Diet Health Books

Very helpful in giving a plan to help reduce blood pressure. Well written and easy to follow guidelines.

When I ordered the book, I was told that my order didn't qualify for free shipping, but if I met an amt, it would, so I ordered an additional item, but since the additional item (edger blade) was shipped from a different location/supplier, I was not given the free shipping.
I did not know that at the time.

The book was informational and the content well organized However, I was not inspired by the writing skill of the author. I found the book very easy to put down.

Had a lot of "doable" suggestions for lowering blood pressure from daily exercises to meal planning.

I purchased this book along with the Dash Diet book and absolutely love it. I needed to lose weight, but do not have hypertension. Its a great diet for everyone. Very simple, to the point and gives great information.

Although I didn't pay attention to the shipping method (I cannot receive USPS where I work) I still managed to get the product as promised thanks to a friend who works right next door. AND I got it in a very timely manner. I will definitely use this seller again!!

In The Best Light Recipe from Cooks Illustrated magazine, the editors of CI confronted one of the sketchier issues of writing books about low-fat cuisine -- the ugly fact that not every recipe can translate into lower-fat forms. They therefore abandoned a lot of their less practical plans -- there seemed to be no way to make a decent low fat pie crust, for example, so they gave up on it.

Well, Weight Watchers didn't. For the most part this worked out great for them -- there are a great many recipes in here that are perfectly acceptable conversions, and quite a few they simply did straight out and simply offered sufficent amounts of nutritional information that allowed decent portion control. A lot of recipes show less conversion and more smart recipe selection -- in other words, they went out of their way to find dishes that were inherently low fat to begin with, side-stepping a lot of difficult matters of trying to shoehorn something normally swamped in butter or olive oil into a low-fat cookbook. (I'm quite partial to their molasses rye bread recipe, by the way; it's a good quick rye bread that goes together easily in a bread machine.) But there's a few obvious clunkers that seem like they should have been left out. Their shrimp scampi recipe is my example for the purposes of the review -- rather than simply curb their use of olive oil, they made a sauce with chicken broth. In a seafood dish. The book isn't loaded to the gills with clunkers like this, but it's got a few things that really need to be watched for.

That said, this book is otherwise a remarkably good reminder that just because one might need to cut back on fat and carbs, one does not need to sacrifice tasty, well-rounded menus for birdseed or artery-clogging doses of meat that would make a Brazilian go veg. The dish selection is very wide-ranging and pretty hip, and if you bear in mind the above caveats it's actually pretty good as just a basic cookbook, if a little light compared with heavyweights like Joy of Cooking or The America's Test Kitchen Family Cookbook. Each recipe includes nutritional information and WW Points values, and with multiple editions now available you can choose between the flat-lay binder and a more shelf-friendly compact format. Obviously Weight Watchers would prefer that you use it in conjunction with their program, but it's still a very good book to keep around for any situation where you need to keep a close eye on your nutritional matters, whether it involves WW or not.

I am addicted to the kitchen, I love to eat and I love to cook. This book is challenging enough for me to be fulfilled on both those levels. For instance... The Tandoori Marinade recipe might be a bust for some people who don't keep cardamom, turmeric, or garam masala on hand. But for a foodie who maintains an herb garden and has personal contacts to the Spice Islands for free spices, this is a no brainer winner recipe.

Don't get me wrong, there are some great easy "standards" in this book. Biscuits, Chocolate cake and vinaigrette (my 15 year old made the Raita recipe for gosh sakes). We pigged out on an Indian food meal complete with Naan, for only 11 points. I appreciated that! And so did my husband.

Do you need some skills to own this book? My answer: probably. Do you need to plan ahead to make these recipes? My answer is YES!

Whether or not you're doing Weight Watchers, whether or not you're even on a diet, this book is an excellent addition to any cook's library. The variety of recipes within is excellent, from elaborate to simple, for both carnivores and vegetarians, all prepared using healthy ingredients and methods.

