Science behind the diet
927401
This is a very descriptive book. It tells you a lot about the science behind the diet/fast. It is by no means an easy diet or lifestyle to adopt. It is something that should be undertaken after careful study, consideration and a discussion with your doctor about whether or not you can do this.

There are chapters and chapters about the science that is described in the book description. I appreciate that the authors make every effort to inform your decision.

 The 21 day devotional and the recipes are the part that I really was interested in with this book. They're excellent. You get more than just a basic salad, shake or soup with these recipes. Of course, the authors also give a lot of help with meal planning and that will really help you stay on the diet.

This is something that my husband and I have been interested in for a while and we're working toward being able to do the fast. We're weaning ourselves off caffeine and processed foods. The author is very careful to tell you not to just start this on one day. You have to rid yourself of the toxins from the junk in our foods and it is not an easy process.

If you're looking for a good solid reference about the diet this is your book. You can always find more recipes online if you're not interested in the ones in the book.

I received a copy of the book from the publisher in exchange for a review on this blog and a commercial bookselling site. No additional compensation has been received and I was not required to write a positive review.
1097335
This isn't your typical "diet" book that just goes over food and exercise- as we all assume is the culprit for weight loss. This goes into the science of it and how it controls our body with what IN the foods that mess with our metabolism. It also makes you realize that today's society for food choices is just sad. Easy read and it felt like Jillian was there talking to me with the way she writes.
3738659
Dr Mercola shows how nutrition influences the mitochondria in the cells of the body resulting in either good health and protection against disease, or the opposite. The typical American diet leads to insulin and leptin resistance which damages the mitochondria leading to sickness and disease, including obesity, diabetes, cancer, dementia, and other illnesses. He proposes a mitochondrial metabolic therapy to heal disease and maintain health.  His argument reverses the high carbohydrate low fat dietary recommendation in favor of a high fat low carbohydrate diet. This book is worth reading for anyone interested in health and nutrition.
2641713
For over 40 years we've been told that fats and protein make us fat and cause heart disease. And yet here we are: obese and diabetic, and the cholesterol lowering drug Lipitor is the bestselling drug worldwide generating $12.9 billion annually in sales. So we're told to lower the fat in our diets even more.

The USDA food pyramid encourages us to consume grains, fruits, and vegetables in large quantities, and meat, dairy, and fat in small quantities. Yet this is the opposite of what our ancestors ate prior to the agricultural revolution (excepting dairy) when we were hunter-gatherers. Has our physiology caught up with our ingenuity?

Life Without Bread demonstrates how the human body runs better on fat as an energy source than it does on sugar. Much of the information presented is based on Dr. Lutz's clinical practice over 40 years treating thousands of people with a low-carbohydrate diet. The authors debunk the conclusions of many scientific studies that are based not on the actual results but on their dogged determination to vilify fat despite the facts.

The book provides commentary, charts, and data showing how the low-carbohydrate diet:

* Lowers fasting blood sugar, blood insulin, hemoglobin, blood pressure, uric acid levels, blood cholesterol, and body weight

* Improves glucose tolerance, cardiac abnormalities, and diseases of the colon, such as constipation and diarrhea, diverticulitis, Crohn's, and ulcerative colitis

Also included are chapters on cancer, vitamins, minerals and co-factors, evolution, and how to safely switch to a low-carbohydrate diet.

One fascinating chapter discusses how high-carbohydrates cause production of insulin, an anabolic hormone. As the body seeks balance, it either increases the catabolic hormones (corticosteroids, T3, and T4), or decreases other anabolic hormones (growth factor and sex hormones). For example, decreased growth factor affects the immune system, musculature, cartilage, bones, and arteries.

My favorite chapter described how the body produces energy using either glucose or fat in the production of ATP in the mitochondria. This is the most technical chapter and exciting for those of us who like to understand exactly how things work. Based on this chapter, it's obvious the body makes much better use of fat than glucose, and all without the detrimental effects of excessive insulin production.

I highly recommend this book for those who believe the USDA food pyramid is reliable and that fat will make them ill.
4918690
I really liked this book, very informative. As a nutritionist, this is a great help in understanding the way we digest fats. I loved the biochemical science in it. I was slightly irritated with the authors occasional detours into the pseudosciences of unproven and even disproved alternative medical/ nutritional theories.  However, I was pleased that the author didn't lay things out in black and white, but explained the benefits and harmful effects of each fat as a chemical. Really brilliant.
4547673
Though I haven't finished the book yet, just halfway through, Mr Wolf presents a very logical description for what happens to the chemicals; namely hormones as a result of excess sugar (glucose) in your body.  If you like science, or are into nutrition, the book explains well what and why we produce all these hormones and their consequence on your immediate health.  Bottom line, don't eat lots of sugar (for that which you do just eat small amounts and not frequently), don't eat a bunch of carbs (especially in one setting), and don't listen to all the other 'health experts' that say eat your wheat and grains on a daily basis.  The book is presented well, has its comedic moments but definitely hits home if you're trying to loose weight the healthy way - and if other diets have not worked for you.  I also recommend the book by Dr. Peter J. D'Adamo  "Eat Right 4 Your Type - The individualized diet solution to staying healthy, living longer and achieving your ideal weight"  (4 blood types, 4 diets) to complement "The Paleo Solution"
2282134
I liked how the book talked about essentials to a healthy diet in the beginning, and what constituents good nutrition. Further along, I read in chapters of vitamins, and types of food containing different vitamins and minerals.

