Feel Better, Live More with Dr Rangan Chatterjee

The Power of Plants, Love and Connection with Dr Gemma Newman #155

Feb 10, 2021

Dr. Gemma Newman, a fellow GP and author of "The Plant Power Doctor," shares her transformative journey to a whole-food plant-based diet after personal health struggles. She discusses how lifestyle changes can combat chronic diseases like heart disease and diabetes. The conversation delves into the emotional aspects of self-worth beyond appearance, the healing power of love and connection, and the importance of aligning daily actions with personal values for overall well-being. Discover the profound impact of nutrition, movement, and mindfulness on health.

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ANECDOTE

Weight Fluctuations and Energy

Dr. Gemma Newman discusses her weight fluctuations, from a size 18 to 8, primarily driven by energy levels, not aesthetics.
Her weight was highest as a junior doctor due to night shifts and readily available junk food, impacting her energy and motivation.

ANECDOTE

Concerning Blood Results and Plant-Based Diets

Despite losing weight, Dr. Newman discovered concerning blood results, initially attributing them to genetics.
She later reconsidered after researching whole-food plant-based diets and noticing their transformative impact.

ANECDOTE

Near-Death Experience and Self-Worth

Dr. Newman reflects on a near-death experience at age seven, where she felt a sense of peace and connection.
This, along with her mother's love, contributed to her strong sense of self-worth, independent of external appearance.

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This week I’m delighted to welcome friend and fellow GP, Dr Gemma Newman to the podcast. Gemma is someone who I really respect, not only is she incredibly knowledgeable, she always leads with kindness and compassion – values that I aspire to myself. Gemma has recently released her first book, The Plant Power Doctor: A Simple Prescription for a Healthier You. Having been a doctor for 17 years, Gemma has learned a lot by interacting with her patients but like for so many of us, she has also learned powerful life lessons through her own life experience.

Gemma has a strong family history of heart disease and in her early days as a junior doctor, she found herself to be carrying excess weight and was exhausted. This led to her making some changes to what she ate and how she moved, which helped her lose weight. In fact, she dropped from a size 18 to a size 8 but when she checked her blood levels, she found some concerning results. Initially, Gemma put these results down to her genes and did nothing more about it until she started researching a whole-food plant based diet. Following this research, she decided to give this way of eating a go and she shares the transformative effect it had on her and some of her patients.

This is a wide-ranging conversation. We discuss how many of the chronic illnesses we face - including heart disease, cancer, type 2 diabetes, hormonal dysfunction and obesity - can be helped with changes to our lifestyle. We also talk about Gemma’s own near-death experience and the topic of spirituality. Finally, Gemma shares her brilliant top tips, which you can put into practice immediately to change the way that you feel. At the heart of all Gemma’s advice is compassion and kindness and I’m sure you’ll enjoy this conversation as much as I did!

Show notes available at https://drchatterjee.com/155

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