Americans spend $70 billion on weight-loss programs, drugs, and other diet aids every year, but what if we could lose unwanted weight and get healthy simply by eating more of the things we already enjoy, like apples, beans, and oatmeal? That’s the proposition Neal Barnard, M.D., FACC, makes in his new book, The Power Foods Diet. Leaning heavily into the science, Barnard—the founder of Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine—lays out the case for eliminating fat-laden foods and increasing our intake of fiber-rich whole plant foods to drop pounds and regain our health without feeling deprived. “Certain foods make weight loss easy,” says Barnard.
As the book succinctly illustrates, many fruits, whole grains, legumes, and spices contain metabolic boosters and natural compounds that can usher fat out of our systems, make us feel sated, and even lower our blood pressure,…