Review of Stop Your Cravings: A Balanced Approach to Burning Fat, Increasing Energy, and Reducing Stress (Hardcover)

It's the new year. Time for those annoying resolutions - the `fridge at work is jammed with co-workers' lunches who have decided to eat healthy, the fitness club is jammed with new people lifting weights and trotting on treadmills. And the bookstores are jammed with "new you" diet books, everybody claiming to have the ANSWER that we need. Don't make the mistake of lumping Jennifer Workman's book in with the others; it simply stands alone in its own special category. At its heart is Ayurveda, a 5000-year old Indian medical practice. You can't go wrong with something so timely. Combine that with a solid fitness and nutritional background, and you have someone who can help us make it in the modern world.
The book does focus on food but it's more than that - understanding why we grab certain foods, why some foods may not work well in some situations (cayenne aggravates someone like me in the dead heat of summer while a good friend thinks it's just fine), and why certain kinds of exercise don't get the weight off and why yoga does help a lot. The food is all do-able --- from the ginger, lemon, and honey-laced green tea (OK, I gave up coffee as the first thing to my lips in the morning) to kale sauteed with garlic and onions. What we don't want to give up is taste and Workman beautifully explains how to integrate the basic principles into daily eating. Nobody looks at my lunches and exclaims, "Oh yuck! WHAT are you eating now???" It's easy to move in and out of restaurants making interesting yet delicious choices based on my metabolism and genetic makeup without even thinking about it. Yes, chocolate is part of the plan! No guilt. Just good food.
The book takes on new meaning with all the stress inflicted upon us after September 11. How do we make everything stay in balance without stressing out and gaining a few tons? Jennifer's program isn't just about eating - it is about whole life, encompassing the mental, emotional and spiritual parts, too. Everything truly does work together. Lofty? Not really. It makes sense that at the end, she addresses the big picture and world hunger. How many diet books are concerned about that? Better hang onto this one.



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Review of MAD COWBOY: Plain Truth from the Cattle Rancher Who Won't Eat Meat (Paperback)

I truly believe that everyone should be informed, particularly with regards to what they are placing in their mouths, and this is an excellent, easy-to-read personal account that does just that.Howard Lyman, a fourth generation cattle rancher, blows some of the common misconceptions and agribusiness propaganda right out the window in this straight forward and, at times, humorous expose that comes, so to speak, straight from the horses mouth.

Lyman doesn't waste any time in getting right to the gritty, gruesome details behind the highly politicized business of food production.Within the opening pages, he informs us that cattle, chickens, and pigs are fed "protein concentrates" consisting of euthanized pets, ground up diseased farm animals, fecal matter, and roadkill.Not only are fodder animals being fed this vomit-inducing mixture, but our pets are as well.Yummy!

Lyman spends a good amount of time discussing the impact that the aforementioned practice could have on America's potential to see "Mad Cow Disease" effecting people in the not-so-distant future, which has been a steadily increasing problem in Britain.He points out several studies that debunk the myth that spongiform encephalopathy cannot jump species barriers.

In addition to the Mad Cow and Downed Cow issues, Lyman brings up the issue of rBGH (recombinant bovine growth hormone) used to increase milk production in cows and the possible effects this could have on human health.To combat the mastitis that develops from the use of rBGH, cows are given antibiotics that are then passed to the dairy consumer in various milk products.With the increased use of antibiotics comes increased bacterial resistance to antibiotics.

In addition to the gross-out factor involved in the early pages of the book, Lyman points out several benefits of adopting a plant-based diet.The risk factors for diabetes, hypertension, coronary disease, and a plethora of other ailments can be reduced drastically by adopting a plant-based lifestyle as weight tends to decrease.Furthermore, abstaining from flesh-feasting can be helpful to the environment.Lyman spends several pages of his book discussing overgrazing and it's environmental impact.Rainforests are being depleted, in part, due to the need for land for cattle to graze, as are riparian woodlands.Native species are going extinct because of the human desire for burgers and steaks.Flooding and erosion have become a problem because of overgrazing and lack of natural vegetation.The list goes on and on.

Howard Lyman is a rancher/cowboy/meat-eater turned vegan, and this important text is his personal reasoning for making that momentous decision.It may not "convert" some people to veganism or vegetarianism, but it will definitely make you think, which is more than can be said for several books lining bookstore shelves today, and it is certainly a step in the right direction.Though I think this book could have used a little bit more detail in some areas, it is definitely a highly recommended and compelling read.Though this may not have made Lyman popular with many agribusiness officials and proponents, this was a book that needed to be written, and it is a book that needs to be read.