From a purely practical standpoint, this is an easy cookbook to use. The pages are durable enough to withstand a bit of splatter and splash (why yes, I am a messy cook, thanks for asking!), and they are bound separately so that the book can be opened flat on the countertop to the page you want to see, or even removed completely to be put back later.

The book is nicely organized into categories so that if you have only a general idea of what you want or what's available in the fridge, you can find recipes that fit easily. Ingredients and instructions are laid out nicely on each page, with nutrition information if you need it. For those who are doing the Weight Watchers Flex plan, the Points value per serving for each recipe is also clearly marked. Basics such as pizza dough and pie crust are included, as well as more elaborate and complete meals.

Since I've gotten this cookbook, it's become my go-to source for ideas and good food. I've tried many recipes from it so far, ranging from Chicken Hash to Spinach and Cheese Quiche, and so far I have not been disappointed. If you're trying to eat healthy, there's lots of excellent and tasty choices here. If you're just looking for some inspiration, don't let the WW logo on the cover scare you off...there's lots of good stuff in here for everyone!

Off to get ready for dinner... tonight, Vegetable Fried Rice! Can't wait!

I don't know why Weight Watchers doesn't have a Core-specific cookbook, but that's really disappointing. One of the reasons I'm interested in Weight Watchers in the first place is I don't know how to cook, and was hoping for good help in that department. The Core recipes are well marked and quick to find, but of the 500 recipies there are probably 200 that can be eaten on the Core plan max, if that many.

I have noticed that some posters are upset about the price of being "cured." I am not an addict, but my best friend was, and I would have sold my house out from underneath me if it could have cured him.

I knew that he had a real problem when he was fourteen years old, and knew where he was heading from my experiences in college -- people I knew. He was given an unnecessary tonsillectomy, and the well-meaning surgeon prescribed (Acetaminophen) #4 (with codeine). This was in 1971.

I have taken the same drug, without problems, usually for dental pain. I have never taken it for more than two days.

Well, my best friend was introduced to the same feelings that I get when I do something exceedingly well, only his performance dropped off to near zero. Later, he met a junky nurse, and I knew that it was game-set-match. I intervened and ran her off.

I knew I had no control over his addictions, but I did everything I could do to buy time. He finally went to a detox center and became a sponsor at Narcotics Anonymous. By this time he was married, and my wife learned that they were beginning to use again (she went through detox with him), and I had a decision to make. Something told me that he would not survive the year.

He had learned that narcotics lead to institution, jail, and death. Well, he was arrested for "uttering a forged instrument," which is to say, forging a prescription. Back to detox.

By this time, he was, in my opinion, too old for me to treat him as a child, and I made it clearly known to him that I would be there to intervene only if he asked. I had pulled him out of desperate straights before, but against his (temporary) will.

His junky wife found him dead one Christmas morning, about ten years ago. He had accidentally overdosed. I had an intervention plan set up for the 26th, and missed it by one day.

One of the lines of a poem I wrote to him before his first detox included, "May you find peace in Oaklawn's Gardens, and Sleep the Never-Ending Sleep you Seek. I have seen it all before, but this was my best friend Keith." I hope, somehow, that he did find that peace. He was a gifted person, and my best friend. I frightened him with that poem, and in his last days, he somehow knew what was going to occur. He reported "lucid dreams, where he was with (a friend who had died of drug abuse). I was supportive, and only this one poem was pessimistic.

A copy of that poem is in his casket. It should not be forgotten that people do manage to become addicted to drugs and return to a normal life. These drugs were designed for pain, not getting high. He slipped away one day before I was going to intervene with his recovered addicts alongside me.

If you have an addicted friend, their life is in your hands. Please do not forget that. The price of the regimen in this book is the price of life. Find a way to do whatever it takes, or lose your friend or loved one.I know this post is too long, but it, like and along with the book, will save lives.

this book was unimpressive to me. just a waste of money as very little in it is of much use.

