The McDougall Program for Women

by John A. McDougall, Mary McDougall

A woman's guide to achieving a lifetime of good health offers weight-loss and exercise programs, as well as coverage of specialized subjects including herbal treatments and hormone replacement.

Genres: Health, Nonfiction, Vegetarian, Vegan

Paperback

First published January 1, 1999

About the author

John A. McDougall was an American physician, author, and advocate of low-fat, plant-based nutrition. After surviving a stroke at 18, he pursued medicine, ultimately creating the McDougall Program, a starch-based vegan diet aimed at preventing and reversing chronic disease. His bestseller The McDougall Plan popularized his nutritional philosophy, emphasizing unprocessed starches, vegetables, and fruit while eliminating all animal products, oils, and processed foods. Over his career, McDougall published multiple books, sold more than 1.5 million copies, and co-founded Dr. McDougall's Right Foods.
McDougall ran a 10-day residential health program in California and appeared frequently in media to promote dietary change. He also served on the advisory board of the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine and was a plaintiff in a lawsuit challenging federal cholesterol guidelines. In 2018, he received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the American College of Lifestyle Medicine.
Though praised by supporters for his unwavering commitment to diet-based healing, McDougall also faced criticism for promoting what some experts labeled as a restrictive “fad diet.” Concerns included potential nutritional deficiencies and the exclusion of entire food groups like nuts and oils. Nonetheless, studies reported health improvements among adherents, and the American Heart Association acknowledged partial alignment with its dietary guidelines.
McDougall's work significantly influenced the plant-based movement and helped reshape public understanding of nutrition’s role in health. Despite controversy, his emphasis on whole foods and dietary simplicity made lasting contributions to preventive medicine and lifestyle change.

Reviews

[Christina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lots of women-specific medical information that is really important and that I wasn’t previously aware of.

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some information is outdated, but I still think this is a solid read and has the potential to save women's lives, especially re: breast cancer and diet links.
Just because you have a gene doesn't mean you have a death sentence.

[Julie]

(Kindle)

[Alyssa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent book that every woman should read, especially if you're in your 40's or older and your health may not be what it used to be. It's written in an easy to read style and Dr. M. tells you all the things your doctor either doesn't know or won't tell you about your health - he also explains WHY you won't hear this info. from your dr! It's very sensible and I guarantee that anyone following his advice (esp. if they currently don't eat very well) will feel about 100% better after a few weeks on his program!

[Jamie · Rating 3 out of 5]

A bit outdated, but still contained some interesting thoughts on the use of mammograms, mastectomies and chemo.

[Jessica Knutson · Rating 5 out of 5]

SO much better than his newest book! A few principles that hadn't sunk in since I'd started a plant-based diet almost four years ago, finally clicked with reading this! It's the perfect guide to healthy eating for women throughout life, along with some great event-specific medical advice. Still not a fan of the McDougall recipe style (I have my own style that works for me), but this is a fantastic read!

[mairead! · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wanted the mama pregnancy/parenting sections to be longer, but maybe that's the point--it doesn't need to be that complicated?