Diet Health Books

This book was really useful. It's easy on the eye due to lots of colorful pictures (of food yay!) and there's plenty of useful stats. If you're a bit of a lazy dieter as I am, and indeed most people I know, then this is a handy little book to have. You can happily save yourself a few calories here and there just by following the tips in the book.
It's not for people looking for something trendy, this is a back to basic diet for those of us that don't want to think too hard about it all.
A good purchase.

I was very impressed by the layout of this book. The pages were thick and glossy with full-color photos throughout. Aside from that, there were few new things here that I hadn't heard before. It would be a good reference for someone that eats out a lot, but I try to prepare most of our meals at home and found just a few pages in it that didn't cater to processed foods. The restaurant finds they listed will no doubt soon be out-dated with how menus change up frequently. Overall, for someone just starting to think about eating right, it is a good read.

From: www.BasilAndSpice.com

Book Review: Eat This Not That (Rodale, 2008) by David Zinczenko

The prolific writer David Zinczenko, Editor-in-Chief of Men's Health Magazine is regularly publishing books that assist the consumer with better food choices. His latest title--Eat This Not That!: The No-Diet Weight Loss Solution, is chock full of glossy photos of food choices from chain restaurants. Packed with "secrets" about how to save on calories when dining out, at a family barbeque, or while purchasing groceries, this softcover is small enough to take on the road.

A few years ago, my good friends, Mike and Betty, opened a Jimmy John's sandwich franchise. The business was the first in our suburban Florida neighborhood and did quite well. Spread across the United States, you know what you're getting when you walk in the door. And that is probably one of the greatest advantages of franchise dining, you'll know what to expect. Zinczenko says that what you probably don't know is that Jimmy John's vegetables are from local sources and are delivered on a daily basis, ensuring freshness. Unlike Subway, Jimmy John's meats are delivered unsliced, and both veggies and meats are cut daily. This is true. My friend Betty also arrived before dawn to freshly bake the bread--both white and whole wheat.

Zinczenko adds that to save on calories--the glory of his book--eat the Turkey Breast Slim Sub rather than the Turkey Tom. His additional secret is to pass on the mayo and substitute avocado spread--shaving off 200 calories, 24 grams of fat, and 98 grams of sodium. Other worthy picks are the Totally Tuna Sub (507 calories) and the Vegetarian Sub (290 calories). Zinczenko advises everyone to pass on the Pepe Sub (684 calories), the Gourmet Veggie Club (856 calories), and my son's favorite--The J.J. Gargantuan (1,008 calories)!

My favorite lunch was specially made by Betty--the Unwich. A sandwich without bread, rolled in a lettuce wrap instead!

Other notable restaurant chains mentioned by Zinczenko: Applebee's, Sbarro, Schlotzsky's, Smoothie King, Starbucks, Taco Bell, Wendy's, McDonald's, KFC, Denny's, and many others. Whether you're doing the Midnight breakfast with friends, or catching a mid-morning brunch on the run, there are still good food choices available, but it's up to you to make them.

Eat This Not That offers readers choices, with glossy photos, and blocks of calorie and fat counts for each meal/food. It's a great book!
5 Stars

Very informative, yet sobering book. I was left wishing I didn't know what's in our supermarket food and how it's made. I lost my apetite.
Amru Albeiruti

My daughter gave me a copy of this book a little over a month ago. I've eaten a whole new way and I've lost fifteen pounds. I can't thank David and Matt enough. I just finished Michele Cozzens award winning women's fiction A Line Between Friends and I highly recommend it.

This book should be the Health Bible in everyone's night stand. It's full of great information. It's a terrific guide and resource for optimal health. It reinforces the fact that we should all be proactive and take charge of our health and not let the "medical profession" dictate the usual one size fits all treatments. Breakthrough: Eight Steps to WellnessAgeless: The Naked Truth About Bioidentical HormonesThe Sexy Years: Discover the Hormone Connection: The Secret to Fabulous Sex, Great Health, and Vitality, for Women and Men

Suzanne is amazing in that she does the research for us and uses the information she gathers herself. She has helped countless women by having the wonderful gift of being able to get before the doctors/specialists, interviewing them, gleaning what information is necessary and then putting it in book form for all of us to understand.