Great Book! A lot of really good information to help understand addictions, which in turn helps understand how to plot a course to overcome addictions. A lot of resources suggestions included.

I AM AN ADDICT.... AND I UNDERSTAND TRYING TO FIND THE UNDERLYING CAUSE OF MY USING DRUGS. BUT I ALSO BELIEVE THAT THIS BOOK WAS A COMMERCIAL FOR PASSAGES (WHEN I CALLED THEY TOLD ME TO COME UP WITH 68,000 DOLLARS). I CAN'T EVEN AFFORD ALL OF THE COUNSELORS AND HOLISTIC PRACTITIONERS THEY ADVISE I USE. HOW COULD I AFFORD TO GO FOR 30 DAYS TO A PROGRAM THAT MAY OR MAY NOT WORK. WHEN I GOT TO THE CHAPTER OF THE BOOK THAT TOLD ME TO GET ALL OF THOSE DIFFERENT DOCTORS, I WAS HEARTBROKEN. BECAUSE OF THE TITLE OF THE BOOK, I HAD SUCH HIGH HOPES, BECAUSE I THOUGHT THIS WAS IT, THIS WAS THE ONE THING THAT WOULD HELP ME GET OVER MY ADDICTION FINALLY. BUT AS EVERYTHING ELSE I'VE TRIED IT FAILED ALSO. I AM GOING TO TRY THE ACCUPUNCTURE AND MY MEDICAL DOCTOR IS WEANING ME OFF OF OXYCONTIN RIGHT NOW. BUT THAT IS MY PLAN. I PRAY AND PRAY AND PRAY THAT IT WORKS. MY FAITH IN GOD IS WHAT WILL PULL ME THROUGH THIS, I KNOW IT. THE ONE THING IN HIS BOOK I TOTALLY AGREE WITH IS THAT EVERYTHING IN THE UNIVERSE.. GOOD OR BAD ALL WORKS TOGETHER FOR OUR GOOD. EVERYTHING IS AS IT SHOULD BE, EVEN BEING ADDICTED TO DRUGS, BECAUSE RIGHT NOW I AM LEARNING A LIFE LESSON. AND THAT IS A GIFT FROM THE LORD.

The story that the son, Pax, wrote about his addiction and recovery was great. It rang brutally true. I was into the book and ready to see how they could translate their $50,000/month Malibu treatment plan to the masses. The answer? They can't. They recommend hiring a western medical doctor, a clinical pyschologist, a massage therapist, a nutrionist, an acupuncturist, a hypnotist, and a doctor of Traditional Chinese Medicine as the minimum "holistic treatment team". They recommend going to clinical pyschologist at least 3 times/week. During a question/answer part of the book, it was asked "What if I can't afford all of this?" The answer? Ask to be treated for free. Tell them that they'd be part of a "Passages model team".

Okay...

My HMO pays for 10 counseling sessions per year with a social worker. And the copay for that is $40 per visit. Somehow I don't think I'm going to be able to assemble this psychological dream team without a load of cash and a lot of free time.

Oh, and what should you do if your dream team doesn't live in your small town? MOVE to a big city (just for a month).

I'm not a big fan of AA and their dogmatic religiosity, but at least they're free and close by!

I loved this book by Dean Ornish. I have read a lot of health articles and books, but I always look for fresh perspectives or new information to stay motivated. This book had a well-rounded, sensical approach to eating and living. The information was convincing because it was based in legitimate scientific research as opposed to mostly anecdotal evidence, which is often what health guidebooks offer. This one is a book I could refer back to again and again for guidance and inspiration.

If you want to live long and maintain optimum health, this is the book. Dr. Dean Ornish tells it like it is. There are no miracle cures, just common sense solid scientific based facts.

With the increased emphasis on preventive health care this book is written to help us become more aware of how we must take care of our own bodies as health care costs rise. In addition to informative advise on taking control of our choices it provided nutritional advise and many receipes to achieve improved health. A must read for the health conscious.

