(Dr. McDougall's 2nd visit)


Dearest:    My guest tonight is Dr. John McDougall, physician, nutritionist and author of numerous books, 
including his new "The McDougall Program for Women". Dr. John McDougall, founder of The McDougall 
Program, Physician, Nutritionist,Author of numerous books including his latest, 
"The McDougall Program For Women: What Every Woman Needs To Know To Stay Healthy For Life.

Dr. McDougall, it's a pleasure to have you here. How is The McDougall Program different from 
other weight-loss/health improvement programs? 


Dr. John McDougall:   The McDougall Program begins with the belief that people are intended 
to look, feel and function great for a lifetime.  The medical business considers people a 
genetic mishap. The McDougall program is based a a healthy diet and lifestyle (exercise).  
That diet is low-fat pure vegetarian.


Dearest:    I heard a reporter say that America is on a bender. Why are we so out of control 
weight-wise and is all the sugar being consumed responsible for the rise in heart disease?


Dr. John McDougall:   Obesity went from 12%% in 1991 to 19%% in 1998.  Why? Because people 
have even greater access to rich foods.  You don't even have to get out of a car to get it.  
Sugar contributes to heart disease but it is much more than that it is the whole diet 
intended for Kings and Queens.


Menobud:   I have osteopenia and take Fosamax.  Does your program address bone loss? 


Dr. John McDougall:   Yes.  Bone loss is due to the acid nature of meats, eggs, poultry, 
cheee.  The bones buffer the acid.

When the bones disolve to buffer the acid, bone loss begins and the next step takes place in 
the kidneys where the bone material is lost in the urine. 


bocho:   Dr. It seems that most people over 50 have low blood sugar problems that may be 
related to diet, menopause, etc and are similar.  True? False?


Dr. John McDougall:   I don't see that.  I think people feel poorly but I wouldn't blame 
sugar.


Dearest:    Could you elaborate? What do you think is the culprit if not sugar? 


Dr. John McDougall:   People feel poorly because they are nourished by foods you wouldn't 
feed to you dog and cat.


Dearest:    Such as? 


Dr. John McDougall:   The rich western diet is full of fat, sugar, cholesterol, salt, animal 
protein -- all the wrong foods for people. Look around the world and see where people are 
thin and healthy -- they live on a starch based diet --rice. 


Please note also that women living on starch based diets have little to no osteoporosis, they 
don't suffer from hot flashes, and they are trim and hard working -- a sharp contrast to American 
women. They also have as many as 10 babies and breast feed them for a year each and their bones 
are as strong at 70 as 20.


Dearest:    Dr. McDougall, doesn't starch turn to sugar during the digestive process? 


Dr. John McDougall:    Yes. Starch turns to sugar which is the form it enters the cells -- 
that's good or your cells would starve to death. I know many of you are confused by high 
protein messages -- if carbohydrate were bad for you then when you looked to japan you would 
see fat sickly lehtargic people.  And when the Japanese moved to the US and ate less 
carbohydrate. they would get thinner and healthier.  Is that what you see? 


Sara:   What would you suggest to get through the change naturally without hormones?  Is 
diet and exercise enough?
 


Dr. John McDougall:   Menopause is a normal natural time in a woman's life -- this is not a 
sickness.  I recommend hormones only for women with symptoms that distress their life.
If you are healthy you will have strong bones and a heart immune to heart attacks and 
menopause will be a natural change in life.



Dearest:    Dr. McDougall, I don't think any woman in this room thinks of menopause as a 
sickness, but I think many women in this room certainly feel very "sick" during menopause.  
Sara, could you ask your question again?


Sara:   Ok.  How do we get through menopause naturally?


Dr. John McDougall:   This is because of the way they manitain their heath during the 
previous 5 decades.  If they would now change their diet and exercise their whole life would 
improve.  There is no word for hotflash in the Japanese language. 


Dearest:    Thank you, Dr. M. Sara is asking about natural treatment of menopause symptoms.


Dr. John McDougall:   There are some herbs that are beneficial and discussed in great detail 
in my book as are the use of estradiol and progesterone usually as creams. I recommend women 
avoid synthetic progesterone (Provera) because it greatly increases the risk of breast cancer. 