Thank you, Suzanne!

THIS IS AN AWESOME BOOK, IF WE DON'T START GETTING A HOLD OF WHAT WE ARE EATING AND PUTTING INTO OUR BODIES AND OUR CHILDREN, WE ARE GOING TO BE IN TROUBLE. WE ARE PUTTING OUR LIVES INTO THE HANDS OF THE FEDERAL DRUG ANIMINISTRATION , AND THEY ARE NOT DOING A VERY GOOD JOB OF TAKING CARE OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.

Some of the vitamin regimens and cleanses seem a bit extreme. What I don't understand is how Suzanne can take botox injections (which she admitted on Larry King show) when she promotes putting only natural healthy intake for the body. And we all know eating healthy and getting enough sleep is good for us, nothing new there. One would have to have a lot of money and discipline to adhere to the whole plan. Organic foods and all those supplements and the naturalists doctors... ok for someone with Suzanne money, but not "Josephine Six Pack" budget.

Breakthrough is a great book that provides a wealth of information on anti-aging strategies. Suzanne Somers consulted with physicians to share the latest and greatest that medicine has to offer in everyday remedies we can employ to combat aging and live a fuller life.

Some of the strategies are more basic and easy to employ (like managing your sleep duration and when you sleep) and others are not going to be used by everyone, such as injecting vitamins into your body. The good news is there's plenty of information, so that you can choose what's right for you.

I also read The Emotional Intelligence Quick Book this week after seeing it recommended here, and I'd like to pass on the recommendation. It's a fascinating book.

Easy to read, easy to use recipes for the busy person trying to watch their diet. Liked the layout and the extra "tips."

I was thinking this would be a cook book for "real" women. I thought it would revel in the joys of having a normal figure. but, alas, it is the same old diet advice full of artificial sweeteners and non-fat foods. When are we going to learn that not everyone is supposed to look like a starving waif-like starlet. Real women eat real food! Real women have breasts and hips........and real men love them!

This book changed my life!!! I think the recipies are fast, inventive and taste awesome! I have lost 30 pounds and I owe it to this book! I also love the section that lists the "safe" things to eat in different cuisine restaurants as well as gas stations, long car rides. It really helps keep me on track no matter where I go.

Another huge bonus for those of us on Weight Watchers is that you can look up on line EVERY recipe in the book - get a picture and nutritional breakdown WITH the Points already figured out!! You can't beat it! My favorite recipe so far - "Lord of the Onion Rings". It's only two Weight Watcher points for the entire recipe!! I think this book would be a staple for any person on a diet and a bigger bonus for those of us on Weight Watchers!

I checked this book out from the Library, because I didn't want to commit to buying it until I was sure that I would actually use it. So far I've tried six of the recipes and every single one has been uncomplicated and very good.

Here's whate I love about it.
1) The single serving size is perfect if you're just cooking for one.
2) There are no exotic ingredients, just your average grocery store fare.
3) The recipes are low cal, but not lacking in taste.
4) Plenty of funny, quirky commits and surival guides through- out.
5) Quick and Easy, from prep to plate, nothing I've done so far has been more than 8-10 minutes.

I've been on a low cal, high protein, limited sugar plan for about 4 months and was really bored with all the meat, cheese and dairy. This cookbook has spiced things up. I'm very pleased with everything that I've tried so far. The best thing? I've started making smoothies and I've discovered soy. Who would've thought that soy burgers would taste good, lol!

My wife and I purchased this book after seeing it at our local mall. The recipes where fast and easy to put together. I really liked the wraps and was able to make my own healthy variations. Overall, it helped us make better food, "Not Microwaved" ;) by introducing good reciepes that we will use at least 2-3 times a week.

