Dr. Michael Greger

Michael Herschel Greger was born on October 25, 1972, in Miami, Florida, and developed an interest in medicine and nutrition at age nine after observing his grandmother’s health improvement through dietary changes. He pursued this passion, graduating from the Cornell University School of Agriculture in 1995. During his time at Cornell, he extensively researched topics like bovine spongiform encephalopathy, even launching a website in 1994 to discuss its dangers. His early work for Farm Sanctuary, which included touring a stockyard, led him to adopt a vegan lifestyle. In 1998, Dr. Greger’s expertise in bovine spongiform encephalopathy was recognized when he testified as an expert witness in a libel case involving Oprah Winfrey. He furthered his medical education at Tufts University School of Medicine, earning his MD in 1999 and specializing in clinical nutrition.

Starting his career as a general practitioner with a focus on clinical nutrition, Dr. Greger became a founding member of the American College of Lifestyle Medicine in 2004. His dedication to public health led him to join the Organic Consumers Association in 2001, where he continued his work on mad cow disease issues and spoke widely on the topic. In 2005, he became the director of public health and animal agriculture for the Humane Society of the United States. A significant milestone occurred in 2008 when he testified before the United States Congress after the Humane Society’s undercover video exposed abuses at Westland Meat Packing Company, leading to a massive beef recall. In 2011, he founded NutritionFacts.org, a non-profit organization providing free, science-based information on nutrition with funding from the Jesse & Julie Rasch Foundation. Dr. Greger is also a New York Times bestselling author, with several notable publications, including ‘How Not to Die’ (2015), ‘How Not to Diet’ (2019), and ‘How Not to Age’ (2023).

His research-based approach promotes a whole-food, plant-based diet, advocating for significant dietary shifts away from Western patterns. Dr. Greger has been critical of governmental bodies like the USDA, citing conflicts of interest that prioritize industry economics over public health. His work, disseminated through NutritionFacts.org, social media, and numerous books, aims to empower individuals with evidence-based nutrition information to prevent and reverse disease. He continues to be a prolific author and speaker, contributing to the broader public understanding of diet’s impact on health and longevity.