Nutrition Books

I'm not typically a fan of the "categorization" approach to understanding, they tend to be overgeneralized and unspecific. That is the approach this book takes. The assessments let you understand what areas of behavior you should emphasize on - based on your tendencies for self abuse.

Basically it outlines 6 weight gain triggers:

1. Lack Of Structured Meals
2. Toxic Food Choices
3. Portion Distortion
4. Sedentary Lifestyle
5. No Regular Exercise
6. Stress

And certain "Phenotypes" lean toward certain behaviors that cause you to gain weight. The assessments are to identify your particular leanings.

An okay approach, but I didn't find it highly motivating or insightful.

I did find some information very helpful. The fact that some body chemistry types don't process pleasure signals properly. Thus, in order to get the sensation of pleasure from food, these types tend to overload their systems to get pleasure to trigger. This intellectual understanding is very helpful and does provide a reasoning behind waiting a bit for those pleasure signals to make it through before continuing on a binge.

In the end though, the basics of eating well, having an active and energized life will get you where you want to be. The book was okay, not sure it was worth the entire read but some information was useful.

I have to say that I am a diet novice so I do not have much to compare it to. That said, I love this book! When I was really frustrated about losing my post-pregnancy weight, this helped me tremendously and I never actually "dieted." It helped me to identify in which areas I needed to improve and gave me great suggestions on minor dietary changes that made a huge difference. For example, since my type is hormonal, eating more low-fat dairy (which was really easy for me) was all I needed to do and I started to see/feel improvements immediately. I really liked what an easy read it was, too. . .determine what your type is, read that section and you're off! The only thing that I do not like about it is the title; it sounds so hokey and I find myself wanting to pass it on/tell others about it but I am hesitant because of the title.

If you have a history of alcoholism or drug addiction, or binge eating, take a look at the Phenotype A food plan. Genetically, Phenotype A people may have low levels of the neurotransmitters dopamine or serotonin. Their "feel-good" genes don't work, leading them to alleviate their "lows" in some other way.

I have found this food plan really helpful because it doesn't feel restrictive. It balances out the protein/carb/fat ratio and tells you exactly what types of food to eat and when. It suggests certain supplements for depression. Rather than being a short-term weight loss diet, it is a long-term food plan designed to alleviate cravings and mood swings. It pretty much follows a hypoglycemic diet, except for the caffeine. (For info on the link between hypoglycemia and alcoholism, see the Hypoglycemic Health Association of Australia.)

This book is the best thing that has ever happened to me!! It is short, simple and to the point. The Doctors outline exactly what you should be eating according to your phenotype and also help you recognize what triggers your weight gain and how to combat it! If you are ready to make a change in your life, this is the book to help you do it.

By following the plan in this book, I have lost a total of 22 pounds (so far) and improved my health, mood and energy level.

Finally, a book that offers help, not hype, in dealing with weight loss and health. Grounded in the most advanced science of today (genetics), but easy to read and understand even by me. I was ready to give up thinking I would never lose weight and be able to keep it off. Everyone with a weight problem, no matter what the cause, needs this book.

Theresa Willingham has done her homework. Compiling this extensive handbook of tips, information, and personal stories certainly took some serious time and effort. But before I get into the details of this guide and cookbook, I do want to point out that this is a gluten-free guide first and foremost.

I think the title of "Food Allergy" may be slightly misleading. It is true that the book is completely wheat-free (one of the top eight allergens), but gluten is the author's primary focus, which is typically a food intolerance and most problematic in autoimmune disorders such as Celiac Disease and Autism. This is not to say that she ignores all other common food allergies, dairy sits right along side gluten, firmly in the passenger seat, making this an excellent GFCF resource. Yet, other allergens are placed in the back seat, getting her attention and mention, but not focus. In fact, while peanut allergies are addressed, I didn't come across any tree nut references.

Theresa's gluten-free focus is understandable, since her son was born with wheat/gluten problem, most likely due to Celiac Disease.

I point this out, because while the recipes are all gluten-free and from what I could tell dairy/casein-free, you do need to read the guide of letters on each recipe to see if they also meet with your free-from needs. Some of the recipes do contain other allergens, and there are some errors in the allergen labeling of the recipes to add a bit more confusion.

There is one other reason I bring mention of the gluten-free nature - many who are concerned with multiple food allergies (or even simply a wheat allergy vs gluten intolerance) are not looking for gluten-free recipes. All of the baking recipes use specialty flours, xanthan gum and other ingredients that may render the recipes less useful (but not useless) for someone who is say dealing with a dairy, egg, and nut allergy combo.

With that commentary out of the way, I did find the reading entertaining. Theresa includes many personal stories, her own and those of other parents of children with allergies / intolerances. She also discusses coping with certain situations, and the basics, such as reading ingredient labels.