This is a handy guide for the real mom to make more educated choices for kids' meals.

I really liked this book. The book reviews many of our local restaurant and fast food chains. It gave information on smarter choices to make for meals. It was small enough to fit in my purse and we were able to take it to our usual restuarants and choose better options. The book also gives great tips for the grocery store. They also discuss the food groups and sort of change it a little to what are kids should really be getting. I like the book because it doesn't just say "Fast Food Bad" and make me feel bad for letting my child eat it, because that's not a reality for me. Instead the book just helps our family make some better choices that fit our existing life style.

I bought this book for my sister and she has trouble putting it down. She takes it with her everywhere. it is worth it every penny! Enjoy

He focuses too much on fat and calories. Kids need to think about nutrition and many fats are essential for development. Kids need to be swapping fresh foods for boxed and canned.

Book Review: Eat This Not That For Kids!
From: www.BasilAndSpice.com

Have you ever visited a middle school cafeteria? Unbeknownst to parents, some school districts allow children to purchase three ice creams every day for their lunches! And our children are getting fatter.

David Zinczenko--Editor-in-Chief of Men's Health, and Matt Goulding--Food and Nutrition Editor of Men's Health are trying their hand at helping parents swap out unhealthy foods for healthy ones. Their new book Eat This-> Not That! For Kids (Rodale, Aug '08) promises to help parents and kids "navigate the onslaught of sugary cereals and 'happy' meals that kids love while saving their families hundreds of unnecessary calories." Like the original Eat This-> Not That! (Rodale, '08), the kid version will work with major restaurant chains, grocery stores, at home, and the worst location--the school cafeteria.

Zinczenko and Goulding researched the best and worst kids' food choices across the country. Then they compiled:

* 10 rules of good nutrition
* The school-cafeteria survival guide
* The 20 worst kids meals in America

Fascinating food facts from the book:

* Your child will ingest 93 grams of fat (almost double the recommended daily allowance) in an Outback Steakhouse meal.
* Chuck E. Cheese will provide 1,426 milligrams of sodium (more than a day's worth for the average kid) in one slice of pepperoni and sausage pizza plus two bread sticks.
* Two pieces of KFC's Extra Crispy Chicken is will total 810 calories.
* Skip fettuccine alfredo and caesar salad, and make your own batch of spaghetti and meatballs with a green salad, and save 360 calories and 23 grams of fat.
* Kids will view more than 5,000 food commercials this year.

Zinczenko and Goulding touched briefly on these issues before. Their original book has a listing of children's drinks to avoid, and which are ok to consume. For example, do drink Yoo-Hoo's chocolate drink for 110 calories and 1 gram of unsaturated fat. "Keep these on hand in case you need to bribe the kids," they write. Avoid Hershey's Reduced Fat Chocolate Milk--one bottle equals 200 calories and 3 grams of saturated fat.

Hot on the trail of these successful books is another Eat This->Not That! For Supermarkets (Rodale, Dec. 2008). 5 Stars

The editor of this book should have been fired. It is filled with inconsistencies and missing information. It's shocking that it would be published in this condition, but I guess it still sells. Nevertheless, if you can figure out what to eat (and what not to eat) by following the guidelines for each phase of this "eating plan" (she does not use the word, "diet"), you will find success. HOWEVER, this is no miracle diet as others have claimed and you will not lose 25 pounds in 8 weeks unless you are starting this program as morbidly obese. I lost 7 pounds in the first week and by the end of 8 weeks I had lost a total of 8 pounds. I followed the plan pretty much to the letter. My exercise was light--just a daily walk of about 20 minutes. The meals are what I would describe as tolerable--nobody will mistake Wendy Chant for a gourmet chef that's for sure. Her "breakfast crepes" taste like cardboard with saccharine. I will give this 8-week cycle another try and amp up the exercise next time. All in all, not a bad diet (very hard for me to lose any weight), but don't expect miracles and except for a handful of "cheat days," you will forfeit delicious foods for a couple of months.