I was looking for a guide to help me with what to eat for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. And at what time of day or season to eat, but I did not find this. Instead, I realized what I should eat for any meal, breakfast, lunch, or dinner. And I realized how my nervous state influences the digestion process.

I would recommend this book to someone who knows some Doctoring, perhaps has a doctor in the family. It is written from a perspective almost to that of practicing medicine. Very revealing how maladies of the gastrointestinal tract may be reduced by proper diet, and careful nutrition.
1164897
I was one of the permalosers interviewed for this book, and so had a personal interest in the results. I was intrigued at the very idea that weight loss could be down to certain behaviours beyond just what you eat.

Data speaks, and coming from a scientific background I appreciated that the material was based on factual research, not just opinion. The overriding message was that we all have individual needs, and experimentation shows us what those needs are. In fact Id go as far as to say it was exciting to be given permission to experiment. I could remove blame from the eating experience.
3775230
I bought this book for two reasons: 1) a long-time friend lost a ton of weight by following the diet to a T; and 2) another long-time friend did a 180 degree turn-around in what he ate, followed this diet and he lost a ton too. Although I'm not sure I get the scientific thought behind it, I can't ignore the results of people I know. As a type 0, my main thing is to avoid grains, breads and pasta - and wouldn't you know it, those are the things I like eating the best! I think trying this diet is going to be a slow process but I'm willing to see just how well it works for me.  The book itself is well-organized with great little charts that make it simple to tell at-a-glance what I should eat and what I should avoid.
415546
Layne Lieberman's book Beyond The Mediterranean Diet is very well explained, scientifically based and flexible nutrition plan which includes vegetarian and ethnic options. Even if you choose to not follow recipes, you will be left understanding the dangers of other diets. Is intriguing to read because it provides a lot of history about the Mediterranean and Swiss way of eating. I enjoyed the pictures and I have tried a few of the recipes, and I love the taste. If you're looking to start a whole new meal regimen with outstanding health results, pick up this powerhouse read and direct your health in a positive direction. In closing, I must also disclose that I am a chef and I have cooked for 30 years.
3855832
Having read a number of nutrition articles and books, it refreshing to read a book that combines the broader body of nutrition evidence to connect the dots on what a healthy diet should be. The recommended eating apprach does go against the regularly promoted/marketed go-to/trendy "diets" and will be questioned - review the evidence yourself without the influence of the promoted thinking and make your own decision
400089
Dr Fuhrman, MD connects your diet with how well your immune system deals with threats to your health.  He summarizes the nutrition research consensus for a variety of health issues and provides the dietary changes needed to fend off cancer, heart disease, diabetes and auto-immune issues.

Did you know mushrooms are cancer fighters? The plant kingdom has already solved the cancer puzzle and we can reap the benefits. The same model holds up for all the other diseases of aging. I can confirm that you can't eat like you did when you were a kid. This book gives the reasons & the solutions. Within two weeks, all my auto-immune issues were gone! I'd say that is worth the price of a book.
3503784
This book has well explains the science behind the health benefits of the Mediterranean Diet.  It also has wonderful easy recipes to get one started in modifying one's diet to reap these health benefits.  A complementary book to this one is "Easy and Healthful Mediterranean Cooking" by Mary El-Baz.
359136
I started this diet in mid Jan,99. I weighted 299 lbs(5 ft 10 in)and my cholesterol was 286(should be below 200).With modertate exercise by June I was 235 lb,and my cholesterol was 184. I took no medication except  niacin,500 mg a day. I still am 234 lb today. I stopped exercising which I  need to lose wt. This diet makes more sense to me,medically and from a  scientific viewpoint than any other diet I've encountered. It tends to get  lumped into the same category as the high fat and protein and low carb  diets. This is simply incorrect,as reading the book will quickly show  you.this is not a fad diet! I eat plenty of whole grains,brown  rice,vegetables,and fruits and still lose wt. I have been a doctor for 26  yrs,and i have recommended this book to so many of my patients our local  bookstore can't keep it on the shelf.
3036551
The truth about diet that most people don't know due to misleading industry funded research studies, and the loud voices for big profits for fad diets.  This book is a must read for everyone who wants to know the truth about a healthy diet, and how much diet influences our most common diseases.
982455
I bought this book three weeks after watching the BBC documentary on the Norwegian channel NRK and after two weeks of following the 5 2 diet. The book explains the reasons why this diet works, and it also gives some tips on the fast days, and several menus and recipes. I have never believed in any diets being the skeptic I am, and very interested in science. This one, however, doesn't only make you lose weight, but is also beneficial for your health and longevity, making you less likely to get cancer, diabetes and heart disease. And it's very easy to stick to 500 kcal two days a week when you can eat normally the remaining days of the week.
3176326
I had never heard of this diet before this book and I was interested to read it. It's very well written and explains things in detail.