Review of Turn Off the Fat Genes: The Revolutionary Guide to Losing Weight (Paperback)

This could have been a much shorter book; on dozens of occasions, I found myself thinking, "Oh, come on; skip the theory, and let's cut to the chase! Enough obscure biochemistry already, just tell me what to eat, and we'll be all done!"
Well, OK; I'm impatient. And too much theory is always preferable to too little. The diet recommendations are basically the sound, healthy diet recommendations we've been getting for years: eat whole grains, more fruit, more vegetables, less fat, less sugar, and exercise more. The presentation is unique, in that Dr. Barnard suggests that this diet will somehow 'trick' our genes into making us slim. Well, this diet would make anyone slim, regardless of their genetic structure. Perhaps the book sheds light on why what happens, happens; but the actual recommendations are nothing new. I deducted one point for this reason alone; taking the same, tired old idea and putting a new wrapper on it doesn't make it a new idea. This book is not about do it yourself gene therapy, despite the sexy title; it's a vegetarian diet, and that's it.
One thing that I did like was the included meal planner; Similarly, I also appreciated the many, many recipes that make up the last half of the book. It's nice to start a diet with much of the hard work - the diet planning - already done for you. There's also a sourcing guide, if some of the raw materials prove hard to find. Something that is absent, is a discussion of vitamin and mineral supplements (although Dr. Barnard does mention the importance of B12). Multivitamins are a contentious issue; many feel that 'you can get all the nutrition you need with a knife and fork', while still others feel that concentrated multivitamins are not well absorbed, and tend to pass through the system without providing benefit. Personally, I believe high quality multivitamins are important; but aside from suggesting the consumption of any common, inexpensivemultivitamin, Dr. Barnard makes no suggestions, one way or the other.
Dr. Barnard also does not mention alcohol consumption in his book; nor does he mention artificial sweetener use.However, on websites that he has participated in creating, he warns against alcohol consumption (cancer risk).I guess that, after making the major change to a vegetarian diet, Dr. Barnard felt we might need a drink.He might well be right.
The diet does not include specific portions; indeed, Dr. Barnard suggests that you let hunger be your guide. He does provide a 'rule of thumb' that you should consume 10 calories daily for each pound of your target weight; that is, if you want to wind up at 150 pounds, you should consume 1,500 calories daily. But this is only a guide, not an absolute.Indeed, he warns against eating too little, and suggests that we should eat second helpings if we want them.There's no reason to go hungry on this diet.
The diet is largely a subset of a vegetarian diet in nature, but Dr. Barnard does not present it as such; his presentation seems to be coming entirely from a 'whats best for you' approach, which winds up being essentially a vegetarian diet (minus high fat items, like nuts).The motivation seems to be based purely on health, not ethics.However, it is difficult to determine to what degree his health beliefs have been influenced by his moral stance; Dr. Barnard is a strong supporter of a strict vegetarian diet, which means no consumption of animal flesh or animal products such as eggs, milk, or butter.He is also an outspoken critic of using animals for medical testing purposes.
In reviewing the reviews of his earlier works, people tend to fall into three categories: Those who felt Dr. Barnard was trying to trick them into vegetarianism, and were very angry as a result; those who were confused, because the philosophy of this book runs counter to high protein/low carbo books, such as Dr. Atkins Diet Revolution; and those who had actually tried the diet, and experienced dramatic weight loss.It is worthwhile noting that, while there have been many criticisms of Dr. Barnard, there have been NO reviews in which someone actually followed the diet, and failed to lose weight.Say what you will of it; the diet does appear to deliver the goods, while providing good nutrition from a solid scientific base.
(Yes, it's vegetarian.Get over it.)
While I lack the medical background to either validate or challenge his statements, I can tell you that the actual recommendations are largely in keeping with what you've been getting from everyone from the National Institute of Health to your local physician.(By comparison, high protein/low carbohydrate diets are pretty much universally condemned by government health agencies, universities, local health boards, and both doctors and dietitians around the world.)Whole grain foods, less processed food, less fat, less salt, less sugar, more fruits and vegetables, more exercise... sure it'll work. It's even safe. If you're looking for a sensible, sane, balanced approach to weight loss that is both informative and supportive, you might want to check this book out.
After all, it's gotta be better than eating a hundred grapefruit.

Product Description
Breakthrough genetic research indicates that genes are not just on/off switches for characteristics we can't control (like gender or eye color). Some genes, including those that shape our bodies, actually adapt to outside influences. In Turn Off the Fat Genes, Dr. Neal Barnard draws on this cutting-edge research to create a revolutionary new program to help your body sculpt away excess pounds by activating thin genes and suppressing fat ones. The heart of Dr. Barnard's book is a three-week gene-control program specifically designed to help you identify your gene types by asking questions like:

What's your genetic taste type?
Do you strongly dislike Brussels sprouts? Are some desserts too sweet to eat?
Is black coffee undrinkable?