This is a valuable read. If followed strictly... it will train your
body to perfect eating habits.

Finally a way of eating that works!!! We bought the book first, and the video came next. My husband was very interested in the video, after losing 8lbs the first week. He was a big help, with helping me keep the days straight, after watching the video. He would have never sat and read the book (to busy you know). We are on week 10 and are still going down on the scale, yeehaa!!! This new way of eating works for us. It does take planning and commitment, but it is working for us, cause we eat all the foods we have always loved, on the days they are allowed, and that is doable.

Awesome! I've tried them all, and this is great. Easy to follow. You do need to prepare your food for the day, but I'm in my 6th day and have lost 7 pounds. That speaks for itself.

After going through this book extensively and finding mostly jabberwocky, I felt compelled to write a review in order to save readers their time and money.

Let's start with what is promised in the Book Description (copied and pasted):
"LOSE UP TO 25 POUNDS IN 8 WEEKS AND KEEP IT OFF!"

We'll move on to what is actually stated in the book, Appendix A, pg 265:
"Let's face it: when all is said and done, this is a book about losing fat. Notice I didn't say 'losing pounds' or 'losing weight.' I said losing fat."

That's one of the few honest, if contradictory statements in this book. It really is not about losing weight, though I have no doubt some people will lose some weight (short-term) if they follow it completely. That's because of:

A: Week 1, which severely limits carbohydrates and thus creates a 'whoosh' of water loss, and;
B: Weeks 2-8, which severely limits calories. Yes, on 'cheat' days you can eat anything, as long as you don't eat much - or in the author's words "don't stuff yourself."

Point "A" is why most of the readers following the diet and posting on the book's forums repeatedly write that they lost weight "the first week, but nothing or not much afterward." Had those same posters followed the proven way to lose pounds and inches: high fat, moderate protein and low carb consumption - they would have continued to lose weight and inches week after week after week, without having to follow some cockamaimie up/down scheme that is ultimately doomed to fail. And by ultimately fail, I mean that as soon as someone can no longer tolerate a low fat, relatively low calorie diet, they will not only gain back their lost weight, they'll add to it.

Let's move on to the very bad science that stands behind this book. The author states that:
(pg. 28) "Studies have shown that too much saturated fat in the diet raises the cholesterol level in the bloodstream." In fact, studies have shown the exact opposite, and that:

1: Saturated fat, when combined with low carb consumption, creates the very best lipid profiles of all. It's especially good at dramatically lowering triglycerides, which is one of the only two lipid markers that matter for assessing heart disease risk. The lower Triglycerides, the better. It also improves the other marker - HDL - and raises it dramatically.
2: Elevated cholesterol has NOTHING WHATEVER to do with heart disease.
3: For women older than 50, elevated cholesterol levels means they will have a higher life span, and much lower mortality figures than their sisters with 'good' cholesterol readings.

Saturated fat does many good things for the body. To learn what and how, read a far more valuable book than this twaddle; a real owner's manual, if you will: Gary Taubes' seminal work: "Good Calories, Bad Calories." And of course, Dr. Malcolm Kendrick's "The Great Cholesterol Con" - both available on Amazon.

Chant then moves on to:
(pg. 31): "Despite the prevalence of 'low carb' diets---and the way they are perceived as successful by many short-term dieters---carbohydrates are actually vital to the human body."

Hmm. "PERCEIVED as successful?" How about: Have been proven successful by every single study that has tried hard to prove them unsuccessful. As with the Israeli study, published in July in the New England Journal of Medicine, and many, many others.
--"short-term dieters?" How about the tens of thousands of people who, rather than diet, simply follow a low carb way of eating for a lifetime. A lifetime, that is, of being slim, healthy, fit and decidedly not fat.
-- "carbohydrates are vital to the human body?" How about not needed at ALL. There are entire civilizations that live on a diet of 80-90% fat with the balance of nutrient being provided by protein - who, by the way, have some of the lowest rates of stroke, heart disease, obesity and diabetes in the world.

