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Calorie Counting
How Does
Joel Fuhrman's Diet Compare?
BACKGROUND
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PRO
CON
DIET and NUTRITION
EXERCISE
CONCLUSION
Common Misspellings
Whats better than
Joel Fuhrman's Diet?
Diets
Calorie Counting
Joel Fuhrman’s Eat To Live Diet Review (UPDATED 2024): Don't Buy Before You Read This!
Specializes in reducing and reversing disease through natural and nutritional methods.
Top Rated Diets of 2024What is it?
Joel Fuhrman’s Eat To Live Diet is made to help delay the aging process, and help the body naturally lose weight. It’s a 6-week plan that suggests low calorie foods that are high in nutrients.
It emphasizes reducing carbohydrates such as white bread and pasta, as well as oils and sugar. Dairy and meats are avoided entirely while on this diet. There are certain food limitations as well as foods one can eat in as many amounts as one would like. Our experts reviewed all the available diets and found that the 18Shake Diet was the overall best for weight loss. To learn more about why it was rated the 2024 most effective diet click the link provided here.
Do You Know the Best Diets of 2024?
Joel Fuhrman’s Eat To Live Diet Ingredients and Side Effects
No prepackaged foods or diet supplements are offered. The diet does have 4 different diet principles one has to follow that include:
• Nutrient Density: Health is directly tied to the amounts and different types of nutrients one receives from vitamins and minerals. The diet provides a scale called the ANDI or Aggregated Nutrient Density Index. Soda ranks in at a low score of 1, while vegetables like collar greens and kale have the highest score at 1,000. A list of the ranked foods shows that dense leafy greens rank much higher, and they award more points.
An equation is offered that is H=N/C or Health equals nutrients per calorie. This is the basis for the diet, and it basically means that to achieve a healthy body, most of one’s calories should come from nutritious foods.
• Comprehensive Nutrient Adequacy: It’s important not just to eat high nutrient foods, but have a diverse amount of foods to get important antioxidants and phytochemicals. They advise the use of certain supplements for things like Vitamin D, Zinc, Iodine, EPA and DHA, and vitamin B12.
• Favorable Hormone Levels: The belief is that there are hormones that in high amounts can increase the risk for cancers. To reduce the risk of hormone fluctuations, a lot glycemic carbohydrate diet is advised.
It’s recommended to add berries, beans, and vegetables to keep insulin regulated. A compiled list of the top 10 ranked diet plans is offered in the link provided here.
• Avoidance of Toxins: Certain foods which are seen as possibly contaminated such as meats are avoided. There are toxic chemicals added to certain foods, and the diet advises to get plant rich meals to avoid carcinogens, infectious agents, and chemicals.
The foods allowed in unlimited amounts include:
- Raw vegetables.
- Four fresh fruits a day but no juice that’s canned, some dry fruits are allowed.
- Minimum of a cup of beans and legumes daily.
- Cooked or steamed eggplant, peppers, mushrooms, cauliflower, carrots, onions, and tomatoes.
The following are allowed in limited amounts:
- 1 ounce of raw nuts and seeds.
- 2 ounces of avocado.
- 1 cup of cooked starchy or whole grains such as cereal, potatoes, corn, squash, and rice.
- 1 tablespoon of ground flaxseed.
- One drink of alcohol per day only.
No amounts of these foods can be eaten, and special considerations are required:
- Oil.
- Fruit juice.
- Dairy or animal products.
- Processed foods.
- Snacking between meals.
Web MD described this as:
“a very restrictive diet”
It’s strictly a vegan, low-fat, low-salt, and mostly gluten-free 6 week diet. For people who eat meat even sparingly, it can be hard to transition to this type of lifestyle as it limits many common foods.
The registered dietician Kathleen Zelman adds:
“You will absolutely lose weight on this plan, but you may not be able to do it long term”
Since it’s primarily a vegetable based diet, it’s likely to lead to some weight loss since vegetables have much less calories than meats and a heavy use of grains. There are many restrictions and Web MD adds:
“could make it very difficult to stay on”
The diet mentions that 90% of what one eats will be whole plant foods. This is a healthy approach but it can be extremely difficult to limit protein and heathy fats. Most of what one eats will be lacking in calories, and there’s no evidence that this can help suppress appetite and be used as a long term diet. The top 10 list of the highest ranked diet plans are available when you click here.
EDITOR’S TIP: Combine this diet with a proven meal replacement such as 18 Shake for better results.
