This page is your whole food plant-based diet resource guide for helping with the transition including links to doctors, cookbooks, documentaries, a few products, and other services. As your guide to health and well-being, I hope you'll find these useful. If you're new to eating a plant-based diet, you can feel confident that these are some of the best.
Disclaimer: Some of these resources have affiliate links. I only recommend items that I use and/or trust and will receive, at no extra cost to you, a small commission if you purchase to help keep the website going. Thanks for your support.
DOCTORS
(This is by no means a complete list of doctors who advocate a plant-based diet but is mostly composed of doctors associated with websites. For a complete list of medical plant-based doctors in your area, search plantbaseddoctors.org)
Dr. Neal Barnard, MD has led numerous research studies investigating the effects of diet on diabetes, body weight, and chronic pain and has authored more than 70 scientific publications as well as 18 books, including the New York Times best-sellers Power Foods for the Brain, 21-Day Weight Loss Kickstart, and the USA Today best-seller Dr. Barnard’s Program for Reversing Diabetes. He is also the president of The Physician's Committee for Responsible Medicine.
Dr. Cadwell Esselstyn, MD is the author of Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease and is featured in the documentary Forks Over Knives, has been championing eating a plant-based diet for decades and continues to be a leader in the movement.
Dr. T. Colin Campbell, MD, is the author of The China Study and has been dedicated to the science of human health for more than 60 years. His primary focus is on the association between diet and disease, particularly cancer.
Dr. Jami Delaney, MD is a general practitioner and is a leading provider of cardiac care in Port Charlotte, Florida, who also has a plant-based wellness podcast, nutrition courses, and private coaching.
Dr. Garth Davis, MD. is the medical director of the Davis Clinic at the Methodist Hospital in Houston, Texas, and starred on the hit TLC show Big Medicine. He is the author of Proteinaholic: How Our Obsession With Meat Is Killing Us and What We Can Do About It, and a huge proponent of a plant-based diet.
Dr. Joel Fuhrman, MD is a leader in the plant-based diet movement and has authored six New York Timebestsellersrs. His approach is to advocate a "nutritarian" diet, one with the highest nutritional density.
Dr. Alan Goldhammer, DC is the founder and director of True North Health Center. He's written several books, including co-authoring The Pleasure Trap with Dr. Doug Lisle.
Dr. Maurice Gonzalez. Physician, internal medicine resident, and plant-based diet leader for the Spanish-speaking community with a huge Instagram following. He gives you straightforward information about what the medical industry is discovering about diet and nutrition.
Dr. Michael Greger, MD is a physician, New York Times bestselling author and internationally recognized professional speaker on a number of important public health issues. His latest books, How Not to Die and the How Not to Die Cookbook, are best sellers. His revealing short videos on the science of nutrition can be found at NutritionFacts.org.
Dr. Joel Kahn, MD, cardiologist, believes that plant-based nutrition is the most powerful source of preventative medicine on the planet. He's a passionate advocate and has written several books. His website offers inspiration, videos, and a program for reversing heart disease.
Dr. Michael Klaper, MD believes that proper nutrition (through a whole-food, plant-based diet) and a balanced lifestyle are essential for health and, in many cases, can make the difference between healing and illness or merely treating its symptoms. See Dr. Klaper’s 73-minute DVD and Video On Demand, “Salt, Sugar, and Oil: Could Your Favorite Flavors Be Hurting You?”
Dr. Doug Lisle, PhD. has been the clinical psychologist at the TrueNorth Health Center for over 30 years. He has published numerous articles in the scientific literature. He is the co-author of The Pleasure Trap and is in private practice, conducting psychotherapy at the TrueNorth Health Center. You can see his TED talk about The Pleasure Trap here.
Dr. John McDougall, MD. A physician and nutrition expert who teaches better health through vegetarian cuisine. Author of The Starch Solution and founder and director of the nationally renowned McDougall Program: a ten-day residential program.
Dr. Dean Ornish, MD. For over 35 years, Dr. Dean Ornish’s series of scientific research studies have been empowering the way millions of people think about the simple lifestyle choices they make each day in dynamic relation to their health & well-being.
Dr. Robert Osfeld, MD, MS Cardiologist, is the founder and director of the Cardiac Wellness Program at Montefiore Medical Center in New York City. He encourages patients to embrace a whole-foods, plant-based diet.
WEBSITES
Nutrition Facts Run by Dr. Michael Greger, this site covers what the latest science says about nutrition and your favorite foods to help you make the healthiest choices for you and your family. There are more than 2,000 free videos on health and nutrition topics.
Dr. Esslysten's Prevent & Reverse Heart Disease website offers links to his books, articles, successes, and more on how diet can affect health.
Dr. John McDougall's Health & Medical Center. Offers 3-day intensive and 10-day live-ins for reversing and preventing disease through a plant-based, starch-centric diet.
Ornish Lifestyle Medicine. Dr. Ornish’s Program for Reversing Heart Disease is the first program scientifically proven to “undo” (reverse) heart disease by optimizing four important areas of your life. This program has been proven to undo heart disease by dealing with the root causes and not just its effects. The combined effect of all four lifestyle elements makes a transformative difference.
