Fast Food Genocide: How Processed Food is Killing Us and What We Can Do About It

by Joel Fuhrman, Robert Phillips

Revered nutrition and health expert, PBS personality, and bestselling author of Eat to Live, Super Immunity, and The End of Diabetes, Dr. Joel Fuhrman, delivers a hard-hitting, culture-shifting examination of the role fast and processed food plays in our nation's health crisis and offers a program to help us discover a lasting solution, including a two-week meal plan and 80 recipes.

We’re eating our way to discomfort, unhappiness, disease, and premature death. Processed and fake foods have become the primary source of calories in the United States—a trend that is growing across the developed world. While these "Frankenfoods" efficiently feed the majority of our citizens, they do not contain the sustaining biological and chemical properties of food produced in nature. This fast-food solution is causing a fast-food genocide that is shaping our bodies and our futures, Joel Fuhrman, MD, warns.

Eating these unhealthy foods make us fatter and profoundly affects our brains, behaviors, and even our genetic makeup, leaving us helpless to social forces that will keep us eating fast food forever, he explains. They create an avalanche of harmful problems—chronic disease, lowered intelligence levels, and attention deficits that are intrinsically linked to poverty, reduced educational and occupational opportunities, and even increased drug addiction, violence, and crime.

An urgent call to action, Fast Food Genocide also provides a clear and very achievable solution. While food can destroy the world, it can also heal it. We must take back control of our diet—by eating specific natural ingredients in a balanced way—and in doing so, our right to a healthy, long life. "Greater knowledge leads to a solution; a solution to your personal health issues and a solution for our society." Dr. Fuhrman writes. "But it starts with you."

Genres: Health, Nonfiction, Food, Nutrition, Audiobook, Self Help, Science

349 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 17, 2017

Reviews

[Mark L. Merrill · Rating 5 out of 5]

I felt compelled to comment after reading the review that described the book as “a lot of ranting.” I found the book presented evidence in a logical and nonbiased fashion, presenting the results of over 400 scientific studies, implicating processed foods as a factor in life threatening disease as well as autism, decreased intelligence, depression, dementia, and crime. This is information critical to all of us, specifically our most vulnerable populations. For example, the authors describe the situation in Camden where people don’t enjoy the luxury of choice. Pregnant women in Camden and in other food deserts who don’t have easy access to high-nutrient whole foods routinely have babies with low birth weights. It is NOT that these women don’t eat enough. The problem is the lack of high-nutrient calories. Underweight babies, who appear otherwise normal, have underdeveloped brains and immune systems. They are more likely to develop chronic disease later in life. And perhaps more shockingly, these children grow up with more learning disabilities and behavioral challenges. It is a form of injustice directly linked to the food environment. I see the consequences every day. This excellent book not only sheds light on this and many other problems associated with unhealthy diets, it also gives us a game plan that involves more than just a bunch of food plans.

Mark Merrill – Director of Human Services for the City of Camden, Founder of Acelero Learning Centers

[Holly · Rating 3 out of 5]

This at first looked to me like a topical publication that would contain knowledge familiar to anyone who follows the health pages (I just wanted a basic, non-imaginative audiobook this weekend), but it turned out to be several messy books crammed into one: an indictment of the processed food industry; a history lesson in Jim Crow discrimination and eugenics policies; a sociological hypothesis ascribing a link between processed food and violent crime rates; and a primer in "Nutritarian" dietary advice (basically whole foods-plant based eating) with the obligatory Appendix of sample recipes. Most of it was interesting albeit well-known information, but I found the crime/diet message dubious. And I object to the use of the word "genocide" in the title, which is a specific term with a definition based in human rights jurisprudence.

[Lisa Keeler · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought I was fairly expert at all things nutrition, and also all things that Dr. Fuhrman says in his other books. I have more than a few of his books and have read all that I have.

But this book is absolutely stunning. Life changing. Must read.

