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A bestselling author’s groundbreaking eating plan that challenges the notion that starch is unhealthy
From Atkins to Dukan, the fear-mongering about carbs over the past few decades has reached a fever pitch; the mere mention of a starch-heavy food is enough to trigger a cavalcade of shame and longing.
In The Starch Solution, bestselling diet doctor and board-certified internist John A. McDougall, MD, and his kitchen-savvy wife, Mary, turn the notion that starch is bad for you on its head. The Starch Solution is based on a simple swap: fueling your body primarily with carbohydrates rather than proteins and fats. This will help you lose weight and prevent a variety of ills.
Fad diets come and go, but Dr. McDougall has been a proponent of the plant-based diet for decades, and his medical credibility is unassailable. He is one of the mainstay experts cited in the bestselling and now seminal China Study—called the “Grand Prix of epidemiology” by the New York Times. But what The China Study lacks is a plan.
Dr. McDougall grounds The Starch Solution in rigorous scientific fact and research, giving readers easy tools to implement these changes into their lifestyle with a 7-Day Quick Start Plan and 100 delicious recipes. This book includes testimonials from among the hundreds Dr. McDougall has received, including people who have lost more than 125 pounds in mere months as well as patients who have conquered lifethreatening illnesses such as diabetes and cardiac ailments.
Acknowledgments vii
Note to the Reader viii
Preface ix
Introduction: My Personal Journey to the Starch Solution xi
Part I Healing with Starch
Chapter 1 Starch: The Traditional Diet of People 3
Chapter 2 People Passionate about Starches Are Healthy and Beautiful 19
Chapter 3 Five Major Poisons Found in Animal Foods 33
Chapter 4 Spontaneous Healing on a Starch-Based Diet 45
Chapter 5 The USDA and the Politics of Starch 59
Chapter 6 We Are Eating the Planet to Death 69
Part II The FAQs about Food
Chapter 7 When Friends Ask: Where Do You Get Your Protein? 83
Chapter 8 When Friends Ask: Where Do You Get Your Calcium? 103
Chapter 9 Confessions of a Fish Killer 119
Chapter 10 The Fat Vegan 133
Chapter 11 Just to Be on the Safe Side: Stay Away from Supplements 147
Chapter 12 Salt and Sugar: The Scapegoats of the Western Diet 171
Part III Living the Solution
Chapter 13 Practicing the Starch Solution 187
Chapter 14 The 7-Day Sure-Start Plan 207
Chapter 15 Our Favorite Recipes 221
Starting the Day 221
Salads 232
Dressings, Sauces, and Condiments 242
Burgers and Wraps 250
Soups and Stews 262
Main Dishes 281
On the Side 305
Sweet Endings 311
Resources 319
References 320
Index 339
MtnMikeCA
Posted May 8, 2012
Want to lose a few pounds in a couple weeks?
Read a diet book, ANY diet book.
Want to become healthy, lose weight and feel great for life?
Read The Starch Solution.
When a friend or patient asks "where do I begin" This book will be at the top of my recommended reading list. I will tell them to begin their journey with The Starch Solution.
On a chance mountain bike ride, I met a physician that said he could only cure one condition, bacterial infections. The diseases that are so common to our world are only managed. However, he shared, that through nutritional counseling, he is beginning to help people heal themselves.
Rather than preach throughout our ride, he said, "Watch Forks over Knives and read The China Study."
I began there. Then I discovered Dr. McDougall and his wife, Mary. Soon the value of the words I was digesting became crystal clear. My mother was diagnosed with uterine cancer and patients, friends and family began sharing recent medical afflictions. In the four months that I have been on my journey, I have seen one friend die of bladder cancer, another has grade 4 pancreatic cancer.
I am committed to a Starch Solution lifestyle.My cholesterol has dropped 60 points, BMI is 24 and I feel great. The hills I climb on my bike seem shorter. This month I turn 55 and I am loving life.
I believe The Starch Solution is the book Dr. McDougall has always wanted to write. He pulls no punches, is direct, and presents a plain and simple argument for making changes that will promote health. He challenges you but includes enough footnotes and quoted research to satisfy the skeptics providing ammunition for those scientifically inclined. The personal tales of the "Stars" will make it real for those that want to let their heart guide them to an answer.