Dearest:    What are your thoughts on the newest studies published in JAMA about HRT and 
heart disease?  


Dr. John McDougall:   HRT increases the risk of heart attacks initially because it increases 
the tendency for the blood to clot.  I do not believe that at any time HRT reduces the risk 
of heart attacks. 


Dearest:    Thank you for that, Dr. McDougall. Too many women are given hormone therapy for 
just that reason.


Dr. John McDougall:   It's a big lie!!


Dearest:    I've been talking about it for 6 yrs. Some laughed, but I never gave up
Can you share your thoughts on soy phytoestrogens with us, please? 


Dr. John McDougall:   Soy phytoestrogens are drugs and should be treated as such -- they 
have beneficial and adverse effects.


Dearest:    Can you share some of the adverse side effects?  Most of us know the positive ones.


Dr. John McDougall:   Soy is touted for its benefits for prevention of heart disease and 
cancer.  But there is a story that is suppose to be on 20/20 this week that connects tofu to 
dementia. A recent study in the Int'l British Journal of Urolology reported an increase in 
hypospadia (urethra ends at base of penis) in newborns of vegetarin women and the phytoestrogens 
are thought to be the culprit.  Another serious concern is feeding babies concentrated soy 
phytoestrogens all day long in their soy formula. 

I would recommend you get your phytoestrogens from a wide variety of plant foods, and not 
concentrate on soy.

You will be amazed at how much suffering and disease can be reversed with a healthy diet.
Our research shows a 65 mg/dl drop in high cholesterol levels in 11 days. Over weight women 
lose an average of 4 pounds eating all they want in 11 days. I recommend any plant foods -- 
they are all filed with phytoestrogens and other phytochemicals that benefit your health.  
Phyto of course means plants.


gaslady:  Does not having a monthly period cause cancer?


Dr. John McDougall:   No -- no having a monthly period will not cause cancer.  But if you 
are woried about it see a doc. 


Dearest:    What is the difference between HRT made from natural plant estrogens and soy 
shakes? 


Dr. John McDougall:   If you make estradiol from yams, it is an active single drug.  There 
is serious question as to the benefits of phytoestrogens for women.  A recent Lancet article 
discussed this in detail.  Read Lancet 335:163, 2000 and Lancet 335:849, 2000 on phytoestrogens.
 

MaryO:   If tofu has a correlation to dementia, wouldn't all those Japanese people have 
major problems?  


Dr. John McDougall:   That's one of the arguments against these study results from the Honolulu 
Heart Study. I have always, and still do, recommend soy products as condiments and not the center 
of the meal.


Dearest:    Dr. McDougall, I'm curious if you have some explanation for the "internal 
shaking" many women complain about during menopause. It's usually described as a feeling of 
tremors inside. Thanks. 


Dr. John McDougall:   I have no explanation for internal shaking.  But I would certainly try 
hormone creams to see if it was benefitted.


Sally1019:   How do you feel about the "obese effect" the all you can eat buffet bars are 
having on our culture...as many people have a tendency to get their money's worth and 
overeat.


Dr. John McDougall:   I think you should eat all you want of the right foods, and buffet 
have the wrong fattening foods.


zjImadeWWGoal:   What do you think about balanced diets such as the Weight Watchers 123 
plan? 


Dr. John McDougall:   I think Weight Watchers is a semi-starvation diet and contains too 
many unhealthy foods -- usually.


zjImadeWWGoal:   The new version?


Dr. John McDougall:   They do have a vegetarian diet.  You can eat great volumes of food if 
you choose starches vegetables and fruits, spaghetti, bean burritos 


Dearest:    Dr. M., my brother lost 50 pounds on your program and ate very large portions.
And lowered his cholesterol, too, and blood pressure. 


Dearest:    I highly recommend reading Dr. McDougall's many books and becoming familiar with 
The McDougall Program. Thanks ever so much for a very thought provoking chat, doctor. 
Go out and get yourself a copy of Dr. McDougall's newest book, "The McDougall Program For 
Women: What Every Woman Needs To Know To Stay Healthy For Life.


Dr. John McDougall:   Thanks, it was nice to chat.  Goodnight.

Read Dr. John McDougall's first transcript



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