E85: The Healing Power of Plants with Dr Gemma Newman

Sometimes known as the ‘Plant Power Doctor’ because of her recent best selling book, ‘The Plant Power Doctor: a simple prescription for a healthier you,’ Gemma Newman is a British medical doctor that educates the public on the need for holistic health, plant-based nutrition, and lifestyle medicine. After obtaining her degree in medicine from the University of Wales College of Medicine, she went on to gain additional qualifications in gynaecology and family planning, but worked in many specialities throughout her career before deciding on family practice. Due to her background, Gemma has a vast amount of knowledge and experience at her disposal that she tries to share with whoever will listen.

Being a founding member and serving as an ambassador for ‘Plant Based Health Professionals UK’ (PBHPUK), alongside her involvement with the ‘British Society of Lifestyle Medicine’ (BSLM), Gemma has taken it upon herself to try and increase the awareness of the things that she preaches. Whether it’s the general public or even other doctors who do not possess the same insights, Gemma regularly attends conferences, helps with training programmes, and makes appearances on podcasts and other forms of social media to help spread the message about the benefits of plant-based medicine.

This episode of the ‘Strong Voice’ podcast will begin with an introduction to Dr. Gemma Newman, the importance of her ideas, and what motivates her to do what she does. We then discuss the role that diet, in particular plant-based nutrition, plays in preventing and helping manage some of the common chronic diseases that we find in society today. Afterwards, we talk about the practicalities of a plant based diet, and cover questions like if it’s still possible to have the same comfort foods or what the major differences are between plant-based whole foods and processed foods. Drawing on personal experience, we discuss the role that spirituality plays for our health and wellbeing, and how we define what it means to be spiritual, instead of the conventional understanding that is shaped by religion. As always, we hope you enjoy listening, and please let us know your thoughts on social media. Enjoy!

Timestamps & notes:

  • 1:13 – Introduction;
  • 1:22 – Gemma’s backstory, how she became the “Plant Power Doctor,” and what motivated her;
  • 4:54 – The limitations of the NHS (in the UK) when preventing and treating chronic health problems;
  • 5:45 – The cumulative impact of dietary choices, and the almost immediate benefits you can derive;
  • 6:49 – Gemma discusses her family history of heart disease, and how a plant-based diet has helped;
  • 8:45 – People are motivated for different reasons to change to a plant-based diet;
  • 9:44 – How Gemma discusses diet with her patients as a medical general practitioner (GP);
  • 13:17 – The increasing amount of testimonies about people who have taken the initiative to change;
  • 13:43 – Personal responsibility, disease prevention, and enjoying ourselves whilst making the effort;
  • 14:48 – How it’s possible to change to a healthier diet, and still indulge in similar comfort foods;
  • 16:16 – What is the difference between plant-based whole foods, and plant-based processed foods?;
  • 18:52 – The importance of doing whatever works for whomever has adopted a plant-based diet;
  • 20:20 – Gemma’s upcoming book that focuses on holistic healing through lifestyle interventions;
  • 21:43 – The role that awareness and spirituality play in terms of being a pillar of health;
  • 23:39 – Science shows that we are wired to be spiritual, and have different states of consciousness;
  • 24:46 – Spirituality is not exclusive to religion, it can also refer to meaning, purpose and connection;
  • 26:52 – “What is the one skill you think we all need today?”;
  • 27:57 – “What do you follow more? Is it logic or intuition?”;
  • 28:48 – Sometimes our intuition can mislead us to believe things that are detrimental to ourselves;
  • 30:23 – Kate shares her experience of being in a toxic relationship, and how it affected her intuition;
  • 32:37 – “How do you deal with failure or not achieving your goals?”;
  • 34:39 – Kate talks about writing her upcoming book, and some of the challenges she is facing so far;
  • 36:37 – “What’s one step we could all take to move towards living a more sustainable life?”;
  • 37:06 – “What one thing would you like to leave us with?”;
  • 37:54 – Where you can find Gemma if you want to follow what she does;

Any links discussed:

‘The Plant Power Doctor: A simple prescription for a healthier you’ – Dr. Gemma Newman. 

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