(pg 31): "The body chooses carbohydrates for energy because they digest first and most easily."

Duh. That's why they are BAD. Whether you're eating multi-grain bread or a squishy slice of wonderloaf, the body has precisely ONE reaction upon consumption: it sees it all as sugar. Which raises blood sugar levels. Which summons up insulin, which promptly stores all that 'quick energy' as fat. Adipose fat - the very worst kind. Eat that carb with some fat (fast food, for example, or even the fat Chant feels is 'good' -- but which is actually bad), and the fat storage goes from bad to worse. But that is precisely the nutritional advice she gives the reader, week after deplorable week.

(pg 32): By manipulating all of the macronutrients in our macro-patterning program, particularly carbohydrates, we train your body to use fat and the carbohydrates we eat for energy instead of shuttling them off to the fat stores immediately..."

Dear Ms. Chant: Evolution called, and wants its pancreas back.

I suggest that instead of spouting sheer nonsense, like believing that eight weeks of 'training the body' can override the last, oh, few million years or so of human development, you take a few elemental bio-chem classes to learn under what conditions insulin is created by the pancreas, and how it is *invariably* used, your 'training' not withstanding.

Wendy Chant's bottom line, after promising WEIGHT loss and making readers wander though a maze of 264 imprecise and unclear pages of charts, initials and bizarre instructions -- delivers on page 265 only the info that the previous tome wasn't about weight loss at all. The bottom line of this review is that there is a wealth of real information out there about how the body works vis-a-vis weight and fat loss that will deliver real long-term success --- and while I hope this review's readers find it --- this book ain't it.

I have diabetes and have lost over 20 pounds and my blood sugars have never been this good. I have been able to lower my insulan use over 70%

I have found the book very informative and I am losing weight. Following this program has been very easy.

This particular book is great for someone wanting to know all about the South Beach Diet. It includes lots of recipes as well as sample meals which I find handy since I'm not very creative in figuring out what to eat. This book also includes a section on exercising and why it's important. I would highly recommend this book if you are planning on changing your eating habits and lose weight as a bonus!

Another great book by the good doctor. First time ever that I have kept losing weight, not lost sight of the goal and kept on the diet. It is so easy, you wonder if you are missing something. A MUST for those who want to lose weight.

The South Beach Diet Supercharged reinforces the South Beach way of eating involving good carbs, good fats, lean protein, and low-fat dairy. This new book includes a three-phase workout to go along with the three-phase diet plan. The diet phases are:
Phase 1: Eat lean protein, high-fiber legumes, low-fat dairy, good fats (including some nuts), and plenty of vegetables. There are no highly processed refined carbs allowed. This phase is supposed to jump-start weight loss, control blood sugar swings, and eliminate cravings for sugar and refined starches. Phase 1 usually continues for 2 weeks.
Phase 2: Introduce whole fruits and high-fiber whole grains to your diet while continuing with adequate protein such as fish, shellfish, chicken, turkey, lean beef or pork, or soy protein.
Phase 3: Eating is not regulated and the book allows an occasional sugary food or bagel, though does not recommend going back to your old habits.

The exercise program combines both high intensity and low intensity interval exercise focusing on a 10 week walking program, as well as a shaping and toning exercise program of 27 exercises with photos.

Also included are new meal plans for Phase 1 and Phase 2, expanded lists of foods to eat and foods to avoid for Phase 1 and Phase 2, latest nutrition research, testimonials, weight loss tips, Q & A based on reader questions, and many excellent recipes (Turkey Meatloaf, Veggie Chili, etc.).

