Joel is a longtime colleague and friend and I and have a huge amount of respect and gratitude for the work he does. If the above post is true, I am sad to see anything happen that distracts from an open discussion on the issues and again, if true, I do not recommend anyone act inappropriately in this/my regard.
Ironically though, I posted the following earlier this morning in a response to another thread...
http://www.drmcdougall.com/forums/viewt ... 30#p138630JeffN wrote:Letha.. wrote:I think there is value in discussion with people who disagree with you. It appears that you disagree with Dr. McDougall’s recommendations in several areas. That’s fine with me. But I think that for individuals attempting to change their dietary habits it can be confusing to see you give advice that is different than Dr. McDougall’s.
I saved this for last for a reason.
There are areas we disagree, but they are minor in relation to the bigger picture of the program, and are not the ones mentioned above. Some people have raised them in other threads and when appropriate, we have discussed them.
However, I am glad you raised this point here and now as it is an important issue.
There are a few issues we disagree on.
However, it is important to realize that I am not a salesperson for the McDougall Program but a health professional dedicated to the science of health and nutrition and the well-being of my patients and that of the public. My perspective and my interpretation of the science happens to align closely with that of Dr McDougall's. Therefore, I work for Dr McDougall as a freelance consultant/contract worker and I am only paid for the services I render (ie, lectures) and I am under no obligation to "agree" with him on anything.
He hires me to give "my" lectures on the topics I choose and in spite of the fact that we do disagree on some minor issues. He has never once asked me to change any of my lectures which discuss these differences, or any of the content in them, nor has he ever wanted to edit and/or censor any part of any one of my talks. In fact, we feel it adds to the scientific discourse of the program.
And, to be honest, in him doing this, he exhibits extreme professionalism and integrity, especially in this field, and is a rare bird (or should I say potato).
I hold multiple contracts and though the one with Dr McDougall represents only a small percentage of the total, it is the one I enjoy the most.
For the record, the time, energy and effort I put in at these forums is done on my own as a volunteer and was started at my own request.
This is all also important because in the world of health, so many health professionals have sold out their integrity for a few dollars to work for big companies and industries, and/or to sell health products and/or to sell supplements and compromise their message and integrity for a paycheck.
In Health
Jeff
This is a public forum and anyone is welcome to come here and discuss/debate the issues with me. Everyone is treated with dignity and respect, including the heretics.
My discussions on nuts are well thought out, scientifically documented and actually inline with those of all other credible scientific organizations and the national recommendations.
In Nov, 2009, I was a keynote speaker at the International CHIP Summit at Loma Linda Univeristy, where Dr Gary Fraser, also spoke. Dr Fraser is a Professor of Medicine, a Professor of Epidemiology, the Director of the Center for Health Research at Loma Linda University and has overseen the 7th Day Adventist Study, which is one of the key studies documenting the health benefits of nuts. He also in involved with with other research on nuts. In a discussion on nuts, his response and recommendations were 100% inline with my position, recommendations and limits on nuts.
This topic has produced some excellent and well thought out discussions in these forums here and on my website forums when they were up. In fact, the single most viewed topic at my websites forum, was the one on this issue. As that forum is no longer being maintained publicly, I may re-post that thread here, later.
The irony in all this discussion over the issues of nuts, is that I am actually the one, who over 13 years ago (and long before joining the McDougall program) presented my position along with all the scientific literature supporting my position, to the Pritikin Science Advisory committee to have their position on nuts changed. And, after several moths of debates, got the Pritikin Program, to add nuts to their diet and helped oversee the development of their guideline and recommendation for nuts. Before that, nuts were forbidden. Those guidelines and recommendations are the exact same guidelines they still follow, I teach at the McDougall program and elucidate here.
If and when the science on nuts changes, I will act accordingly.
Let us keep our focus on the discussion of the issues.
Remember, principles, not personalities.
In Health
Jeff
