Truth In Medicine

Adjusting to a New Schedule

Things have changed in the last few weeks in term of my work, and they’ll remain that way for a while.  Colin and I are writing the book based on the upcoming movie, Forks Over Knives, which will be released next spring.  In order to make our deadline for completion, I have to spend a few hours daily writing.  I love this project and actually look forward to sequestering myself in my home office to write and research for a few hours.  But this project has resulted in a major change in the way I deal with the rest of life, and change does not come easily to me.

The leaves in the yard are not raked yet, and there are emails in my inbox I have not answered yet.  I have instructed the staff not to schedule anything that is not urgent until this project is complete.  I never put things off, can’t stand for things not to be caught up all the time, and have trouble walking away from unanswered emails.  Perhaps this is a lesson in learning how to not be so obsessive compulsive about getting things done all the time.

In any case, it’s temporary.  In a few weeks, this project will be completed and I can go back to the status quo if I want to.

By the way, in case you are wondering, I am still practicing dietary excellence and optimal habits.  I cannot think well if I don’t eat well, and daily exercise is needed in order for me to stay focused and at the top of my game.  So, the good habits are being maintained in spite of the insanity that is my life. 

Forks Over Knives: Chapter Five

Here are two members of the crew who are just now trying a vegan diet.  These guys were so patient – sometimes it was hard to get everyone to be quiet and to follow directions!


Many chefs might have been a little intimidated at the thought of feeding people who are some of the most important people in the world of plant-based nutrition.  Not Del!  He prepared and served a feast that everyone agreed was absolutely outstanding!  We had a big green salad with mandarin orange vinaigrette dressing, stuffed squash with a creamy leek sauce, edamame succotash, and maple glazed pears with cranberry sorbet.  It was worth cleaning up the mess – the cranberry sorbet was delicious!




Here’s the group finally sitting down to eat for the final scene.



Del fed not only those appearing in the final scene, but everyone that was there, and after dinner everyone applauded – Del really was one for the stars of the show!

Then things got really exciting - we all got to see some of the edited footage of the film.  We were all impressed and energized!  It was so exciting!  I cannot wait until we can see the finished product, and I absolutely know that it is going to help us change the world in important ways.  I feel so honored to be part of this project and to work such amazing people!

I have so many other pictures but had to choose just a few to give you a flavor for the day.  It was amazing and I will never forget it.

Forks Over Knives: Fourth Chapter

The person who worked the hardest was Del– here he is unloading the car.  I think I was inside in front of the fireplace talking to everyone!


Ann set a beautiful table for the dinner!


This is Colin with the film producer, John Corry.  John is an award-winning producer and we are lucky to have him involved in this project.


Here’s Colin with Lee Fulkerson, the screenwriter.  Lee has also won awards for his work, and I love working with him!  He is dedicated to making sure everything is accurate and easy for the audience to understand.


And this is me with two of my favorite people – Lee and Colin!


Brian Wendell is the visionary who read The China Study, thought that everyone should know about plant-based nutrition and the work of Colin Campbell and has very generously funded this project – everyone and everything about this project is first class, thanks to Brian!


Dr. Matt Lederman and Dr. Alona Pulde (Matt’s wife) are from Los Angeles.  They were trained by Dr. McDougall and use plant-based nutrition in their practice.  Both are featured in the film.


Another star patient featured in the film who has discontinued all medications and injections since being under the care of Dr. Matt Lederman.


Tomorrow I’ll post pictures of the feast Del prepared!

Forks Over Knives: Third Chapter

This plant-based crowd likes to eat!  Here are Colin and Karen Campbell shucking corn on the cob for our lunch!


Micaela Cook from the Campbell Foundation, Allison Boon from Monica Beach Productions, and Karen Campbell chatting in the house.


This is Ann enjoying a brief restful moment after feeding all of us as we arrived.


Here are Colin and Ess strategizing about how to spread the great word about plant-based nutrition!


Here’s Micaela in front of the huge fireplace.  The stone pillars that are the foundation were so big that they had to be placed first and the house built around it!


We’re all animal lovers, so of course, the Esselstyn’s dog gets plenty of attention!

This incredible and determined woman is a patient of Ess who had diabetes in May (notice the past tense used here) and now does not – you’ll get to hear more about her story in the movie!


Tomorrow, more pictures of our fabulous day!

Forks Over Knives: Second Chapter

On Saturday morning, we were up early to visit the coffee shop (of course) and get some last-minute things done before heading for Chardon.

Here is Del working in my little kitchen. You’ll notice in the last picture Del is finishing off cranberry sorbet for the dessert.

We had a slight snafu and it’s great that Del is such a great chef so he could fix it on the spot.  The ice cream maker did not work, so Del came up with an alternate plan: he ran to the store to get some frozen fruit and made the sorbet in my blender. He seemed a little nervous and rushed around a lot.  I didn’t realize that there was a problem until he was finished and took a look at the mess.   My kitchen looked like a crime scene.  There was red cranberry spatter everywhere.  He even got it on the front porch and the railing.  I cleaned up cranberries like a madwoman!  We even found more of it Sunday morning and I am confident that I’ll see even more spots we missed when I open the place back up in April!





After the cranberry debacle, we headed east to Chardon, where Caldwell and Ann Essenstyn and their kids built a fabulous lodge in the woods at a location called The Knob.  The building is constructed of planks and stone pillars from barns that were due to be torn down in the area; we got to see pictures of the place being built.


The grounds are beautiful!



Here is a picture of the view from the kitchen window.  On a clear day you can see all the way to Lake Erie from there!


This was a perfect gathering place for all of us – both to have a great day and to work!

Tomorrow I’ll show you some of the scenes from the day!