Healthy Eating, Healthy World: Unleashing the Power of Plant-Based Nutrition

by J. Morris Hicks, T. Colin Campbell (Foreword)

This book is all about the single most powerful move that humans can make to promote health, reduce obesity, lower the cost of health care, nurture our fragile environment, conserve our energy resources, feed the world's steadily growing population, and greatly reduce the suffering of animals in factory farms all over the world. As Dr. T. Colin Campbell says, "It turns out that if we eat the way that promotes the best health for ourselves, we also promote the best health for the planet."

Like a blinding flash of the obvious, the single most viable solution to all of these issues is an aggressive move in the direction of consuming much more whole, plant-based foods—not necessarily becoming vegetarian or vegan. This book clearly explains how and why we began eating the wrong food for our species and provides helpful guidelines for getting us back on the road to vibrant health and effortless weight-loss.

Fortunately, despite the incredible complexity of our current dilemma, the solution is refreshingly simple. It simply requires educating yourself, making better choices in what you eat, and then share all that you have learned with everyone you care about. There has never been anything more important in the history of the world.

Genres: Health, Nonfiction, Nutrition, Food, Vegan, Audiobook, Sustainability

222 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2011

Reviews

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

LIFE CHANGER FOR ME AND MY FAMILY. I have been more and more interested in eating right and exercising so I have always perused books in that category. When I saw this one come across my Audible home page I downloaded it and well, it changed my life. On Easter of last year I became a vegan only eating a whole food plant based diet. I also starting running and in a few months had lost 45 pounds and surpassed a goal weight I had dreamed about for many years. Cannot recommend this book enough.

[Bridget Vollmer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Straightforward, informative book on benefits of plant based diet.

[Anshu · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's a great time to read a book such as this.

[Ashley F. · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent read overall. If you felt The China Study was too dense or are afraid to read it because it looks daunting, then this is the book for you. It is a very quick read and has tons of great information on why you should transition to a plant-based diet and also lots of tips on how to do so. He cites much of the important research out there regarding plant-based diets, including a lot from The China Study, but in a much more accessible way.

This would be a great book to give as a gift to omnivores or anyone interested in getting healthier.

[Pleasewright · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thought it was a great book. Many excellent facts and stats on the benefits of plant based diet for individuals as well as the world. Found it similar to watching Forks over Knives, however, the last few chapters have excellent start up tips and also answers to the myriad questions you'll get from nonplant based friends/family. If you're on the fence about going plant based this read will help you over to the other side.

[Sharon · Rating 2 out of 5]

A whole food, plant-based diet is definitely the way to go for our health and the planet. I found the calorie counting and concept of limiting healthy fats dated. Also, if each omnivore had one less meat meal a day, that would have an enormous impact. It's not an all or nothing proposition.

[Sarah Jubinville · Rating 5 out of 5]

What do personal health, the energy crisis, global food insecurity and poverty, environmental devastation and climate change, the healthcare crisis, and animal exploitation all have in common? The fact that all these issues are a function of the food we eat and can all be mitigated by shifting our diets toward more whole, plant-based foods.

This book is essentially a compilation - a meta analysis, if you will - of the impact that our food choices have on ourselves and our planet. It is a very easy and compelling read. The author provides numerous resources (which themselves have dozens/hundreds of references) to show that the diet that is best for our individual bodies (plant based whole-foods) is also best for humanity itself and our planet. It also discusses why we've never really heard this information before.

The food on our plates is a private choice with profound impact and it is only right and fair that a person is informed of this impact. This book is a catalyst for that awareness and provides direction for more information and personal action.

I think this book should be required reading for anyone who eats food.

[Simon Brass · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm a recent convert to vegetarianism and I'm working to eat more and more plant based food and yet I found this book quite confusing at times. There is no simply no question that obesity, heart disease, and diabetes (among other ailments) are unchecked global epidemics. Furthermore, I enjoyed Hicks' evaluation of the extreme animal suffering and monumental environmental damage cause by the factory food industry even though its not really new information.. at all.. See Peter Singer from the 1970s as one example among many.

