John A. McDougall
Encyclopedia
John A. McDougall, M.D., is an American
physician and author whose philosophy is that degenerative disease can be prevented and treated with a plant-based diet
of whole, unprocessed, low-fat foods, especially starches such as potatoes, rice, and beans, and which excludes all animal foods (except honey) and added vegetable oils.
's College of Human Medicine
, he performed his internship at Queen's Medical Center in Honolulu, Hawaii
in 1972, and his medical residency at the University of Hawaii
. He is certified as an internist by the Board of Internal Medicine and the National Board of Medical Examiners.
In 1965, at age 18, McDougall suffered a massive stroke
which he attributed to his high animal product
diet. Since the mid 1970s he has followed mostly a vegan diet
after observing that his elderly patients from the Far East
, who lived mainly on rice and vegetables, were trim and healthy compared to their offspring tempted by an American diet
.
. It was during this time that he first became aware of the link between his patients' dietary choice and their health. Between 1986 and 2002, he launched a vegetarian dietary program at St. Helena Hospital
in Napa Valley, California. Between 1999 and 2001, he also ran his dietary program for the Blue Cross Blue Shield in Minneapolis.
In 2002 he began the McDougall Program at the Flamingo Resort in Santa Rosa, California
. The McDougall Program is a 10-day live-in program where patients work to regain their health by eating a vegetarian diet (without limits) and where they hear lectures by McDougall and other health professionals. The program has been recommended by heart disease researcher Dean Ornish
. The core components of the program are available for free on Dr. McDougall's web site.
McDougall is the co-founder and chairman of Dr. McDougall's Right Foods Inc. which produces food products for grocery stores, and a member of the advisory board of the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine
. In 2000, The Press Democrat described McDougall and his wife as operating "a small industry, with several cookbooks, a newsletter, a Web site, vegetarian meal cups sold across the country and a nationally syndicated TV show."
McDougall is the author of several books, including The McDougall Plan (1983). This was the first book by an accredited Western medical authority to propose that there is no need to combine proteins
to make a "complete" protein.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
physician and author whose philosophy is that degenerative disease can be prevented and treated with a plant-based diet
Veganism
Veganism is the practice of eliminating the use of animal products. Ethical vegans reject the commodity status of animals and the use of animal products for any purpose, while dietary vegans or strict vegetarians eliminate them from their diet only...
of whole, unprocessed, low-fat foods, especially starches such as potatoes, rice, and beans, and which excludes all animal foods (except honey) and added vegetable oils.
Early years and education
McDougall is a graduate of Michigan State UniversityMichigan State University
Michigan State University is a public research university in East Lansing, Michigan, USA. Founded in 1855, it was the pioneer land-grant institution and served as a model for future land-grant colleges in the United States under the 1862 Morrill Act.MSU pioneered the studies of packaging,...
's College of Human Medicine
Michigan State University College of Human Medicine
The Michigan State University College of Human Medicine is an academic division of Michigan State University , and grants the Doctor of Medicine degree. CHM was founded in 1964 as the first community-integrated medical school, and has a program that emphasizes patient-centered care and a...
, he performed his internship at Queen's Medical Center in Honolulu, Hawaii
Honolulu, Hawaii
Honolulu is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Hawaii. Honolulu is the southernmost major U.S. city. Although the name "Honolulu" refers to the urban area on the southeastern shore of the island of Oahu, the city and county government are consolidated as the City and...
in 1972, and his medical residency at the University of Hawaii
University of Hawaii
The University of Hawaii System, formally the University of Hawaii and popularly known as UH, is a public, co-educational college and university system that confers associate, bachelor, master, and doctoral degrees through three university campuses, seven community college campuses, an employment...
. He is certified as an internist by the Board of Internal Medicine and the National Board of Medical Examiners.
In 1965, at age 18, McDougall suffered a massive stroke
Stroke
A stroke, previously known medically as a cerebrovascular accident , is the rapidly developing loss of brain function due to disturbance in the blood supply to the brain. This can be due to ischemia caused by blockage , or a hemorrhage...
which he attributed to his high animal product
Animal product
Animal product, or animal by-product, is a term used to describe material taken from the body of a non-human animal. Examples are fat, flesh, blood, milk, eggs, and lesser known products such as isinglass and rennet....
diet. Since the mid 1970s he has followed mostly a vegan diet
Veganism
Veganism is the practice of eliminating the use of animal products. Ethical vegans reject the commodity status of animals and the use of animal products for any purpose, while dietary vegans or strict vegetarians eliminate them from their diet only...
after observing that his elderly patients from the Far East
Far East
The Far East is an English term mostly describing East Asia and Southeast Asia, with South Asia sometimes also included for economic and cultural reasons.The term came into use in European geopolitical discourse in the 19th century,...