The basic diet advice of low sugar while emphasizing high-fiber, nutrient-rich carbohydrates, healthy fats, lean protein, and low-fat dairy is sound. This updated version of the South Beach diet is a good book for learning about healthy eating, and it includes a moderate and beneficial exercise program. It is a reasonable and well-documented approach to a healthy lifestyle. I also recommend [[ASIN:097974590X THE 3:00 PM SECRET: Live Slim and Strong, Live Your Dreams]]and The 2007 Second Expert Report, Food, Nutrition, Physical Activity, and the Prevention of Cancer: a Global Perspective.

This book is well written and very understandable. The author provides information that everyone should know about how to eat.

This book has completely changed how I choose food--and I thought I already knew a lot about healthy eating. Now I know how to maximize nutrition even in the foods I already eat (like melon and broccoli) by how I cook and store them. I have seen a real difference in my nails and hair, and my eye doctor recently told me, after examining my eyes, "Whatever you're doing, keep doing it."

I love watching La Puma on his ChefMD.com website--he's funny and gives great advice. And his book is funny and well written. Highly recommended.

Unfortunately I found the Big Book of Culinary Medicine to be mainly boring with little new information to offer.

Thanks for bringing this topic into mainstream western medicine ~ most of what I learned about nutrition over the last 30+ years can be attributed to studying cultures who base their diet on their own medical systems, such as Indian cooking, based on Ayurvedic medicine. Books I read in the seventies and cooks I worked alongside of, knew the usefulness of each ingredient. It is truly amazing what we can do when we 'let food be our medicine'. I look very much forward to reading your book (will give it five stars for the idea alone), and having a blog to continue this evolving discussion is brilliant ~ see you there!

Found the book to be a little basic and was hoping for many more recipes. Good for folks who don't understand what their high sugar, high fat, low fiber diet is doing to them.

If you are GENUINELY ready to lose weight or get healthy, you will love this book. This book is hilarious, and is written in a satirical girl-talk language that is designed to work on the insecure (but powerful) psychology of women. Especially self-loathing women. I bought the book 2 days ago, and I've already lost 5 pounds! This is 99% water and poo (there's a whole chapter on poo), but it's a start. They explain nutrition in an easy-to-digest (no pun intended) way that is relevent to young women. Loved it!!

I still have not received the item and it has been over a month. About 10 days ago I notified the seller and they did reply but had I not sent them a message I would have never heard from them. For all I know the item had been lost in the mail. I am very dissatisfied with the whole thing. I should have bought it from Amazon rather than an independant seller.

This book is basically a peta pamphlet cleverly disguised as a diet book. There is some good information on how to become a vegetarian, and good reasons to avoid meat and dairy products, but becoming a vegetarian (while it may be healthier) does not seem to have any weight loss effect. After reading the book I really wanted to see if it could work and stuck to only "Skinny Bitch" approved foods - after several weeks no difference whatsoever. It also bothered me that the book protests the cruelty of animals but seems to have no problem with the abuse of its readers. You will loose more self esteem from reading this book than you will weight. If you want to eat healthier, become a vegetarian and discover new ways to hate yourself, then this is the book for you, but don't buy it expecting to loose any weight.

Opens your eyes to what they put in food products and why you can't lose weight without knowing.

'Skinny Bitch'. I would not have guessed by the title that this was a book written by a couple of vegans, but I loved it! I have no problem with the language, being a foul-mouthed former Army chick myself. In fact, I loved the way they insulted my fat, disgusting *ss! Everything they write is the truth about the sick way I've been treating my body. As for veganism, having fallen off the wagon after 10 years of being a vegetarian, it was just the inspiration I needed to jump back on. The recipes were all foods that I enjoyed as a vegetarian, and reminded me that I really won't miss nasty, putrid flesh after a couple of weeks. Everyone who consumes animal products should read the chapter on factory farming. If you think it's too graphic and difficult to stomach, TOO BAD!! That's the reality of what you are doing to animals, yourself and the planet. In summary, this book excited me about getting healthy. I like the attitude with which it was presented. If I have one complaint, it is that processed vegan foods should be used sparingly, rather than as dietary staples. I would recommend this book to anyone who is concerned with having a healthy body, clean conscience and liveable planet.

