Here are some of the facts presented in this companion book to the documentary film Forks over Knives:
• In 1909, Americans consumed around 294 lbs. of dairy products apiece. In 2006, our yearly intake was 605 lbs.
• America spends $2.2 trillion per year on healthcare. That is over five times the American defense budget.
• No less than 40% of Americans are obese.
• Approximately 50% of Americans are taking some form of prescription drug.
• 2,400 Americans die of heart disease each day. This amounts to 1 person a minute.
• 1,500 people a day die from cancer.
• 1 out of 3 people born in the U.S. today will develop type 2 diabetes during their lifetime.
• In 1913, we ate about 40 lbs. of processed sugar each year. In 1999, our consumption of all refined sweeteners was above 147 lbs.
• 75% of the dollars spent in healthcare are due to chronic illness.
Health and nutrition experts T. Colin Campbell and Caldwell B. Esselstyn, Jr., write in the foreword to this book that eating plants in their whole food form is a better way to go than eating meat or foods high in fat, sugar, and salt. Or, as Alona Pulde and Matthew Lederman put it: "Following the American diet is your one-way ticket to a slow, painful death that often begins in what should very well be the prime of your life. Or, you can switch to a plant-based diet and stop this runaway train in its tracks."
Many other experts point out the many ways in which choosing forks over knives is good for animals and good for the environment as well. In this practical paperback you will find suggestions for reading nutrition labels, a guide to plant based foods, tips for transitioning, and kitchen tools. A special added value is 125 recipes contributed by 25 champions of plant-based dining.
