I am the biggest fan of Dr. Oz. Ever since I read YOU on a Diet back in 2006. He wrote it with Dr. Michael Roizin. There is a revised edition from 2009 that you can pick up on Amazon here for $6.98. I recommend it. Dr. Oz writes for the man on the street who wants to eat healthy and not spend a fortune in the bargain.
This week’s cover story is wistfully entitled Give (Frozen) Peas a Chance And Carrots Too. Love the word play on give peace a chance.
This week’s issue of Time Magazine
He opens the piece talking about how unsightly a block of frozen spinach looks coming out of the package. Doesn’t look very appetizing. Doesn’t compare with buying fresh organic leaf spinach grown in soil an hour ago in your locale. But it’s worth it because it is so much healthier than “the green ice from the supermarket. Right?”
“Wrong.” Dr. Oz writes, “Wrong. Nutritionally speaking, there is little difference between the farmer’s-market bounty and the humble brick from the freezer case. It’s true for many other supermarket foods too. And in my view, dispelling these myths–that boutique foods are good, supermarket foods are suspect and you have to spend a lot to eat well–is critical to improving our nation’s health. Organic food is great, it’s just not very democratic. As a food lover, I enjoy truffle oil, European cheeses and heirloom tomatoes as much as the next person. But as a doctor, I know that patients don’t always have the time, energy or budget to shop for artisanal ingredients and whip them into a meal.”
Write on, Dr. Oz!
He goes on to say, “The rise of foodie culture over the past decade has venerated all things small-batch, local-farm and organic–all with premium price tags. But let’s be clear: you don’t need to eat like the 1% to eat healthily. After several years of research and experience, I have come to an encouraging conclusion: the American food supply is abundant, nutritionally sound, affordable and, with a few simple considerations, comparable to the most elite organic diets. Save the cash; the 99% diet can be good for you.”
On the subject of meats, near and dear to our hearts, “Nutritionally, there is not much difference between, say, grass-fed beef and the feedlot variety. The calories, sodium and protein content are all very close. Any lean meats are generally fine as long as the serving size is correct–and that means 4 to 6 oz., roughly the size of your palm. A modest serving like that can be difficult in a country with as deep a meat tradition as ours, where steak houses serve up 24-oz. portions and the term meat and potatoes is a synonym for good eating. But good eating isn’t always healthy eating, and we’re not even built to handle so much animal protein, since early humans simply did not have meat available at every meal. Sticking with reasonable portions two or three times a week will keep you in step with evolution.”
He covers a lot of useful ground in this week’s cover story. You can read the complete item at Time Magazine or purchase a copy at your newsstand.
For the record Dr. Mehmet Oz is a vice chairman and professor of surgery at Columbia University, a best-selling author and the Emmy winning host of The Dr. Oz Show.
As you can see from the readers’ comments below, several readers feel that Dr. Oz has changed positions with regard to the food industry. Here is a link to an interview he did on Oprah Radio in July 2008. Thanks to reader Chelmar for furnishing this.
Tony
Wellness Secrets of a SuperAger 
I disagree with your assessment. You leave out an important comment Dr. Oz made in the article regarding grassfed vs. feedlot beef:
Regarding grassfed beef “….kept free of hormones and antibiotics and are less likely to carry communicable bacteria like E.coli, which are common on crowded feedlots. If these things are important to you and you have the money to spend, then by all means opt for pricier organic meats. But for the most part, it’s O.K. to skip the meat boutiques and the high-end butchers. Nutritionally, there is not much difference between, say, grass-fed beef and the feedlot variety”
Shouldn’t everyone be concerned about E.coli, or, as Dr. Oz implies, the 99% should not concern themselves with contracting communicable bacteria/E.coli? Additionally, this article seems to neglect the significant advantage of grass-fed over feedlot in that grass-fed beef has significantly lower levels of cholesterol than feedlot beef.