Disclosure: I am a devoted follower. His books have changed my life and my daughter’s life. I was practically unemployable, always sick in bed. One day, while laying sick in bed with a headache, I saw Dr. Fuhrman on the Dr. Oz show. He was bold and said things about headaches that my neurologists had never mentioned, specifically the link to animal protein. I had nothing to lose.

Fast forward 3+ years. I am a team leader in my work group. My manager can’t fathom how my employer had laid me off twice in the past.

This way of eating absolutely has made my life better. I am happy, I love my life and my work, I am hardly ever stressed, I am clear-headed, feel generally great.

I can tell that I deal with stress much, much better than some of my co-workers, and yes, I think it is the food. In my past, I was always stressed out. I even cried at work many times. Now I feel happy in my work and things don’t generally bother me.

My daughter got over her severe depression by following these books. I can’t overstate the significance of that. I thought we might lose her. Heavy, I know.

Daughter also cleared up her acne and I lost weight, but those two things are minor compared to just being able to feel great again.

[David Meyer · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book has a fine general take away message: nutrition affects all parts of our lives and people should try to eat healthy. Unfortunately, the message is written in such an absurd and condescending manner. The author basically concludes that everything that's ever happened ca be attributed to diet. Some of the science is fine, but the author conveniently rejects any science that goes against his beliefs.

As for actual dietary help, the author jumps as far as possible past my most basic rule for recommending anything to a patient; don't ask for unrealistic things.

The most interesting part of the book involved some history of African Americans in the south and their diets during slavery. While the history is interesting, the author seems to attribute the positive things that African Americans did at that time to the dietary advantages they had over poor whites.

I do not recommend this book.

[Ilkim · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is really not a well-written book. It keeps repeating itself, saying the same exact thing in six different ways with an attempt to be dissuasive or 'frightening'. It has a point, but the point is summarized in chapter 8. In total, this does include less than 30 pages of information, maybe even less. Time consuming to read the entire thing. Basically: Don't eat anything that is cooked by a corporation, eat more veggies and fruits, don't eat white stuff, try to avoid consuming too much meat and animal products... Bad food kills you and makes you violent and stupid. Voila! I summarized the entire thing in two sentences.

[virgia · Rating 2 out of 5]

pierwsze 100 stron zapowiadalo sie naprawde dobrze, wynioslam z niej wiele ciekawych faktow i badan ale im dalej tym robilo sie gorzej. siegalam po nia co kilka miesiecy bo stala sie strasznie meczaca, auto zakrawal o hipokryzje i nie stronil od absudrow.

[Pat Herndon · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read a fair number of nutrition books. I think that I was a bit put off with this book and it’s early chapters on the sociology of nutrition in the post-Civil War South. He made some broad assumptions that I suspect historians and social scientists alike would question. That kind of made the whole book seem a bit mock-scientific to me. Thus, I give this book only 2-stars.

[Cavak · Rating 4 out of 5]

Back in grade school, I had one acquaintance who rejoiced eating a Dorrito. When asked why, he said that one of his parents was a food scientist—or whatever they call the people who create the artificial flavors, fragrances, and colors in processed foods. They banned junk food from his home and only ate natural foods. The other kids thought that was criminal and gave him more sweets and snacks. I simply wondered why that was the case.

Fast-forward to the present, and now I see why his parent acted the way they did. Especially after reading Dr. Fuhrman's easy-to-read book. If you've paid attention to the news, it couldn't have come at a better time.

Please be aware that even if this book includes recipes and a sample diet plan, I think it is better to call it an informative case study. Joel Fuhrman has written other books that go more in-depth on dietary changes and healthy lifestyles in the past. I would check them out if that is your only interest. Still a fascinating read for anyone who wants to improve their physical or mental health.

Fast Food Genocide briefs people on the history of fast food in the U.S., based on Dr. Fuhrman's twenty-five years in the field and the summarization of dozens of studies into the matter. He went through the effort of only including studies with a giant sampling size and with elongated periods of study (thousands of people and at least five years of observation). The information is recent too, most not being older than 2000. Citations are included, and they're lovingly divided by each chapter at the end of the book.