What I DO like about the recipes is that they are all relatively simple and appear to be very kid-friendly. Theresa has compiled several of her own recipes as well as recipes from other well-known authors, such as Carol Fenster. As mentioned though, this is a guidebook first, cookbook second ... it is an excellent starting point, with a nice little selection of recipes to inspire. Though you will likely want to seek out some additional cookbooks once you get going.

Overall, I do highly recommend the Food Allergy Field Guide for parents of gluten-free or gluten-free / dairy-free (GFCF) children, but would lean parents of children with multiple food allergies or life-threatening food allergies to the guide: How to Manage Your Child's Life Threatening Food Allergies.

I got this book along with another allergy book when my son was found to have several food allergies. It was helpful. I still look back to it for quick references and I have had it for almost 3 years.

I run a support group for parents of children with food allergies and continuously recommend this book. Resources, contacts, food family listings, nutritional requirements for age groups, recipes, substitutions, supportive stories....it's all in there. A very practical book. A must have!

Developed a sensitivity to dry, mealy food sensivity books? Thirsting for a full-bodied treatment with an effervescent twist? As a mom of three kids, all of whom have food sensitivities, I found Ms. Willingham's book filled us to a healthful brim. We're assimilating her informed, humane, pragmatic support!

I have just finished reading the "Food Allergy Field Guide," A lifestyle manual for families, by Theresa Willingham. I want to let everyone know that if they have a child that is not eating well, or that has growth symptoms that do not seem to be accurately diagnosed by their family pediatrican or doctor, that they should read this book. It will not only save many lives world-wide, but, more importantly, it will allow a great many of the worlds children grow to become healthy, productive young citizens of our country. Ms. Willingham has done an outstanding job of bringing Celiac Disease to our attention. I'd never heard of gluten sensitivity until I read this book, and I am so glad that I did. Congratulations to the author!!!

I gave a copy to my brother, bought one for a friend, I'm reading it myself for the second time, and I just bought 3 more to share.

I just finished reading Dr. Barnard's book and I'm reading it a second time! I found his book informative and explained in easy to understand terms. I think he makes a very good case for reasons not to continue eating a meat-based diet as the effects of a high fat animal diet lead to many of the popular illnesses and diseases we read about today (e.g., diabetes, stroke, heart attack, etc.)

I was not a vegan or vegetarian before reading this book and I know that some reviewers may think there is too much of a vegan agenda, but I would disagree. Plant based diets are a healthy and economical way to live your life. It can be particularly useful if you're trying to lose weight as well as if you are genetically predisposed to certain illnesses by incorporating the new four food groups into your life and possibly preventing or eliminating potential illnesses altogether.

This is an excellent book. It traces out the nutritional roots of many significant diseases. My wife found it in the library while looking for something else, and now we're on our way to becoming vegetarian.

At times it's a little slow reading and occasionally seems a bit repetitious. However, his work is very well documented and there are extensive footnotes to research done in this area.

For an even more significant piece of the puzzle with regard to the roots of disease check out Henry Wright's "A More Excellent Way". He deals with the spiritual roots of disease, which affect us even more pervasively than the nutritional roots. A wholistic view on life demands that we address each dimension.

This was a great book at exposing the dangers of eating meat and dairy. Dr. Barnard's more recent books like Foods That Fight Pain are also highly recommended. A less than 10% fat diet is great for those who want to lose weight and keep it off, but for those who just want to switch to a vegan diet without losing weight, you may want to include a little olive oil or nuts. A little more fat also may help if your skin gets dry. The research on dairy products is shocking, you may wonder why most doctors and nutritionists keep ignoring the negative research on dairy. I have been a vegan for a couple of years now and feel better than ever. Just think of all of the varieties of fresh fruits, vegetables, various whole grains, variety of different beans, and different types of nuts available. Soy products are not necessary(I can't remember the last time I ate soy), so don't hesitate to buy this book based on that. Read the book about info regarding vitamin B-12 and vitamin D. Highly recommended.

I have purchased over a dozen copies of this book for my family and friends, and finally browsed the reviews today and was shocked to see any negative feedback. So for those considering the book, remember the negative reviews were written by meat-lovers that in no way plan to give it up.

I've read at least twenty or so nutrition books and this is my favorite of them all. It's simple to read, easy to understand, and very complete. It encourages a vegeterian diet for the sole purpose of having a healthy life, rather than giving all the statisitics on animal cruelty.

It deconstructs all the myths (i.e. people need tons of protein, and vegetarians do not get enough iron) and gives tons of yummy recipes in addition to informing you of all the nutritional benefits of a plant-based diet.

