Neal D. Barnard (born 10 July 1953) is an American animal rights activist, physician and founding president of the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM).[3] Barnard has authored books advocating a whole food plant-based dietary eating pattern.

Neal Barnard
Barnard in 2014
Born (1953-07-10) 10 July 1953 (age 71) [1]
EducationGeorge Washington University School of Medicine (MD)
Occupation(s)Non-profit executive, author, medical researcher
Known forFounding and serving as President of the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine
Websitewww.nealbarnard.org

Early life and education

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Barnard was born and grew up in Fargo, North Dakota.[4][5] He received medical training at George Washington University School of Medicine,[6] where he began exploring vegan diets.[7] He is board certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology,[8] a fellow of the American College of Cardiology[9] and a lifetime member of the American Medical Association.[10]

Barnard is an activist for animal rights.[3] He is associated with People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) and has written for their magazine Animal Times.[3]

Career

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Barnard founded Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM) in 1985 to promote preventive medicine.[11] By 2016, the Washington D.C.–based PCRM had 150,000 members, including 12,000 physicians, and reported revenues of more than $20 million.[12][13] He appeared in the documentaries Super Size Me (2004),[14] Forks Over Knives (2011),[15][16] PlantPure Nation (2015),[17] and What the Health (2017).[15] Since 2003,[18] Barnard has served as an adjunct professor of medicine at George Washington University School of Medicine.[19] In January 2016,[20] Barnard founded the Barnard Medical Center in Washington, D.C.,[21] which provides primary care with a focus on nutrition guidance.[22]

In his active practice, Barnard works with patients with diabetes, obesity, and other conditions in clinical research protocols. He plays cello, guitar, and keyboards. He has been a member of the bands Pop Maru, Verdun, and Carbonworks.[23][24] Alec Baldwin once called Barnard ‘Eddie Van Halen with a medical degree.’[25]

In 2011, Barnard was inducted into the Vegetarian Hall of Fame of the North American Vegetarian Society during its summer conference, where he has occasionally spoken.[26]

In February 2013, Barnard published the book Power Foods for the Brain: An Effective 3-Step Plan to Protect Your Mind and Strengthen Your Memory. In the book, Barnard discusses research on the effects of food choices on the brain, such as Alzheimer's disease risk, as well as plant-based diets in "Blue Zones" and the connection between food choices and longevity.[27][28][29]

By 2019, Barnard had authored 20 books, including The Vegan Starter Kit: Everything You Need to Know about Plant-based Eating.[30]

He has hosted four PBS television programs on nutrition and health.[31][32]

Diabetes

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Barnard authored the 2009 book Dr Neal Barnard's Program for Reversing Diabetes.[33] It argues that a low-fat vegan diet can stabilize blood sugar and insulin function and minimize medication within weeks.[33] Jim Mann has commented that "there is nothing new in the suggestion that a low-fat vegan diet, which helps to promote weight loss, can be very helpful for managing diabetes. My main concern, however, is that some of the claims made by the author are overrated; in particular, to imply that Type 1 diabetes can be reversed is mischievous".[33]

Elaine Rush stated that although the book does include some sound advice, "not all diabetes can be reversed and therefore the title of this book is misleading." She also suggested that Barnard's low-fat vegan diet would not be suitable for children or pregnant women without expert support.[33]

Barnard's views on reversing diabetes with a low-fat vegan diet have been criticized by diabetologists as misleading as Type 1 diabetes can not be reversed.[33] Peter Lipson of Science-Based Medicine has criticized Barnard's views on low-fat vegan diets reversing type 2 diabetes as based on only one study, commenting "This is not a study on which to hang an entire medical philosophy".[34] According to Lipton, weight loss is more important than a specific type of diet in determining diabetes improvement and the idea that a particular diet is a panacea is untrue.[34]

Awards

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  • Lifestyle Medicine Trailblazer Award, 2016[35] from The American College of Lifestyle Medicine (ACLM)
  • 6th Plantrician Project Luminary Award, 2019[36] – from The Plantrician Project

Personal life

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Barnard plays cello, guitar, and keyboards and has been a member of the bands Pop Maru, Verdun, and Carbonworks.[37][38]