PCRM (Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine) is a non-profit research and advocacy organization based in Washington, D.C., which promotes a vegan diet, preventive medicine, and alternatives to animal research.
Plantricious.com has guidelines endorsed by the nation’s leading medical experts that make it easy for you to identify disease-fighting, nutrient-dense, fiber-filled prepared, and packaged plant-based foods and recipes you can trust. Look for the Plantricious seals on some of my recipes.
RETREATS AND WELLNESS PROGRAMS
Dr. Joel Fuhrman:
Retreat: Provides medical care, education, and tools for people to reclaim their health. Located in Rancho Santa Fe, California (near San Diego)
Other Fuhrman Events: Master Classes and a Ski Getaway
Plant-Strong: Check their website for yearly information. Designed to give participants a powerful and in-depth understanding of the medical and nutritional components of PLANTSTRONG living. Located in Sedona. Rip Esselstyn, author of Engine 2 Diet and The Engine 2 Diet Cookbook.
Dr. John McDougall 12-Day Program: A life-saving medical program for reversing and healing chronic illness. Located in Santa Rosa, California.
Dr. Dean Ornish :
Undo It online program: Scientifically proven to reverse heart disease
Reversal Program: The first program scientifically proven to “undo” (reverse) heart disease. Locations across the U.S.
Cardiac Wellness Center: Reversing Heart Disease with a Whole Food, Plant-Based Diet. Located in New York City.
BOOKS
How Not to Die by Dr. Michael Greger. In addition to showing what to eat to help treat the top fifteen causes of death, How Not to Die includes Dr. Greger's Daily Dozen -a checklist of the twelve foods we should consume daily. It's full of practical, actionable advice and surprising, cutting-edge nutritional science; these doctors' orders are just what we need to live longer, healthier lives.
The Starch Solution by Dr. John McDougall and his kitchen-savvy wife, Mary, proves that a starch-rich diet can help you lose weight, prevent a variety of ills, and even cure common diseases. By fueling your body primarily with carbohydrates rather than proteins and fats, you will feel satisfied, boost energy, and look and feel your best.
The China Study by Drs. T. Colin Campbell and Thomas Campbell. The China Study details the connection between nutrition and heart disease, diabetes, and cancer. The report also examines the source of nutritional confusion produced by powerful lobbies, government entities, and opportunistic scientists.
The Forks Over Knives Plan by Drs. Alona Pulde and Matthew Lederman. This book shows you how to put a life-saving (and delicious) plant-based diet into practice in your own life with is an easy-to-follow, meal-by-meal makeover.
The Vegiterranean Diet by Julieanna Hever. Julieanna Hever takes the Mediterranean diet to a whole new level! By focusing on whole-plant foods that promote long-term wellness and ideal weight management, you can reap the benefits of the most researched and beloved diet—made even healthier.
The Alzheimer’s Solution by Dr. Ayesha Sherazi and Dr. Dean Sherazi. Based on the largest clinical and observational study to date, neurologists and codirectors of the Brain Health and Alzheimer’s Prevention Program at Loma Linda University Medical Center offer the first comprehensive program for preventing Alzheimer’s disease and its links to diet and lifestyle choices.
The Mindful Vegan by Lani Muelrath teaches you how to practice mindfulness and shows how it can bring freedom and new joy to your eating and living experience with step-by-step instructions, personal stories, positivity, humor, and a handful of delicious recipes.
The Pleasure Trap by Dr. Doug Lisle. This book offers unique insights into the factors that make us susceptible to dietary and lifestyle excesses and presents ways to restore the biological processes designed by nature to keep us running at maximum efficiency and vitality.
Dr. Fuhrman's Books (for all of his books) Dr. Fuhrman has written six NY Times bestsellers and more related to eating a nutritarian, plant-based diet. Here are a few direct links:
- Eat to Live by Dr. Joel Fuhrman
- Fast Food Genocide by Dr. Joel Fuhrman
- The End of Dieting by Dr. Joel Fuhrman
- Super Immunity by Dr. Joel Fuhrman
Proteinaholic by Dr. Garth Davis. An acclaimed surgeon specializing in weight loss delivers a paradigm-shifting examination of the diet and health industry’s focus on protein, explaining why it is detrimental to our health and can prevent us from losing weight.
Whole by Dr. T Colin Campbell. An eye-opening, paradigm-changing journey through cutting-edge thinking on nutrition, a scientific tour de force with powerful implications for our health and for our world.
The Whole Foods Diet: The Lifesaving Plan for Health and Longevity by John Mackey. This book simplifies the huge body of science, research, and advice available today. It reveals the undeniable consensus: a whole foods, plant-based diet is the optimum diet for health and longevity.
The Cheese Trap by Dr. Neal Barnard. This book reveals the shocking truth about cheese-the dangerous addiction that is harming your health-and presents a radical program to lose weight and feel great.
Cookbooks
The Everything Plant-Based Meal Prep Cookbook by Diane Smith (me). Includes 200 recipes and information chapters about eating a plant-based diet.
Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease Cookbook by Dr. Caldwell Esselstyn’s wife, Anne, and daughter, Jane.