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Review of Hypoglycemia For Dummies (Paperback)

As someone who is sick of "being in the fog" from my hypoglycemia I greatly welcomed this book. I needed a book to talk TO me about all of the overwhelming info for treating this and not another book that gave a lot of medical jargon I don't need or understand. I love this book for its nonwordy descriptions of the basics of hypoglycemia- I could actually read this book and understand it all. The writers do a good job discussing the symptoms and what is happening in the body for hypoglycemia to occur. Just like my dietician prescribed for me, Cheryl Chow discusses eating a 40 carb 30 protein and 30 fats early on and then increase carbs if your body allows it. It shows a new "hypoglycemic" food pyramid that shows bread, grains, pasta moved 2 steps up and the veggie group is what you should have more of. (THANK YOU!!) The book does seem to contradict itself in places when discussing carbs(or they may be just trying to say everyone is going to be different).
The only things that bothered me about the book is that, while it does discuss a lot of different topics such as herbal supplements, vitamins, exercise in detail it would discuss other topics with just a sentence or two. Usually these were areas that I would want a lot more detail because I'm having difficulty with them. Of course there were some topics discussed that I really did not see why they were relevant (I guess it may help someone else though).The recipe section was a bit disappointing- only 14 recipies. So if you want more try the Low Blood Sugar Cookbook by Patricia and Edward Krimmel (he's hypo too) and also The Zone. The Zone is based on the 40/30/30 plan too.

Product Description
Hypoglycemia simply means "low blood-sugar," but without concrete symptoms it's very hard to diagnose. It is nevertheless a condition that should be watched over carefully. People react differently to low blood sugar as well as to the treatment they receive. Hypoglycemia for Dummies explores this fickle condition and shows you how to manage your blood sugar to feel better.
This no-nonsense, plain-English guide lays out the facts you need to maintain a healthy body. It offers expert advice on identifying symptoms, changing lifestyles, and also extensive coverage on diet, exercise, alternative treatments, and the link between low blood sugar and diabetes. This expanded 2^nd edition provides:

• A thorough explanation of hypoglycemia and how it affects your body
• Exercise routines that lead to a healthier lifestyle
• Diet suggestions on what to eat and how often
• A basis for choosing a doctor that's right for you
• Vitamins and supplements that treat your symptoms
• Ways to manage hypoglycemia in the workplace
• An explanation of how hypoglycemia affects family and friends
• Methods to de-stress yourself

Complete with tips on helping other hypoglycemics and myth-debunking facts about the disease, Hypoglycemia for Dummies is the fast and simple way to learn and treat the condition, with the help of the most up-to-date medical information available. Escape the blood sugar blues and starting feeling better in no time!

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Review of The Complete Idiot's Guide to Glycemic Index Weight Loss (Paperback)

My Boss bought me this book when I was diagnosed with Adult II Diabetes.This book is more precious to me than a raise!I love the way the author composed the book...humor, honesty, great recipes and tips.Highly recommended for any person who wants to live a healthy life style.I have lost 15 lbs and my husband has lost 20.We both want to lose 30 lbs each.If you follow the suggestions in the book you will lose the weight.No matter if it is 30, 50 or 100 lbs...the glycemic works.The book encouraged me to find a good cookbook for glycemic recipes and I found a great one here at Amazon.com.

You will feel better, sleep better and have more energy.The recommendation for "Emergen-C" found in the book is great.I found a box at Rite Aide and this is a great vitamin drink.It can also be found online.Talk about a pure energy boost! Wow...great stuff and pure vitamins.

LOVE this book.Buy it.You will not be sorry.My friends and coworkers are now reading the book and following the very simple suggestions.It is so easy! Not a drastic restrictive diet at all.Very simple.Highly recommend.

Product Description
The skinny on the glycemic index.
Research has proven that the best way to lose weight is to watch the glycemic load, which is measured by the glycemic index rating of each food. The Complete Idiot's Guide to Glycemic Index Weight Loss provides readers a solid foundation for understanding how and why a glycemic index diet works and controlling counts, along with activity and stress levels. Also includes recipes and a glycemic index.
- The perfect solution for anyone at risk for Type II diabetes or anyone ready for a change from the low-carb diet
- 64% of adults over the age of 20 in the US are overweight or obese
- Offers information on supplements, basic easy recipes, food lists, and sample meal plans
- A full appendix with glycemic index counts and loads for all sorts of foods

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