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This article is not accurate and inconsistent with the advice Dr. Oz gave in a previous edition of Time Magazine, reference 9/12/11. The December 2012 Time Magazine causes me to speculate that the Food Industry/Frozen Food Council are controlling Dr. Oz’s agenda.
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You’re entitled to your opinion. I couldn’t quote the entire article, but gave you the link for reading it.
Everyone should be concerned about contracting E.coli. See the previous paragraph.
Regarding the advantage of grass-fed over feedlot, I’m not sure that is so significant. Your body needs cholesterol. If you don’t take enough in your body will manufacture it.
Sorry, but it isn’t clear which ‘article’ you are referring to. Mine on the blog, or his in Time. I sincerely doubt Dr. Oz is under the control of the food industry/frozen food council.
Tony
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I am not sure about grass fed beef not having less cholesterol, but pastured , grass feed beef has other nutrients that are not present in feed lot beef, and they are not full of antibiotics and soy. I am not going to try and argue, the information is out there. Try Weston A Price Association’s website.. Also, I don’t believe in low cholesterol as a problem, I agree with you there, I think healthy fat , like cultured butters and raw milk cheeses are great as well as coconut oil. Until the soy industry invented itself,, all our beef was grass fed, and people were healthier. The cancer, diabetes and heart disease rates were never as high as now. Grass is something we can’t eat but cows can convert to food for us. Soy, corn and oats all have to be cultivated. Cows were not built to digest grains either., Sometimes, grass feed are finished on corn but soy is the new guy on the block and I personally don’t want it in everything I eat. I am not talking about traditional Asian soy products that are fermented , like soy sauce, natto, tempeh or miso, which is the way most Asians consume it. I am talking about it as an additive in everything we eat. And all that feedlot beef is loaded with it! Wonder what your son had breasts? or your ten year old daughter has her period? Just two of the effects of the hormone disruptor in soy. Dr. Oz has some good points and eating any vegetable rather than none is good, but he is way off on this one.
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Susan –
Thanks very much for your comment. First of all, I don’t eat a lot of meat any more. Probably I will have it once or twice in a month. So, I am not really informed or worried about the fine points of grass fed vs. feedlot beef. I get my protein from the plant world these days. On an average day, I consume 90 to 110 grams of protein, so there is plenty there for my requirements. An added benefit of using plant protein is that there is a good amount of natural and necessary fiber also. I will need to read up on how soy is a hormone disruptor. I am not aware of it at present. And, I get a lot of soy protein in my diet.
Tony
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I agree with Susan and would like to add that soy is considered to be both a phytoestrogen (basically a plant-based estrogen) and a goitrogen (substances that suppress the thyroid gland).
I was also surprised by Dr. Oz’s comment regarding grass-fed verses feedlot beef. Bt corn, commonly used in animal feed, is categorized by the EPA as a pesticide. It works by rupturing the abdomen of an insect. I won’t go into any further details about genetically engineered crops but it’s interesting to note that Lisa Oz narrated a recent documentary on the subject called “Genetic Roulette: The Gamble of Our Lives”.
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Dawn –
Thanks for your thoughts. I must agree the story of Dr. Oz and feedlot beef becomes curiouser and curiouser.
Tony
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Dr. Oz has proven Dr Mendelsohn’s quote below to be so true as he moves from talking out of both sides of his moth to moving over to the Monsanto side. You have some work to do Oz, as the internet is loaded with what came out of the organic support the small American farmer side of your mouth.
“Doctors turn out to be dishonest, corrupt, unethical, sick, poorly educated, and downright stupid more often than the rest of society. When I meet a doctor, I generally figure I’m meeting a person who is narrow-minded, prejudiced, and fairly incapable of reasoning and deliberation. Few of the doctors I meet prove my prediction wrong.”
Dr. Robert S Mendelsohn, M.D.
