Discussion Board

Humans thrive on starches. That is the overarching theme of Dr. John McDougall's new book, The Starch Solution. Dr. McDougall lays out his views in plain English that anyone can understand. I have been familiar with the McDougall program for about 10 years, although I only fully comitted to it a year ago. One of the reasons it took me so long to comit to this way of eating was because of the myths surrounding it. One myth is that the McDougall Program is simply a low-fat vegetarian or vegan diet. It is much more than that. People eat a plant-based diet for many reasons, some to protect animals, some to protect the environment and some to lose weight, but even though all those things can be accomplished by eating "McDougall style," the main reason that The Starch Solution was written was to change the way people think about food. Only in modern and mostly Western civilizations is meat king. In the traditional diets of other cultures, plant food take center stage and if meat is eaten, it is an accompaniment to fruit and vegetables. What distinguishes the McDougall program from others however, is his view that starchy foods should be the center of the human diet. Dr. McDougall details the science behind his views, including anthropological and historical evidence that the common people ate starch from the earliest times (mainly in the form of tubers, roots, leaves, nuts and seeds with some fruit and later grains). He also shows us in documented studies how a diet based around starches can heal many major diseases. This book is not about deprivation, but about embracing a new way of eating--one that is based upon starchy foods along with green and yellow vegetables and fruit. At the end of the book are many recipes including some goodies such as pancakes and French toast with maple syrup, muffins, banana bread, fruit crisp, chocolate cake and brownies for those who are not trying to lose weight. The Starch Solution explains the entire health program of Dr. McDougall in one book with much new material not included in his other books. I highly recommend The Starch Solution to anyone who wants to have a healthy life.

S. Jackson (aka: Gramma Jackie)

Thank you, Gramma Jackie - a very concise review.

I have to read and re-read the good information Dr McDougall provides because of the persistent brainwashing in all the media, that starches are bad and make you bloated and fat.

I have to remind myself that just because something's being repeated until it's commonly accepted does not make it truth.

Gramma Jackie, that was a very nice review. I'm glad to see the entire program is explained in one book. I was thinking of ordering the Maximum Weight Loss book from amazon, but now I'm just going to wait for this one to arrive.

Thanks again!

I am a book junkie. I go to the library and check out at least 10 books a week and I go to Barnes & Noble bookstore at least every other week. I also frequent a place here in the midwest called Half-Price Books which sells overstocks and used books. I have 5 of Dr. McDougall's books including The Starch Solution. I like all of them and find the recipes very useful.

I ordered the Starch Solution this week and can't wait for it to come. Although I have read Dr. McDougall's Program for Maximum Weight Loss, keeping my eye on the ball each and every day is important. So this gives me one more tool in my toolbox. I am looking forward to reading it.

I just finished reading the book. I do have a comment and a question. Overall, the book was great and well worth the price. I do wish that the text was not continually interrupted with the Star McDougallers. It served to disrupt the natural flow and meant I had to go back and figure out where I left off. Eventually I just skipped over them. I would prefer they were moved to an appendix. My question is that I can't find any place where a total cholesterol goal is mentioned for good health. Did I miss it or is it no longer considered important? As an aside it seemed that while starches were (as expected) emphasized, the green and leafy vegetables were almost treated as an optional addition. Could one deduce that a healthy meal could consist of only starches without the addition of non-starchy vegetables or do they provide some unique value?
Pete

The meals served at Dr. McDougalls events at his facility are starch based with other fruits and vegetables rounding out the meal I would assume this is his preferred way of eating at each meal as it's what he chooses to serve every time. I don't know if every component must be at each meal but it seems important to have these things daily.
f1jim

Pete, I think it is important and the figure that I have seen here several times is 150mg/dl. I understand that the risk of coronary artery disease is very close to zero if your total cholesterol is at or below that level.

Yes, I would have thought they were an important part of every meal, but this quote on page 191 makes me wonder:

It certainly doesn't sound like they are essential unless of course there is some nutritional value not otherwise found in the starchy vegetables? If so, I didn't find the reference.
Pete

Yes, this is my impression as well, but I can't find any reference to that in the book. I was quite surprised by that. Did I miss it?
Pete

Hi Pete,

I felt the same way about the Star McDougaller stories. I think they are important (although I had read them all before here on the McDougall website), but they do disrupt the flow of the text. I wish they had been at the end of each chapter or in a special section. I don't know if Dr. McDougall stuck them in that way or if it was the publisher. As far as the cholesterol, most people's cholesterol goes down on the McDougall program. I know mine did. As far as veggies go Dr. Mcdougall has never said green leafy vegetables were more important than other vegetables, nor doe he recommend eating only starches, although he does say potatoes are an almost perfect food. I own 5 McDougall books which all have recipes and they all have lots of vegetables. I was actually astounded at the wide variety of vegetables in the recipes in their two cookbooks and other books. If you read the recipes in The Starch Solution, you'll also find many vegetables, such as in the Autumn Garden Vegetable soup which contains 9 different vegetables in addition to beans. The recipe for Artichoke Paella has 7 different vegetables and the Thai Green Curry Rice has 9 different vegetables. The McDougall's are sneaky that way. The recipes in the McDougall books are loaded with all types of vegetables including leafy greens. Go through and read each recipe and you'll be surprised.

I misspoke. I didn't mean to refer solely to green and leafy vegetables, but rather all non-starchy vegetables. I just don't see them emphasized in the book and wondered if they were an essential part of the diet or more an optional addition. I have an ulterior motive for asking. I like to keep things simple and if I don't need to include those non-starchy vegetables with every meal that would be nice. With respect to cholesterol, as mentioned, I didn't see a goal stated. Did I miss it?
Pete

In the first chapter there is a graphic of a SAD plate and a Starch Solution Plate. The Starch Solution Plate represented 70% starches, 20% Veggies and 10% fruit. Does that answer your question?

OK, got your drift now. I thought you were saying you thought Dr. McDougall didn't emphasize leafy greens and other vegetables enough. I was reading another board yesterday were some vegans were saying we needed more greens than starches (a very common view). On page 189 of The Starch Solution, Dr. McDougall says, "The Cardinal rule of the Starch Solution is that you must center the food on your plate around starches, adding color and flavor with nonstarchy vegetables and fruits." That seems to be saying to me that the bulk of your nutrition should come from starches and so I wouldn't think you'd have to have them for every meal. Most people don't eat vegetables for breakfast for instance. Meat and cheese are replaced by potatoes, rice, starchy squash or pasta. Add vegetables and fruit as desired. That's the way I see it anyway.

Yes, that was my take on it. Basically the non-starchy vegetables seem to be de-emphasized so I was wondering if they are really an essential part of the diet.