Healing the Rift: Merging Science and Spirituality

Michael Pollan chronicles the dogma and misconceptions concerning food and food nutrition. With tens of thousands of books published each year on cooking, diet, food, and nutrition, few really give readers the information they need about healthy eating.

Like a trial lawyer systematically building his case to a jury, Pollan walks us through why our Western diet is killing us prematurely and what to do about it.

Although Pollan summarizes his book with: "eat food, not too much, mostly plants" this page turner will first convince you to abandon the Western diet and then pave the way for understanding what and how to eat.

This is a perfect follow up to his The Omivore's Dilemma.

I'll never feel the same way about food ever again. This isn't an "eat this, don't eat that" kind of book -it's much better! I had no idea that the food industry is so political and that nutritional science is, well, not so scientific.

This is an easy read without being dumbed-down. I like the casual and sometimes comedic voice of Michael Pollan and I have been inspired to change the way I eat. In fact, I already have!

Michael Pollan, professor of journalism at Berkeley, is a prolific writer on food and food-related issues, which have drawn much attention in the United States in recent years. After his more historical and philosophical works, "In Defense of Food" is a practical guide to and defense of food. To be precise, food as opposed to processed, additive-filled, can-conserved and/or microwavable goo that passes for food in most of our Western supermarkets.

Pollan uses a pleasant style and a usefully skeptical attitude towards the faddish nutritional science of the past decades to launch a critique on the industrial process of food production in the Western world, which has made us at the same time less healthy, fatter, and less nourished. As Pollan shows, typical 'rich' diseases such as cancer, type 2 diabetes, coronary disease, stroke and so forth are directly and invariably correlated to following the broadly defined 'Western diet' (which despite Pollan using this name is really mostly the American diet). This, in turn, is caused partially by an excessive focus on single 'good' or 'bad' nutrients in food science, which eliminates both the interplay of various elements in given foodstuffs as they relate to our health, partially by the social and cultural contexts of food being ignored in such science, leading to useless and confusing study results, and finally in part by the food industry bribing and cajoling governments and researchers alike to make these practices suit their profit needs. He calls this 'nutritionism', following an Australian researcher on the same topic.

Although Pollan's critique is backward-looking in the sense of supporting traditional conceptions of food, where food is healthy qua food, not because of one or another 'good' nutrient du jour being part of it, its radical nature is by no means to be underestimated. Consistently, at times even repetitively, Pollan shows chapter after chapter how all the negative effects associated with the American way of eating as well as the 'food' consumed are the result of the modern agrocapitalist food industry and its unrestrained victory over any standards of healthcare or regulation other than removing explicit poison (and even that not always).

As alternative, Pollan proposes methods of food production that eliminate the artificial focus on individual nutrients as well as restoring the social context of meals in the classic sense, which implies eating natural, unaltered foods (organic or better), eating them in normal quantities, and taking your time with the meal to enjoy it. He summarizes his basic viewpoint as "eat food, not too much, mostly plants", but expands upon this in the final chapter to give some more detailed considerations on what kind of attitude to take to choosing food in our kind of society.

In a pleasant change from the normal faddish type of diet advice book, he actually looks at the structural issues around the production of food, not just choice of specific nutrients in them, and he gives tips on what kind of things to consider when choosing rather than telling the reader specifically what kind of food to eat. This is indeed a great advancement and for that reason this book is certainly to be recommended. The only downsides are a gratuitous and unnecessarily anti-socialist attitude (he repeatedly compares things he doesn't like to Marxism or the Soviet Union, even though that has no relation to the topic whatsoever), and the fact his critique gets a little repetitive over time.