What matters to me is that you can tell he is writing this book to try to inform people about the dangers of many kinds of highly-processed foods. He may be repetitive and he may be condemning them, but you can tell it's because he has seen the downsides in his patients too many times to ignore mentioning them. It comes from a place of caring, and he wants people to know everything from an informed nutritional perspective. Even with his major recommendation of eating a plant-based diet, he is forgiving of the marginal inclusion of animal sourced foods. It doesn't feel patronizing doing so either; it's his way of hoping that people will transition at their own pace. I was pleased to read his F.A.Q section since it actually addressed many of my own questions, like the effects of multi-vitamins and introducing a healthy diet to picky eaters.

I enjoyed reading this book and going through his citations too. What a venture through a hushed yet vital section of food history. If you want to hear an interview with him regarding this particular book, please check out this site: http://responsibleeatingandliving.com...

[Remi · Rating 1 out of 5]

Basic summary of this book: You can't eat anything but veggies, beans, nuts, seeds and water. No meat, no animal by-products (including honey), no alcohol ever, no oils of any kind, and no multivitamins.

***SPOILERS***

I'm glad that he frequently acknowledged the struggle poor and working class people face in trying to access (affordable) healthy food but I also felt...offense(?) when he argued that the racist-fueled violence of the South post-Civil War was fueled by pellagra, a nutrient deficiency. It could be true, I haven't looked into it. Even though he stressed that he wasn't trying to make excuses for the behavior of the KKK and their supporters, this still felt like he was trying to argue his point for healthy foods by connecting it to domestic terrorism.

***END OF SPOILERS***

I also disagreed with his argument that you can make savory foods taste good without salt. This may be true for some people but it isn't true for all. And I wish healthy food advocates would admit this. They do a disservice to people when they tell us to give up added salt when we make our meals. Then we attempt it, hate how it tastes and assume the problem is us and go back to eating processed foods. Other than that, I agreed with most of the book and have been trying for years to eat healthy and consume fewer processed foods, less meat and animal by-products and less alcohol. But it almost feels like its for naught after reading this book. It isn't good enough unless you give up everything, it seems.

[Stacey Stokes · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been an avid follower of Dr. Fuhrman for years. Following his nutritional advice saved me from the brink of diabetes and today I feel better and am stronger at 60 than I was at 40 with absolutely no medical issues at all. I recommend all of his books, but Fast Food Genocide is the most important, groundbreaking and influential of them all. Dr. Fuhrman is one of the most down-to-earth, generous, reality-based people I've ever read. His life's work is devoted to helping people live healthier, happier, longer lives and he is relentless in his effort to spread correct, science-based (and the science is overwhelming) information to the public Unfortunately, this book confronts some very powerful organizations that don't want you to learn the truth (did you know that the food pyramid that we all grew up believing was designed by the same food industry giants that wanted to sell you that very same food?) and you should beware of negative reviews. People can be amazingly angry and hostile when you suggest that their eating habits could use some rethinking. Reading how food impacts not only your health, but the economy, society and the environment will motivate you to make wiser food choices. Read it and judge for yourself. You'll be glad you did.

[Astrid · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oy vey!? Furhman - no holds barred - here everybody gets it. Sometimes I wonder if he goes a little overboard, but at least he is not holding back. Made a couple of the recipes from the back of this book and they were very good. But he's preaching to the choir, and I wonder how much influence this book is going to have.

[Jerry Deutsch]

This book is fascinating and challenges many accepted beliefs about food and nutrition. Dr. Fuhrman's thoroughly researched new book, Fast Food Genocide reveals the main causes of the devastating and tragic health problems we have in society today. The insights and research also illuminate underlying issues for our economic problems, social problems and psychological problems. The link between fast food, junk food and obesity, heart disease and cancer may be well known, and is bad enough, but its contribution to mental illness, drug use and crime, is not something we can continue to ignore. Our food choices are simply killing millions prematurely and causing incredible suffering, and we all have to pay for it with exploding health care expenses.
I recommend this book to everyone. It gives solutions that can bring us all to a healthful future for us and our children! By the way, the recipes look incredible, too.

