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Food for Life: How the New Four Food Groups Can Save Your Life
Citing overwhelming medical evidence previously downplayed by powerful lobby groups, Dr. Barnard reveals why a diet based on the new four food groups (grains, legumes, vegetables, and fruits) will sharply decrease the risk of cancer and heart disease and dramatically increase life expectancy. He also unveils a 21-day program for a smooth transition to the new way of eating healthfully. Line drawings.
368 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1993
39 people are currently reading
386 people want to read
About the author
Neal D. Barnard
71 books405 followersNeal Barnard, MD, FACC, is an Adjunct Professor of Medicine at the George Washington University School of Medicine in Washington, DC, and President of the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine.
Dr. Barnard has led numerous research studies investigating the effects of diet on diabetes, body weight, hormonal symptoms, and chronic pain, including a groundbreaking study of dietary interventions in type 2 diabetes, funded by the National Institutes of Health, that paved the way for viewing type 2 diabetes as a potentially reversible condition for many patients. Dr. Barnard has authored more than 100 scientific publications and 20 books for medical and lay readers, and is the editor in chief of the Nutrition Guide for Clinicians, a textbook made available to all U.S. medical students.
As president of the Physicians Committee, Dr. Barnard leads programs advocating for preventive medicine, good nutrition, and higher ethical standards in research. His research contributed to the acceptance of plant-based diets in the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. In 2015, he was named a Fellow of the American College of Cardiology. In 2016, he founded the Barnard Medical Center in Washington, DC, as a model for making nutrition a routine part of all medical care.
Working with the Medical Society of the District of Columbia and the American Medical Association, Dr. Barnard has authored key resolutions, now part of AMA policy, calling for a new focus on prevention and nutrition in federal policies and in medical practice. In 2018, he received the Medical Society of the District of Columbia’s Distinguished Service Award. He has hosted four PBS television programs on nutrition and health.
Originally from Fargo, North Dakota, Dr. Barnard received his M.D. degree at the George Washington University School of Medicine and completed his residency at the same institution. He practiced at St. Vincent’s Hospital in New York before returning to Washington to found the Physicians Committee.
His latest book is The Power Foods Diet: The Breakthrough Plan that Traps, Tames, and Burns Calories for Easy and Permanent Weight Loss. With more than 120 recipes and beautiful food photography, it shows the surprising ability that certain foods have to cause weight loss.
Dr. Barnard has led numerous research studies investigating the effects of diet on diabetes, body weight, hormonal symptoms, and chronic pain, including a groundbreaking study of dietary interventions in type 2 diabetes, funded by the National Institutes of Health, that paved the way for viewing type 2 diabetes as a potentially reversible condition for many patients. Dr. Barnard has authored more than 100 scientific publications and 20 books for medical and lay readers, and is the editor in chief of the Nutrition Guide for Clinicians, a textbook made available to all U.S. medical students.
As president of the Physicians Committee, Dr. Barnard leads programs advocating for preventive medicine, good nutrition, and higher ethical standards in research. His research contributed to the acceptance of plant-based diets in the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. In 2015, he was named a Fellow of the American College of Cardiology. In 2016, he founded the Barnard Medical Center in Washington, DC, as a model for making nutrition a routine part of all medical care.
Working with the Medical Society of the District of Columbia and the American Medical Association, Dr. Barnard has authored key resolutions, now part of AMA policy, calling for a new focus on prevention and nutrition in federal policies and in medical practice. In 2018, he received the Medical Society of the District of Columbia’s Distinguished Service Award. He has hosted four PBS television programs on nutrition and health.
Originally from Fargo, North Dakota, Dr. Barnard received his M.D. degree at the George Washington University School of Medicine and completed his residency at the same institution. He practiced at St. Vincent’s Hospital in New York before returning to Washington to found the Physicians Committee.
His latest book is The Power Foods Diet: The Breakthrough Plan that Traps, Tames, and Burns Calories for Easy and Permanent Weight Loss. With more than 120 recipes and beautiful food photography, it shows the surprising ability that certain foods have to cause weight loss.
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
November 28, 2021
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خیلی ازم انرژی گرفت مجبور شدم کلی مقاله بر ضدش بخونم تا بفهم فاجعه چی بوده.
تا حدی میشه قسمت هایی از این کتاب رو تو این مستند دید.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KPD1o...
صنایع دارو برای سود بیشتر کارش به کجا رسیده!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-z_W3...
هرم غذایی فقط برای پر کردن جیب بعضیا ساخته شده.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-PBf5...
خیلی ازم انرژی گرفت مجبور شدم کلی مقاله بر ضدش بخونم تا بفهم فاجعه چی بوده.
