Dr Weil is on PBS talking about food. I’m pseudo-live blogging the talk in a haphazard sort of way.    Andrew Weil is a leading proponent of combining “mainstream” science with natural foods and lifestyle changes to improve health and well-being.

He’s explaining why a puffy rice cake will raise your blood sugar *much faster* than table sugar, and noting that eating “high glycemic load” carbs like rice cakes regularly can lead to obesity and other health challenges like high blood pressure.

Generally, he says we should be looking to eat low glycemic loads stuff like beans, winter squashes, sweet potatoes.

Cooking oil? Like Kurzweil, Weil recommends “extra virgin Olive Oil” and says to stay away from my personal favorite, sesame oil among others.

Eat: Oily fish to get Omega 3 Fatty Acides. Also in walnuts, hemp!! seeds, flax seeds, sea vegetables.

Fat: Avoid it even though the ‘mouth feel’ is pleasureable. Nuts, avocadoes, olive oil are OK fats – these are monosaturated. Optimal levels of fat are far below the current average consumption of fat.

Protein: The need for this is exaggerated in our culture where protein deficiency is almost non-existent. Animal proteins are not as good due to density, saturated fats, and toxins.

Try to get your proteins from plant produce

Main source of vitamins? Fruits and vegetables! Eat a great variety. Eat fresh. Lots of fiber. Eat a LOT more fiber than you have been!

Phytonutrients are good!

Green Tea, White Tea, Dark Chocolate, Red Wine have health benefits.

Beware food marketing that encourages eating the nutrient rather than the vegetable that has the nutrient. e.g. broccoli and tomatoes.