If you answered yes to all three questions you're a genetic bitter "taster" or
"supertaster" (as opposed to a "nontaster"). On page 24 you'll find out how to work with your genetic taste type.

Is your appetite becoming harder to control?
Have diets made your appetite unpredictable? If so, your hunger-suppressing leptin gene might need a tune-up. (See page 59.)

Do you gain weight more easily than your friends?
Do you have difficulty losing weight no matter what you do? If so, the genes that set your metabolism might need a boost. (See page 71.)

Do you hate exercise?
If so, your genes may have overloaded you with sluggish Type II muscle cells. Learn how to change them on page 100.

Once we understand how the genes that control shape can be influenced, we can enjoy virtually the same effortless weight control as naturally thin people and reveal the healthy, vital body that nature intended us to have.

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Review of It Can Break Your Heart (Paperback)

I have lost over 150 pounds myself and kept it off for over 25 years now.I have read every major best selling book (and many not best selling) out over that time.I have read every magazine/newspaper article in that timeon weight loss. None have compared with this book.This book gives youthings it took me decades to learn by the "school of hard knocks"while it taught me a couple of new things as well.This book gives you thecurrent research findings like a scientist would, however, it gives it toyou in language you can understand (with references) and use.Theconfusion people have as a result of the major names in the "dietworld" (Atkins, McDougall, Ornish, Pritikin, Sears, D'Adamo, etc.) andtheir systems (zone, low carb-high protein/fat, low fat, calories don'tcount, 40-30-30 etc.) which seems like a "Tower of Babel" is madeunderstandable.The various medications and what they do for you includingbenifits and risks are made understandable. They give you information onthe various weight loss programs and support groups available with theirstrengths and weaknesses.They give you a clear understanding of whatworks and what does not work and why(including Websites you can go tocurrently).It gets better - you really do not have to read the wholebook!They give you chapter summaries at the start of each chapter.Ifyou want to lose weight or have a serious obesity problem this book is foryou.If you are a professional who thinks you know about weight loss thisbook is for you.If you are a student or teacher this book is for you.Ifyou read this far I am sure you can see I am thrilled with this book. These authors have done us a service.Money well spent - buy this book.

Product Description
A comprehensive yet easy-to-understand review of all fiveof the major factors that cause overweight and obesity: biological,psychological, life-style, diet, and activity level. Explains whydiets and exercise fail over 95% of the time and how the overweightare manipulated by false promises and hype. Shows how medical researchhas already uncovered an astonishing 200 genetic links to obesity andwhy the public and even most doctors have major misconceptions aboutthe disorder. Takes an empathic view of the ongoing suffering of theoverweight and obese in America showing how strong psychologicalissues and addictive behaviors develop. Highly illustrated and fullyindexed with massive resources (and full references) including alluniversity-based treatment programs, surgery options, reviews allmedications used in obesity treatment, and nutritional information onover 1,500 fast foods.

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Review of Big Fat Lies: The Truth about Your Weight and Your Health (Paperback)

Glenn Gaesser, Big Fat Lies (Gurze, 2002)

Do yourself a favor-- find this book and read it as soon as possible.

The first two sections of this book show a study in selective reasoning by the medical establishment. Gaesser provides a mountain of evidence that all we've been told by the insurance industry, the medical industry, and the fitness over the last half-century or so regarding weight loss is a lie. We hear some of it now and again on the news, especially how low weight is linked to osteoporosis, but you've never seen this much of it together all in one place. Gaesser's position is that exercise, not weight, is primarily responsible for a person's health, and that "exercise" as we know it today (high-impact aerobic exercise) is not the be-all and end-all foisted upon us. All of which points out why overweight and obese people should be reading it (and popularizing it), and they are its target audience to be sure, but Gaesser makes a lot of noise about the normal- or underweight unfit, too.

The first two parts of the book are the theory, the third part is the practice. Gaesser provides a simple, easy-to-follow exercise regimen suggestion, infinitely customizable for the average person, and dietary suggestions without ever proposing a diet per se; his goal is to steer us towards eating healthier rather than rationing out what we can and can't eat. Again, the thin will benefit from following his guidelines just as much as the overweight. It's all common sense, of course, but he does point out a number of things that may surprise the average grocery shopper (for example, the actual amount of fat to be found in whole milk, which is staggering).

