Contains False Information regarding Crohn's and Colitis Disease
925648
I would agree with the dietary recommendations made by Challem and why they work to reduce inflammation.  However, the information given on pages 234-235 regarding Crohn's and Ulcerative Colitis are completely false.  I have had and have studied UC for almost 20 years and it is NOT a form of Irritable Bowel Syndrome.  Neither is Crohn's Disease.  Crohn's and colitis are Inflammatory Bowel Diseases.  To categorize them with IBS is false and misleading.  I cannot trust this book completely, due to these statements.
2168465
I had hoped this would be about gluten-free eating in general, as there are a lot of studies connecting gluten with behavioural problems, Autism, ADD, headaches, moodswings and overall health---but this book only concentrates on Celiac's disease.  Perhaps I shouldn't be reviewing, because if I did have Celiac's I might find this book useful.  Maybe it's just mis-titled and should be "Celiac's for Dummies"
4391294
Bummed that this cookbook isn't AIP (autoimmune protocol)  so can't use because it has ingredients that cause inflammation for patients with Hashimotos
544073
The book is more concerned w/ allergic reactive foods which cause inflammation.  The diet is rather limited, so much so that I think it's too restrictive to be healthy.  There is some good info for the novice.  I think there are better books available.
866734
There are many items like old wives tales (earlobe color indicating egg color, that kind of thing) which are presented as fact, but this supposedly well researched and extensively reviewed and revised book, by an author who is supposed to be considered a trustworthy expert, has demonstrably false information.  For instance this is the definition of GMOs (Genetically Modified Organisms) in the book: "A...GMO is a living thing into which genetic material from an unrelated organism has been artificially inserted." [pg39]  While some GMOs are of this variety--they are called Transgenic Organisms--they are the minority and none of them are in our food-chain.  To say that this is what a GMO is, in the context of trying to avoid consuming them, is either ignorance or a lie and either way it points out that the book cannot be trusted to provide accurate information.  Again, this is only one example.
4005723
I know very well what inflammation is and how it adversely affects one's life. I've suffered with idiopathic inflammation for almost two years now. I've been tested for every disease, rheumatoid arthiritis, Lyme, erlichiosis, etc. The doctors cannot find the cause. I'm on Zyrtec 365 days a year to eliminate allergies. But even this does not lessen my joint inflammation at the young age of 43, thin, active and non-smoking.
I anxiously purchased this book to see what potential cures the author had to offer sufferers.  None. Don't smoke, don't overeat, eliminition diets, exercise... all the usual stuff found in every health pamphlet. Nothing new here at all. I learned nothing my doctors hadn't already told me or I'd read online. It's a well-written book on an important subject. It just doesn't have answers as the title implies.
35230
If you're looking for information regarding diet from "The Powers That Be" or "Conventional Wisdom", you'll find it here.  The FDA, AMA, Big Pharma, Big Agra, and the Dietitions that teach this information and Scientists that do research for them, will be pleased with the information published in this book.

Below you will find a smattering of selected quotes I found in the book.

p13.  "High levels of insulin do not cause obesity"  "Excessive calories cause fat gain"

p38.  "Artificial sweetner, Sucralose is safe"

p39.  "Junk food does not need to be avoided"

p40.  "Conventional food versus Organic food has little significance in regard to your health"

p48.  "Excessive carbs in diet... only small contribution to DNL body fat"

p55.  "Don't go overboard with supplementation, unnaturally high doses can be harmful to your health"

p59.  "Aspartame is safe at current levels as a sweetner"

p60.  "HFCS will not cause weight gain in a negative energy diet.  No credible scientific support that HFCS plays any unique role in obesity and type II diabetes"

If any of the above quotes are not within your view point of dietary reality, this book is not for you.

As for the information and advice regarding exercise claims and myths, Jamie Hale gives good information.

Also, the information and advice regarding the right diet for weight loss is correct and informative.
2692337
Last january my husband started to exhibit crohns disease symptoms..After several months he was diagnosed with crohns. Drs. said there were no diet restrictions. He was so ill. I researched amazon for books on crohns and came across breaking the viscious cycle. Although the diet was very restrictive he decided what did he have to lose. He is still on the diet and it is working for him.. My advice is buy the book and try the diet!
1058969
The most important thing to realize is that in all of the publications available to the public about nutritional recommendations there is a wealth of misinformation. However, the medical literature is far from being perfect as well.

