Miscellaneous
This episode features Dr Gemma Newman, a knowledgeable, caring and helpful UK General Practitioner, who practices lifestyle medicine based around a whole-food plant-based diet and the core belief that the body can naturally heal itself if it’s given the right conditions. Gemma is the sort of doctor we could all do with visiting no matter how healthy we feel. We can no doubt all improve our lifestyles, particularly with the growing evidence to support the ability of a plant-based lifestyle to prevent, reverse, or at least halt the progression of chronic diseases such as heart disease, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, obesity and cancer. And from my perspective as an Intensive Care doctor, the less chronic disease due to a healthier lifestyle, the the less likely you are to ever meet someone like me by becoming a patient in the ICU. Gemma, the Plant Power Doctor, can be found through her website, on Instagram (@plantpowerdoctor), on Twitter (@drgemgem) and on Facebook. She has a specialist interest in holistic health, plant based nutrition and lifestyle medicine, and in her practice has come to understand that body, mind and soul are not separate, and that it is only in addressing the root causes of stress and disconnection that we can truly heal, from the inside out. She has worked in medicine for 15 years and is the Senior Partner at a family medical practice where she has worked for 11 years. She studied at the University of Wales College of Medicine and has worked in many specialities as a doctor. Gemma had also gained additional qualifications in gynaecology, family planning and integrative medicine. She is passionate about the study of psychology and meditation, and is also a qualified Jikiden Reiki practitioner having studied this as well as Western style Reiki for the purposes of pain relief. Gemma is an advisory board member of Plant Based Health Professionals UK and has contributed content on the topic of Diabetes for the Winchester University Plant Based Nutrition Course. As a broadcaster and writer she has been featured on ITV, Channel 4, Channel 5 and Sky News Sunrise. She has spoken on many podcasts including The Rich Roll Podcast and the Deliciously Ella podcast, and is regularly invited to teach other doctors and the general public via training programmes, podcasts and conferences about the benefits of plant-based nutrition. Ultimately she hopes her passionate for healing of mind, body and planet become contagious! This episode is full of information, inspiration, helpful advice and even a couple of powerful patient-related stories. In it Gemma discusses many topics including: How the plant-based lifestyle has changed her life, her family’s lives and her professional life Why she became a General Practitioner Her view that the body has a natural ability to heal itself How her husband inspired her to adopt a plant-based diet The very first patient she suggested try a plant-based diet Understanding the difference between a patient and a doctor’s agenda in a health consultation Some thoughts on seeking good lifestyle advice from your doctor Some of the good online sources of lifestyle information Working through the dietary confusion that seems to be everywhere Her view that a whole food plant-based diet is the best all-round diet Dealing with the varying quality and amount of evidence How we all respond well to engaging stories Another great story of a patient reversing a range of medical disorders and stopping his medications How putting on your “GLOVES” (an acronym for Gratitude, Love, Organic, Veggies, Exercise and Sleep) will help improve your health The benefit of journalling as a tool for gratitude Her own preference for transcendental meditation How she talks to patients about love The health value of eating organic vegetables and fruit How she individualises advice about exercise The benefits of blue light glasses and turning off our screens in the evening Her philosophy on the use of medications as a practicing doctor How antibiotics can affect our microbiome How alcohol might affect the microbiome by “sterilising" our gut How Gemma lives a regular week in her life Her admission that she knows she could do better with her sleep Gemma has a growing and well-deserved public profile, particularly because of her heavily science-based plant-based nutrition and healthy lifestyle advocacy. I loved talking with her. Please enjoy listening to Dr Gemma Newman. Live well, feel well, do well. Andrew Davies -------------------- About the New Normal Project podcast: The podcast is aimed to help you to become more healthy, fulfilled and conscious through a plant-based, body-moving and mind-focused way of living. I hope to inspire and empower you with scientific evidence, helpful information and real-life stories, based on eating mostly plant foods, being physically active, particularly in nature, sleeping well, being mindful and refining both the connections in your life and your purpose. ------------------------------------ Links related to Dr Gemma Newman Dr Gemma Newman’s website Gemma Newman on Instagram Gemma Newman on Twitter Gemma Newman on Facebook Links to people and resources (in order of mentioning) Lifestyle medicine Plant-based Health Professionals UK Plant-based nutrition course (with University of Winchester) Gemma Newman on the Rich Roll Podcast Rich Roll Retreat with Rich Roll & Julie Piatt Gordon the Gopher The Broom Cupboard Book “Finding Ultra” (by Rich Roll) Scott Jurek Book “Eat & Run” (by Scott Jurek) Brendan Brazier Books by Brendan Brazier Plant-based nutrition Desmond Tutu British Society of Lifestyle Medicine American College of Lifestyle Medicine Dr David Katz True Health Initiative Lyon Diet Heart Study PREDIMED study The Paddison Program Dr Caldwell Esselstyn Dr Dean Ornish Dr Esselstyn’s research study Dr Ornish's research study Dr Kevin Hall Dr Kevin Hall’s research study Diet and prostate cancer study Transcendental meditation Study of organic food and cancer Environmental Working Group Dirty Dozen Clean Fifteen Four Minute Nitric Oxide Workout New Normal Project podcast - Episode 53 with John Orchard 10,000 step initiative Study on fruit and vegetable intake Buddha bowl Intensive care medicine
Australian list of plant-based practitioners International list of plant-based practitioners Mastering Intensive Care podcast Mastering Intensive Care podcast - Episode 49 with Hugh Montgomery Dr Jackie Busse Links related to New Normal Project podcast New Normal Project podcast New Normal Project website New Normal Project on Facebook New Normal Project on Instagram: @newnormalproject New Normal Project on Twitter: @newnormalproj Email Andrew Davies Andrew Davies on Instagram: @andrewdavies66 Andrew Davies on Twitter: @andrewdavies66 Andrew Davies on Facebook Subscribe to the New Normal Project newsletter Audio Producer Chris Burke