Doctors draw Santa Rosa crowd with diet debate

In a country where almost 35percent of adults are obese, there is no shortage of doctors ready to advise people on what to eat.

On Saturday in Santa Rosa, Dr. John McDougall, a local author and director of the McDougall Health & Medical Center, squared off in debate against Dr. Joel Fuhrman, a nutritional researcher and author of the best-selling "Eat to Live" book.

A sold-out crowd of 250 and another 600 watching by online subscription may not have come away with a clear victor in the battle over which diet is best, but they certainly saw that even among health professionals, "eating right" isn't a matter of black and white.

Both doctors advocate a vegetarian diet, calling typical Americans "metabolically impaired" (Fuhrman) and "fat, sick people" (McDougall) for their consumption of meats, dairy products and processed foods.

McDougall promotes a starch-based diet with heavy use of vegetables with some fruits. He runs the McDougall Program, a 10-day, residential weight-loss and lifestyle-change program in Santa Rosa.

He sponsored the "advanced study weekend" for those looking for ways to become healthier through better nutrition.

Fuhrman argues that his vegan, nutrient-dense diet high in beans and low in grains may prevent and reverse various diseases including cancer.

The weekend event at the Flamingo Hotel was sold out for the fifth consecutive year. Attendees included health care professionals, nutritionists, chefs and regular folks looking to eat in a way that works for them.

Ellen Murray of Mountain View said she reached her top weight of 320 pounds on a vegan diet. She said she tried both doctors' methods but called herself a "Fuhrmanite."

"It's a great way for me to eat," she said, adding that she weighs about half of what she used to. "I think the nutrient-dense part of it blocks the interest in food - it stops the cravings from developing."

Both doctors quoted studies and statistics to support their views, which coincide on many points.

McDougall argued that traditional societies like the Mayans, the Irish and Asians successfully rely on a foundation of starches for the caloric energy.

If "the next village over" simply ate broccoli and cauliflower, they'd be wiped out by the stronger crew, he said.

Wearing a shirt that read "Kale is the new beef," referring to a form of cabbage, Fuhrman pulled up a sleeve and flexed his bicep, then lifted the shirt to show his lean abs.

Fuhrman's approach also allows starches, but in a smaller capacity, yielding to salads and beans.

Moderator John Mackey, founder and CEO of Whole Foods Market, said the approaches are about 98 percent similar, with both urging the elimination of the "poisons" like grease and animal products common in American diets.

You can contact Staff Writer Lori A. Carter at 762-7297 or lori.carter@pressdemocrat.com.