The books below will provide you with a different perspective about
how nutrition plays a role in turning on and off predisposed health
issues.
Amazon Excerpts…
Ultrametabolism: The Simple Plan for Automatic Weight Loss – $4.40
http://www.amazon.com/Ultrametabolism-Simple-Plan-Automatic-Weight/dp/0743272560
Physician Hyman (Ultra-Prevention: The 6 Week Plan That Will Make You
Healthy for Life) delivers plenty of scientifically grounded
information about weight loss myths, effective individualized
strategies centered around the theme of stoking metabolism and a
detailed six-week plan—complete with menus and recipes—that “will help
you lose 11 to 21 pounds” in those first six weeks. The data and
prescription the author provides are far from simple, and results, if
attained, are not automatic. But dogged readers will come away from
the book with a thorough understanding of dieting principles, such as
the timing of meals, portion size, glycemic load, phytonutrient index,
the weight loss benefits of relaxation and the optimized functioning
of the thyroid. There are straightforward principles buried in the
text, such as “eat fruits and vegetables” and “move your body,” plus
tips for eating out (e.g., “don’t be afraid to ask for substitutions
in a dish,” “request a ‘crudités platter’… instead of the
breadbasket” and “order a light drink”); adhering to these tips alone
should prove beneficial. The opportunity for readers to remember and
apply any of the more involved information is a possible positive side
effect. (Apr.)
The China Study: The Most Comprehensive Study of Nutrition Ever
Conducted and the Startling Implications for Diet, Weight Loss and
Long-term Health – $8.00
http://www.amazon.com/China-Study-Comprehensive-Nutrition-Implications/dp/1932100660
Referred to as the “Grand Prix of epidemiology” by The New York Times,
this study examines more than 350 variables of health and nutrition
with surveys from 6,500 adults in more than 2,500 counties across
China and Taiwan, and conclusively demonstrates the link between
nutrition and heart disease, diabetes, and cancer. While revealing
that proper nutrition can have a dramatic effect on reducing and
reversing these ailments as well as curbing obesity, this text calls
into question the practices of many of the current dietary programs,
such as the Atkins diet, that are widely popular in the West. The
politics of nutrition and the impact of special interest groups in the
creation and dissemination of public information are also discussed.
The Paleo Diet: Lose Weight and Get Healthy by Eating the Food You
Were Designed to Eat – $7.23
http://www.amazon.com/Paleo-Diet-Weight-Healthy-Designed/dp/0471267554
Amazon.com Review
According to author Loren Cordain, modern health and diet problems
didn’t start with the advent of packaged snack food, but much
earlier–back at the dawn of the agricultural age many thousands of
years ago. As humans became less nomadic and more dependent on
high-carbohydrate diets, we left behind the diet we had evolved with,
which is based on low-fat proteins and plenty of fruits and
vegetables. Sugars, fats, and carbs were rare, if they were present at
all, and survival required a steady, if low-key, level of activity.
Cordain’s book The Paleo Diet blends medical research with a healthy
sprinkle of individual anecdotes, practical tips, and recipes designed
to make his suggestions into a sustainable lifestyle, rather than a
simple month-long diet; he even includes cooking recommendations and
nationwide sources for wild game.
Claims of improving diseases from diabetes to acne to polycystic ovary
disease may be a little overstated, but in general the advice seems
sound. Can any of us really go wrong by adding lots more vegetables
and fruits to our daily regimen? One recommendation on safe tanning
with a gradual reduction in sunscreen is surprising and not much
detail is provided for safety issues that can accompany increased sun
exposure. Still, Cordain’s assertions have helped many people, and
could provide exactly the changes you’ve been looking for to improve
your health. –Jill Lightner –This text refers to an out of print or
unavailable edition of this title.
From Library Journal
Like Ray Audette’s Neanderthin (St. Martin’s, 1999), this is another
“if you can’t find it in the wild, don’t eat it” diet that takes the
germ of a useful idea and runs with it. According to Cordain (health
and exercise science, Colorado State Univ.), Paleolithic humans were
fit and lean because, as hunter-gatherers, they ate what was
available: meats low in saturated fats, fresh fruits, and nonstarchy
vegetables. Nor did they suffer from heart disease, cancer, and
diabetes, the byproducts of our poor eating habits and lack of
exercise. Then again, the average Paleolithic life span was about 30
years, not long enough to develop most chronic illnesses. Still, the
author asserts that by eliminating grains, dairy, refined sugars, and
processed foods from our diets, we, too, can thrive as our ancestors
did. Three levels of diet and six weeks of sample menus, with recipes,
are included.