تا حدی میشه قسمت هایی از این کتاب رو تو این مستند دید.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KPD1o...
صنایع دارو برای سود بیشتر کارش به کجا رسیده!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-z_W3...
هرم غذایی فقط برای پر کردن جیب بعضیا ساخته شده.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-PBf5...
March 28, 2021
Surprisingly I was disappointed with this book. I have read one of Dr. Barnard’s books previously, and I had liked that one. The first major disappointment was his promotion of another book about overeating which includes the advice to join Overeaters Anonymous, a 12-step program similar to Alcoholics Anonymous. However he did not provide evidence that this program actually works, and instead explained that we don’t have the power to make these dietary changes without the help of a “higher power.” I don’t agree with this opinion, and he should have stated it’s exactly that—an opinion.
The other big disappointment was the inclusion of oil in some of the recipes even though he stressed throughout the book that oils were unhealthy. However, many of the recipes with oil look like the oil could be left out if someone was trying to avoid them in their diet. Because there were recipes that look like they’re worth a try, I gave this book 3 stars, but otherwise it would have been 2 stars.
The other big disappointment was the inclusion of oil in some of the recipes even though he stressed throughout the book that oils were unhealthy. However, many of the recipes with oil look like the oil could be left out if someone was trying to avoid them in their diet. Because there were recipes that look like they’re worth a try, I gave this book 3 stars, but otherwise it would have been 2 stars.
September 14, 2011
Even though this book was written in 1993, it still has me rethinking my eating habits and changing some things in the kitchen. It's a very good introduction to the dangers of a high fat diet. There are probably some updated books with more current research to shock you into some serious change. The book does have a good amount of vegan recipes but you have to remember that it's been since 1993 that the explosion of green and organic living has occurred. I do recommend this book as a primer to "The four new food groups."
June 30, 2023
I gave this four stars because I really liked it. I think it's five stars for those that have not read similar research.
I went into this book thinking that a lot of the material would overlap with that of Campbell's and Esselstyn's, and thus be boring to me because I had already learned the information. Yet, though much of it did overlap, Barnard still taught me way more than I was expecting, and had not learned in the other studies. Yet the studies, conducted by such a large variety of people and presented in these books, reveal some really amazing things. Like the other books (The China Study and The Engine 2 Diet- of what I have read) the information provided numerous examples and backed with scientific data.
What was great about this book is that Barnard also taught me more than I expected. There were a couple of parts that were dry, but only because I had learned them (sections about meat and dairy) or they didn't pertain to me (like the small section on kids and pregnancy). The book was organized very well. Like any good book on nutrition, not only did he provide the information and support why one should follow the four food groups but he provides a 21 day meal plan and many recipes. This book is part of what made me decide to remove oil, caffeine, and sugar from my diet (on top of what I already removed years ago: animal products, hydrogenated oils, and artificial preservatives). I would gladly recommend this book. Barnard is yet another doctor that can take scientific terms and really paint a picture, making it easy for us non-sciency folks to understand. The only gripe of mine would be the recipes. I went through them and I'd only use a handful but the mere fact that he provided recipes was pretty darn awesome!
I went into this book thinking that a lot of the material would overlap with that of Campbell's and Esselstyn's, and thus be boring to me because I had already learned the information. Yet, though much of it did overlap, Barnard still taught me way more than I was expecting, and had not learned in the other studies. Yet the studies, conducted by such a large variety of people and presented in these books, reveal some really amazing things. Like the other books (The China Study and The Engine 2 Diet- of what I have read) the information provided numerous examples and backed with scientific data.
What was great about this book is that Barnard also taught me more than I expected. There were a couple of parts that were dry, but only because I had learned them (sections about meat and dairy) or they didn't pertain to me (like the small section on kids and pregnancy). The book was organized very well. Like any good book on nutrition, not only did he provide the information and support why one should follow the four food groups but he provides a 21 day meal plan and many recipes. This book is part of what made me decide to remove oil, caffeine, and sugar from my diet (on top of what I already removed years ago: animal products, hydrogenated oils, and artificial preservatives). I would gladly recommend this book. Barnard is yet another doctor that can take scientific terms and really paint a picture, making it easy for us non-sciency folks to understand. The only gripe of mine would be the recipes. I went through them and I'd only use a handful but the mere fact that he provided recipes was pretty darn awesome!
February 26, 2017
The book was quite repetitive as the author promoted the good reasons for a vegan diet. His reasons were primarily for good health and the basis of that seemed to be low-fat and high fiber. I have been an ovo-lacto vegetarian for about 10 years. I can see his point about how eating eggs and dairy is still eating too much fat, especially since I tend to eat a lot of dairy. I'm interested in reading his more recent book _21-Day Weight Loss Kickstart_.