The book is great. Ornish does ramble from time to time -- at times I forget what the original point was. In general, however, I think this is a great book. He backs all his points with research data (sometimes multiple data). He explains nutrition, exercise, meditation, etc., as being part of a larger spectrum. He does not tell us where we should be on the spectrum, but merely points out the most likely outccomes for different levels on the spectrum and leaves it to the reader to make their own decisions.

My biggest problem with the Kindle version is that the tables are so tiny that they are basically illegible. One of these tables is one which shows where different foods are on the spectrum -- I would really like to be able to see it, as that is what the whole book is about. In really good light, if I squint, I can make out most of it (I have perfect vision), but it is not comfortable. The other thing to know about the Kindle version is that he keeps talking about the guided meditation CD that comes with the print version of the book -- it is not included (obviously) with the Kindle version and I'd kinda like to try it out. I am overall happy with my Kindle version -- everything else is well-formatted and easy to read, but am considering supplementing it with the print version for the two reasons just mentioned.

For those two reasons, I give this 4 instead of 5 stars.

Ornish has many good ideas for following a healthy diet. I don't follow his diet completely, but I incorporate many of the ideas and recipes, and have been seeing a steady weight loss.

This is a very good cookbook but has limited receipes for the price. They are very good and the kids even like them

A lot of low-fat/healthy cookbooks I've "read" always contain tons of ingredients and require a lot more time than I have. The recipes are super easy and taste great.

I hate health food, let me say that again: I HATE health food. But every recipe I've tried in this book has been great. I can't believe it's good for me, too. I love to cook and know a lot about flavors and this book has them in every recipe.

I also like the fact that the recipes don't call for far out ingrediants, most of the recipes you can make with items you have on hand. Plus, they are easy to make and quick.

Right now I'm eating the roasted potatoes for lunch and they are devine. I've been overweight all of my life and can never stick to a 'diet' because I just enjoy the taste of food so much. I can't stand bland. But these recipes are bursting with flavor. I am such a carnivore and couldn't believe that I'd be craving vegetables.

I've had this book for 3 weeks and I've already starting losing weight and everyone is noticing it and giving me compliments. I love it! And it's in large part due to this cookbook. I liked this book so much I went out and got the other ones she has.

Do yourself a favor and buy this book. Your tastebuds and heart will thank you.

Yummy, yummy recipes. I've tried about 4 recipes so far from the book and have been so pleasently surprised!
You've GOT to try the mac-n-cheese w/turkey keilbasa...what a treat!
Everything is from scratch, so if you're looking for quick meals, this is probably not the cookbook for you. But, if you're willing to spend a little time in the kitchen to prepare down-home, feel-good meals that are a bit healthier, this is the book for you!
Thumbs up...WAY up! My picky boyfriend agrees too! He loves that we can eat breakfast sausage and hamburgers again!!!

I bought this book because my husband is a soldier and needs to maintain a certain weight. Using the recipes in this book along with his physical fitness plan has yielded terrific results, and the best part is that no one in the house feels like they are on a diet because the food tastes wonderful. I have seen results for myself as well, and couldn't be more pleased.

South Beach can be complicated eating, especially in restaurants, so I really enjoy having a lot of my homework done for me in this guide. I think it was well worth adding to my SB Supercharged and SB Cookbook.

This book is extremely helpful when doing the South Beach diet and dining out. I am extremely happy with this purchase.

I went on the South Beach Diet in November 2005. In one year I went from weighing 280 lbs to weighing 215! My cholesterol went from 221 to 141,and my blood pressure went from 150/100 to 117/77 (with NO drugs). Also I lost 6 inches around my waist. It went from 42 inches to 36.As of May 2008, I currently weigh 212 (at 5' 11') and am trying to work my way to 195 now.I own all of the books and am one of the biggest advocates of the diet. I would recommend this book to anyone!

My doctor had reccomened this, and it has helped with going out. Just want I needed.