Joel Fuhrman’s Eat To Live Diet Quality of Ingredients
The quality of food eaten is good since it’s, mostly all natural vegetables. A review by Science-Based Medicine found that the diet is not based in science, and there’s no studies performed to show that the Eat To Live Diet is both safe and necessary. The review adds how the creator of it is:
“trying to sell you something”
“invents what he calls his “health equation””
The health equation is reviewed and the site finds:
“can’t be qualified in any real way, this is nothing more than a parlor trick”
The overall quality of this brand cannot be accurately measured, and though a mostly plant based diet is healthy; it’s hard to upkeep and not necessary. For many people not getting sufficient protein or healthy fats can be difficult, and it’s likely one will stay hungry. A list of the top 10 highest rated diet plans is available in the link here.
The Price and Quality of Joel Fuhrman’s Eat To Live Diet
There is membership to the official website offered, as well as a book that sells for $17 on Amazon.com. Most of the cost is from buying fresh fruits and vegetables. This can be pricy, as it’s suggested one should be buying only specific kinds of vegetables, with an emphasis on organic food options.
Some customers also added how the suggestions for foods are very limited, and that the book will often try to push certain brands instead of offering a general food product.
There are also recipes, a health tracking app, member groups, and a blog with updates. Though the creator is a Doctor, there’s no evidence that limiting proteins and eating mostly vegetables is a sustainable weight loss diet approach. Our experts ranked the highest rated diet plans in a top 10 list found here.
Business of Joel Fuhrman’s Eat To Live Diet
The diet was created by a Dr. Joel Fuhrman who specializes in family medicine. Although a Doctor, there is no evidence that proves the Eat To Live Diet is effective for long-term weight loss.
His background in nutrition is limited, he is part of a nutrition board, however, there is no research developed nor do they provide proof.
The basis for the business is that a 90% plant based diet is effective for promoting many health benefits. It’s not ideal for all body types, as it’s lacking in protein need to run important body functions.
EDITOR’S TIP: The top 10 list of the best diets is available here.
Customer Opinions of Joel Fuhrman’s Eat To Live Diet
Here are some reviews from people who tried the diet:
“because of vast amounts of produce required, we had to utilize a second refrigerator”
“whole lot of guessing and cherry-picking”
“very hard to follow and I think unrealistic for the vast majority”
“He’s a medical doctor; not a nutrition researcher”
A total of 562 people gave it a critical review on their Amazon.com page. People have argued it takes a lot of time having to prep one’s own foods, since it doesn’t allow for many packaged foods. These people described this as being an impractical way to live one’s life, as many hours need to be spent prepping and cooking.
Often there were issues with people being unable to fit all the food they need in their refrigerators.
There were also problems with a lack of appetite suppression. Though there are unlimited amounts of vegetables, many were bored and wanting to eat more protein and fats. The highest rated diet plans have been compiled in a top 10 list found here.
Conclusion - Does Joel Fuhrman’s Eat To Live Diet Work?
There are many things to keep in mind about the Eat To Live Diet. This plan has no evidence to back up its use, and many users say they were left hungry and wanting to eat something besides mostly vegetables. Customers also mentioned how the diet tries to get people to buy certain brands, and that it’s incredibly restricted. Web MD also adds how the diet is unlikely to support long term weight loss. A lot of time has to be spent prepping and cooking foods as well.
The highest rated diet plan of 2024 was found to be the 18Shake Diet Plan. It offers a natural, metabolism boosting supplement free of stimulants alongside a high protein, appetite suppressing meal replacement. Testimonials and reviews are available from customers who say the meal replacement is filling, mixes easy, and tastes good. Users of the supplement add how they’ve noticed metabolism boosting effects without any stimulant related side effects.
Both of the supplements are backed by a full 30 day money back guarantee for any reason. Returns are all offered risk free for a total of 30 days. Learn more about the 18Shake Diet Plan by clicking on the link provided here.
- Product Name
- User Rating
- Easy to follow
- Cheap Price
- Fast Results
- High Protein Diet
- 91/100
-
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- Dukan Diet
- 89/100
-
-
- Paleo Diet
- 87/100
-
- Plexus Slim
- 77/100
-
- Joel Fuhrman's Diet
- 35 /100
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BACKGROUND
Start the Diet Now Advertisement
Dr. Joel Fuhrman is a well-known doctor who provides diet and nutrition advice to help patients lose weight and improve their health with a nutritional approach. Dr. Fuhrman has written several books on nutritional weight loss such as Eat to Live and Eat for Health, and has appeared on ABC, CBS, NBC and many other media outlets promoting the importance of sound nutrition to achieve optimal health.
