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Eat, Drink, and Be Healthy: The Harvard Medical School Guide to Healthy Eating by Walter C. Willett
rebeccacider's review
5.0
I am allergic to the word "diet" but wanted to read something about the current state of knowledge about nutrition, such as it is.
This book was recommended by a nutritionist, and it was a very good read—even-handed and supported with carefully selected scientific evidence.
This book was recommended by a nutritionist, and it was a very good read—even-handed and supported with carefully selected scientific evidence.
bbckprpl's review
2.0
Yes, I did put this book in both the non-fiction and the fantasy categories. Whatever. People do not eat like this, at least not anybody I've ever met. I have enough food issues without adding all of Harvard Medical Schools' suggestions to the list. Bah.
nihan_atasayar's review
5.0
I think this is a great book because of 1 good reason: it gives proper reference.
I think it repeats itself sometimes. But what the author does is, he explains “what affects your health in what way” in a clear and proved manner. He also mentions it very clearly if something is “not proved”. And he let’s you learn and decide how should you be eating.
I found this book much more helpful than all other books that I’ve read. Most diet books feels like they are trying very hard to convince you that their diet is the best diet ever. However, this book felt more “educating” than “convincing”.
-> I’ll suggest it to anyone who would like to learn more about food and diet. If you have a specific illness and you want to read dietary books, you might prefer some other book. This one does talk a lot about health but it doesn’t address to people with specific conditions.
I think it repeats itself sometimes. But what the author does is, he explains “what affects your health in what way” in a clear and proved manner. He also mentions it very clearly if something is “not proved”. And he let’s you learn and decide how should you be eating.
I found this book much more helpful than all other books that I’ve read. Most diet books feels like they are trying very hard to convince you that their diet is the best diet ever. However, this book felt more “educating” than “convincing”.
-> I’ll suggest it to anyone who would like to learn more about food and diet. If you have a specific illness and you want to read dietary books, you might prefer some other book. This one does talk a lot about health but it doesn’t address to people with specific conditions.
meera01's review against another edition
4.0
This was a dense book to get through but had a lot of useful information. I am one of those people who is in the healthy weight range who will put on a few pounds every year within that BMI and will lose it and then the cycle starts over the next year. And every year, I try to find that balance of exercise and eating well but I cannot maintain it for the whole year, hence the cycle. I liked how this author pointed out that the healthy BMI range is vast. I had tried the low carb way of eating last year and it was successful but I had felt deprived and it didn’t feel right to avoid whole grains. It did help me reduce added sugar in my diet though and I have kept it which surprised me. I don’t actually like sugar in my coffee and tea anymore. Which this book supports as well.
There isn’t anything new in this book but I liked how detailed he got with what vitamins we need in our diet and how he supports everything he chose to say with research based evidence. I don’t know if I agree with everything in this book though. I feel that most nutrition experts leave out info that doesn’t go with their point. I do not want to only eat produce, whole grains, chicken, soy and fish. He didn’t convince me that eating other protein or butter is bad for you if you do it sensibly. But this book has made me cook more vegetarian meals and be more mindful about what I’m eating. I had borrowed this book but now I’ve bought my own copy so I can refer back to it. The recipes aren’t that useful to me but I will see if they give me ideas for new flavor combinations.
There isn’t anything new in this book but I liked how detailed he got with what vitamins we need in our diet and how he supports everything he chose to say with research based evidence. I don’t know if I agree with everything in this book though. I feel that most nutrition experts leave out info that doesn’t go with their point. I do not want to only eat produce, whole grains, chicken, soy and fish. He didn’t convince me that eating other protein or butter is bad for you if you do it sensibly. But this book has made me cook more vegetarian meals and be more mindful about what I’m eating. I had borrowed this book but now I’ve bought my own copy so I can refer back to it. The recipes aren’t that useful to me but I will see if they give me ideas for new flavor combinations.
lilymouse's review against another edition
informative
medium-paced
3.25
It was okay, especially since it was written by an MD and not an RD. I liked that it actually mentioned and went into the environmental effects of an animal product-based diet and not just the health effects. I didn't like the 1600 calorie restriction target as a means for weight loss, especially since it seemed like it was recommending for all people, since most men cannot be satisfied with a 1600 cal diet, and a lot of women can't either.
hermdoggydog's review against another edition
4.0
This book was a required text for my nutrition class, but honestly it's pretty useful outside the classroom. Especially the recipes section and grocery shopping advice.
Don't let the Harvard Medical School part of the title scare you, this book is mostly common-sense advice backed up by research whenever possible. Unlike most diets out there, the advice is broad and flexible, and the author frequently suggests finding something that works for you and your circumstances (there's a whole chapter for eating healthy in situations like pregnancy, cancer, etc).
Some superfoods and health fads hold up (kale, whole grains like quinoa, olive oil). Some don't (low-fat high carb diets, antioxidant supplements). And there's a few things that are surprisingly healthy, in moderation (alcohol is a famous/infamous example, but coffee has benefits too).
So overall a good book, not just for me, but friends and family and really anyone trying to improve their health and maybe lose weight (drastic weight loss not so much).
Don't let the Harvard Medical School part of the title scare you, this book is mostly common-sense advice backed up by research whenever possible. Unlike most diets out there, the advice is broad and flexible, and the author frequently suggests finding something that works for you and your circumstances (there's a whole chapter for eating healthy in situations like pregnancy, cancer, etc).
Some superfoods and health fads hold up (kale, whole grains like quinoa, olive oil). Some don't (low-fat high carb diets, antioxidant supplements). And there's a few things that are surprisingly healthy, in moderation (alcohol is a famous/infamous example, but coffee has benefits too).
So overall a good book, not just for me, but friends and family and really anyone trying to improve their health and maybe lose weight (drastic weight loss not so much).
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