How Not to Die: Discover the Foods Scientifically Proven to Prevent and Reverse Disease

Michael Greger, M.D., FACLM · Gene Stone

Dec 2015 · Sold by Flatiron Books

About this ebook

New York Times Bestseller

“This book may help those who are susceptible to illnesses that can be prevented.”—His Holiness the Dalai Lama

“Absolutely the best book I’ve read on nutrition and diet” –Dan Buettner, author of The Blue Zones Solution

From the physician behind the wildly popular NutritionFacts website, How Not to Die reveals the groundbreaking scientific evidence behind the only diet that can prevent and reverse many of the causes of disease-related death.

The vast majority of premature deaths can be prevented through simple changes in diet and lifestyle. In How Not to Die, Dr. Michael Greger, the internationally-renowned nutrition expert, physician, and founder of NutritionFacts.org, examines the fifteen top causes of premature death in America-heart disease, various cancers, diabetes, Parkinson's, high blood pressure, and more-and explains how nutritional and lifestyle interventions can sometimes trump prescription pills and other pharmaceutical and surgical approaches, freeing us to live healthier lives.

The simple truth is that most doctors are good at treating acute illnesses but bad at preventing chronic disease. The fifteen leading causes of death claim the lives of 1.6 million Americans annually. This doesn't have to be the case. By following Dr. Greger's advice, all of it backed up by strong scientific evidence, you will learn which foods to eat and which lifestyle changes to make to live longer.

History of prostate cancer in your family? Put down that glass of milk and add flaxseed to your diet whenever you can. Have high blood pressure? Hibiscus tea can work better than a leading hypertensive drug-and without the side effects. Fighting off liver disease? Drinking coffee can reduce liver inflammation. Battling breast cancer? Consuming soy is associated with prolonged survival. Worried about heart disease (the number 1 killer in the United States)? Switch to a whole-food, plant-based diet, which has been repeatedly shown not just to prevent the disease but often stop it in its tracks.

In addition to showing what to eat to help treat the top fifteen causes of death, How Not to Die includes Dr. Greger's Daily Dozen -a checklist of the twelve foods we should consume every day.Full of practical, actionable advice and surprising, cutting edge nutritional science, these doctor's orders are just what we need to live longer, healthier lives.

Ratings and reviews

I liked it, but take it easy if you are not looking forward to read a book fool of references and citations. Very good, since I started reading this one I even decreased my protein intake. I just don't give it a five, because it feels very impartial regarding to quitting meat once and for all, as well as dairy or any other animal produce. For every study promoting vegan diets, there is one suggesting an omnivore behavior. Who is right? No clue, indeed, vegans might be right after all, if the goal is living the longest, but then, I do believe the author's should have given a try pointing out some of the studies promoting omnivore diets as well. In the end, it turned out to be one more book claiming to support the PERFECT Diet.

ZERO new or "earthshattering" info in here .SO many nutritionist and docs have said EXAacTalay what he says in the 290s and 90s hell even in the 80s .hes just parroting everyone else .AND there us zero need for yet another book bec there is no new info yet .AND I'd say before people quit taking meds and go homeopathic/ just natural "preventions " 1 talk to your doc 2 a lot of "herbs " etc and interact hideously w ones meds .SO HATE people like him .He better have a warning in each chapter how 1 talk to doc 2 every bloody persons body reacts different to meds and herbs. I so dont respect this moron just from reading the synopsis. Oh a d way more detailed and the SAME FREE info is ONLINE!! quit wasting your money on ijiots who live to go on talk shows

I decided to humble myself and give Dr. Greger a chance. I was constantly in conflict with the information online and decided to give the vegan lifestyle a chance. Well, I have made the best decision of my life. After a few months my erections started coming back and I feel healthier. My GERD has started going into remission and I noticed I'm starting to get leaner too. Even further, I noticed I feel so... chill, smooth, and relaxed? I think it was caused by systemic inflammation and I never knew it. Even my family notices a difference in my mood and temperament. Finally, I want to emphasize the improvements I had in my blood pressure. I have something known as "essential hypertension" which is "...high blood pressure that doesn't have a known cause." After I started doing this diet my blood pressure started to drop for the first time in a decade. On 4/30/23 I scored 135/89, and on 9/15/23 I dropped down to 128/83. The numbers speak for themselves 👍

About the author

Michael Greger, MD, is a physician, author, and internationally recognized speaker on nutrition, food safety and public health issues. He runs the popular website NutritionFacts.org, a nonprofit, science-based public service providing free daily videos and articles on the latest in nutrition research. Dr. Greger also proudly serves as the Director of Public Health and Animal Agriculture at the Humane Society of the United States.