[Kristina Howard · Rating 3 out of 5]

Provides a lot of evidence which spurred me to examine my eating habits. The book, however, is very repetitive and too alarmist. The title does not adequately represent the content, which was a happy surprise. This is not a book about fast food restaurants, but a book about our diet (and we have plenty of sins even if you never set foot in a fast food restaurant) and how our diet impacts our body.

[Chandler Hedgehog · Rating 2 out of 5]

A book to scare me out of eating junk food is just what I need. I was excited to read this and really enjoyed the first few chapters. It talks about the death of family meal time, the impact wars had on nutrition, and the impacts Jim Crow had on black America’s diet which are all amazing things that need to be talked about. I gave this 2 stars because the author likens the following foods to ‘the same as highly processed junk foods’; honey, olive oil, butter, milk, meat (animal protein in general) and cheese. This is obviously a vegan doctor’s attempt at sneaking in his agenda. He also repetitively says blanket statements like ‘according to studies…..’ which studies? What did they find beyond the generalization you present? Who did the studies? I got the audio version so maybe this is more spelled out in the physical book I’m not sure. This book would have been amazing if it didn’t vilify processed food and animal products as the same. Fast food has enough danger about it that animal products never needed to be brought into the picture.

[Wendy Phraner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beyond simply telling us that fast food is bad, this book goes way beyond that. It makes several interesting points about how poor nutrition was the catalyst to past negative events. It never occurred to me that nutrition could be so closely tied to scary parts of our history. That aside, I enjoyed this book because it is the closest thing I can find to the food program I follow for myself. I needed to lose weight last year and did so by eating a mostly plant-based food regiment and watching my portions. I never heard of G-BOMBS before, but that's what I eat most of the time! So, the author is preaching to the choir here, but I can validate that it works. I feel good and find the food I eat to be satisfying. Even better, I can sustain eating this way over a long period of time (going on over a year now.) Good stuff. I look forward to reading more of his work.

[Cristine Mermaid · Rating 3 out of 5]

Alarming and a bit scary! While I know a lot about nutrition and the lack thereof, this book had a lot of interesting examples on how eating the standard American standard diet hurts us physically and mentally. It also included examples through out history of our diet hurting us and changing how we act and react. It went into more detail than I found necessary and that bogged it down a bit for me. Also he really reaches in places to make his point when the truth is dramatic enough.

Overall while it certainly motivated me to clean up my diet (which is why I read it), I think he goes to the extreme with his "live off of nuts berries veggies and a tiny meat" and that will discourage people from making changes because it seems too difficult. However, his meal plan and recipes do sound tasty and I will give them a try.

[alexandra ༊*·˚ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excluding the repetition and the little bits in the slavery section that may not be 100% accurate (as diet wasn't the only reason for certain consequences), I think this book was pretty solid and informational. The discussion about food deserts as well as the role parents play in influencing their children's future would be something I'd recommend everyone to read into.

I liked that they added some meal plans and recipes in the end that followed the guidelines provided in this book. I think this is a good read for anyone who is wondering what they can do to better their personal life as our diet definitely contributes to our overall wellbeing.

[Rose · Rating 1 out of 5]

I agree there are issues with our food and especially junk and fast food, but this book goes a bit too far in my opinion. Really, donuts during pregnancy as a cause of leukemia? While it may be remotely possible what about every other factor that is not mentioned?

I just don’t think bad food alone leads to everything from crime to illness.

[Marilee · Rating 4 out of 5]

I mean, we all know at this point that fast food is bad, right? And yet most people still eat it at times. The author presents a lot of research showing why it really is detrimental to our health and that we should steer clear of it. I found it motivating.

[Emily · Rating 2 out of 5]

Incredibly unrealistic. Jumps to conclusions. Suggests multiple times that only correlation is important not causation, and suggests that legislation should be made before determining causation.

