COLUMBIA (WACH)—One of America's leading advocates for good nutrition shares his plan to Kick start weightloss.
The plan helped two Wisconsin siblings embrace healthier eating habits and shed more than 150 pounds. Now nutrition researcher Neal Barnard, M.D., is taking his three-week diet overhaul to people across the country with his new book, 21-Day Weight Loss Kickstart: Boost Metabolism, Lower Cholesterol, and Dramatically Improve Your Health.
Dr. Barnard’s dietary advice, which has been featured on PBS and Oprah.com, helped Diane Begos, a Milwaukee Kickstarter, lose 60 pounds in one year. Begos convinced her brother to try the program: He lost more than 90 pounds and saw dramatic improvement in his diabetes.
“We’ve found that the best way to lose weight is to jump into a completely healthy diet for three weeks,” Dr. Barnard explains. “During this test drive, people start to slim down, and they also see their cholesterol and blood pressure plummet. Migraines and other pains often vanish. If they have diabetes, it often improves and sometimes even disappears.”
Dr. Barnard based his book on a free online program he launched in 2009 that has already helped more than 100,000 people transform their eating habits. Dr. Barnard’s National Institutes of Health-funded clinical research has found that low-fat, plant-based diets can help people lose weight, reverse diabetes, and implement long-term changes in eating habits and health.
Vance Warren, a former police officer from Washington, D.C., credits Dr. Barnard’s vegan diet for saving his life. Warren cut his A1C levels in half, lost 60 pounds, and lowered his cholesterol by 75 points. Jenna Kinsey, a student from Pomona, Calif., spent several years in chronic pain. After 10 days on a low-fat, plant-based diet, Kinsey eliminated her migraines. That inspired her to embrace a vegan diet for the long run, and she lost 40 pounds.
Dr. Barnard recommends foods that help tame the appetite and boost metabolism. His program does not require calorie counting or exercise. He provides three weeks of recipes, nutrition information, and cooking tips, as well as inspiration from celebrity coaches including the Biggest Loser’s Bob Harper, actress Alicia Silverstone, and NBA champion John Salley.
In March, PBS stations across the country will air a new 60-minute special on Dr. Barnard’s Kickstart program. Dr. Barnard will travel to several U.S. cities in April to introduce his new book and invite residents to try the 21-day program.
The 21-Day Vegan Kickstart, a free online nutrition program, starts April 4. Participants can learn more or sign up at www.21DayKickstart.org.
TV Station Profiles & Public Inspection Files forWACH