I didn't find this book to be very helpful. I loved the South Beach Diet book. But this book only gives recommended dishes which is basically meat or salad. I would have liked to see the nutr. values for more food in each restruaunt so I could decide which one I was willing to have based on carbs and sugar.

I lost 50 lbs (pregnancy weight) doing Atkins several years ago and boy was that boring! I literally ate eggs, cheese, lettuce and meat for a year! The weight fell off but I really hated that way of eating and even though ive kept the weight off, I did switch back to low fat/ low calorie eating which leaves me starving all the time.
I bought Danas book in the hopes of finding "easy and practical" meals to prepare, not just for me, but for my husband and 3 kids who all had adapted a fairly unhealthy way of eating- out of convenience mostly. I am totally shocked at how easy, delicious, filling and satisfing these meals are! I work 40 hours a week, have 3 kids and never seem to stop and every LC book I have found requires soooo much time in the kitchen it just wasnt worth it!

I have prepared full meals, snacks, lunches and breakfasts for all of us for 2 weeks now and havent even come close to getting bored nor scratched the surface of the countless "doable" recipes she provides. I simply sit down every saturday morning with this book, a notebook and a pen and start flipping through, putting together a main course and a side dish (dinner) for the next 5-6 days. I make sure and vary the ingredients from fish to pork to beef and then I work on what we will have with it! I plan out the meals and jot down the required ingredients (saving the more time consuming meals for the weekends) throwing in at least one "leftovers" night during the week and viola. Take off to the store, but it all and post the menu on the fridge. Its really that easy.

Thanks Dana! I havent even gotten to crack the cover of the crockpot cook book yet, but I will!
Noone in my house has even missed the mac and cheese, scalloped potatoes or garlic bread.

(oh and between me, hubby and the kids, we have all lost a few lbs cutting out all those starchy carbs!)

Dana Carpender knows what it's like to live a low carb life, she's not a nutritionist just going by the numbers. It's obvious she likes to eat, loves food and likes variety. The ethnic recipes are a taste treat and worth it even if I have difficulty finding some of the ingredients.

Her section on Ingredients You Need To Know About should be in all low carb cookbooks. Finally, I know the secret of what guar and xanthan gums are, and the difference between soy flour and soy powder and soy protein isolate. It's not likely I'll use any of these but now that I know what they are, I know how to substitute for them and I understand what they're doing in any low carb products I buy. This book and her 200 Low Carb Slow Cooker Recipes book are essential for anyone forced to live on a low carb diet.

I checked both books out of the library and kept them until mine arrived from Amazon. Dana Carpender's two books are the best low carb books I have even nudging out George Stella.

This book is only for those willing to be pretty extreme in their diet changes - whey protein powders, coconut oil, almond flours, etc. I just don't see myself using many of these recipes on a daily basis unless I wanted to go extremely low carb.

When the low-carb craze was hot, I jumped on the bandwagon. It was easy then...low-carb products filled the store shelves. There were bars, shakes, candy, low-carb meals, and low-carb selections at almost every restaurant! I lost lots of weight and felt better than I had in years! But, suddenly, it all went away and I was forced go it alone! I struggled, going back and forth between low-fat and low-carb. I had almost given up completely when I found this book accidentally online. This book has truly made the low-carb lifestyle easy for me AND kept it interesting. There are enough simple, rich, delightful recipes in this book for one to NEVER go back to low fat. My favorite is Burger Scramble Florentine, a delicious one-skillet meal made with real cream cheese. I use ground chicken, which is even tastier than ground meat! I plan our family's meals out of this book every week. You've GOT to own this one (and "500 More Low Carb Recipes") to stay on low carb. Thanks to Dana Carpender! I can't wait for the next one!

Sorry.. but very disappointed In the use of Artificial Sweeteners in so many of the recipes.. especially the deserts.. In a healthier world we should be getting away from the chemicals.. It's only a matter of time till we find out what the latest man made sweetener is doing to our bodies.. I wish the author would have used another ingredient..