[Laura Merlina]

This was very interesting and eye opening. It’s sad how little we are taught about nutrition as children and throughout high school. Dr. Fuhrman is very extreme, and I guess it makes sense, because food can add up to be literally life or death, and it’s frustrating how hard it is hard for us to grasp this because our perception of food is so skewered to think that chemicals and processed stuff are actually food. And I think everyone kind of knows this, buttttt unfortunately we live in a capitalistic society that forces us to constantly be on the move in pursuit of meaningless things that won’t make us happy! And health and peace go on the backburner, in so many more ways than just physical health. Okay I could go on a whole rant about this because I’ve been thinking too much about how big pharma and the government and food corporations want to keep us poisoned, so I think that's also partly why I was also really interested in this. They also feed on the poor and the disadvantaged, creating a relentless cycle that the author touches on.
I thought it was interesting that the author’s ideal diet is essentially a vegan diet, with very little animals and animal products at all. He also thinks doctors should never eat sugar or fast food or drink alcohol, which sure, in a perfect world. He touches on taking supplements (his main idea being that supplements should be researched and tailored to vitamin/mineral levels within the individual, many multis contain things our bodies already have enough of, and the general population should not be taking or needing supplements because we should be getting it from our food), which I thought was pretty interesting and another one of those things that seem so extreme because of what we’re used to seeing and hearing. He also asserts that hospitals should never have fast food restaurants in them, because it's so contradictory. Like sometimes life happens and you want some fries and i think that’s okay. Fuhrman doesn’t really offer any wiggle room. But as a whole I agree with his premise that our fast food culture needs to change. So he does have very high expectations which made me raise my eyebrows quite a bit while reading, but this was an interesting read and my main takeaway is that we should be more conscientious of how we see food and what is marketed to us.

[Donna · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is Nonfiction Health. I've read more than a handful of books on Health and they always remind me of how little I know . Even when the authors and their plans are in different corners, there are some similarities when it comes to veggies and eating real food for all around good health. This book takes that a few steps further. The author doesn't just say eat the good things for good health, but he draws a line (with permanent marker) by saying that eating fast food and franken-food isn't only linked to diseases that are plaguing the healthcare system, but it is the cause of those diseases. Globally, the world is in for a rude awakening when they realize how ill they are and that it could have been prevented. Definitely thought provoking and worth kicking around.

I liked the way this author detailed the history of processed food. That was my favorite part. It reminded me of the series "The Food that Built America" on the history channel. I found that series fascinating and detailed. This book definitely has a message that needs some discussion. I'm just wondering how that is going to happen.

[Katie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really want to love all of Fuhrmans stuff, because I wholeheartedly agree with everything he says, but man he is PREACHY. Really makes me want to hate it.

5 stars for content, 1 star for preachy tone.

[Kami · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the parts about how poor nutrition may have affected history.

[MrBuk · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 * za propagowanie zdrowego stylu życia i walkę o zdrowie ludzkości.

[Nixon Reyes · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book, Fast Food Genocide, By Joel Fuhrman, a doctor and nutritionist, descries the effects of fast food on American society. The book is pretty interesting. Fuhrman brings up many points I had never thought of, like when Fuhrman brings up how Red 40, a common dye in many foods, causes certain types of cancer. Overall, I enjoy this book. There are a few things that are weird, like Fuhrmans aggressive tone when the book starts, but it slowly gets better.

[Dndicicco · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting read. This follows the general format of Dr. Furhman's other recent books, i.e., there's a problem (e.g., heart disease, diabetes, or in this case fast-food genocide), and here's the solution, i.e., a nutrient-dense, whole foods diet.

As one might gather from the title, the tone throughout the book is somewhat more strident, and there is significant social commentary, and even historical perspective on the impact of diet not only on physical health, but also on mental well being.

