Dr. Ian Smith is the author of the #1 New York Times bestselling books, SHRED: THE REVOLUTIONARY DIET, and SUPER SHRED: The Big Results Diet, BLAST THE SUGAR OUT, The Clean 20 and fourteen other books with millions of copies in print. His newest book is a novel—THE ANCIENT NINE—a thriller based on his experiences in one of Harvard’s elite secret societies.
I recently had an opportunity to interview Dr. Smith about his book “The Clean 20”. This book has beneficial for me because it allowed me to become more intentional about my food choices and how-to making cleaning eating a part of my routine. It doesn’t have to be hard, and Dr. Ian teaches you exactly how to eat clean.
BDO: What inspired you to write the book The Clean 20?
Dr. Smith: I was talking to a friend of mine in the gym who confessed she was having a hard time losing weight despite the fact that she was working out a lot andeating well. I suggested that she might be eating well, but she was probably not eating clean. I thought that all of the processed ingredients were either making it difficult for her to lose weight or disrupting her hormonal system or a combination of the two. She decided to eat cleaner, and when I saw her about ten days later, not only did she start losing weight again, but she said her energy levels were the highest they had been in a long time. I wanted others to be able to harness the benefits of eating clean but in an accessible and enjoyable way. This is why I wrote The Clean 20.
BDO: What does it mean to eat clean?
Dr. Smith: Eating clean simply means reducing the amount of processed ingredients that are typically added to so many of our foods. Think of it as eating food as close to possible to how it came off the tree or out of the ground. Manufacturers are constantly processing and adding synthetic ingredients to our foods, altering their natural state and reducing their levels of nourishment. Eating clean does not have to be expensive, nor does it have to be tasteless. I wrote The Clean 20 because I wanted everyday people to know that you can eat clean without breaking the bank and without giving up flavor.
BDO: What are the health benefits of cleaning eating?
Dr. Smith: There are tremendous health benefits, which include: weight loss, loweringblood pressure, lowering blood cholesterol levels, lowering blood sugar levels, increasing energy levels, and improvements in skin texture and appearance.
BDO: In the Clean 20 FaceBook group there are tons of amazing results, how can people continue their success even after the 20 days?
Dr. Smith: The average weight loss on The Clean 20 is up to 10 pounds in 20 days. People are also reporting other important biometric improvements such as lower blood pressure, cholesterol, and sugar levels. Many have even said they’re sleeping through the night better. Eating cleaner–not perfectly–will be advantageous as people move forward. I don’t expect people to only eat clean foods. That is unrealistic. I know that people want and should have fun foods. But if you eat 70% healthier and 30% fun, then you are going to maintain these results. This is realistic and it helps establish important lifestyle changes.
BDO: Is there anything else you want the readers of Black Doctor.Org to know about the importance of having a healthy lifestyle?
Dr. Smith: Being healthy does not mean doing everything perfectly. It really means finding a happy medium, a balance where you are making good decisions most of the time, but not all the time. It takes open-mindedness, determination, a positive attitude, and knowledge to lead a healthier life. It’s important to take one step at a time, make one change at a time and truly evolve in a way that healthier decisions become who you are and not what you hope to be.
BDO: What does the future look like for Dr. Ian Smith?
Dr. Smith: I have a lot going on, including writing the screenplay for my new novel, The Ancient Nine, a thriller centered on Harvard’s elite secret societies. I am a lover of fiction and enjoy writing it as much as I enjoy reading it. On the health front, I’m excited, because in April of this year, I’m releasing a sequel to the Clean 20. It’s called Clean & Lean and its central premise is combing clean eating with intermittent fasting. The early results are AMAZING!
I hope to interact with readers on social media. People can follow me on Instagram: @doctoriansmith and Twitter: @DrIanSmith. Our Facebook group is called TheClean20.
Priscilla Q. Williams, RN: Author, Speaker, Certified Life Coach, Global Nurse Educator www.priscillaqwilliams.com