I have tried Jenny Craig and Nutrisystems and this is the easiest and quickest way to lose weight. The first two weeks were tough but I was encouraged when I saw that I was losing about one pound a day. It has now been seven weeks and I have lost 13 lbs. I need to lose about 15 lbs. to reach my target. I am always surprised to get on the scale and find that I have lost more weight since I never feel hungry. It is very practical b/c you can eat anywhere which has always been a problem for me on other diets. I love this diet and wish that I could have found it years ago. I would have saved a lot of money and learned how to control my weight before it got out of control.
My only word of caution about consuming low or no carbs (I never did the no carbs) is to take the recommended supplements. I did not take them at first and had terrible foot and leg cramps during the night. Taking calcium and potassium cured that problem and vitamin B helped with the initial feeling of weakness.
I highly recommend this diet to anyone who wants to lose weight quickly and easily.

Within the first day on this diet I was so dizzy I couldn't stand up without assistance. I thought maybe it was a fluke and I had the flu, so I tried again a few months later. The same thing happened. I was so dizzy and pukey feeling it was unbearable! Someone recommended to me to start out with more carbs. So I started with over twice the amount of carbs atkins says to start out on and I was so dizzy and sick again I couldn't get out of bed. I had my husband bring me a piece of fruit, which I ate, then I laid and bed and the feeling went away after 20 minutes. Obviously this diet isn't for everyone. It can't be everyone who feels this way or they wouldn't have been able to sell so many copies of this book, right?

I recommend this book to anyone who is planning to do Atkins. Take the time to sit down and read the book before you start the plan. Once your read the first 150 pages you are pretty good to go. When you follow the plan of Induction the first two weeks can be a challenge but it is so worth it. I have been on the plan know for 3 weeks and have lost 13 lbs. I have tried for years to loose weight and I am so happy that my sister inlaw told me about this. I feel so much better. I have more energy, I have less physical pain, and I eat better than I use to.

Atkins may be ok for some people but I have talked to a lot of people who have had ill effects from this diet, me being one of them.
I was on the diet for 7 days doing the induction phase. For 4 days prior I had difficulty sleeping, muscle cramps and disturbances in my vision. I also suffered from heart palpatations. Something I had never experienced before. And then came the headaches. I am not prone to headaches and had not had one in I don't know how long, but for three days straight on this diet I had headaches.

On day seven I woke up groggy and "foggy brained" this is all supposed to be a so called normal reaction to the diet while you are weening yourself off of carbohydrates and transforming your body into a fat burning machine. I was ill the entire day and could not get up the energy to do anything. I started having other problems too. I decided then and there I was going off this diet. I went to the store and got some whole grain bread and ate it with a salad. Within two hours the fogginess was gone, headache was gone and I felt better.

I don't care what anyone says, this diet is dangerous for some people. If you do the diet and start feeling ill you should stop it right away. Personally I wouldn't even go on it in the first place. There are no long term studies on this diet and it is frightening to think of what you could be doing to you body. When you stop to think about it how normal is it to say eat all the fat, cheese, meat, butter you want but cut down on the vegetables. I know...I know...when you move up the phases in the Atkins diet you get more vegetables, nuts, dairy, etc. But what damage are you doing to your body in the meantime?

I would think a lot before starting this diet.

Is there anyone who has had such a positive impact on American's ability to lose weight as Dr. Atkins? The science has, in fact, caught up with Atkins' assertions that sugar and excess carbohydrates are deadly. For a person who wants to know if they should take this book seriously, simply read through the success stories and testimonials here on Amazon! They really say it all. If we want to shorten our lives and make our final years miserable, a good way is to smoke, eat sugar, and be overweight. I think this book is worth reading. Stay away from red meat and processed meats, though, as they have been shown to cause colon cancer. Great companion books are THE 3:00 PM SECRET: Live Slim and Strong, Live Your Dreams and 2007 Second Expert Report, Food, Nutrition, Physical Activity, and the Prevention of Cancer: a Global Perspective.