Also, I did find this work somewhat suspicious and 'conspiratorial' at times. Are cardiologists, nutritionists etc often paid by drug companies... does the pharmaceutical industry have a major lobbying affect and control on the health care system... well yes... but I'm not sure how that could be surprising to well... anyone. I'm also suspicious of calling a plant-based diet revolutionary and/or a cure to any ailment under the sun. Again - is eating a largely plant-based diet healthier? Well intuitively everyone knows that it is... eat your fruits and vegetables people.. this is not radical and I don't understand why it is marketed as such.

I have no idea what GP or cardiologist Hicks sees but lets not turn this whole conspiracy thing into something far greater then it is. I find it hard to believe that GP's nutritionists etc. suggest that heart medications or surgery are simply the only option as is implied. Are cardiologists recommending to their patients with heart disease to eat more steak? I doubt it. I spent ten seconds on a Google search and came across an article from Harvard Health discussing the potential benefits of eating plant-based. Its not that health-care professionals don't know the benefits of eating healthy, or the public at large for that matter...

We simply eat the things we know are bad for us because we choose to - or am I being too much of an existentialist here? Now I'm hoping that doctors prescribe medication and/or surgery only after encouraging their patients to eat healthy and, perhaps lots of them don't, but I again I find it hard to believe that they immediately and definitely suggest bringing out the scalpel. Isn't it more of a last resort for their patients who remain obese with severe heart problems, and who are unwillingly to radically change their lifestyle? On an purely anecdotal level I would suggest yes, yes, and hell-yes.

Now I'm no expert on these matters but I fail to see how the problem doesn't largely rest with us - the consumer. When I switched to vegetarianism I received absolutely ZERO pressure to reconsider from my GP or the nutritionist that I saw. Conversely it was suggested that if I did it correctly, and ensured that I was still eating enough iron and B12 rich food, then I was making an incredibly healthy and smart decision. The problem - as I see it - is not that people are unaware of the benefits of eating in this fashion but rather that they simply do not want to for a variety of reasons. Alternative medicine that works is called medicine.

Let's face it - few people eat Big Macs while saying 'this is healthy and provides my body with what it needs.' The Western diet of eating highly processed meats 3x a day is unhealthy? Truly shocking...? Certainly educating middle and lower income families that eating vegetarian is actually cheaper is great but I mean lets call a spade a spade. The UK Cancer Society posts factual public advertisements on the health risks of obesity and is somehow criticized for fat shaming... This to me is a major part of the problem. Obesity is a world-wide epidemic and pointing this out amounts to fat shaming. What a time to be a live.....

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018...

Somehow as a society we seem incapable of having legitimate discussions about health or anything else for that matter. What is wrong with us? What a sick society.. as evidenced not only by how/what we eat, but also by the fact that were not even capable of having discussions about the topic.

I do not preach my eating habits but absolutely discuss then when I'm asked. Hicks encourages drastic change rather than baby steps and I do understand his reasoning. However, I also try to encourage people that have struggled for years to recognize that even having one or two (or hopefully many more) meat-free meals a week is better than nothing. Also, having recently visited NZL - an absolutely stunning country that works hard to preserve its biodiversity but is also heavily reliant on its meat export industry... I wonder.... what would happen if we all went vegetarian overnight? I don't mean this as defence of the meat industry, which as mentioned I find morally abhorrent, but it is another question that we need to think about. We veggies/vegans/plant eaters need to recognize that our ways also pose potential questions and problems that need to be addressed.

Overall a good and informative book but again I found large parts intuitive. As someone who reads philosophy intensely I see this not as a problem of information or accessibility but yet another case of people simply avoiding 'truths' that they find uncomfortable. Taking a environmental ethics course in university did not provide information that I wasn't already aware of on some level. I knew that animals were treated horribly, I knew that the meat industry was destroying the environment.. I simply did not want to face up to it. The course did help me realize that I needed to make a definite change but like this book it didn't present 'revolutionary' ideas. I apologize for using Goodreads as a form of catharthis. I'm finished.

