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4.39 AVERAGE
4.39 AVERAGE
What's the optimal diet for human health? Dr. Greger of nutritionfacts.org tells it straight. Using the evidence gleaned from reading thousands of medical research papers, he presents America's top 15 causes of death in the first half of the book, presenting lifestyle and dietary changes that can prevent them. (Spoiler: smoking and animal products are bad for you.) I found a few of the chapters hard to read emotionally because I have loved ones suffering from those ailments.
The second half of the book goes over what we should eat to keep ourselves as healthy as possible. Those just starting a plant-based diet will find a list of what to eat reassuring; however, the overall message I got from this section was to eat lots of whole plant foods, the more color, the better (and flaxseed! Eat more flaxseed.).
Almost two years ago, I read [b:The China Study|178788|The China Study The Most Comprehensive Study of Nutrition Ever Conducted and the Startling Implications for Diet, Weight Loss, and Long-term Health|T. Colin Campbell|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1376474019l/178788._SX50_.jpg|544922] and it convinced me to remove animal products from my diet. Since then I have read upwards of 15 books on plant-based eating, and this is the next most convincing book I have read. While The China Study gave the inside scoop on one ground-breaking study, this book summarizes thousands (really, there are 150 pages of footnotes).
The second half of the book goes over what we should eat to keep ourselves as healthy as possible. Those just starting a plant-based diet will find a list of what to eat reassuring; however, the overall message I got from this section was to eat lots of whole plant foods, the more color, the better (and flaxseed! Eat more flaxseed.).
Almost two years ago, I read [b:The China Study|178788|The China Study The Most Comprehensive Study of Nutrition Ever Conducted and the Startling Implications for Diet, Weight Loss, and Long-term Health|T. Colin Campbell|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1376474019l/178788._SX50_.jpg|544922] and it convinced me to remove animal products from my diet. Since then I have read upwards of 15 books on plant-based eating, and this is the next most convincing book I have read. While The China Study gave the inside scoop on one ground-breaking study, this book summarizes thousands (really, there are 150 pages of footnotes).
I came into this with a bias since I drank his (vegan, no-sugar) Kool-Aid a few years ago. And, being a public health person, I find a book all about randomized double-blind studies fascinating.
So, I guess not surprisingly, I LOVED this book. Whether or not you are already eating a whole-foods, plant based diet, READ THIS BOOK. He is not a preachy vegan who will make you feel bad about yourself. It is simply a review of medical literature regarding nutrition, and leaves a lot of latitude for you to make small, gradual changes that will change (and likely save) your life.
My son and I both read it, and my 16-year-old daughter is about to start. Even though 2 of 3 of us were vegan before reading this, this book has made us enthusiastically change the way we eat.
Also, even if you're not a pubic health or science person, READ THIS BOOK. It was written for the masses, and is surprisingly and consistently entertaining and witty.
Read this book. It's awesome.
So, I guess not surprisingly, I LOVED this book. Whether or not you are already eating a whole-foods, plant based diet, READ THIS BOOK. He is not a preachy vegan who will make you feel bad about yourself. It is simply a review of medical literature regarding nutrition, and leaves a lot of latitude for you to make small, gradual changes that will change (and likely save) your life.
My son and I both read it, and my 16-year-old daughter is about to start. Even though 2 of 3 of us were vegan before reading this, this book has made us enthusiastically change the way we eat.
Also, even if you're not a pubic health or science person, READ THIS BOOK. It was written for the masses, and is surprisingly and consistently entertaining and witty.
Read this book. It's awesome.
informative
inspiring
slow-paced
I listened to this in audiobook and it was so fascinating and perfect to listen for a half and hour here or there.
"Evidence-based dieting" is the name of Dr. Greger's game. I appreciate it immensely. Is it perfect? Not at all! There are many times where it feels that his data is "cherry-picked" or that he is making an argument from silence. But, he has a consistent approach and worldview, namely, if you knew that there was a simple, inexpensive way to eat healthier and improve your life, why wouldn't you do it? If you don't, you have only yourself to blame.
As a Christian, this book is convicting. It reminds me that the Lord has indeed made things good and specifically natural things. I'm challenged to look at what I crave and desire most, and see if it matches up with a desire to worship God, or satisfy my flesh. I appreciate this book and know that it will impact me greatly.
As a Christian, this book is convicting. It reminds me that the Lord has indeed made things good and specifically natural things. I'm challenged to look at what I crave and desire most, and see if it matches up with a desire to worship God, or satisfy my flesh. I appreciate this book and know that it will impact me greatly.
This is interesting and very useful, but I think it ignores the counterpoints too much. There is evidence that animal protein can be useful for you and that eggs are healthy.
That being said there are a lot of good suggestions to implement into your diet even if you don’t go fully plant based.
That being said there are a lot of good suggestions to implement into your diet even if you don’t go fully plant based.
The first half of this book contains some of the scariest information I have ever read. The second half makes up for it as being much more uplifting and less radical.
Overall, the research that was put into this book makes it a powerful argument for the vegetarian/vegan diet. It's very convincing, and very political...
I am happy with how heavily cited and well organized this book is. I will probably spend some time looking into his sources, since a lot of the research he quotes is worth investigating further.
He spends a decent amount of time on each subject, gives some insight, and moves on in such a well-timed manner that it keeps me interested reading more. He is trying to accomplish a lot in the book, and I am fairly satisfied with how he does it.
The only thing that I noticed, which I'd like to criticize :
He has a chapter on brain diseases where he spends some time on Alzheimer's. He explains that Nigerians are the most at risk for Alzheimer's genetically speaking, yet they have the lowest rates due to their diet... I don't understand how he can make this assumption given that the average lifespan of people living in Nigeria doesn't even give them time to develop Alzheimer's...!
***EDIT****
Some really good criticisms that I read recently can be found here:
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/how-not-to-die-review
Overall, the research that was put into this book makes it a powerful argument for the vegetarian/vegan diet. It's very convincing, and very political...
I am happy with how heavily cited and well organized this book is. I will probably spend some time looking into his sources, since a lot of the research he quotes is worth investigating further.
He spends a decent amount of time on each subject, gives some insight, and moves on in such a well-timed manner that it keeps me interested reading more. He is trying to accomplish a lot in the book, and I am fairly satisfied with how he does it.
The only thing that I noticed, which I'd like to criticize :
He has a chapter on brain diseases where he spends some time on Alzheimer's. He explains that Nigerians are the most at risk for Alzheimer's genetically speaking, yet they have the lowest rates due to their diet... I don't understand how he can make this assumption given that the average lifespan of people living in Nigeria doesn't even give them time to develop Alzheimer's...!
***EDIT****
Some really good criticisms that I read recently can be found here:
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/how-not-to-die-review