Dr Greger explains why we need more than just kale to keep healthy

By Dr. Michael Greger

DOES DIVERSITY MATTER?

When it comes to what we eat, it feels difficult to know who to believe. One article claims one thing, and the next claims another.

Physician Dr. Michael Greger is also the author of the health and nutrition guide ‘How Not To Die’, which instantly became a New York Times Best Seller. The book has become something of a holy grail within the plant-based community, with a wealth of information on how switching to a plant-based diet can be beneficial to human health.

We’re excited to bring you Dr. Greger’s thoughts each issue to dispel confusion over many of the misnomers floating around; so that you can feel confident when explaining your plant-based diet to friends, family and colleagues.

FOOD ANARCHISTS

According to a recent survey, the number of American adults who say they are eating ‘pretty much whatever they want’ is at an alltime high, which unfortunately includes ‘too few fruits and vegetables’, as well as ‘too little variety’. Half of all fruit servings are taken up by just six foods: orange juice, bananas, apple juice, apples, grapes, and watermelons. Only five foods — iceberg lettuce, frozen potatoes, fresh potatoes, potato chips, and canned tomatoes — make up half of all vegetable servings. We’re not only eating too few fruits and veggies; we’re also missing out on the healthiest fruits, which are berries, and the healthiest vegetables, which are dark leafy greens. The fruit and vegetable palette for our palate is sadly lacking.