Rather than skirting the issue by saying we should eat a "plant strong," or "whole foods" diet that has a "Spectrum" of choices, this book is clear when it states:
"The diet that best prevents disease, best supports the body's innate healing mechanisms, and best promotes sustained weight loss is a low-fat diet based on starches, with added vegetables and fruits, and with no animal products or free oils.
A giant step toward health and spontaneous healing is yours for the taking."
Thank you Dr. John and Mary.
7 out of 7 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted May 28, 2012
Great book - well written, well-researched, and well-documented with the research articles he refers to. Do not think he is referring to processed carbs. By the term "Starch" Dr McDougall refers to fiber-rich, whole, unprocessed (or very minimally processed) potatoes, sweet potatoes, whole grains (such as, brown rice, barley, whole wheat, oats, corn), and beans and lentils. This is NOT a diet based on whole wheat bread, cold cereals (even "whole grain" ones), white rice, pasta, etc., as those foods are processed. I eat a LOT of food and I am never hungry. I fill my plate with 1/2 whole starches and 1/2 raw or cooked green and yellow veggies (particularly greens like kale, spinach, swiss chard). I include one or two fruits with each meal. I eat half my veggies raw and half my veggies cooked. I've been to Dr. mcDougall's 5-day program; I follow his advice and it is working. I am losing weight (down 45 lbs so far), reversing my diabetes, and my arthritis pain is nearly all gone. My seasonal allergies are gone! This spring, while others around me are congested and sneezing, I can finally breathe freely! No more anti-histamines! No more sinus headaches. My rosacea has nearly completely cleared up. My family physician is very happy with my progress and enthusiastically supports this way of eating. He is satisfied that I am getting substantial nutrition, as long as I take a B-12 vitamin regularly. I take no other vitamins or supplements. I also recommend Dr. Joel Fuhrman's books called "Super Immunity" and "Eat to Live." 95% similar advice, also similar excellent results.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Sannejon
Posted May 16, 2012
I devoured this book this week. I asked to get it for Mother's Day and I finished reading it today! Not only is this bood packed FULL of wonderful medical nutrition information and life changing advice it is a lot of FUN to read! Interesting, personable and very real for today. I enjoy the personal Star McDougallar stories about people like me. I especially like chapter 10 - The Fat Vegan because that's me! Now I know what I've been doing wrong. I also like the research info on Salt and Sugar. You'll be suprised at what the medial world know and the USDA knows because its not what they show us on TV. I have already started practicing Dr. McDougall's advice and I know I'm on the road to better health!!
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted November 23, 2012
This book is basically vegan propaganda. The only "science" it contains is based around drawing strange conclusions from epidemiology.
2 out of 5 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted July 12, 2012
This is a good book to have on the shelf for reference in pursuing a healthful diet. Excellent information thoughtfully presented. Lots of appealing recipes. Glad I bought it!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Sally1313
Posted June 7, 2012
Highly recommended! Eat almost everything you always wanted and love weight and stay healthy. One of the most informative books on the market about eating healthfully!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted May 15, 2012
Awesome book! Goes right along with Forks Over Knives. Love it!
1 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted July 9, 2012
Get this book. Its the truth. Its time to embrace our herbivorous ancestory.
0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted June 25, 2012
I purchased this book because I do follow the Whole Plant Food Way of Eating. It did confirm my thoughts about starches, and it also states that fruits/vegetables are also necessary AND sugar. Found the title misleading. Dr. McDougall is very informed, especially about losing weight.
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Posted November 6, 2012
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Posted February 25, 2013
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Overview
A bestselling author’s groundbreaking eating plan that challenges the notion that starch is unhealthy
From Atkins to Dukan, the fear-mongering about carbs over the past few decades has reached a fever pitch; the mere mention of a starch-heavy food is enough to trigger a cavalcade of shame and longing.
In The Starch Solution, bestselling diet doctor and board-certified internist John A. McDougall, MD, and his kitchen-savvy wife, Mary, turn the ...