The cupcakes are delicious, moist, and gorgeous; there's a wonderful variety of offerings from the very easy to the uber-fancy, but Isa and Terry make it all very non-threatening. I made a batch of the lemon macadamia nut cupcakes for a party not long ago and they were devoured instantly; only my lactose-intolerant bf knew that they were vegan. The cupcakes I've made have all turned out to be moist (it's worth saying twice) and flavorful, and could stand alone nicely without frosting--strong words from someone who normally ignores the cake entirely in favor of the frosting! The authors pay scrupulous attention to flavor, mouthfeel, and texture in all recipes; the tips on baking and where to find some of the less everyday materials or ingredients are also very helpful.

Some of the ingredients can be hard to find for some of the recipes (I have torn the greater St. Louis area apart trying to find vegan cream cheese, to no avail), but that's sort of to be expected. Bottom line, I'll happily live in any world these ladies decide to take over.

These recipes are wonderful, and like Veganomicon (buy this too if you don't own it!), the cookbook itself is well written, instructive and humorous. There are also a lot of good pictures of the cupcakes too. The recipes mostly use ingredients that a vegetarian or vegan would have on hand (though there are some rather "gourmet" cupcakes that might stretch the limits of your pantry) and the cupcakes cook up wonderfully. I have brought them to work and to parties and my Omni friends and co-workers never knew the difference. In fact, most asked for the recipes, and were stumped when I showed them!

So far, I have made:

Cupcakes: Golden Vanilla, Basic Chocolate, Mucho Margarita (OMG you have to try these!!!)
Icings: Chocolate Ganache, Chocolate Mousse, Margarita Glaze

This book is incredible. I purchased it awhile back after reading it in B&N and put it on the shelf for about a year. When I finally got it down, I tried one recipe and it was amazing! I have since made about 6 different recipes from this book and I am looking forward to making more.

There are a variety of recipes here, some that ask for harder to find ingredients (like agar agar powder or matcha), and some that just use regular everyday stuff. I began working with the simpler recipes (basic vanilla, mucho margarita) and have since moved on to the more complicated ones (Brookyn vs Boston Cream pie, Green Tea). All of the recipes have been delicious. And I'M NOT VEGAN!!!!

I am having a hard time buying another cupcake book because this one is soooo good! There are great pictures, decorating ideas, and variations. I hope they come out with another book!

Vegan or not, this book has got it goin' on. Not only is it fun to read (I've read the A to Z a few times!), the recipies are very accurate. I've had books and recipes from "celebrity" bakers, those who have even been featured on the famed Food Network, and their recipes were awful - they just don't turn out like illustrated in a regular kitchen. Now, if you'd like a recipe for 24 cupcakes that actually MAKES like ... FIFTY, then I can recommend a book from a young lady in NYC ...

But really, this book is great. The recipes are easy and simple to make, and are infused with fun and wit to boot. These have got to appeal to even the biggest carnivores and baking-haters alike! I plan on making every recipe in the book, then doing a crash South Beach Diet ...

One note: Definitely take the advice on the Golden Vanilla Cupcakes to use the margerine recipe. I would also recommend cake flour instead of regular flour. The oil recipe comes out a little denser than I'd prefer, but if you don't have margerine or cake flour, they're still vegan-ly delicious.

Awesome book! Answers all your beginner baking questions and adds a little humor to the mix, which gives the book a funny twist. Makes it fun and exciting to try new creations! Allows the inner artist in you to come out! Love these girls! Feel like I've known them forever!

Great book of information that makes sense for a change. The medical profession makes more money if people do not know these priceless secrets. I am now on chapter five, my fasting blood sugar has dropped over one hundred points and I am not even into the preparation of foods.

I have type 2 Diabetes and I was NOT in any of the categories for getting it except age (62) and genetics (my father has it.) My numbers are usually under 100 (with medication and eating not much). I was hoping this book would broaden my gastronomic horizons. Unless one is willing to spend all day preparing and eating (I don't eat between meals) this book is no help.

