In the Spotlight: Dr. Ian K. Smith

He helped millions trim their waistlines with his popular SHRED diet books. Now Ian K. Smith, MD, is advising people to clean up their plates.

- Chris Mann

Bestselling author Ian K. Smith, MD, has cooked up a smart program for people looking to eliminate processed fare in favor of nutrient-rich food. And The Clean 20: 20 Foods, 20 Days, Total Transformation! promises long-term results.

While researching the sugar content of various foods for his book Blast the Sugar Out, “I also found all of the other artificial ingredients that are in our foods—things like coloring, dyes, and quote-unquote natural flavors, preservatives, and additives,” Smith says.

And when a friend who had trouble losing weight followed Smith’s clean-eating ideas—within 10 days she reported weight loss and “energy levels through the roof,” he adds—“I thought, geez, maybe I need to write a book teaching people how to eat clean in a way that isn’t intimidating.”

The Clean 20 guides readers to incorporate health-boosting foods into 60 simple recipes. Smith’s Facebook group.

TheClean20, offers advice from readers with varying incomes. “I want people to realize that clean eating isn’t reserved for the upper echelon of society. All of us can eat clean if we think about it and prepare.”

What is the Clean 20 program’s basic premise?