[Kelsey Z · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m reviewing this book in 2023, and looking back, I can 100% say that this book changed my life, and I never saw it coming! Previously, I thought getting diabetes, heart disease, cancer, etc. was inevitable, especially given that many of my close relatives have had these health conditions. This book shifted my thinking, introducing me to a whole food, plant based lifestyle. A few more books, documentaries, and podcasts converted me, and now I eat completely differently and surprisingly love it. I’m not perfect at it, but I enjoy my food and feel great! The book also addresses environmental impacts, which was fascinating. I highly recommend the book (and lifestyle)!

[Farrah · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful book that discusses the various reasons everyone should be on a 100% plant-based diet. It provides research into the health factor, animal abuse, world hunger, and efficient energy and fuels as well as saving the planet from demise. Also provides a whole list of books to read to back up these findings. A very well categorized, well researched book.
A must read for non-vegans and vegans alike.

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yes, this book changed my life. I'm certain it will have a strong impact on anyone who reads it. And, everyone should.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a condensed review of the top research on the positive effects of a whole foods plant-based diet. Eating plants has the power to promote health, but can also prevent and sometimes reverse disease. What we choose to eat not only effects the way our bodies function, but also has huge implications for our environment...and the best way to eat for the health of our bodies is also the best way to eat for the health of our planet. Plant-based diets can help reduce the cost of health care, protect and improve our environment, conserve energy and reduce our dependence on fossil fuels, reduce animal suffering, and help reduce world hunger. It is definitely a motivating and persuasive read.

-We are overfed and undernourished...the goal is to eat WFPB for 80% of your diet (aim for 50 grams of fiber/day) focusing on veggies (especially greens), legumes, and fruit; keep fat calories below 20% of your calories consumed
-Satisfaction with food is much more than taste, its also how it makes you feel (a reminder that as you eat right, tastes will change and you will lose cravings for sugar, salt, and fat)
-John Robbins ("Food Revolution") - "To me it is deeply moving that the same food choices that give us the best chance to eliminate world hunger, are also those that take the least toll on the environment, contribute most to our long term health, are the safest, are are also far and away the most compassionate toward our fellow creatures."

[Stacey Adams · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book sort of re-hashes what many other books (which he quotes from in this book) have already said. A lot of it was devoted to why you should consider becoming a plant-based whole food eater which I already am so I skimmed over that part. I'm already a convert. I wanted to read about the impact on the world when people do change what they eat and he did a good job showing that. I liked that it was a short condensed version that tells how the way we eat affects the world we live in extremely. The impact being made by livestock on our natural resources, on the environment, on the ozone, etc. is a cause of concern that needs to be dealt with now....well stated and written in this book. If we all become plant-based, whole food eaters instead of carnivores we can change the damaging effects going on right now ....we need to make it a priority over any other changes like using electric cars and recycling. The biggest damage is being done by meat eating. J. Morris Hicks shows how that is happening, the devastating facts and statistics to have you really thinking about what you are consuming.

[Kelsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

J. Morris Hicks quotes John Robbins (author of "Food Revolution") toward of the end of this book, which sums up my experience with "Healthy Eating, Healthy World": "To me it is deeply moving that the same food choices that give us the best chance to eliminate world hunger are also those that take the least toll on the environment, contribute most to our long-term health, are the safest, and are also far and away the most compassionate toward our fellow creatures."

This book sets up its argument well and seems to serve as a recap on a lot of the whole food research out there. I was shocked with some of the information in this book- particularly when it came to the impact the meat industry has on the environment and how animals are treated. It did seem a little dated (even though it was only published in 2011). I'd love it if the book had an epilogue or update at the end that indicates whether people have been adopting whole food eating over the past decade and what impact it's having. Overall, it's an easy-to-read book - a good introduction into the world of whole food eating, which seems to be a definite win-win-win for our health, our pocketbooks, and our planet.

[Sarah Palurovic · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was already majorly disillusioned - and I mean major - with the meat and diary industry and the effect of mass and animal farming before but this book has unleashed a whole new level of frustration with the destructive nature of that kind of ignorant diet. While listening, I couldn’t listen to more than one hour in one go because processing the fact and cited study density in this book took me out and changed my opinion of the health argument for veganism completely. It is just as valid (in terms of statistical impact) as the environmental and the ethical argument. The author tends to sound a bit on the enraged side of things which there is in my opinion no need to - the study he quotes are powerful enough to convey his points and readers can do some of the transfer work that he’s spelling out every now and then.

