New Book Introduces Plan That Works Like Weight-Loss Drug Without a Prescription

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Nutrition researcher and New York Times bestselling author Neal Barnard, MD, introduces a plan that traps, tames, and burns calories for easy and permanent weight loss in his new book, The Power Foods Diet. Dr. Barnard shows that certain foods actually cause weight loss, like a weight-loss medication without a prescription. The Power Foods Diet, by Balance Publishing, is available for preorder now and will be on bookshelves everywhere March 26.

The plan focuses on everyday ingredients, such as blueberries, cinnamon, and citrus fruits. These and other powerful foods are built into more than 120 mouthwatering recipes by master recipe developers Dustin Harder and Lindsay S. Nixon.

“Weight loss drugs like Wegovy and Ozempic, which come with side effects and a prohibitive price tag, have received an extraordinary amount of media attention,” says Dr. Barnard. “In reality, the best solution for reaching and maintaining a healthy weight is a low-fat plant-based diet that excludes animal products. It’s effective, inexpensive, and side-effect free!”

Obesity and overweight are among today’s top health concerns. Individuals are constantly looking for easy, effective, and permanent ways to lose weight. It turns out, when properly chosen, certain foods cause weight loss, with no need for the deprivation and planning that most weight-loss regimens require.

THE POWER FOODS DIET reveals three weight-loss breakthroughs supported by research that:

1. Reduce the appetite
2. Trap calories so they are flushed away and cannot be absorbed
3. Increase the body’s ability to burn calories for hours after each meal

Dr. Barnard also reveals the surprising science behind some of the foods we think are good for us but can actually be harmful, like salmon, goat cheese, and coconut oil, all of which pass easily into body fat and often overstay their welcome.  

THE POWER FOODS DIET encourages people to eat, not to stop eating. Dr. Barnard includes a simple-to-follow meal plan that includes delicious, and even indulgent recipes such as French Toast with Cinnamon Blueberry Syrup, Creamy Chipotle Butternut Soup, Southwest Chili and Cornbread, Lasagna Rolls, Penne Arrabbiata, Mango Dal, Blueberry Pops, Triple Berry Sorbet, and more. The recipes include foods we have often been told to avoid, like potatoes and pasta — so you can eat real food, and still lose real weight.

Two women who each lost 100 pounds following the plan are featured in the book.

Stefanie Ignoffo struggled with her weight since she was a child. After marrying, it crept up to 280 pounds. Her husband, John, had similar problems, and together, they dieted with minor successes that were always followed by setbacks. Fast forward to 2012, and their then-teenage daughter decided to stop eating animal products for ethical reasons. Soon, Stefanie, at 235 pounds at that point, decided to follow suit. Within two weeks, she was able to go off blood pressure medication. Eventually, Stefanie healed her arthritis, digestive problems, and other illnesses with a plant-based diet. Today, she maintains a weight loss of 100 pounds. And she and John, who live in a Chicago suburb, are successful virtual lifestyle medicine coaches committed to passing along the lifesaving message of the power of plants.

Similar to Ignoffo’s story, Shauné Hayes had always been a yo-yo dieter, eventually reaching 278 pounds. She suffered from hypertension, prediabetes, chronic arthritis, and other lifestyle-related conditions. In 2017, a health scare turned into a wake-up call for Shauné. She began working with a health coach and slowly transitioned to a whole food, plant-based diet. She lost 100 pounds and was able to stop taking five prescription medications. She made beans, legumes, whole grains, fruits, and vegetables the centerpiece of her meals. “These power foods are really a remedy,” she said. “I’ve found a way to enjoy food I’ve always loved in a much healthier way. And I know it’s possible for other people to do the same.”

Neal D. Barnard, MD, FACC, is an adjunct faculty member of the George Washington University School of Medicine and president of the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, where he heads a research team investigating scientific issues in nutrition and health. His work revolutionized the dietary approach to type 2 diabetes; he now does the same for weight loss. Dr. Barnard is editor-in-chief of the Nutrition Guide for Clinicians, a nutrition textbook made available to all U.S. medical students. He is also editor of Good Medicine, a magazine with a circulation of 150,000. He is the New York Times bestselling author of Dr. Neal Barnard's Program for Reversing Diabetes, Power Foods for the Brain, The 21-Day Weight-Loss Kickstart, and most recently Your Body in Balance, among many others.

For more information or to schedule an interview with Dr. Barnard, contact Kim Kilbride at 202-717-8665 or at kkilbride [at] pcrm.org.