The abstract beneath the video is taken from the first few pages of the excellent book "The McDougall Plan" by Dr John McDougall. The video is from the vegsource and processed people websites, in which the author tells his personal story.
VegSource VIDEO: Dr. John McDougall – Ex-Processed Person Date: May 4th 2009. Dr. John McDougall wasn’t always the healthy fellow you see today. He suffered with constipation, acne, lethargy, obesity -- and then a major stroke paralyzed the left side of his body. Dr. McDougall “gets it” -- because he’s been there. Watch the video:
A BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE McDOUGALL PLAN
The McDougall Plan encourages you to adopt the diet and lifestyle which best supports your natural tendencies to heal and stay healthy. This supportive environment is based around proper foods, moderate exercise, adequate sunshine, pure air and water, and surroundings comfortable to your psychological wellbeing.
The primary component, the diet, is centered around a variety of starchy plant foods such as rice, potatoes, and pastas with the addition of fresh or frozen fruits and vegetables. Animal-derived foods and plant products that are refined or otherwise processed are not health-supporting and are placed in the category called delicacies. Other plant foods that are also considered delicacies are those high in fat such as nuts, seeds, and avocados; and foods high in unprotected simple sugars; for example, honey, molasses, and maple syrup. These delicacy foods are to be reserved for special occasions and consumed only by healthy individuals. There are relative degrees of harmfulness among delicacies. No portions are recommended for the meal plan except that a starch should provide most of the calories. The quantity consumed each day is variable among individuals and governed by our highly efficient hunger drive. Foods that support your health easily make the most interesting and delicious meals you can imagine.
Additions and modifications of the basic meal plan include:
Supplementation of a nonanimal source of vitamin B-12 after three years on the plan or if you are pregnant or nursing.
Addition of foods concentrated in calories (dried fruits, nuts, seeds) to the basic diet of healthy individuals with unusually high caloric needs.
Elimination of foods that cause adverse reactions such as an allergy or an irritation.
Limitation of foods high in protein (legumes) to one cup a day for most people and further restriction in persons with certain illnesses (osteoporosis, gout, kidney stones, liver or kidney failure).
Fruits may have to be limited in those very sensitive to simple sugars (elevated triglycerides and hypoglycemia). In general three fruits a day is reasonable for most people.
One teaspoon of added salt over the surface of the foods is permitted in the daily diet of those who do not suffer from salt sensitive conditions (high blood pressure, heart or kidney disease, and edema).
Children are solely breastfed until the age of six months, solid foods are then supplemented, but breast milk still constitutes 50-25% of the childs diet until age two. After this age, starches, vegetables, and fruits provide for the basic nutritional needs.
PERSONS WHO ARE ILL OR ON MEDICATION WHO WISH TO CHANGE THEIR DIET SHOULD DO SO ONLY UNDER THE DIRECTION OF A PHYSICIAN FAMILIAR WITH THE EFFECTS OF DIET ON HEALTH. Otherwise you are encouraged to start today this meal plan and lifestyle that have provided excellent support for the health of most of our ancestors from the beginning of time and will do the same for you.