[Jana · Rating 1 out of 5]

I was wrongly expecting some new research information on the Whole foods plant based diet or some new ideas about the ecological aspect of this diet. But there is nothing new here. This is just some arrogant guy telling the world he read some interesting books about food and explaining how he implemented the diet in his life. He even tells
you how to talk with your friends and family about what you have learned. Beyond arrogant, really.
If you want to read something about why and how to eat Plant based, stick with the original books based on research not just on other books.
My recommendations on this topic are The China Study from Collin Campbell and How not to die from Michael Gregor.

[Mari McR · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an important book if you are interested in knowing how a largely plant-based lifestyle of eating could lessen the impact humans have on sentient animals, on our limited soil worldwide, and on irreplaceable rainforests.

The author writes extensively on how the meat-based diet aggressively diminishes the health of the Earth and how the Western diet wreaks havoc on our health. It has made me much more cognizant of avoiding meat (including polluted seafood) 80% of the time and filling my meals with more fruits and vegetables to save my body, mind, and planet for my grandchildren.

[Emilee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredible. Amazing. Spectacular. I have never read a book that so thoroughly covered all the reasons to go plant-based in such an approachable, helpful manner, while dealing with horrific and overwhelming material in a way that is so hopeful and encouraging. It reminded me of all the reasons I went vegan years ago, and reignited some of the same feelings I had back then that have since dimmed. I would beyond a doubt recommend this book to everyone starting their own plant-based journey, everyone curious about it, and every person who thinks it's weird. All the stars.

[Sam Dye · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an excellent book well organized and with a lot of good information for example on page 109:
"Further, to feed a single person the typical Western diet (heavy with animal products) for a year requires 3.25 acres of arable land. To feed one vegan requires about one-sixth of an acre. Thus, with the vegan diet, you can feed about twenty people with the same amount of land that is required to feed one person with the typical Western diet.

[Superben · Rating 5 out of 5]

A concise and accessible consolidation of the numerous reasons plant-based nutrition will save us from ourselves. This book effectively argues the case on grounds of personal health, animal welfare, ecological conservation, and global humanitarianism. I plan to gift this to members of my family so that they may better understand the choices I have made regarding a plant-based diet.

[Jduganb1 · Rating 1 out of 5]

A non nuanced take on the global health and food crisis that briefly highlights the industrial machine working against the consumer and then shifts full responsibility to the individual with a side order of fatphobia. Read Animal, Vegetable, Junk if you want a real take on the food system without someone trying to sell you on their diet and company (4Leaf).

[Luigi Benetton · Rating 4 out of 5]

A focused set of arguments that make a lot of claims, some of which I’m willing to take on faith, and others I wish I had the time to investigate. Regardless, trying the diet recommendations here can’t hurt. It’s the larger, “societal” will that would be the biggest obstacle to the ideas in this book.

[McKell · Rating 3 out of 5]

All the info regarding the “why” of choosing a whole food, plant based diet was very informative. However, I kept finding myself saying, yes, I want to change but how. It wasn’t until the finally 2 chapters that some simple suggestions were given. Still very helpful. And motivation to adjust my lifestyle.

[Maite GM · Rating 4 out of 5]

How to reply to those akward questions about eating a whole plant diet. Scientific facts explained in a plain and understandable way. Highly recomended if you are thinking to reduce animal origin food in your diet.

[Sara · Rating 2 out of 5]

I imagine if this was the first book someone read about a plant based diet it would be impactful. However, having read almost all the referenced books already, I found it to be a watered down summary of their content.

[Anna · Rating 3 out of 5]

An easy read and good reminder although I skimmed over the how to talk to people about your choices section - I am more than happy to share the reasons for my choices if people ask and thought the excuses were pretty silly….

[Christy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This audiobook is a little dated, but still excellent listening & very good information. The narrator was great & it was presented very well. Not too scientifically presented, but scientific nonetheless. Easy to follow. I recommend it.

[Josh · Rating 3 out of 5]

good read with some new insights to the many problems of animal based eating.

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked the first part best.

[Jeanne M. Umland · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good synopsis of the research and life works of all the nutrition giants, Esselstyn, Campbell, et. al.