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The Plant Power Doctor: A simple prescription for a healthier you

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Dr Gemma is one of the few brave voices in the medical community who is experienced, courageous and confident enough to talk openly about food and its significance in preventing disease to save lives.' Dr Rupy Aujla

'Packed full of leading science in a very accessible way and lots of beautiful recipes too.' The Happy Pear

' The Plant Power Doctor should be on bookshelves of everyone who wants to live a longer, better life.' Dan Buettner

'One of a new wave of GPs who prescribe lifestyle changes as well as drugs.' The Telegraph


Are you ready to discover the power of plants? Let's dive in.

Just imagine if what you put on your plate could not only improve your health right now but also make you healthier in the future. This book shows you, and your loved ones, how to make enjoyable, sustainable choices to futureproof your body and mind.

In this ground-breaking book, British family doctor Gemma Newman shares the transformative effect plant-powered eating has had not only in her life, but also in the lives of her family, her patients, and many people around the world. She explains the science that shows why plant-power works and how you can eat your way to a brighter future.

Dr Newman shares how in many cases your genes matter less when it comes to your health destiny than what you eat for dinner. Explore how many of the chronic illnesses we face - including heart disease, cancer, type 2 diabetes, hormonal dysfunction, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and obesity - can be helped with a plant-powered approach along with gut health and immunity.

Make some simple switches. You can still eat your favourite kinds of food and enjoy delicious meals - simply learn how to make them plant-powered. Banish the diets, the calorie counting and deprivation. Instead you can try a compassionate and powerful way of eating that everyone can enjoy .

Start cooking! This book includes over 60 mouth-watering meal ideas to kick-start your journey. Dr Newman includes a simple guide as to the principles of a whole foods plant-based approach and helpful meal plans for you to fill out too. Enjoy easy breakfasts, family favourites and meals on the go and so much more.

Everything you need to eat your way to a healthier, happier you.

304 pages, Paperback

Published January 7, 2021

60 people are currently reading
300 people want to read

About the author

Gemma Newman

2 books5 followers

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5 stars
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
Profile Image for Rohini Bajekal.
6 reviews2 followers
January 13, 2021
As a nutritionist myself, I loved how The Plant Power Doctor is evidence-based and scientific while also accessible and interesting. It's a truly compelling read and the recipes are delicious - I'm excited to try the Mushroom and White Bean mash next. The food is as colourful as the book itself.

Dr Gemma Newman covers the "why" as well as the "how to" - the practical tips, information on chronic diseases, case studies and recipes are all fantastic. Her compassionate nature shines through the pages of this book and I loved her non-judgemental approach to eating more plants and living well. Definitely recommend this book to everyone!
Profile Image for Zee Monodee.
Author 45 books346 followers
August 1, 2022
3.5 stars
It's got good information and works great as an intro into plant-based eating and what it entails, how to go about it, that sort of thing. So in this regard, it is a very good book
But it's also very basic in the sense of, it could've covered more. For example, how does someone who is allergic to nuts get all the stuff you'd normally get from nuts in a WFPB diet?
Still, it's good in that it gives a leg up, a starting point, and that's to be recommended
34 reviews13 followers
July 18, 2021
If one want to make a change in his diet this book is a good start. The recipes at the end are helpful and easy to do. I enjoyed reading the book, is easy and simply to digest.
747 reviews
December 22, 2022
There was something very important that I did like about this book:

The author was very upfront whenever a recommendation was relying on weakly supported data. So many other books in the DIY-health space throw around a single case study without noting that we'd need more research to really back up that claim.

The case examples seemed over-dramatized to me, the direct quotes from patients very stilted.

I also didn't try the recipes - they seemed very basic and not something that I needed a recipe to know how to do, with my own experience in the kitchen, but may be helpful for someone getting into cooking for themselves.

Seemed very actionable (and I read the ebook, but apparently the print book looks quite nice). I think generally I just didn't need this to be an entire book, presented the way it was. Would maybe recommend checking out the author's appearances in podcasts as an alternative unless you are very new to the whole-food-plant-based world. (As it was, I checked out this book after hearing the author as a guest on a podcast, which already had exposed me to many similar ideas, which is probably why the book didn't work well for me.)
Profile Image for Stuart Piper.
125 reviews11 followers
December 18, 2022
I went fully plant based early 2021, having done things in stages since 2019 bit by bit, from pescatarian to vegetarian to dairy free veggie to vegan.

Dr Gemma advocates a Whole Foods Plant Based WFPD diet, and I'm going to aspire to this and make changes - having perhaps relied too heavily on 'vegan junk food' options from supermarkets.

But already, even without being so strictly WFPD, veganism has meant I have shed weight healthily, I can run longer and faster, my cardio vascular health has improved - I feel lighter and brighter - and my own health was not actually my top concern - ethics first and environment second were my priorities to my own health in third place of the three reasonings - but what a welcome surprise plant based living has been in that last area.

Dr Gemma's book is jam-packed full of fact-based peer-reviewed academic research, but in accessible readable form. Its the best book on plant-based eating that I've read - and I shall be referring back to it ongoing.
243 reviews3 followers
February 5, 2021
Whole foods, plant based guide book.
I was really interested in this as I have been moving more towards this type of diet and wanted to learn more about it.
This book is well written, simple to read and has lots of lovely photographs and illustrations..
Lots of practical advice and explanations about particular foods.
I also found the medical and scientific information easy to understand.
The case studies illustrated the benefits of this lifestyle and resonated with me as I aim to be fitter and healthier during lockdown.
Highly recommended.
4.5 Stars ⭐️
Thanks to Netgalley for allowing me to read this book in return for a fair review.
Profile Image for Lucie Dockalova.
111 reviews
April 11, 2021
I think this is a great book. It's full of incredibly useful information and everything you might want to know about a whole food plant-based lifestyle and how it can change your life and health for the better. Dr. Newman is a truly inspirational GP, author, and podcast host and I wish more doctors (all doctors) were like her. Thank you, Gemma.
Profile Image for Kirstin.
445 reviews
March 24, 2021
Excellent book, I’m already vegan but trying to be more WFPB instead of junk food vegan!

This book gives you all the information to adopt a WFPB lifestyle, simply
53 reviews1 follower
June 1, 2021
For anyone looking to live a more healthy plant based lifestyle.
199 reviews1 follower
December 9, 2025
Interesting nutrition guide but dull recipes. She's a doctor not a chef and it shows
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews

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