Dr. Fuhrman specializes in reducing and reversing disease through natural and nutritional methods. For weight loss measures, the recommended plan from Dr. Fuhrman is his Eat to Live book. By following the plan in this book, you can lose weight naturally and permanently. You can also reduce your blood pressure, cholesterol and prevent heart disease without the use of medications.
The premise of Dr. Fuhrman’s Eat for Health program is that the more nutrient dense foods you eat, the quicker your health will improve. He proposes a largely plant-based diet void of refined products, meat and dairy.
Through the web site Dr. Fuhrman offers not only his books, but also online medical and nutritional advice.
Do You Know the Best Diet Pills of 2024?
PRO
- Natural and nutritional approach to weight loss
- Emphasis on long-term results
- Created by a medical doctor
- Successful results by others
- Vegetarian-friendly
CON
- Programs may be somewhat restrictive and difficult for those used to easing into a diet program
- Food preparation time can be lengthy
- Little to no meat is allowed
DIET and NUTRITION
Dr. Joel Fuhrman promotes a plant-based diet comprised of vegetables, fruits, legumes, raw nuts, seeds and some whole grains. Avoided are sugar, refined flours, salt, and severely limiting all animal products include meat and dairy.
A sample day of meals may include:
- Breakfast: Two cups cooked oatmeal with one tablespoon ground flax seed, one banana, one oz. raisins, 1/2 cup soy milk or skim milk.
- Lunch: Green salad with balsamic vinegar and one teaspoon olive oil, one cup of chickpeas or vegetable soup and fresh fruit.
- Dinner: Stir-fried vegetables with tofu or steamed string beans with onions and mushrooms.
The basic premise of Fuhrman's diets are consuming foods that are nutrient-rich but low in calories. These foods, like vegetables, fruits and legumes, will satiate the appetite because of their water and fiber content.
EXERCISE
Because many of Dr. Fuhrman’s plans are designed for those with health issues, moderate exercise is recommended. Typical exercise might include 30-45 minutes of moderate intensity walking, five to six days per week.
CONCLUSION
Using Dr. Fuhrman’s recommendations, you can easily lose weight, reduce your current diseases and prevent contracting future diseases. Although it seems that most of the plans are very restrictive, they do garner results.
If you are looking for a plan that will finally give you the health and weight loss benefits you are looking for, Dr. Fuhrman can provide that. Be prepared for dramatically reducing your meat intake, but on the flip side you don’t have to count calories. As long as you follow the plan, you can be on your way to your ideal weight and optimal health.
Common Misspellings
eat to life, eating to live, eat for health, eating for health, joel fuhrman diet, joel furhman diet
Featured Diets and Supplements
Joel Fuhrman's Diet?
User Feedback
(Page 2 of 5, 97 total comments)Kennedy
I love this way of eating! It was an adjustment at first like anything but this is so much more than a diet! It is a forever lifestyle with recipes that taste better than any I've ever had. I wish I had discovered this way of eating 20 years ago! Thank you Dr Fuhrman for my amazing energy and perfect health! Everyone should follow this book!
posted Jan 1st, 2018 3:06 pmalyr
HAHAHA "no evidence to back it up"???? No evidence that fruits, vegetables, greens and nuts are what we should be eating?
posted Dec 20th, 2017 5:51 pmYou people are hilarious.
alyr
Stop lying with the fake news. It's not a DIET. It's a way to eat NATURAL REAL foods instead of man-made processes and animal foods.
posted Dec 20th, 2017 5:49 pmBecca
I tried this diet about 10 years ago, did not particularly lose weight but my headaches went away. Thought I'd try it again now that I'm a little older, and wiser, and more determined (and want to be a vegan).
posted Nov 11th, 2017 10:54 pmPersonal Challenges with this diet: allergic to bananas, allergic to avocados, dislike bitter tasting things like eggplant (that has not been sweated with salt), dislike peppers, sour things like lemon, B12 deficiency under control with supplements (tripled dosage in preparation for diet).
Week One: My energy level tanked. Felt depressed. Liked the food and felt pretty full. Lost 2 pounds!
