THE ELIMINATION DIET by Alissa Segersten and Tom Malterre, M.S., CN

Publisher:     Grand Central

Published:    October 11, 2016

ISBN:        978-1455581863

Genre:      Non-fiction, Health 

Format:     Print

Obtained via:  Publisher  

Reviewed by name and email address:  Gina  Ginalrmreviews@gmail.com

THREE HEARTS

 

Elimination diets have become one of the main topics of conversation not only in health-related services but in the foodie community and more.  The basic premise is that to find out why we may not feel so great, or what foods might not be the best for us, we eliminate foods that could be causing our problems.  According to the authors, to date, there hasn’t been one comprehensive guide—a step-by-step how-to to follow. The authors start by giving readers a thorough walk through the different foods that can cause problems such as bloating, gas, fatigue and myriad other health issues.  They then offer a three phase program to first calm down the health issues we may be dealing with and the re-introducing foods in a step by step manner so we do not end up back where we started. 

Neither author is a doctor and base rely on an extensive number of years working toward and with this program.  It is, at least initially, a rigorous program to follow—especially for those of us who enjoy a cup of coffee first thing in the morning.  They do offer a suggestion – some green tea – to help with caffeine withdrawal.  Having had to go without caffeine for two days not too long ago I can tell you…that didn’t help.  But that doesn’t mean it won’t work for others and given how serious some people’s food sensitivities might be, the headache and other problems with giving up caffeine may well be worth it.

The program is quite rigorous and to their credit the authors recommend not even considering doing it during holidays because of all the food choices we already face during those times.  They include detailed food lists of foods to avoid and those you can eat as well as a collection of recipes.  I looked some of them over and without even attempting the program saw quite a few that looked easy to prepare and would taste delicious. 

From a healthy eating perspective I’d say give the book a look—there are parts that can apply to anyone and everyone even if the full program is not for you.

This is an objective review and not an endorsement of this book.

 

The 8-Week Blood Sugar Diet: How to Beat Diabetes Fast (and Stay Off Medication for Life) by Michael Mosley

 

Publisher:     Atria  

Published:     March 22, 2016 

ISBN:       978-1501111228

Genre:      Non-fiction, Health

Format:    Ebook

Obtained via:  Publisher  

Reviewed by name and email address:  Gina  Ginalrmreviews@gmail.com

THREE ½ HEARTS

 

Diabetes is one of the fastest growing illnesses in the United States today.  Rates of the disease are increasing due to a number of factors—none good.  It is well-known, and becoming even more so, that diabetes can lead to other illnesses. Medication may help those living with it, but it doesn’t correct the problem.  It only makes living with the disease easier to do. So what do we do about it?

After not only studying the disease but living with it himself, Michael Mosley has developed a plan of attack that he attest can help overcome the disease in eight weeks.  Much of the information in the 8 Week Blood Sugar Diet has been written over and over again yet our society, as a whole, just keeps getting sicker.  Mosley offers a relatively quick fix in terms of stopping the disease’s progression before it gets too far out of hand, i.e., in the pre-diabetic phase.  He advocates for an 800 calorie a day diet for 8 weeks.  Other dietary guidelines I’ve read over the years say less than 1200 is not only not healthy, in the long run it is not sustainable.  Mosley does talk about how the 800 calorie limit is to get weight off the person quickly to restore health more quickly.  The book, however, does not go into detail about maintenance after and how to sustain the kind of dramatic loss over time.  I suppose under a doctor’s care it would be safe and the doctor would have some sort of maintenance plan in place.

It is clearly not a plan for everyone but at the same time there are some valid points discussed as well as some recent research on the subject.

This is an objective review and not an endorsement of this book.

THE DIET MYTH by Tim Spector

Publisher:     The Overlook Press; 1 edition (September 8, 2015)

Published:    September  2015

ISBN:      978-1468311518

Genre:     Health

Format:   Ebook – via Edelwiess

Obtained via:  Publisher 

Reviewed by name and email address:  Gina Gina@loveromancesandmorereviews.com

THREE HEARTS

In THE DIET MYTH, author Tim Spector takes a different view of why we seem to not only be becoming fatter and fatter but why our health seems to continue to spiral down.  He points the finger to microbes as the heart of why we seem to be falling further and further behind the health curve.  While some are needed, for the most part there are toxic ones that take up residence in our guts and create problems that are not that easy to solve.  The not so good for you microbes find their way into our bodies through a variety of seemingly “safe” food sources.  Most telling is his opening chapter, NOT ON THE LABEL: MICROBES.  In a way that sums it all up—food labeling provides us with much needed and useful information—but it doesn’t include it all.  Subsequent chapters cover some of the mainstays of diet books:  protein, fat, carbs, but Spector explains how microbes can interfere with even the healthiest diet if we pursue the wrong foods.  THE DIET MYTH veers apart from most of today’s weight loss theories in that there are no recipes or daily menus to follow.  Instead there is substantial, solid information, backed by rather extensive research on how to eat to regain health.  There are several pages of references for further reading and investigation at the end.  Definitely an interesting read.

This is an objective review and not an endorsement of this book.

Smart Fat: Eat More Fat. Lose More Weight. Get Healthy Now by Steven Masley, M.D., Jonny Bowden, Ph.D.

Publisher:     Harper One

Published:    January 19, 2016

ISBN:      978-0062392299

Genre:    Healty

Format:   Ebook

Obtained via:  Publisher via Edelweiss

Reviewed by name and email address:  Gina Gina@loveromancesandmorereviews.com

FOUR HEARTS

There is considerable press lately on yet another new diet or eating lifestyle that encompasses parts of the Mediterranean diet along with some other foodstuffs growing in popularity such as kale and quinoa to name but two.  The growing popularity of gluten free eating and Greek yogurt’s healthful aspects adds another layer to what can be a confusing roadmap for healthy eating.  Authors Steven, M.D. Masley, Jonny, PhD Bowden that these seemingly new food choices and lay out a plan that explains, encourages and sets up an easy to follow plan to lose weight and gain health.

In three parts Masley and Browden present their data, needed information and an easy to follow life-style plan.  Part one begins by explaining key facts about smart fat and less than good for you fat in plain, simple and understandable language.  Part Two gives you the “Smart Fat Solution” and an easy to follow thirty day eating plan.  Part Three takes you into your future with smart eating and some really tasty sounding recipes.

The thirty day meal plan is laid out in an easy to follow manner that requires seemingly little preparation day-to-day for busy lives.  The recipes, which I have yet to try, are not only simple to prepare and sound mouth-watering.  Lists of cooking items and food prep spices and staples to stock up on are listed in check-list manner.  Dishes such as Cucumber with Smoked Oysters and Avocado and Asian Pear, gorgonzola cheese, walnuts and Raspberries immediately caught my eye.

I read the e-book for review and bookmarked quite a few pages—especially some of the recipes, but definitely will be buying the print version for easier tracking of the 30 day meal plan and the recipes. 

There are myriad diet plans out there and with so many to choose from it’s hard to pick the right one.  Smart Fat seems to take the best of all that are out there, takes out the parts that do not work and explains the different processes that go on in the body in easy to understand language.  It is a simple program to follow and I recommend checking it out.

This is an objective review and an endorsement of this book.