, who lived mainly on rice and vegetables, were trim and healthy compared to their offspring tempted by an American diet
Western pattern diet
The Western pattern diet, also called Western dietary pattern or the meat-sweet diet, is a dietary habit chosen by many people in developed countries, and increasingly in developing countries. It is characterized by high intakes of red meat, sugary desserts, high-fat foods, and refined grains...
.
Career
Between 1973 and 1976, McDougall worked as a medical doctor at the Hamakua Sugar Plantation on Hawaii IslandHawaii (island)
The Island of Hawaii, also called the Big Island or Hawaii Island , is a volcanic island in the North Pacific Ocean...
. It was during this time that he first became aware of the link between his patients' dietary choice and their health. Between 1986 and 2002, he launched a vegetarian dietary program at St. Helena Hospital
St. Helena Hospital
St. Helena Hospital is operated by Adventist Health, a group of 17 hospitals in the western United States, and is located in the Napa Valley, California, between the town of St. Helena, and the community of Angwin, which is home to Pacific Union College. St. Helena Hospital was established in 1878...
in Napa Valley, California. Between 1999 and 2001, he also ran his dietary program for the Blue Cross Blue Shield in Minneapolis.
In 2002 he began the McDougall Program at the Flamingo Resort in Santa Rosa, California
Santa Rosa, California
Santa Rosa is the county seat of Sonoma County, California, United States. The 2010 census reported a population of 167,815. Santa Rosa is the largest city in California's Wine Country and fifth largest city in the San Francisco Bay Area, after San Jose, San Francisco, Oakland, and Fremont and 26th...
. The McDougall Program is a 10-day live-in program where patients work to regain their health by eating a vegetarian diet (without limits) and where they hear lectures by McDougall and other health professionals. The program has been recommended by heart disease researcher Dean Ornish
Dean Ornish
Dean Michael Ornish, M.D., is president and founder of the nonprofit Preventive Medicine Research Institute in Sausalito, California, as well as Clinical Professor of Medicine at the University of California, San Francisco....
. The core components of the program are available for free on Dr. McDougall's web site.
McDougall is the co-founder and chairman of Dr. McDougall's Right Foods Inc. which produces food products for grocery stores, and a member of the advisory board of the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine
Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine
The Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine is a non-profit organization based in Washington, D.C., which promotes a vegan diet, preventive medicine, alternatives to animal research, and encourages what it describes as "higher standards of ethics and effectiveness in research." Its primary...
. In 2000, The Press Democrat described McDougall and his wife as operating "a small industry, with several cookbooks, a newsletter, a Web site, vegetarian meal cups sold across the country and a nationally syndicated TV show."
McDougall is the author of several books, including The McDougall Plan (1983). This was the first book by an accredited Western medical authority to propose that there is no need to combine proteins
Protein combining
Protein combining is the outdated theory that vegetarians, particularly vegans, must eat certain complementary foods like beans and rice together in the same meal, so that plant foods with incomplete essential amino acid content combine to form a complete protein, meeting all amino acid...
to make a "complete" protein.
Research papers
- McDougall J. Dairy and type 2 diabetes mellitus: wrong conclusions. Arch Intern Med. 2005 Nov 14;165(20):2434
- McDougall J. Effects of a low-carbohydrate diet. Mayo Clin Proc. 2004 Mar;79(3):431
- McDougall J. Optimal diets to prevent heart disease. JAMA. 2003 Mar 26;289(12):1509
- McDougall J. Misinformation on plant proteins. Circulation. 2002 Nov 12;106(20):e148
- McDougall J. Plant foods have a complete amino acid composition. Circulation. 2002 Jun 25;105(25):e197
- "Effects of a very low fat vegan diet in subjects with rheumatoid arthritis." Journal of the American College of Nutrition 17:512, 1998. & Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine 8:71-75, 2002.
- "Rapid Reduction of Serum Cholesterol and Blood Pressure by a Twelve Day, Very Low Fat, Strictly Vegetarian Diet" Journal of the American College of Nutrition 14:491-496, 1995.
- "Reduction of Risk Factors in an Intensive Cardiac Rehabilitation and Lifestyle Modification Program in High Risk and Cardiovascularly Diseased Patients. Journal of Cardiopulmonary Rehab 9:397, 1989.
- "Preliminary Study of Diet as an Adjuvant Therapy for Breast Cancer Published": Breast, Diseases of the Breast 10:18-22, 1984.
DVDs
- Dr. McDougall’s Money-Saving Medical Advice
- Dr. McDougall's Common Sense Nutrition
- McDougall Made Irresistible
- Dr. McDougall Disputes Major Medical Treatments
- McDougall Made Easy
- Dr. McDougall's Total Health Solution
- McDougall's Medicine