The book was a requirement for a college class. This was the easiest purchase of material yet! No searching in a bookstore or standing in lines. Just get on the computer and click...it's done. The book arrived quickly, was very reasonably priced, and in great condition. I see an A in my future.

I already knew I would like this book before I read it. What food items we see advertised on television and what colorfully and cleverly packaged items we find in mass quantities on our grocery store shelves is not really food. To quote the author-Instead of food, we are consuming "edible foodlike substances"-no longer the products of nature but of food science. I have believed for years that we have over processed and over industrialized our diets. If you really want to learn some cold hard facts, check out the Nutrition Action Newsletter, published by the Center for Science in the Public Interest.
There is real food out there and that is what we should be eating...

I encourage every parent to read this book despite your stance on immunizations. Dr. Sears gives so much information about each vaccine and its components. He also gives facts about studies that have been conducted and talks about the lack of studies specifically about aluminum amounts in the immunizations. My daughter is 3 months old. I have decided to follow his Alternative Vaccination Schedule. After reading this book and other articles online, and talking with friends whose children had reactions to vaccinations, I feel that I should give my daughter vaccinations to protect her against diseases but that the combination shots are unnecessary and carry a higher risk of side-effects. I also believe that the standard Vaccination Schedule is too aggressive for such small little babies. I have Kaiser Permanente and most of the Pediatricians feel I should stick to the standard schedule, but it is my decision as a parent and I feel comfortable with my decision. Our doctors have always respected my wishes.

This was a very informative and and objective look at modern vaccines and whether or not they are necessary. A must read for those who are looking to be informed about their children's health.

This book provided both sides of the story and was helpful objective information. We plan on using the alternate vaccination schedule that Dr. Sears illustrates with a few modifications of our own.

I thought this book was excellent. Sears does a good job of giving a wide range of opinions (even though he makes it clear what his opinion is and what he thinks the best choice is). Sears definitely made me feel better about vaccinating my son as per MA state's guidelines which don't leave a lot of room for flexibility.

Vaccination is perhaps the most important decision you will have to make regarding the health of your children. If you don't give a shot your child could get very sick, if you do give a shot your child could get very sick.

With so much at stake, it is imperative that parents research the issue themselves before vaccinating.

Yet I, like most parents, did not. Why? Because as a healthcare provider myself, I blindly trusted my child's pediatrician. I didn't realize that they had been misinformed. And this is why parents must educate themselves about the vaccinations themselves and the diseases they are designed to prevent.

I would absolutely read Dr Sears' "Vaccine Book" first. This book will allow you to decide which diseases still pose a threat to your child and which do not.

Once you are sure which diseases you would like to immunize your child from, you will need to continue researching just a bit more about the vaccines themselves.

Dr. Sears does an EXCELLENT job of identifying which horrific chemicals are contained in which vaccination. (THANK YOU DR SEARS!!!) However, in my humble maternal opinion, he downplays the threat these chemicals may pose. For example,the threat of injecting things like aluminum directly into the bloodstream where they bypass usual detoxification pathways and have direct access to the brain.

The bottom line is that parents need to understand BOTH the threat of the diseases AND the risks of the vaccines. Only then can they make an educated guess. (It is a guess after all, I mean, really, who can say for sure whether your child will have a problem with the disease or the vaccine! Aside from God, of course!)

A great book for understanding the risks of vaccines is Evidence of Harm by David Kirby. If you don' t want a whole book about vaccine dangers and would rather spend your money learning about vaccine dangers as well as where other hazards lurk in your home then check out "Holler for Your Health". (Note conflict of interest: I wrote this one!) (Hey, but Rachael Ray requested a copy and it has great reviews so there is some non- biased info other than me saying it is a good choice!) Good luck with your decision. Remember, no one has a right to make it but you, and you have an obligation to your children to learn, so get reading! Remember God helps those who help themselves. Keep your kids healthy! Teresa www.holler4health.com