The foody
Posted: June 21, 2013
When it comes to women’s wellness, Amber French, DO, FACOOG, ’00, is one smart cookie. A self-proclaimed “foody,” she’s changing the rules of healthy eating and weight loss, becoming the apple of her patients’ eyes.
A board certified OB/GYN, Dr. French’s interest in wellness and nutrition began while completing her fellowship in anti-aging medicine. Frustrated by obesity issues in her patients and Americans in general, she vowed to do more.
After developing a nutritional program for herself, she formalized the information into a program for her patients. The program sparked the idea for “Wellness 100,” a book she co-authored with friend and professional chef, Kari Morris. The nutritional program and cookbook helps readers lose weight while eating a balanced diet that naturally combats diseases of aging such as heart disease, stroke, cancer, diabetes, and obesity.
“I want my patients to be healthy,” says Dr. French. “I want them to leave my office thinking, ‘She really did talk to me about how to live a longer, happier life.’”
Growing up, Dr. French learned traditional methods of weight loss, such as low-calorie diets, but through research and experience realized those methods were ineffective.
“You can’t eat 1,000 calories of pasta and candy per day and expect to lose weight,” Dr. French says. “It won’t work.”
Dr. French also disagrees with the notion of a low-fat diet because some fats are critical to people’s health.
“Avocados, olive oil, and nuts are such fantastic fats,” she says. “When we cut those fats from our diets, we get sicker rather than healthier.”
Instead, she believes the answer is eliminating processed foods and unhealthy carbohydrates.
“It’s not about ‘How low can you go?’ with carbs,” says Dr. French. “It’s about finding a balance among the healthy carbs, fats, and proteins in your diet.”
“Our goal was to prove you don’t have to eat rubbery chicken breast and steamed broccoli every night.” – Dr. French
As for her patients, one credits Dr. French with saving her life. The 65-year-old woman, who enjoyed globe-trotting with her husband, was staying home because she felt terrible and didn’t have enough energy to travel. After following Dr. French’s program, her cholesterol dropped, and she lost 50 pounds.
“The program is easy to follow,” Dr. French says. “I think most people are shocked about the things that are really good for them.”
Dr. French has a taste for helping others find a healthy balance and lifestyle. While more work lies ahead, she remains committed to women’s wellness and continues to follow her own advice.