How Not to Die Cookbook by Dr. Michael Greger and Gene Stone
NEW The China Study Cookbook, Revised and Expanded by LeAnne Campbell
NEW Forks Over Knives: Flavor!: Delicious, Whole-Food, Plant-Based Recipes to Cook Every Day by Darshana Thacker and Carolynn Carreno.
Forks Over Knives, The Cookbook by Del Stroufe
No Meat Athlete Cookbook by Matt Fraizer and Stefanie Romine
Plant Pure Nation Cookbook by Kim Campbell
Food is the Solution: What to Eat to Save the World--80+ Recipes for a Greener Planet and a Healthier You by Matthew Prescott
DOCUMENTARIES
Forks Over Knives. Download, buy or watch on Netflix. This feature film examines the profound claim that most, if not all, of the degenerative diseases that afflict us can be controlled, or even reversed, by rejecting animal-based and processed foods.
What the Health. $9.00 to purchase or watch on Netflix. This film follows Kip Andersen as he uncovers the secret to preventing and even reversing chronic diseases – and investigates why the nation’s leading health organizations don’t want us to know about it.
PlantPure Nation. Watch the film for free. The film presents a compelling case and offers a simple solution to pervasive health conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, and obesity and tells the story of three people on a quest to spread the message of one of the most important health breakthroughs of all time.
The Game Changers. Released September 2019. This film tells the story of James Wilks, elite special forces trainer and winner of The Ultimate Fighter, as he travels the world on a quest for the truth behind the world's most dangerous myth: that meat is necessary for protein, strength, and optimal health.
Fat, Sick, and Nearly Dead. Watch on Hulu or Netflix and more. An inspiring tale of healing and human connection for Joe Cross. He trades in the junk food and hits the road with a juicer and generator in tow, vowing only to drink fresh fruit and vegetable juice for the next 60 days. Part road trip, part self-help manifesto,
Eating You Alive. Look for streaming on iTunes, Google Play, Amazon Instant Video, and Vudu. A feature-length documentary revealing the truth behind why Americans are so sick and what we can do about it.
Food Choices. Rent for $3.99 or watch on Netflix. This film explores the impact that food choices have on people’s health, the health of our planet, and the lives of other living species. And also discusses several misconceptions about food and diet, offering a unique new perspective on these issues.
ATHLETES
A list of ten athletes who are using plants to make incredible gains athletically.
A list of 23 athletes who are vegan.
TED TALKS
Check out this article, "10 TED Talks on Eating a Plant-Based," for great TED talks to inspire and motivate you to start and stick with a plant-based diet.
PODCASTS
The Rich Roll Podcast. Each week, Rich delves deep into all things wellness with some of the brightest and most forward-thinking, paradigm-busting minds in health, fitness, nutrition, art, entertainment, entrepreneurship, and spirituality.
No Meat Athlete Radio. Vegan and vegetarian nutrition, running and training tips, healthy lifestyle, and habit change with well-known guests like Rich Roll, Brendan Brazier, Heather Crosby, Leo Babauta, Rip Esselstyn, and more.
Nutrition Facts Podcast. Dr. Michael Greger of nutritionfacts.org discusses evidence-based science and natural ways to lower your high blood pressure, guard against Alzheimer's, lose weight and add years to your life and life to our years.
Food for Thought Podcast. Colleen Patrick Ggoudreau addresses all aspects of living healthfully and compassionately.
Plant Yourself Podcast features interviews with guests who are healing the world with plant-based nutrition, joyful movement, evidence-based health care, gardening, environmental action, social justice, and spiritual common sense.
Plant-Based Wellness Podcast with Jami Dulaney, MD. A plant-based cardiologist and endurance athlete passionate about promoting health and wellness for all ages, Dr. Dulaney focuses on using plant-based nutrition to prevent and reverse heart disease and diabetes.
The Plant Trainers Podcast. The Plant Trainers interview top experts in nutrition and fitness, such as Rich Roll, Dr. Esselstyn, Julieanna Hever, Michael Greger M.D., Dr. Garth Davis, Chef A.J., Dr. Tom Campbell, Robert Cheeke, and more. They share tricks and tips about health, wellness, and exercise that busy people and families can easily implement into their daily routines.
Live Planted Podcast. A weekly podcast about living a practical vegan lifestyle. The show goes into health, wellness, activism, environmentalism, cruelty-free practices, sustainability, animal rights, and how to make it all work while living a 'regular' life.
Kitchen and Pantry Items
Here are the KITCHEN items I recommend as well as items for your PANTRY. I only recommend what I myself have used or trust! These very useful especially if you're new to eating a plant-based diet.
RESTAURANTS
You can search for vegan restaurants on this site, dietmenus.com. While not usually as healthy as a whole-food, plant-based diet, these may come in handy when needed.
DietMenus makes it easy to find restaurant meals that fit your plant-based diet. Their menu directory currently has hundreds of popular restaurant menus that are filtered to show only the plant-based options. Their long-term vision is to build the technology for 100% menu personalization based on your diet, fitness goals, budget, or any other criteria.
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