How would they know if it cures diabetes? How could you possibly find at least 1,000 people who follow this? There is no scientific research to prove it works-- unless they have people living in a secure environment, for at least a three-month period. Otherwise, they really do not know what anyone is doing.

The recipes are heavy with guacamole, which is high in fat; brown rice which spikes my glucose level. After that, it is Swiss-chard a go-go. Don't waste your time or money. No one can use this in the real world.

See the You Tube Video Raw for Thirty about diabetics using this program to cure their diabetes.

I find it amazing that of the reviewers that say they have diabetes- every single one said this program lowered their blood sugars and it works. Yet, people give the program a lukewarm review because it is too hard, or there aren't enough recipes, nor an exact diet given. Do you want a program that will help you cure your diabetes or not? This program gets you perfect blood sugar.

I am also a fan of Dr Richard Berenstein's Diabetes Solution. Berenstein says eat enough meat to feel satisfied. I see a lot of overlap between what these doctors are saying- yet one is a vegan rabbi and the other is an advocate of meat eating. That should tell you something. (Eat tons of vegetables, avoid most fruits and starches. Coffee is bad. You need to exercise to control blood sugar and build muscle. All those fake sugars are very bad. Berenstein says most of them don't work to control blood sugar, and Cousins sees them as toxic. )

But Dr Cousins program also brings in a spiritual dimension. You will be physically healthier if you don't eat meat, but especially you will be doing the ethical thing.

The raw foodists might hate my bringing in Berenstein because they believe that cooking food itself is bad (and Cousins gives a lot of research to that effect.) (And most raw foodists are vegan.) But both of these doctors will tell you that as a diabetic you cannot consume the starches, sweet fruits, sugar-free drinks and candies, coffee, etc that the American Diabetes Association recommends. Both will tell you there is big business profiteering on your diabetes. Both will tell you the standard medical approaches to diabetes care usually do more hard than good.

OK- the program is hard. Follow it only if you want to live a long healthy life.

As for not giving a specific program: he gives you formulas and patterns because then you can create endless menus and variety in your meals. He tells you which foods to eat, and which to avoid. He tells you how to juice-feast, four ways to get more greens, how to make green soups, how to make crackers and pates and wraps. He gives some recipes. There are tons of recipes online once you have these guidelines.

And- if your friends think this diet is too "extreme" then please consider that you deserve more support from the people you love. (My friends and family have given me complete support.)

This book is NOT an ad for his workshops. There are about 450 pages and only 10 describing the workshops. Those ten pages explain something that I think is very true- to live on a raw vegan diet, you need to learn about more than just food. (Honestly, to commit to curing your diabetes through any diet, one would probably need to learn about a lot more than food. It is a spiritual journey.)


[...].

Almost a third of the United States population is either suffering from Diabetes or are in severe danger. "There is a Cure for Diabetes: The Tree of Life 21-Day+ Program" counters that grim fact with a shining light of optimism, with a three week plan that can assist with reversing type-II diabetes regardless of the history of the patient. A lifestyle change is all that's needed claims MD and author Gabriel Cousens - and "There is a Cure for Diabetes: The Tree of Life 21-Day+ Program" is highly recommended for this and for anyone who fears diabetes, and for community library health collections.

When phrases as ludicrous as "reset the DNA through green juice fasting" appear in the official summary of a book, you know you're in for a fast-talking ride with a quack. Your DNA (remember, the foundational molecules of genetic expression resident in nearly every cell of your body?) does not get "reset" by anything you eat.

Assuming that his approach could possibly be a cure (which would contradict verified principles of diabetic pathology and physiology), it would be great to see Cousens submit an actual clinical study for peer review. Unfortunately, such careful, impartial research isn't quite as profitable as writing a best-seller. Why make sure what you're promoting is true when you can rake in the cash?

Zero stars.