It reinforces the fact that doctors do not fix you until you are broken. My brother is in med school and I asked him how many nutrition classes he was required to take..... the answer was none. Why not learn how to prevent diseases rather than fix them afterwards? Why eat a meat-based diet, take your cholesterol pill and destroy your liver, when you can avoid eating cholesterol at all? Why eat excessive simple carbohydrates and sugars and rely on an insulin shot every day?

I've bought copies for nearly every member in my family over the past three years, but sadly they don't bother reading it until they are required to take insulin, or they find a lump in their breast, or they find their cholesterol is off the charts. I believe you have a duty to your loved ones to keep your body healthy so you can be here for them as long as possible, and this book can show you how. For more info, look into pcrm.org

Also, my sincerest thank you to Dr. Barnard for caring enough to spend time to teach interested people the proper way to eat.

A great book!
The vegetarianism essay alone is worth the purchase price, but other parts of the book are just as engaging.

I've never met the author, but after reading this book I feel like she is an old friend.

Clever use of the 13 full moons in a year with interesting side notes from cultures all over the world. This book will help guide anyone trying to make healthy food choices, but the author also provides an explanation as to why these choices make sense nutritionally and several recipes at the end of each chapter. A must read for anyone interested in improving diet and overall health.

This book is written with heart, soul and spirit. A book to use and refer to as well as delight you along the way.

Jessica Prentice does a beautiful job with both her writing in each chapter and her recipes. I love learning about various cultures, the thirteen moons and the environment. Her recipes are also delicious and a real help to someone who's trying to eat based on the seasons and local produce. I first checked this book out from the local library but had to have it for the recipes. Definitely a good book!

This book is a personal re-examination of food--what we eat, and why we eat it. In this book, Prentice examines food customs and traditions, searching for their physiological and environmental rationale. Her primary observation about food traditions is that they are strictly tied to the seasons, and thus the continual year-round availability of our foodstuffs has resulted in loss of much traditional knowledge about what is good for us and what isn't. In recognition of the essential seasonality of foods, Prentice organizes this book into the thirteen moons that make up the year, from the famine moon, to the sap moon, from the egg moon to the corn moon, from the blood moon to the wolf moon.

Each chapter describes the ecology that led to the association between a particular food item and a specific time of the year. In the chapters, Prentice discusses the nutritional contributions of the featured food items, and how her relationship with that food has changed over the years. For example, she explains how she used to avoid milk and other dairy products, but now relishes them as a gift of love from Mother Earth. Each chapter also includes recipes of the season, ranging from exotic dishes of non-Western food cultures, like Cardamom and Jaggery pudding, to simple directions for lost arts, such as rendering pork, or making homemade yogurt and sauerkraut.

Prentice was once a strict vegan, who for health reasons, eventually found herself drawn to a diet which includes animal products, but not the products of industrial agriculture. There is much that vegetarians and vegans would not like in Prentice's essays, since she explains how her 10 years of vegetarianism were not healthy for her. Having had the same experience myself after being a vegetarian for 20 years, I can appreciate the wisdom in what she writes. While vegetarian diets work well for some, they are not appropriate for everybody. But at the same time, diets that include the consumption of industrially produced and processed animal products do nobody any good. We need to be willing to recognize our relation and responsibilities to the animals that we consume.

I first heard of this book when I attended a Vermont Localvore potluck at which Prentice was the invited guest chef. I was deeply offended then at her attitude, when she announced she was going to make a salad using a recipe from her book, but lamented the lack of local artichokes or olive oil. `How could such a person be associated with local cooking,' I wondered, `if she doesn't even have the sense to find out what the best local ingredients are and celebrate them, instead of parading the products of another region in front of us?' I figured that a seasonal local cookbook written by a national author would be a worthless concept. Fortunately, that's not what this book attempts--instead the book is much more about rediscovering our connection to food than about specific local recipes.

Although she has become famous for leading the concept of eating foods only from one's local region, what she urges here is really an appreciation for the products of small farms. Thus, instead of simply cheering on local food, Prentice argues in this book that our industrial agriculture system has torn us away from one of the most essential of human traits, our relationship to the food that nourishes us. Instead of following diets of avoidance, Prentice advocates recognizing the meaning that each item of food brings to our lives, and using food to re-establish our connection to the land. Indeed, the only foods that Prentice avoids are those heavily processed products of industrial agriculture: refined sugar, white flour, and pre-packaged extruded junk. Although the book contains a few recipes, it is not a cookbook, but rather a wake-up call: "Our poor diet is at least partly a physical manifestation of a spiritual decay," together with some suggestions of how we can begin the journey back to healthy eating.