Selected publications

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Find The Best Quotes From Neal Barnard at PortalQuote". portalquote.com. Archived from the original on 2019-08-21. Retrieved 2019-08-21.
  2. ^ "Neal Barnard Advocates for Ethical Medicine, Research". Voice of America. November 2, 2009.
  3. ^ a b c Wadman, Meredith (2006). "Profile: Neal Barnard". Nature Medicine. 12 (6): 602. doi:10.1038/nm0606-602. PMID 16760995.
  4. ^ https://www.voanews.com/a/a-13-2009-03-02-voa25-68798337/411924.html
  5. ^ https://news.prairiepublic.org/show/dakota-datebook-archive/2022-05-21/dr-neal-barnard
  6. ^ Faculty profile on George Washington University Website
  7. ^ Theiss, Evelyn (April 19, 2011). "Author Dr. Neal Barnard encourages plant-based, vegan diet". Cleveland Plain Dealer.
  8. ^ The American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology database, accessed 21 November 2017.
  9. ^ "American College of Lifestyle Medicine, "Distinguished Lifestyle Medicine Awards Recipients, accessed 21 November 2017.
  10. ^ "American College of Lifestyle Medicine,"Distinguished Lifestyle Medicine Awards Recipients, accessed 21 November 2017.
  11. ^ Evelyn Theiss,"Author Dr. Neal Barnard encourages plant-based, vegan diet," The Plain Dealer, 19 April 2011.
  12. ^ Helen Mondloch, "Living Well with Dr. Neal Barnard," Northern Virginia," 20 October 2017
  13. ^ "Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine," Charity Navigator, accessed 13 November 2017.
  14. ^ "Power Foods for the Brain' author to speak Friday; part of University Speakers Series". Indiana State University Newsroom. 11 September 2013.
  15. ^ a b Smith, Victoria (October 12, 2021). "7 vegan documentaries that changed the world". Vegan Food and Living.
  16. ^ Wax, Emily (21 November 2011). "Some Americans rethink food-centered Thanksgiving". The Washington Post.
  17. ^ "Plant Pure Nation". Vegan Paradise.
  18. ^ Carter, Darla (21 August 2003). "Some foods are addictive, author says". Courier Journal (Loiusville, KY).
  19. ^ Courtland, Milloy (19 April 2022). "In a season of rebirth, Veg Fest means new life". Washington Post. Retrieved 20 March 2023.
  20. ^ Carroll, Suzanne (13 October 2016). "Fargo-Moorhead Vegfest picking up steam". High Plains Reader. Retrieved 3 April 2023.
  21. ^ Kamila, Avery Yale (10 May 2017). "Filmmakers probe industry ties to health charities in 'What the Health?'". Portland Press Herald. Retrieved 31 March 2023.
  22. ^ Downs, Jere (23 September 2016). "McDonald's closing at children's hospital". The Courier-Journal (Louisville, KY). Retrieved 20 March 2023.
  23. ^ Friedman, Michael (March 7, 2017). "The Chaos of Neal Barnard". Psychology Today.
  24. ^ Mondloch, Helen (October 20, 2017). "Living well with Dr. Neal Barnard". Northern Virginia Magazine.
  25. ^ Editorial. Living well with Dr. Neal Barnard: A pioneer and iconoclast of startling dimensions, Dr. Neal Barnard is breaking health boundaries. Northern Virginia Magazine. October 20, 2017.
  26. ^ Inductees, Vegetarian Hall of Fame, North American Vegetarian Society website
  27. ^ Barnard, N.D. (2013). Power Foods for the Brain: An Effective 3-Step Plan to Protect Your Mind and Strengthen Your Memory. Grand Central Publishing. ISBN 978-1-4555-1269-0. Retrieved 2024-08-01.
  28. ^ Alk, Nell (August 5, 2013). "A 'Friend-Raiser' With Food on the Brain: Dr. Neal Barnard's Advice on Eating for a Healthier Life". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 2024-08-01.
  29. ^ Tobias, Michael Charles (2012-12-12). "Food that Might Protect Your Brain and Save Your Life: A Discussion about the Ecology of Alzheimer's With Dr. Neal Barnard". Forbes. Retrieved 2024-08-01.
  30. ^ Heidemann, Michael (2019-01-17). "Healthy Tips! Dr. Neal Barnard on Changing the Status Quo for Better Health". WGN Radio 720. Retrieved 2024-08-01.
  31. ^ "Neal Barnard, Best Diets Panelist". U.S. News. 1970-01-01. Retrieved 2024-10-11.
  32. ^ "Kickstart Your Health with Dr. Neal Barnard". Arizona PBS. 2017-09-15. Retrieved 2024-10-11.
  33. ^ a b c d e f "Experts criticise claims in new diabetes book". Science Media Centre. 2008. Archived from the original on March 11, 2024.
  34. ^ a b Lipson, Peter (2009). "Medicine is hard and should be practiced with caution". Archived from the original on March 11, 2024.
  35. ^ "Distinguished Lifestyle Medicine Awards Recipients" American College of Lifestyle Medicine
  36. ^ Dr. Neal Barnard to be Honored as 2019 Recipient of The Plantrician Project Luminary Award, Cision PRWeb, accessed July 19, 2019
  37. ^ Friedman, Michael (March 7, 2017). "The Chaos of Neal Barnard". Psychology Today.
  38. ^ Mondloch, Helen (October 20, 2017). "Living well with Dr. Neal Barnard". Northern Virginia Magazine.
  39. ^ King, Barbara J. (2017). "Doctor's Book Presents The Case Against 'Dairy Crack'". National Public Radio. Archived from the original on October 17, 2023.
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