The book's only real flaw is stylistic; Gaesser, not to much surprise, has adopted the medical-jargon use of "overweight" and "underweight" as nouns rather than adjectives, and it's enough to drive the average stickler up the wall. It is certainly not, however, enough to put anyone off reading this. It may be the most important book you read all year, and should go on the short shelf of sacred books next to Peele's The Diseasing of America. **** ½



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Review of The End of Overeating: Taking Control of the Insatiable American Appetite (Hardcover)

This is a well-written, easily understandable, interesting book on the very serious subject of overeating. The book is broken into six parts with relatively small chapters ranging in size from approximately three pages to eleven pages in length with many in the four to seven page range. The first part, for example, has 13 chapters so there is much information but it is presented in a way which flows well together.

When I got this book I was interested in the subject matter but I was worried that the book would be boring or so technical that I would lose interest. I read this book in two days and it has changed my approach to eating.

Part One of the book, Sugar, Fat, Salt, talks about why people eat and overeat. It looks at the physical as well as psychological aspects of overeating.

Part Two of the book (my favorite), The Food Industry, gives specific examples of how restaurants and the food industry contribute to the problem by creating food that people want to eat but is not healthy. For instance I never new that bread had so much salt because it takes away the bitter taste of the flour and brings up the flavor. The author also addresses how nutrition information on packaging is manipulated by the food industry. For instance if a food contains more sugar than any other ingredient it must go first on the list but if you use a number of sources of sugar like brown sugar, corn syrup and fructose each is listed individually and goes lower on the list.

Part Three, Conditioned Hypereating Emerges, talks about how we get trapped into an overeating pattern. It references numerous studies and explores whether overeating is nature, nurture or both.

Part Four, The Theory of Treatment, talks about theoretical ways people can break the overeating habit.

Part Five, Food Rehab, offers practical ways individuals can stop overeating. The advice is great.

Part Six, The End Of Overeating, talks about the challenges ahead to end overeating. While it will not be easy, each individual has the power to end his or her overeating despite roadblocks created by the food industry or our own physical or mental makeup.

This is a great book that has started me thinking differently about food. It is well written and the best on the subject I have ever read.




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Review of Dr. Atkins' New Diet Revolution, Revised Edition (Hardcover)

As a health practitioner and a patient of Dr. Atkins' since 1974, I've been aware of the controversy surrounding Dr. Atkins for a long time.I was a 12-year-old with a 350 cholesterol, who was well on his way to beinga 14 or 15-year-old dead from a heart attack.Dr. Atkins put me on thatoh-so-maligned diet of his, and in three months of no-sugar/no-carbs,high-fat/high-protein, my cholesterol dropped from 350 to 210.I've yet,in all the years since, to see another diet, or a drug for that matter,that can claim the same results.I've also never seen someone who hashelped so many people go through such a sustained assault from the medicalmainstream and the media.This extraordinary book not only updates thework he's been doing for the past 30 years; it cites extensive researchthat backs up his positions.(One of the ongoing attacks, for years, wasthat he based his conclusions solely on his 35,000 + patients, and nevercited actual clinical studies.)
One of the most compelling parts of thebook is the section on heart health/cholesterol--one of the topics forwhich he has consistently taken the most heat.He shows dramatically howmuch of the mainstream theory is being disproven by more and more studies:fat is not the enemy; sugar and high carbs (especially refined carbs) aremore dangerous by far.
The other major gripe I have with the receptionof this book is the assumption that the extreme low-carb approach is whatDr. Atkins advocates for everybody.Read more carefully, folks: that's theWEIGHT LOSS program.Once your weight is where you want it, you begin toeat more whole grain complex carbs and fruit (brown rice, millet, and thelike, as opposed to refined carbs such as pastas and breads, andconcentrated sugars such as fruit juices, honey, etc.) to halt the weightloss process.The book explains this very clearly.
One of the otherconsistent things I hear is the danger of consuming so much animal productsgiven the horrible amounts of toxic chemicals pumped into commerciallyraised livestock (growth hormones, antibiotics, etc.)Again, read morecarefully: at least 15 years ago, Dr. Atkins was among the first voices inthis country to advocate ORGANIC meat and poultry--back when such a thingwas largely unheard of.Yes, it's a bit more expensive, and in some areasharder to find; but isn't your health worth it?
Will Dr. Atkins everadvise you to eat a pint of Ben and Jerry's once a week?Not likely.Butthe powers that be have put on their blinders, and cite only the parts ofAtkins' philosophy that suit their own intransigent purposes.Meanwhile aweek doesn't go by when several clients come through my door and tell me,unsolicited, how since they've come off the high-carb/low-fat approach andincorporated more protein into their diets, they're feeling like humanbeings again for the first time in years.... more energy, greater mentalclarity, better emotional stability/less depression, and long-term achesand pains beginning to disappear.Think for yourselves; experiment, andlisten to your own bodies!
Read this book with an open heart and learn.

Product Description
This new addition contains the basic diet and is enhanced by new explanations of the underlying theories.There are seven new chapters.

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