http://www.diseaseproof.com/archives/cardiovascular-disease-lowcarb-highprotein-diet-increases-risk-of-death-from-all-causes.html

I knew Dr. Fuhrman would be vindicated as all his claims are based no empirical scientific evidence.

I think you’d best throw your meat away and head out to buy some starchy veg…

I am a board certified holistic health coach with a background in integrative nutrition and physical therapy. I am very aware of the science out there and I regularly read new studies to stay up to date on current research.

Having worked for them in the past, I can say that Whole Foods is a phenomenal company. People like to smear them as money grubbers, but they have no idea about all the things Whole Foods does. Whole Foods employees are paid very well (10/hr to start. Even a cashier or maintenance worker will start at this), and in general employees are treated very well. Whole Foods commits themselves to practices of sustainability (composting, recycling, using less plastic, etc.), and community involvement (5% days, various fund-raisers throughout the year, Whole Planet Foundation) as well. Whole Foods didn’t adopt the Engine 2 and Eat to Live programs to make more money by selling more produce. John Mackey – years ago – started on the Engine 2 diet and feels that he lost a lot of weight and got healthier from it; naturally, he’s going to want to promote what he (and the author’s colleagues in the PCRM) thinks is the end-all-be-all of health.

Lastly, I am not – and have never been – a low carb/primal/paleo/whatever “dieter”, nor do I have anything against a vegetarian diet.

With that said, I am incredibly disappointed with Whole Foods for not just promoting a single dietary theory (ok, really 2 different theories that are 98% similar), but also for partnering with the PCRM (People’s Comittee for Responsible Meidicine; essentially a vegan front-group. They like to support every study that says that meat is linked to some sort of disease even when it’s obvious that the problem is the preservatives and quality of the food itself). Whole Foods’ scientific advisory panel is made up solely of PCRM members, which means there is only one dietary path people will be told to follow. Sure, you should eat more greens, and there’s nothing wrong with following a vegetarian diet (read Paul Pitchford’s book Healing With Whole Foods for a good reference on vegetarianism that doesn’t simultaneously demonize animal products), but suggesting this diet for every person completely ignores biochemical individuality as well as the cultural diets of basically everyone. Their push for low-fat and cholesterol reduction follow the same diet fad that’s been chugging along for the past 50 years or so and we’re not any healthier from it.

I could spend hours detailing the inaccuracies in the Engine 2 book (which I have read and own a copy of), and a similar amount of time on Fuhrman’s works (based upon the information I’ve gained from his website and various articles). Both of these methods closely follow the advice of our broken medical system that is afraid of fat, cholesterol, and salt. This should be a giant red flag for anyone who has spent a fair amount of time understanding what is wrong with this medical system to begin with. It really does not matter any amount as to how many studies supposedly support these diets or what journals they were published in. A bad study is a bad study, no matter how many people cite it (google: appeal to authority, appeal to majority).

Whole Foods really should have adopted an integrative approach and worked with various experts to help customers find a diet that is right for them. Instead, they’ve partnered with a deceitful organization with a very clear and obvious agenda.

I spent 6 years working with an MD helping people reduce triglycerides, small dense LDL particles and insulin levels with a diet based on fibrous vegetables, nuts and animal protein. A low fat diet simply means you will reduce the amount of fat soluble nutrients absorbed. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Vol. 80, No. 2, 396-403, August 2004 http://www.ajcn.org/cgi/content/full/80/2/396

It won’t be long before I no longer patronize them. I did send a letter to them with my concerns. I hope other customers who know better do too!