Medicine today delivers pills for every ill, but what ails us is the food.

Michael Klapper’s new book, Moving Medicine Forward: What More Doctors Should Know About Nutrition—And How It Can Save Your Life shines a light on how woefully disconnected doctors are to the root cause of disease, which is the Standard American Diet.

The fact that a book like this needs to exist speaks volumes to this disconnect. Three times per day, people are eating fatty cuts of meat, sugar ladened snacks and beverages, and deep fried concoctions of all types. Inevitably disease shows up- heart disease, obesity, type 2 diabetes, and many auto-immune disorders. And people are confused… how did this happen?

In reading Dr. Klapper’s new book, I’m reminded of Dr. T.Collin Campbell, whose work in the landmark China Study, revealed strong correlations between animal protein and cancer. When Dr. Campbell presented these findings at a leading nutrition conference, a colleague, another nutrition scientist took the mic during Q&A to give a statement: “Dr. Campbell, please don’t take away the foods we love.”

Whether it’s ignorance stemming from addiction to the harmful foods or simply a choice to ignore the science, the end result is people getting ever sicker. Dr. Klapper’s book calls for doctors to take a more proactive approach, one that acknowledges that the foundation of good health is a plant based lifestyle.

With industries like the Cattleman’s Association and the Dairy Council endlessly seeking profit, they hire influencers to debunk the science, and when you go to the doctor, they’re quick to write a script for the newest drug. There’s a wall of disinformation and misdirection, and if doctors are ill equipped to help people eat more plant forward, what should people do?

There’s harsh truth is people have to decide for themselves that they want to ditch the pills and adopt a plant based lifestyle. And making the connection is vital. Dr. Kim Williams, the former President of the American College of Cardiology, shared a common conversation thread he has had many times with patients he saved via bypass surgery following heart attacks.

Dr. Williams: do you know why you are here?

Patient: I had a heart attack.

Dr. Williams: And what is a heart attack?

Patient: The blood vessels became blocked, preventing blood to flow back to the heart.

Dr. Williams: And what caused the blockage?

Patient: plaque.

Dr. Williams: where did the plaque come from?

Patient: I ate it.

Deep down, we know the truth. The question is this: do we want to assume responsibility and make change? Or, do we want to take the pills and continue eating the Standard American Diet?

Dr. Klapper’s new book is designed to help doctors reconnect with the power of nutrition. It will, no doubt, help many doctors help their patients, saving many lives, and sparing families heartache and suffering.