Week 2: Unable to get out of bed. People kept asking if I was sick (very pale). Went off the diet 3 days in, and ate normally for 4 days. Felt better! Gained 3 pounds so thinking this was all just water weight before :(
Week 3: Got back into it. Depressed and tired again. Haven't exercised since before diet. Veggies I used to love now make me gag, I guess because of excessive repetitive eating. Fruit still ok. Not eating enough though. Don't want to eat, can't bear to finish whats on my plate. No weight change (so still at 1 pound gain).
Week 4: Is a giant question. Maybe the weight loss magic will kick in if I stick with it? Thinking about going back to counting Macros on myfitnesspal. It was easy and tasty but I was only able to keep weight level. Also thinking about staying on this diet because at the very least I'm not tempted to eat (and sort of heave when I do). So that will eventually mean caloric debt and weight loss, right?
In any case, not sure this diet is working as intended for me.
Michelle
Eight years ago, after reading several books including Eat To Live I started eating vegetarian, with very limited amounts of diary products and eggs. Six weeks ago I started eating vegan; the first two weeks were so easy that I went all the way and cut out oil and salt-Nutritarian. The second day I got a low grade headache that lasted 3 days and since, I have felt great. No more bloating, normal bowel movements, no headaches, and I am cutting out both my acid reflux medications...slowly. Yes, you have to plan meals; yes, you have to food prep; yes, you have to be open minded about the foods you eat and YES, you have to research. But, if you want to feel amazing, look amazing, and lose weight you will do all of that, gladly. I can research during the week, make my meal plan Friday evening, shop and meal prep Sunday all equaling about 5 hours! 5 hours for superb health!! My fridge is not nearly as packed as it was. I was able to create more space by getting rid of all the oil and sugar laden salad dressings and condiments that were unnecessary. This is a lifestyle change and if you want to live you have to treat it as such. Don't listen to the other people's opinions, do the research! Eat to live.
posted Sep 11th, 2017 4:10 pmPeggy Lucero
The truth about food and society!! Feel great and am losing weight!
posted Sep 2nd, 2017 9:29 pmJennifer
I started the "diet" four days ago and am having no issues. The person who previously posted that you only can have two lbs of veggies, four fruits, one cup of beans, etc. did not read the book or even the chapter on on starting the diet. Here's a sample of what I've been eating: old fashioned oats with unsweetened almond milk, chia seeds, and frozen fruit for breakfast - lentil soup for lunch - black bean chili with quinoa for dinner. I pack some carrots or other veggies and two fruits to snack on at work. Does that sound so horrible? I don't think so! I even made "icecream" with a frozen banana and some frozen mango chunks in my juicer last night. It's not Ben and Jerry's but it wss really good. I'll admit, this is more of a lifestyle change than a diet. I needed to kick my salt habit and my three pizza a week habit and start taking care of myself for the long-term. If that's what your looking to do than this is a great plan and there's tons of recipes from "nutritarians" on the web so you don't even have to buy his cookbooks.
posted Aug 31st, 2017 8:37 pmMaddy
What started off as a diet to help lose the weight that I could NEVER shift without starving an exercising like a maniac has now turned into a comfortable lifestyle. Yes, I do slip up every now and again or 'treat' myself with something that I used to adore. Now anything processed tastes very sweet and makes me feel unwell. I also get incredibly bloated and constipated with any alcohol or gluten consumption and with sugar an almost immediate breakout! In saying that, if I stick to the nutritarian way of eating my skin is extremely clear, my stomach is flat and I have no digestion issues. I also managed to lose the weight I wanted without being hungry.
posted Jun 19th, 2017 7:18 pmLiz
It works! I have about 10 lbs to lose and lost 3 in 4 days. My gut is not nearly as bloated.
posted Jun 11th, 2017 7:05 pmLori
This diet is extremely restrictive and landed me in the hospital. I have since promised my medical doctor to "eat balanced" going forward.
posted May 31st, 2017 11:24 pmHis diet is Orthorexia in disguise. No oil, no salt, extremely low fat, no animal products, only 2 glasses of water per day, no caffeine, no sugar, and only occasional grains. This is no way to live.
The daily eating plan consists of:
2 pounds vegetables
2-4 pieces of whole fruit
1-2 ounces dry roasted unsalted nuts or seeds
1 cup beans
That. Is. It. For the rest of your life. Every day.
I was a member of his very overpriced online group for a while and its members are extremely rigid. The group is like a cult.