There is a chapter on the lack of nutritional variety and quality on southern, white people's diet relative to that of the former slaves in the antebellum period. Dr. Furhman makes a point that pellagra in the white community contributed to increased tensions and acts of violence. This seems somewhat of a stretch to me, especially since there is a significant historiography (see Albion's Seed) about the folkways of "backcountry" peoples in the United States, and the endemic violence and machismo which emigrated from their borderland communities in Europe. In addition, there are a few rather crude illustrations, which I found distracting from the otherwise serious, and scientific approach Dr. Furhman adopts.

That said, it seems inarguable that there are great inequalities in access to and education about healthy foods. Dr. Furhman's plan likely represents the apogee of the healthful diet, and if that serves a north star for broader communities, then this is likely a good thing. Highlighting this inequality and providing steps toward rectifying seems a worthy cause, and the book does a good job of underline this dynamic.

[Jonathan H. MONTES · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great, informative book on Fast Food, where it came from, and the damage that it's causes all Americans with just a single bite of this savage, mass-produced product located at every corner in the United States and in the adapting world.

It's a shame reading about the struggles that people have to deal with. And on top of this, they struggle with the choice to make a healthy choice that keeps them at the bottom. Seriously keeps them at the bottom. The poor have very little in choice when it comes to grocery shopping as the major brands of stores are located offset of their location. However, they do have the choice of any Fast Food chain near their vicinity. Something that I learned in this book.

If that sound interesting to you, read this book. Filled with information that might just change the way you see food, and see how doctors don't care in putting you in a regime that will lead to health as they would like to keep you where you are at for that routine checkup, prescribe more pills and nothing more.

Joel Fuhrman is very direct. And there is no reason not to listen to his advice as his talks on Youtube show clearly that he's in good health. The guy is skinny and looks to live for many more years. This is something that I want for my future, thus this book proved almighty by providing me with much needed information. Now the struggle is to avoid the food, and cook more, and then hit the gym whenever possible.

I hope you enjoyed this review. It's a great read, but might not be enjoyed for those looking for something of a quick fix, or even a quick read. This book is dense with information that is revealing of the industry.

[Srikanth · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a real eye opener in showing how fast foods (aka processed foods) are wreaking havoc on the health of millions of people around the world. After reading this book, the name 'Fast food' seems so apt. Actually, these are foods that get converted into glucose and enter the bloodstream super fast. That is why they are also called comfort foods, as they soothe the brain and body with the glucose rush, but this is not good for long term health.

The lessons I learnt from this book are that micro-nutrients (14 vitamins, 25 minerals and 1000s of phytochemicals) are as important as the macro-nutrients (proteins, carbs, fats and water), if not more. We need to consume micro-nutrient rich foods that are high in fiber and take a long time to slowly and gradually release glucose into the bloodstream. This is the key to good health and longevity.

Dr. Fuhrman cites a lot of research material that indicates how processed foods are causing and exacerbating most of our lifestyle diseases (diabetes, blood pressure, heart disease, cancers, etc.) and what we can do to recover, reverse and/or avoid these diseases. I would definitely recommend this book to everyone who consumes processed foods.

[Kim Engle · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good choice for people who don't already realize that fast food and SAD is killing us. He does make some good points about how it hits disadvantaged populations, particularly African-Americans, much harder, because of lack of access to better food, etc. Also shows links to crime and violence. He is now espousing a "nutritarian" diet. Unfortunately, while he talks about how easy it is because it doesn't count calories, macronutrients, etc, he doesn't provide a lot of practical help about how to do it. Yes there is a 2 week meal plan and some recipes, but they aren't remotely practical for those disadvantaged populations. He also manages to sound pompous about how wonderful his diet is, and how much better it is than everything else out there. He completely fails to acknowledge the boom in "real-food" eating, and puts down any diet that doesn't agree with his assertion that eating vegan is perfect, eating animal products are only barely ok if you do it every now and then, all fats are bad, etc. Completely ignores, doesn't even address any research that doesn't match his POV.

That's his story and he's sticking with it.