There actually was a lot of good information in this book, like about B-12 and the tendency to eat too much protein. I felt the book was balanced. It did not have the anger and animosity against those who choose not to eat a vegan diet which I have seen in a couple of other books. It went into detail on a few studies. I did not actually read every bit skimming over sections that do not pertain to me and thumbing through the recipes and menus which was a good portion of the book. I suppose it is for readers like me that the author repeats the main points many times throughout the book.
There actually was a lot of good information in this book, like about B-12 and the tendency to eat too much protein. I felt the book was balanced. It did not have the anger and animosity against those who choose not to eat a vegan diet which I have seen in a couple of other books. It went into detail on a few studies. I did not actually read every bit skimming over sections that do not pertain to me and thumbing through the recipes and menus which was a good portion of the book. I suppose it is for readers like me that the author repeats the main points many times throughout the book.
May 29, 2020
This book was the book that made me go from vegetarian to vegan in 1995. It also was the most used reference book for a college research paper. It covers everything that a vegan diet influences: health, environment, animals. It also includes some recipes in the back to get you started:)
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December 26, 2023Such a great book! Dr. Barnard explains everything in a really simple and digestible manner. It's so sad to realise that right nutritional concepts were already explained and proofed in 1991, but 2023 and we still in minority and trying to prove and spread it. Undoubtedly great reading!
March 20, 2025
Absolutely brilliant and highly recommended
March 30, 2017
One of my first book recommended by my doctor before venturing forth into veganism. Quite informative at the time but many other books have come out that are more suited to the times. I liked that it was from a doctor who wasn't praising dead animal and the amount of protein we're suppose to get from it. It was about health, environment and other aspects of why animal products should be avoided. Should be required reading.
April 25, 2016
Although just a bit dated as newer research is now available, Dr. Neal Barnard's text still stands as a seminal work in the field of health and wellness through diet.
Recommended reading for anyone starting the path to better health through a vegan diet, but particularly those who are cancer survivors or have a history of heart or blood sugar issues.
Recommended reading for anyone starting the path to better health through a vegan diet, but particularly those who are cancer survivors or have a history of heart or blood sugar issues.
October 1, 2008
I picked this one up at the library more for the recipes than the actual text. The author strongly suggests veganism, and I am definitely not prepared to make that jump. Still, it's interesting reading.
August 27, 2012
I LOVE Neal Barnard- he explains things simply and succinctly. This is a great book to explain the benefits behind eating a vegetarian diet [or you can phrase it as explaining why you should NOT eat animal products!] I also have loved all the recipes of his that I have tried so far.
September 2, 2015
This is an eye opener on the effects of animals products and the American meat and dairy industry lobby. I learned a lot about food and nutrition. The recipes look good. I will try some. There is even a menu planner.
September 13, 2015
I found this at the library and was into it by several chapters before I realized it is quite an old book, published in 1993, and thus a lot of the studies cited are older than that. The author has newer books -- I'll read one of those eventually. But overall, good plant-based diet information.
October 13, 2007
This book changed my life! I now know what it feels like to eat a healthy diet (not the "moderate", crap-filled diet promoted by most dieticians) and enjoy a healthy body. Thank you, Dr. Barnard!
September 12, 2008
Although I never intend to drop completely into vegan, there are recipes and ideas here that were great. Even my meat-eater family found them palatable.
March 30, 2009
good- factual- again, great reminders to add more vegetables, whole grains, fruits and legumes to diet. Inspired me to cook a vegy/legume stew for dinner tonight! Promotes a primarily vegan diet
January 17, 2010
Read this in about one day. Wish I could convince every single american to read this book. Anyone who is interested in health (read: everyone) READ THIS!!!!
May 25, 2013
Somewhat dated, and the information seem to be too much of an overview without much depth.
April 22, 2013
Great book to make you think about what you are putting into your body. I was totally turned off to animal meat after reading this book.
October 3, 2013
He is with PCRM and is THE doctor to listen to regarding nutrition and healing the body.
January 4, 2015
Recommended by my Doctor. Not sure I can go vegan, but willing to try it for three weeks. Stars may increase after actual use v
April 24, 2017
I read this book about 16 years ago and it's my go to for great recipes! I've cooked everything in it at least once but have my favorites that I cook over and over. Love this book!
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October 19, 2017After watching "What the Health", I wanted to hear more from this Doctor, that was interviewed. I read this book, and I'm a little surprised, at the results he and his colleagues have gotten just from helping patients change their diets to Vegetable and grain centered meals. I'm giving the 21 day plan a chance to see if it helps with my energy levels, and joint issues. So far so good.
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews