's for whole grains, Perlmutter against all grains, and against all gluten). Other exceptions are kimchi and Kombucha (Perlmutter is for both, Greger not so much)

Interesting tidbits:
Just eating 4 brazil nuts a month reduces risk of heart disease
Turmeric should be added to meals
People exposed to fried foods had higher cancer rates, almost as high as smokers. Due to being exposed to the smoke from the frying. Especially living close to Bbq, Chinese and American restaurants. Out of these Chinese was highest (fish emits high carcinogen level when cooked). Bacon is also very high. If you have to fry, best to do so outside.
Adding Oregano or cinnamon to your dish could make it more healthy (adds antioxidants). Adding saffron seems to be good for alzheimer's
Tea inhibits absorption of iron
With Asbestos: We noticed the illness first with the miners, then with the shippers and ones who handled it, and now (still) with those who lived in facilities containing asbestos. Are we seeing the same with poultry? Workers in poultry plants have a higher incidence of cancer (on the other hand, we've been eating poultry forever. It seems that we would've caught on to this earlier).
Odd claims: nearly 3/4 of all human diseases come from animals. In addition to mad cow, sars, bird flu, swine flu, also tb came from domestication of goats, measles and smallpox from domestication of cattle, typhoid from domesticated chickens, whooping cough from domesticated pigs, influenza from domesticated ducks, leprosy (possibly) from water buffalo and the cold virus from horses. Is this true??
More carbs seems to lead to less depression
Up to 6 cups of day of coffee leads to less to depression (but sugar can lessen the effect)
Eggs associated with higher levels of prostate cancer
Garlic and onions (also legumes) lower risk of BpH
As you age, risk of cancer increases, until you hit around 85 years of age.

Is food healthy is the wrong question. The question should be: compared to what?
Eating is a zero sum game. If you eat one thing, chances are you won't eat something else.
If there were a pill that could increase your lifespan and be a great inhibitor to cancer growth, heart disease, etc. with no side effects. It would cost $200 and fly off shelves. Yet broccoli is like that but people don't eat it (Monsanto even tried to patent broccoli)
One green to avoid: Alfalfa sprouts (salmonella)
Ginger is good for nausea and motion sickness
Too much nutmeg, cinnamon, poppyseeds can be harmful
Not all wholegrains are healthy. Calculation: Ratio of grams of carbohydrates to grams of Fiber should less than 5.


Things I will be buying more of now (taking into account what I am already buying):
Saffron
Cranberry juice
berries
beans
flaxseed
broccoli
any nuts (walnuts) (and seeds)
oregano
amla (indian gooseberries)


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