Today’s conversation is all about food and my guest is world-renowned medical doctor, Dr Mark Hyman. Mark has spent decades in clinical practice and we share a real passion for empowering our patients with practical information that they can use to improve their health. As well as his clinical work, Mark is an educator, author and campaigner and is committed to changing policy for the betterment of public health. Last time I spoke to Mark back on episode 98 of the podcast, we spoke about how the food choices we make can impact our health, the environment and climate change. We continue that conversation in today’s episode by talking about the content of his brand-new book, The Pegan Diet. Despite the title, this is not a diet book – it outlines the core principles of nutrition that underpin good health and can be followed by anyone, whatever your dietary or cultural preference.
In our conversation, we take a deep dive into concepts like food is medicine, personalised nutrition and the unnecessary conflict between many diet ‘tribes’ – who Mark and I believe actually have more in common than you might think. Mark explains that scientists have identified upwards of 25,000 different phytonutrients, not just in plant foods but also in grazing animals, which our bodies can process and use in complex ways. He explains how our ultra-processed Western diets are contributing to the chronic disease epidemic and that our current food system isn’t just driving poor health, it’s one of the biggest causes of climate change. We also discuss the importance of reducing our food waste, the need for regenerative agriculture and the harm caused by factory farming.
Mark’s simple, back-to-basics approach is within all our reach. It’s a myth, he insists, that eating well takes time, money and effort. He argues that the food industry has hijacked our kitchens and convinced us we need to outsource our meals, and it’s time to take back control.
I always get a lot from my conversations with Mark and this one is no exception. I love his message that we can all be part of the solution – for our own health, that of society and of the planet. I hope you enjoy listening.
Show notes available at https://drchatterjee.com/159
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