The Mediterranean diet is a much healthier, balanced eating style.
Monique Gray
I have been on the diet for 5 days and gain 1 pound. It is complicated, expensive you need so many different foods. This is another scam, I thought it was a reducing diet. What joke !
posted Apr 8th, 2017 1:29 pmCora
Dr. Fuhrman's diet made me sicker not healthier. The only thing I lost was money and time.
posted Apr 3rd, 2017 8:07 amI had IBS-D which would only flare up once in a while with maybe a couple of bouts of diarrhea in a day followed by an irritated gut for another day as it settled down. But on the Fuhrman diet I started having violent explosive green water diarrhea numerous times a day. It got so bad I actually soiled myself on one occasion because I didn't get to the bathroom in time, and I felt chained to the bathroom. They told me on his message board that this was just my body "detoxing" LOL From what? Crack??? I wasn't eating a SAD diet before, I was eating a Mediterranean diet.
So I finally quit the diet when I developed a very painful bleeding hemorrhoid from all that explosive diarrhea and my butt being raw, and I went back to eating the way I did before and everything settled down again. I then found out about Dr. McDougall's starch-based diet and tried that and within a couple of weeks ALL my IBS symptoms stopped and haven't come back so I consider my IBS cured. That was 5 years ago.
In addition to the IBS being gone, I also lost the 35 pounds I need to without feeling hungry or deprived. And I have tons of energy whereas before, even on the Mediterranean diet, I was tired all the time.... but not nearly es exhausted as I felt on Fuhrman's diet.
Sarah
I don't feel hungry and pounds are dropping off!
posted Feb 10th, 2017 7:37 amMonica Brenner
The more you do it, the easier it is to pass up donuts or other popular treats when someone tries giving it to you. You just don't recognize it as food anymore and many things become noticeably too sweet or too salty.
posted Jan 12th, 2017 11:51 amRo
I lost 23 lbs on this plan. It is NOT hard at all. Easier than most and you are never hungry because you just keep eating fresh raw veggies. You follow 6 weeks then go maintenance and you can keep eating this was for good. It is very healthy.
posted Dec 19th, 2016 12:51 pmBryan
Great way to eat healthy and stay healthy. The simplicity and lack of "shedding pounds overnight" type talk probably doesn't turn people on. Basically, eat fresh foods and not processed. How simple.
posted Dec 11th, 2016 2:04 pmGunnar Grunhisen
Does this diet - excuse me, "diet lifestyle" - work? Yes. Yes it does. If you follow the Furhman "nutrientarist" diet you will live longer and healthier and lose weight.
posted Dec 7th, 2016 10:38 amShould you try it? Probably not.
The Furhman method works because it basically restricts you to eating cabbage and nuts. No meat, no carbs, no sugar, no salt. His draconian rules basically exclude that could ever give you pleasure in eating.
Fuhrman is not really a scientist, but the science he quotes is sound, from a biological point of view. He neglects the psychological aspects though, and assumes that his every reader is simply looking to maximize his life expectancy.
So, if your goal in life is to live to 100 and you have the self-control to think of food merely as fuel, then go ahead and dive in.
This diet may well get you another 10-15 years to live. But these will be the years between 80 and 95, or maybe between 95 and 110.
Are you really so desperate about living to be 110? Then this will be the way for you. Me, I'd rather have some steak.
Kate Bond
It works and it's the only eating style that works and is healthy.
posted Nov 14th, 2016 10:42 pmIrish
+We're only on day 4 but both my husband and I (we're 68) are amazed that we have no cravings of any sort between meals & we find it hard to eat all the food in the 7 day vegan meal plan, due to the quantity, and we're big eaters. We do find it is a very labor intensive diet though. Lots of shopping for fresh produce and lots of cooking. We hope as we get used to it there will be less of both as we will be able to plan ahead better. We check our blood pressure at home and both are down to nice numbers. It will be interesting to see what happens as we progress through the first 6 weeks.
posted Apr 21st, 2016 6:05 pmTerry
+I just started this diet over a week ago, and have already seen wonderful results. I thought I was going to go crazy buying fresh veggies and fruit, but I'm doing it and am not suffering from the cost. I'm learning to buy ahead and prepare most of my foods. I did Medifast and was successful, but as soon as I left that expensive diet, I regained almost every pound. Now I'm trying this and feel good. I'm loving the comments.
posted Apr 19th, 2016 8:42 am