Doc Blake
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When I was a kid all food was organic, non-Gmo, animal friendly, and biodegradable? What is wrong with choosing it for my family now? I find it quite a challenge as a single woman raising my grandchildren to eat healthily so to do it I grow my own garden, I can and preserve the food I grow and buy from local farmers and bake our bread. I care that the milk we drink and the eggs and meat we eat isn’t from tortured animals. We don’t waste food because we know it’s value.
I am low income and work hard to maintain an organic and green lifestyle because not only do I care about my family, I care about the planet. It is a lifestyle choice and most often even those people who don’t share my commitment admire what I am doing. I have never been accused of being an elite snob before because of it.
I am quite happy to be one of the 1% and wonder why the 99% care what we do. The pesticides and GMO companies can have your money. They won’t be getting any of mine:)
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Thanks very much for your comment.
I don’t consider you an elite snob at all. I do think you are miscontruing what the Doctor wrote. There are many folks these days who have made themselves into food snobs and turn up their noses at the regular food that is available to all of us in the supermarkets. That’s who he was referring to, not someone who works to raise their own food. I think what you are doing is admirable. It is time consuming but well worth the effort. Not everyone has the time or is willing to work as hard as you do for your food.
Tony
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Hi Tony,
I am quite certain I didn’t misconstrued anything. He made no distinction for working class people like me who to eat healthy and who care about the humain treatment of animals and chemichally destroying the planet. He had only two categories the 1% and the 99%. Regardless I have been called much worse in my life than being an elite non-democratic snob and this is not the important issue; sticks and stones as they say.
. The only reason it is relevant and important is it hows his position and a big flip flop.
He is very influential in the food and health industry and has many followers who will not examine the truth on there own and can now discriminate with a free conscious those of us who have, done the research. And all because Dr Oz said so.This is nothing more than propaganda and unfortunately the masses tend to blindly follow it. Why? Because it is easier.
The fact that he left out the effects of Gmo’s and pesticide in our food in the Time story article also baffles me.when only a short time ago this was his position. Have a listen:
http://www.oprah.com/oprahradio/Genetically-Modified-Foods_1
If nothing else he has done a complete 180 with no explaination why. He has lost all credibility with me.
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Thanks very much for the link from Oprah radio from July 2008. I agree with you that he is talking very differently. I am including your link in my blog post to help put more light on this.
I appreciate your taking the time to furnish the link.
Tony
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A great article thanks for sharing it!
I agree about what you explained in the comments up there about snobs.
It is a good idea to benefit farmers, or grown your own food, but if u cant have the means to these options, going for the frozen aisle is not really bad ( in comparing to not eating veggies and fruits)!!
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Of all of the articles out there on the web concerning this subject, this has been the one with the biggest actual quote from the article itself, not someone’s opinion or one-word quotes taken out of context. Thanks for the great info! 🙂
http://www.examiner.com/article/dr-oz-allegedly-supports-monsanto-and-gmo?cid=db_articles
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Jennifer –
Thanks very much. Glad you liked it.
Tony
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I found a few recent items from the Dr. Oz website that I thought were interesting. The videos appeared to have aired in October 2012 & the article is dated March 2012.
“Going Organic on a Budget”
http://www.doctoroz.com/videos/going-organic-budget
“Are Pesticides Making Your Kids Dumber?”
http://www.doctoroz.com/videos/are-pesticides-making-your-kids-dumber
“How to Avoid Genetically Modified Foods”
http://www.doctoroz.com/videos/how-avoid-genetically-modified-foods
“Foods You Must Buy Organic”
http://www.doctoroz.com/videos/foods-you-must-buy-organic?fb_xd_fragment
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I had a Whipple procedure one year ago and the grass fed beef seems like the only kind of meet that I can eat without problems. I read that the big difference is not only the higher levels of good products your body needs, but grass fed cows are loaded with omega 3s vs. 6es (the ones that put fat on your backside). I think my new gut is telling me to avoid the grain fed meat for a reason!
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Thanks for your comment. Not sure what a Whipple procedure is, but I agree with you about grass fed beef.
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