Rarely has there been a medical article published that is not followed by various types of criticisms, often times well-deserved. My mentors recommended that we pay more attention to research from respected institutions, but they have their flaws as well. Beware of publications that do not cite full articles in the references (abstracts only) for they have attempted to take shortcuts and have not done their homework (example. The Bulletproof Diet).

In addition, it's difficult to do large studies without economical support. I cannot think of a situation where pharmaceutical or commercial food companies are going to sponsor scientific research that could create competition or diminish potential profits from their products. While this does not block research, it slows it down tremendously in these areas.

So when I see that someone is disgusted because there is some misinformation, especially someone who's come up in the medical community, and labels it as insignificant, I think that is like throwing the baby out with the bathwater.

The truth is that there is some good information found in all of these contemporary publications, you just have to wade through it (caveat emptor). The take-home message is that don't accept everything in writing as the Gospel. Do your homework and own research.

To the critics, like it or not, people are deriving benefit from these publications, more than they are receiving in your offices. So while it is somewhat tedious gathering pieces of the puzzle from multiple sources, it is worth the effort. I believe the best thing that your physician can do is become familiar with these publications in order to offer guidance through the maze because prevention is the best medicine.  What is emerging as consistency in the message is: healthy fats are not bad in moderation (fats are your friend), moderate amount of protein works in most depending on demand, processed foods are harmful, toxins in foods are harmful, focusing on cholesterol levels only is narrow sighted and may prove to be erroneous in the recommendations over the past few decades (I was taking a statin medication for hereditary hyperlipidemia and after 13 years developed cognitive/memory problems as well as a climbing hemoglobin A-1 C that normalized after the medication was discontinued), certainly avoidance of gluten (celiac's disease or gluten sensitivity (I have this which was found with an elimination diet) for some individuals is essential (while there may be compelling evidence (as with GMO origin food in general) whether or not modern GMO gluten should be eliminated as a general recommendation is not known at present), minimal exposure to carbohydrates works with our design, excessive sodium intake appears to be harmful over time (especially in individuals with hypertension and congestive heart failure), meaningful regular exercise has powerful consequences, stress management is equally important and at the top of the list along with mental stability and balance (mind-body balance).

Sound familiar? Eat healthy (Hippocrates: food is medicine), take regular exercise and be as free from stress as possible. The difference is defining what is healthy food in modern times and I think Dr David Perlmutter has made a good attempt at trying to do that, offering some pieces of the puzzle.

In conclusion, don't shoot the messenger, fight the bias from consistency and commitment tenancy and accept that like in all individuals, there is good in these contemporary messages with the purposes of enabling people to make necessary changes to help them have full, productive lives in the pursuit of happiness.
1639056
Very informative! This explains a whole lot. So many people's lives are changed from gluten intolerances and intestinal disorders in the past 10 years. My family members lives have been changed forever because of such disorders. irritable bowel syndrome, Ulcerative Colitis, Celiac disease, and the list goes on. Ulcerative colitis has lead to multiple hospitalizations for my children who have been the epitomy of health ( physically fit, health conscience eaters, yogis, and you name it). Now family events are governed by what and where each of my three adult children can and can't eat and how close the nearest bathrooms are. One unfortunately has had to resort to having their complete colon removed with the small intestine being butterflied and converted to a J-pouch. Life changing to the point where people just do not understand... I could go on and on, but I have always suspected the impact of those bagels.
1403262
This book is basically a duplication of the website of the same name.  Both are potentially damaging.  Both amount to training material for bulimic behavior.  Bulimia is defined as illegitimately using any behavior or substance to force weight control.  Manipulating to get a diagnosis of hypothyroidism (the book's narrow focus) and taking thyroid medicines when not medically necessary fall into this category.  This book covertly sells the idea that this behavior is acceptable.

So much information within this book is inaccurate, misleading, and even dangerous.  Some of the suggestions have lead followers to end up needing emergency care.  One well-respected medical journal even published an article that talks about a documented case where an emergency room patient specifically named the website "Stop the thyroid madness" as being the source of her predicament.

