McDougall vs. Fuhrman: Notes for you from the great plant-based doctors' debate
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John Mackey, CEO of Whole Foods Market, with Lani Muelrath, below. Mackey moderated the debate between Drs. McDougall and Fuhrnan.
Dr. McDougall arrived for the event dapper and distinguished in suit and tie, while Dr. Fuhrman ooked ready to wrestle in a sporty green -shirt with "Kale is the new Beef" blazoned across the front.
Moderated by John Mackey, Whole Foods Market CEO, the upshot of this conversation was how many similarities there are in the approaches of these two food-is-your-best-medicine physicians. Avoid processed foods and maximize whole foods. Eliminate dangerous meat, dairy, and oils. You came away with an enriched whole-foods plant-based diet education by sitting in.
So if these guys are 98% on the same page, what about the other 2%? That's why I took notes for you. Reporting in to you with a mix of quotes and paraphrases.
Mackey: Do you agree that starches form the calorie base of a healthy diet?
Fuhrman & McDougall: "Yes."
Mackey: How are refined grains as compared to unprocessed?
Fuhrman: With beans ruling as your primary starchy carbohydrate base, select also peas and corn. Steel cut oats and black rice are also good choices. Whole grains should be intact. Consider the glycemic load. Keep white potatoes to a minimum, sweet potatoes are better. The white rice diet of Koreans has created a population high in diabetes.
McDougall: "I want to to win the war rather than every battle". Traditionally, peasants ate brown rice. Yet many healthy starch-based populations have traditionally used white rice. If you must, go ahead and eat your white rice. Give up the grease, meat, and dairy, and eat the white rice. Clearly brown rice is the better choice between white and brown, but "I'd rather you ate white rice than meat and dairy." White rice does NOT cause diabetes. Dr. Kempner's rice diet which reversed diabetes was white rice and sugar.
Mackey: What is your opinion on beans vs. grains for starch?
McDougall: As beans are around 30% protein and too much protein can present a stress to the kidneys. Limit them to 1 cup a day to be on the safe side.
Fuhrman: Eat freely of beans, limit the grains.
At this point there was a short debate over the % of calories coming from protein in beans. McDougall had them at around 30%, Fuhrman placed them much lower.
Mackey: Are potatoes good or bad for us?
Fuhrman: It depends on the person. I you are overweight or diabatic, limit them. If not very active, limit. 35 studies show high glycemic load on sedentary overweight individuals promotes diabetes in some poeple.
McDougall: Glycemic index leads you in a false direction. Potatoes have a glycemic index of 100+. Snickers bars, are 68 on the glycemic index. Potato-based populations do not have diabetes or obesity.
Mackey: Nuts and seeds: How much is healthy? How much is too much?
>>>LOTS more! Read the rest of my debate notes HERE>>>
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About Lani
 Lani Muelrath, M.A, the Plant-Strong Fitness Expert and creator of Fit Quickies(TM), specializes in helping women who struggle with weight and energy transform their bodies - without hunger or exercising like a maniac.
Lani is Fitness Expert for the Dr. John McDougall Health and Medical Center as well as Coach and Presenter for the 21-Day PCRM Kickstart and the Coronary Health Improvement project. She is also Health & Fitness Expert for Vegan Mainstream and contributing Health & Fitness Expert for Engine 2 Diet.com.Guest Lecturer in Kinesiology at San Francisco State University, and Associate Professor at Butte College.
Lani overcame her own lifetime struggle with weight over 13 years ago when she lost 50 lbs, which she has maintained easily with the tools that she now coaches other women to be successful with in weight loss, body shaping, and health.
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The long awaited plant-based diet doctors debate has come and gone. I took pages of notes during the event so that I could report directly back in to you. 
