Bringing "Plant-Based" to the Masses

It is now edging towards the later side of 2011. We still have a worldwide epidemic of obesity and chronic disease. Medical costs are literally bankrupting our nation...even though nobody is getting better by using the medications and procedures that absorb all of that money. Cancer is no longer the "C word" due to its overshadowing prevalence. Type 2 diabetes now occurs in eight percent of the population! A third of the U.S. population is overweight. 34% of the population is obese, 6% of which are "extremely obese."

But...despite the concern of hopelessness...

We indeed have a solution...

And the world is starting to listen...

Miracles occurred when we at EarthSave, Int. took 20+ participants, clients of the Sacramento Food Bank, through a Dr. McDougall-style plant-based program for 30 days...

The results? Multiple year-long medication prescriptions were halted, energy skyrocketed, weight and cholesterol levels plummeted, blood pressure normalized, morale was lifted, etc., etc.

A documentary about plant-based nutrition soared at nationwide box-offices...Forks Over Knives was the first full-length feature film on the topic to make it to dinner table talk. And the companion book officially made the New York Times Bestseller List.







Look where we have come! Vegan and veg-friendly restaurants continued to grow and thrive. Vegan cookbooks were hitting the shelves with a gusto...People like President Bill Clinton, Steve Wynn, and Twitter creator, Biz Stone, went plant-based.

To sum up the success and take people to the next level, I made an infotainment documentary with award-winning  filmmaker extraordinaire, Jesse Pomeroy, which has just released to DVD. To Your Health is best summed up as a fun and fast-paced "journey into the Plant-Based World."

To Your Health is an in-depth study of whole food, plant-based nutrition, debunking the most common myths associated with modern nutrition. Exploring your need for protein, calcium, supplements, metabolism, and other issues, To Your Health provides answers to your biggest questions.







Follow me as I travel the country to interview the biggest names in the Plant-Based World including Dr. T. Colin Campbell (The China Study), Dr. Joel Fuhrman (Eat to Live), Dr. John McDougall (The McDougall Program), Dr. Neal Barnard (Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine), and Dr. Pam Popper (the Wellness Forum), and many more including Brendan Brazier, Chef AJ, and Mike Anderson. My travels take me from Cornell University and the countryside of New Jersey to the San Francisco Bay and the far reaches of Central California. I visit the benevolent haven that is Farm Sanctuary along with incredible restaurants like Millennium and The Veggie Grill. This fun and entertaining journey is full of life-changing information and hope for a future of better health for all. 


Here is the trailer:

In addition, I wrote my first book...The Complete Idiot's Guide to Plant-Based Nutrition. It is the perfect resource for anyone curious or forehead-deep in plant-based nutrition. The book covers the entire lifespan-from pregnancy and infancy to seniors; all health and fitness levels (including those diagnosed with any of multiple chronic diseases to elite athletes); and varying degrees of experience with plant-based nutrition. There are also 40+ recipes, a chapter on stocking your kitchen and even one on exercise.



My second book is a cookbook which I co-authored with an incredibly talented chef, Beverly Lynn Bennett. Titled The Complete Idiot's Guide to Gluten-Free Vegan Cooking, you will find recipes for extraordinary items like gluten-free vegan sausages, biscuits, cakes, and more. Look for it on shelves on December 6th.

Let's continue to bring plant-based to the forefront of the masses. The timing is perfect and many curious people are finally piquing an interest. We are at the tip of the tipping point...let us take a stand and stop the destruction of our population and everything in its way...

10 Reasons to Just Do It! An Homage to Jack LaLanne

“Exercise is king, nutrition is queen, put them together and you have a kingdom!” Jack LaLanne 1914 – 2011

Jack LaLanne passed away yesterday at the ripened old age of 96. In honor of his infinite ability to inspire, I want to share 10 reasons why exercise is indeed so critical to optimal health. I actually would reverse Jack's quote and define nutrition as the king and fitness as the queen. Regardless, you cannot achieve and maintain your superior kingdom without a combination of consistently moving and properly fueling your body. Here are some of the reasons why:

1. Exercise stimulates your immune system. Muscle contractions are to your lymphatic system what the heart is to your circulatory system. The lymphatic system cleans up the mess like inflammatory cells from throughout the body. It then traps bacteria, viruses, fungus, and other mischief-makers to put the immune system to work. Finally, any leftover fluid is dumped back into the bloodstream to be excreted via the kidneys. Think of your lymphatic system as your body's housekeeper.

2. Working out strengthens your heart and blood vessels. Encouraging circulation by stimulating your heart to work hard for a prolonged period of time improves blood flow, decreases inflammation, and keeps your heart muscle fit.

3. Regular exercise is excellent for your mind. Depression, anxiety, stress, and panic disorders have all been found to improve with exercise. Endorphins (feel-good hormones and natural painkillers) are released from physical stress, soothing your mind, and improving your mood. It enables you to deal with stress more effectively.

4. Sleep is deeper and more efficient with regular exercise. Proper rest is critical for stress management, immune function, mental clarity, and physical well-being.

5. Weight management is easier with a consistent fitness program. As lean body mass increases, metabolism improves, and you require more calories just to maintain those muscles. Become a calorie-burning machine by sticking to a fitness plan.

6. Exercise improves insulin sensitivity. Great news for diabetics, pre-diabetics, and those who want to prevent diabetes (hopefully everyone). Type 2 diabetes is the result of insulin resistance...where the cells become unable to absorb glucose, thereby leading to hyperglycemia.

7. Inflammation is suppressed thanks to increased circulation brought about by exercising.

8. Your risk for most chronic disease-including cancer, heart disease, arthritis, and diabetes-is significantly reduced by sustaining a regular fitness regimen.

9. The number one most effective factor in preventing and stopping the progression of osteoporosis is...yep, you guessed it...EXERCISE! Resistance movements against your own body weight or other resource (like weights, machines, and tubing) improve bone mass. Bone and muscle both react to physical stress (resistance) by growing thicker and stronger. Move your body and build bone tissue. Remember that bone tissue is dynamic. It is constantly breaking down and repairing in a constant state of flux. So, provide it with stress to encourage proper bone mineralization.

10. Exercise helps make you a better lover. People who work out have an increased libido, have a decreased risk for erectile dysfunction, and have more stamina to bring sexy back to bed!

No matter what your fitness level is or what chronic conditions you may have, regular exercise will improve your life on so many levels. It is not an optional activity...it is a must-do. Commit to a program if you haven't already and watch the miracles in your life materialize!