The Exam Room by the Physicians Committee Top Doctors on Longevity, Healing and What Whole Food Plant Based Means | Fuhrman, Grega, Esser
Aug 12, 2025
Dr. Meagan Grega, board-certified in lifestyle medicine, joins Dr. Joel Fuhrman, a leading advocate of the Nutritarian diet, and Dr. Stephan Esser, who specializes in maximizing athletic recovery through nutrition. They discuss the transformative effects of whole food plant-based diets, share insights on overcoming food addiction, and highlight the nutritional needs of top athletes. The trio also emphasizes that it's never too late to adopt healthier eating habits for longevity and well-being.
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Nutritarian As Optimized WFPB
- Joel Fuhrman calls nutritarian a focused type of whole-food, plant-based diet that maximizes nutrient density.
- It demands variety (greens, beans, mushrooms, seeds) and avoids relying on potatoes or rice alone.
Athletes Need The Right Fuel For Longevity
- Stephan Esser says elite performance needs the ideal fuel for peak and durable performance, not short-term compromises.
- Joel Fuhrman adds many endurance athletes improved stamina and prolonged careers after switching to nutritarian-style diets.
Switching Diets Adds Healthy Years
- Modeling shows switching from a Western diet to an 'optimal' diet at age 20 adds about 13 healthy years for women and 10 for men.
- Even switching at age 60 adds ~8 healthy years and at 80 adds ~3.4 healthy years.