Neal Barnard - The Facts about Cheese - Episode 65

TODAY’S GUEST: Neal Barnard, M.D., F.A.C.C., is an adjunct associate professor of medicine at the George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences in Washington, D.C., president of the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, and founder of Barnard Medical Center. Dr. Barnard is a fellow of the American College of Cardiology, the 2016 recipient of the American College of Lifestyle Medicine’s Trailblazer Award, and has led numerous research studies investigating the effects of diet on diabetes, body weight, and chronic pain, including a groundbreaking study of dietary interventions in type 2 diabetes, funded by the National Institutes of Health. Dr. Barnard 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. As president of the Physicians Committee, Dr. Barnard leads programs advocating for preventive medicine, good nutrition, and higher ethical standards in research. He hosts four PBS television programs on nutrition and health and is frequently called on by news programs to discuss issues related to nutrition and research. Originally from Fargo, N.D., Dr. Barnard received his medical degree from the George Washington University School of Medicine and completed his residency at the same institution. He practiced at St. Vincent’s Hospital in New York before returning to Washington to found the Physicians Committee. In 2015, Dr. Barnard founded the nonprofit Barnard Medical Center, which opened in January 2016, in Washington, D.C. Barnard Medical’s board-certified physicians, nurse practitioners, and registered dietitians provide complete primary care. Barnard Medical also helps patients tackle the causes of illness, with extra attention on improving health through prevention and nutrition. Barnard Medical takes advantage of years of research conducted by the Physicians Committee research team and other researchers, showing how a new approach to medicine and nutrition could help prevent and reverse serious health problems, such as obesity, diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, elevated cholesterol, migraines, and arthritis. Barnard Medical’s focus on nutrition includes comprehensive nutrition counseling with registered dietitians and group cooking classes. As a child in Fargo, North Dakota, Barnard studied piano, cello, and guitar, and took his love of music with him to Washington, DC, where he attended medical school while establishing himself in the DC music scene. Barnard started composing and recording songs in the 80s, and he played music professionally throughout his medical school and residency. With a penchant for the avant-garde, Neal constantly writes songs that defy any genre categorization. He chooses unconventional time meters as well, in order to “tilt the song ever so slightly and give you that little jolt between the ears,” as he puts it. Be sure to check out the debut CarbonWorks CD - out today on all digital music sites! More about Neal Barnard CarbonWorks music will surprise those who know Barnard as the physician who has authored more than 70 scientific publications and 18 books, whose NIH-funded research revolutionized the nutritional treatment of diabetes, and who is a recognized authority on science and health. As founder of the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine and a faculty member at the George Washington University School of Medicine, the trailblazing physician has dramatically influenced U.S. nutrition policies, arm-wrestled with the food industry, and worked to replace the use of animals in education and research with kinder methods. In keeping with the tradition of luminaries like Albert Einstein, who played violin with symphony orchestras and Harvard researcher Rudy Tanzi, who played keyboards with Aerosmith, Barnard’s scientific innovations are complemented by his explorations in music. As a way of bridging together these two worlds, Barnard gives talks about his findings on how music profoundly affects the brain and “why it beats heroin and Velveeta!” For more info: CarbonWorksMusic.com Follow Barnard Medical Center on Facebook @BarnardMedical. Follow Dr. Barnard on Twitter and Facebook @NealBarnardMD   Connect With Today’s guest: Dr. Neil Barnard Website: CarbonWorksMusic.com On Twitter On Facebook Barnard Medical Center on Facebook IN THIS EPISODE: Do you want to eat a plant-based diet but don’t want to give up eating cheese? There are reasons why cheese is the hardest food for people to eliminate when they are switching to a plant-based diet. This episode with Dr. Neal Barnard will give you the facts about cheese. Join us as Dr. Barnard talks with me about the benefits of a plant-based diet, the negative effects of cheese and other dairy products on our bodies, and what you can do to replace cheese with alternative foods that are delicious and nutritious. Did you know that dairy products have a negative effect on human hormones? In this episode, Dr. Neal Barnard talks about the concentrated hormones that are present in cheese, and the effect that they have on our bodies. Do you want hormonal health and balance for yourself and your children? You will want to listen to my conversation with Dr. Barnard and get the facts about cheese. Why is cheese so addictive? You will be surprised to hear how much cheese Americans consume every year. In today’s episode, Dr. Barnard explains the chemicals that make cheese addictive in much the same way that alcohol is addictive. Listen in to learn about this and other facts about cheese and get motivated to eliminate this harmful food from your diet. Did you know that fat causes diabetes? For years we have thought it was just too much sugar. In this episode, Dr. Neal Barnard talks about the role of fat in preventing glucose from being processed properly in our bodies. If you or someone you love struggles with diabetes or has pre-diabetic symptoms, be sure you listen to this episode and find out how switching to a plant-based diet can help. Does switching to a plant-based diet seem overwhelming to you? I know it can be for many people. That’s why I’m glad that in my conversation today with Dr. Neal Barnard, he explains how to make the change as simply as possible. Listen and find out how just a few changes a week can very quickly get you to a plant-based diet with foods you love. Outline Of This Great Episode [4:45] Introduction of Dr. Neal Barnard and this episode. [10:48] How working as an autopsy assistant got Dr. Barnard started in natural medicine. [14:43] Why more and more athletes are eating plant-based diets. [18:57] The negative effect of dairy products on human hormones. [23:57] Dr. Neal Barnard’s new book, The Cheese Trap. [27:07] Why is cheese so addictive? [28:23] How much cheese do Americans consume, and why is this problematic? [35:00] How can fat cause diabetes? [38:23] Break and announcements [40:06] Why is the medical community still promoting that carbs are bad? [41:53] Facts about cheese that Dr. Barnard found surprising. [44:33] Dr. Barnard’s favorite plant-based cheeses. [46:36] The Physician’s Committee for Responsible Medicine focuses on prevention and research. [49:56] How to make the the change to a plant-based diet as simple as it can be. [53:07] How PCRM worked to get the Food Pyramid changed. [58:12] Dr. Barnard’s opinion of the Paleo diet. [1:02:33] Why people need to move in the direction of a plant-powered diet. [1:04:06] What would life expectancy be with our diet if we had no drugs for diabetes or heart disease? [1:06:42] On a side note, Dr. Barnard plays in a band, Carbon Works, with a newly released CD. Resources Mentioned On This Episode Book: The Cheese Trap (Affiliate link) Neil Barnard Twitter Facebook Barnard Medical Center on Facebook Physician’s Committee for Responsible Medicine Website Facebook Neil’s Band - CarbonWorks Website YouTube Facebook Treeline (nut-based cheese) Miyoko’s Kitchen (nut-based cheese) Kite Hill (almond-milk based yogurt & cream cheese)