Joel Fuhrman

Joel Fuhrman (born December 2, 1953) is an American doctor who advocates for what he calls a micronutrient-rich diet. A former competitive figure skater, he suffered a serious injury which removed him from competition. He says an alternative medicine therapy helped speed his recovery and led him to become a physician. His practice is based on his nutrition-based approach to obesity and chronic disease, also referred to as a nutritarian or restrictive diet, as opposed to a predominately vegan diet.

Fuhrman has written several books promoting his dietary approaches and sells a related line of nutrition related products. As of April 2013, his book Eat to Live was on the New York Times bestseller paperback Advice & Misc. list for 90 weeks.

Early life and education[edit | edit source]

Fuhrman was born in New York, New York, on December 2, 1953. He was a competitor in the figure skating circuit. He was a member of the US World Figure Skating Team and placed second in the US National Pairs Championship in 1973. In 1973, he suffered a heel injury which prevented him from competing. He followed an "irregular cure" from a naturopath which included long fasts, to speed his recovery.

Career[edit | edit source]

Fuhrman is a family physician and serves as Director of Research for the Nutritional Research Foundation. He is also on the board of directors of American College of Lifestyle Medicine. He holds a medical degree from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine.

Fuhrman has heavily criticized the standard American diet and the modern western model of health care, most notably in his book Eat to Live. His "health equation" is Health = Nutrients/Calories.