A foremost redundancy in this book claims that a vast majority of thyroid patients do not do well on T4 thyroid medicine alone.  This notion is simply false.  In fact, statistics overwhelmingly show the opposite to be true.  But further, implications in this book that there is some medical scandal behind the prescribing of T4 thyroid medicine alone is simply absurd.  [Note: Armour Thyroid is the thyroid medication that gets touted often in this book.  However, and much to the relief of its manufacturer, the author and many of her followers have now abandoned that particular product.]

Among the many inaccuracies, one issue that gets mentioned is adrenal fatigue.  Even though it has always been known amongst thyroid/endocrine patients that no such disease has ever existed.  The Endocrine Society, a useful source for thyroid patients, has presently come out with a statement affirming that adrenal fatigue is indeed "not a real medical condition" (perhaps their intent was to respond to books like this one).

Neither this book nor the website are of any use to anyone - let alone thyroid patients.  That's precisely why no established publisher or agent would accept it for publication, or why no reputable doctors or endocrinologists have endorsed it.

Bottom line, stay away from anything like this and always seek medical decisions through qualified medical professionals.  (Carefully study the license, health insurance standing, qualifications and reputation of any doctor you are contemplating making a medical appointment with.)

P.S. The lowest rating choice of one star is too high; no stars would be more appropriate.
2380741
Horrifyingly inaccurate advice! The layout of the book was nice but the information contained is based on studies that have been completely disproven. Study after study shows that ingested cholesterol does not cause plaque build up on arterial walls, excess insulin in the blood from sugar consumption does. That alone invalidates huge sections of this book that recommend you replace meat and fish with things like soy or legumes. That is terrible, cancer causing advice. I love the page that says meat, eggs, fish, shellfish, and spices promote cancer. What a total load of %^#*!

Avoid this encyclopedia of misinformation at all costs.
1501035
We purchased it to help my husband with his Crohns Disease. After a week it caused him to have diarrhea. We are not sure its a good fit for those with Crohns Disease.
3248178
This might be a great cookbook for those looking for healthy recipes. But it isn't a cookbook for anti-inflammatory diets. In perusing the recipes I noticed two right off the bat that had grains (brown rice and another with lentils). Grains are advised against for a diet geared toward anti-inflammation.
4929019
This is a good book, but doesn't solve your issues with IBS and other digestive issues. Buy the book, "Digestive Health With Real Food", by Aglaee Jacob.  I bought the ageless hydro-C and it gave me real bad gas.  The best product to buy online is Mag O7 and you will have a good bowel movement everyday and feel so much better!
4113627
What I was hoping this book would have is a chart (based on research/clinical studies) that would show the connection between specific probiotics from foods like yogurt or from supplements (like Culturelle), and their effect on specific health conditions.

After reading the book, the only major takeaway for me was that I would have try various probiotic supplements through trial and error to see which ones might help me, for let's say seasonal allergies. Like most people who read such books, I already knew that whole grains and lots of fruits/vegetables are good for you, but learned that they are a good source of prebiotics, which are food for probiotics.
1770205
This book, The Fat Resistance Diet by Leo Galland, provides a lot of information on the problem of inflammation in the human body and why it occurs. It relates to the hormone leptin (dicovered in 1996), but do not buy this book if you want accurate info on getting your leptin back in balance. Buy The Leptin Diet by Byron Richards, instead (check out my review of his book for more info).

Galland's book encourages snacking, but snacking is one of the major reasons leptin gets out of balance. This book has excellent information about eating healthfully and naturally, so it is valuable for that topic, as well as his research on inflammation, but recommending snacking is contradictory to leptin balance.

This book has an endorsement by Dr. Mehmet Oz, Oprah's doctor. It just goes to show you that even the doctors on the cutting edge of medicine don't know much about nutrition and fail to realize that people need to stop eating 6 meals a day.  Human digestion is designed to accept 3 meals a day, 5-6 hours apart, which is fact based on the basic science of biology, metabolism and digestion. This is a major problem since, as a country, we are told that we need to eat frequently, which is a myth. If you read Byron Richards' book, you'll understand why. Richards is a clinical nutritionist, which may be the reason his book contains the accurate nutritional information we need.