Authors: Alona Pulde, MD and Matthew Lederman, MD

Publisher: Touchstone Books

ISBN: 978-1-4767-5829-4


Author, Alona Pulde, MD is the health and medical expert for Whole Foods and heads up Transition to Health: a Medical, Nutrition, and Wellness Center. (2014, inside back cover) She is a family practitioner that specializes in life-style medicine and nutrition in Los Angeles, California. This is her second co-authored book on this topic. (Keep It Simple, Keep It Whole: Your Guide to Optimum Health) Doctor Pulde is a graduate of UCLA, Emperors College, and Albany Medical College.

Co-Author and husband, Doctor Lederman studied at University of Michigan, Temple University School of Medicine, and University of Colorado Health Sciences Center. (2014, inside back cover) Matthew Lederman, MD is a specialist in internal medicine and lectures for the eCornell T. Colin Campbell Program in Plant Based Nutrition. He was also co-author on Doctor Pulde’s other book and has appeared in two films. (Healing Cancer from Inside Out and Forks Over Knives) Doctor Lederman is co-founder of Transition to Health: a Medical, Nutrition, and Wellness Center and health and wellness expert for Whole Foods.

Doctors Pulde and Lederman state that “More and more people are learning that a diet based in fruits, vegetables, tubers, whole grains, and legumes makes all the difference when it comes to achieving good health.” (2014, p.3-4) Furthermore, they agree that “The Hallmark of the whole-food, plant-based lifestyle is its unique ability to prevent, halt, and even treat chronic illness, such as heart disease, and type 2 diabetes.” (p.4) “The ultimate goal…to leave you energized and free from debilitating chronic conditions so that you can spend less time in the doctor’s office and more time with the people who are important to you.” (p.5)

This book is literally a four-week plan for transitioning into whole foods or as the authors say “…road map to health.” (2014, p.12) “Eating a whole-food, plant-based diet improves cognitive function and protects against dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.” (p.17) This revolutionary diet can also produce “…better moods, sounder sleep, improved bowl function, and more vibrant skin.” (p.18)

The authors write about the misnomers for some vitamins and which vitamins are most relevant to our nutritional well-being. For instance, “…low levels of vitamin D are associated with increased rates of cancer, heart disease, and even mortality.” (2014, p.37) Exercise is another important component to this new lifestyle. Pulde and Lederman state that one should “…find activities that are dynamic enough to cover strength, endurance, balance, and flexibility…these areas have different benefits on long-term functionality.” (p.39)

Over the course of a month the persons is introduced to changing one meal per week to a plant-based meal. (paraphrase, 2014, p.49) Breakfast the first week. Lunch in the second week. And dinner in the third week. There are numerous recipes and helpful tips for creating succulent, balanced meals on this new plan. I enjoyed reading about this diet and I believe you will too.


Follow Here To Purchase The Forks Over Knives Plan: How to Transition to the Life-Saving, Whole-Food, Plant-Based Diet