Patricia does a great job discussing all the valuable information about green tea. First discussing the method of green tea and weight loss.
She has introduced a safe weight loss method that works and most importantly it's safe. Drinking green tea helps you burn fat and increase metabolism. Green tea has antioxidants which help prevent heart disease, certain cancers, and many other illnesses.

Great book for both tea lovers and those seeking a healthy weight loss method.

You know the kind of person who when you ask: What are you drinking? they answer--TEA. Ask another person, like author Patricia Rouner, and you will know more about green tea that you thought possible.

Some of the topics covered are:

-- The science
-- Growing and processing tea
-- How to brew (and this IS important)
-- Polyphenols (huh?)
-- Coffee / caffeine comparison
-- Extracts
-- Fighting diseases

The subtitle about weight loss might pull a lot of readers in, but the chapter on fighting disease was very important.

"If only half the studies are proven accurate, green tea's health benefits are stunning," the author states on page 85. She had Googled "kidney disease and green tea" and 477,000 articles of interest were listed. A sample of the health issues discussed in the book are: immune system, allergies, Alzheimer's, blood pressure, bone density, carbs, artery disease, etc., etc.

Did you know...?

-- A report stated that oral cells damaged by smokers can be decreased by drinking green tea.

-- The most popular tea brands have different antioxidant levels.

-- Adding sugar and milk do not affect the flavonoid in the tea, but increase the calorie count.

-- Ice tea "happened" in 1904 at the St. Louis Exposition. It was HOT! and no one wanted the vendor's hot tea. He added ice, and happy lines formed. Ice tea makes up almost 85% of tea consumed in the U.S.

The FAQ (one at the end of each section) about caffeine was interesting. A pound of tea has more calories than a pound of coffee--but tea makes 300 cups while coffee yields 80 cups. Draw your own conclusions on that.

All that said, what is it about green tea that helps you lose weight? Well, it speeds up metabolism and helps the body bun fat, about 80 calories a day. It can reduce hunger, which means lower calorie intake. It can help older people lose weight and younger people prevent middle-age spread. With almost two-thirds of Americans overweight--that's a good deal. And you'll learn so much more in the "Science" chapter.

Losing weight is part of being more healthy--and green tea combines the two benefits.

Armchair Interviews says: If you want to know about green tea...but were afraid to ask, this book has all the answers. So when someone asks, "What are you drinking?" they better be prepared for a lot of information.

Reviewed by Irene Watson for Reader Views (8/06)

Drinking green tea has been a favorite of mine for quite some time so when the opportunity came up to review "Loose Weight with Green Tea" I took the task. I had previously heard that green tea had many benefits and that people in China have been drinking it for about 4000 years. Surely, anything that has been consumed for that many years and still considered medicine by them is worth researching more.

Rouner's book certainly is full of condensed research. She has spent much time and effort compacting information into a small, readable book. The beginning of the book gives scientific research results as well as growing and processing. It was interesting to note that there are over 3000 varieties of tea grown. It's not much wonder that many of the teas taste so different from each other. The remainder of the book covers making of the tea to drink, the benefits, the nutritional values, as well as addressing the caffeine concerns and a little trivia dispersed throughout the book.

I learned from Rouner's research that the "most critical factors in brewing tea are the water, temperature of the water and the tea." Regarding water she claims that if the water (from the tap) doesn't taste good, it will reflect on the taste of the tea. Rouner talks about spring water as well as reverse osmosis, the most effective treatment, being used for tea water. She claims that minerals in the water are essential for good tasting tea therefore discourages the use of distilled water. "For green tea the water temperature should be between 160-175 degrees Fahrenheit" which means the water must not be boiling (212 degrees.)

It was interesting for me to learn that when tea was first introduced to England it was cost prohibitive, however, milk on the other hand was not. How much milk was added to the tea indicated social standing. The poorer people used a lot of milk in their tea whereas the more affluent the people were, the less milk was used.

Rouner's main point of "Loose Weight with Green Tea" is just that - encouragement to add green tea daily to the diet, not only to loose weight but to maintain it. Her research shows that metabolism can be increased by consumption of green tea in turn causing burning of access fat as well as provide the body with essential antioxidants.

I encourage those that are interested in a healthy body to consider reading Rouner's "Loose Weight with Green Tea," add drinking green tea to their daily routine, and benefit the abundant results. Here's to health!

This small books packs a mighty punch! Patricia Rouner has assembled enough research and clear-thinking into a guide that will not only answer all of your questions about green tea and its benefits, but what may be important, and how you can use the information to become healthier and to lose weight if you so desire. Witty and well-written, the book is a quick read, full of facts, supporting facts, and more support for conclusions than you may expect or be used to. I recommend it as an advanced primer for green tea and as a thoughtful guide to contemplation of how to best present an overview and an in-depth study of one subject all at the same time.

There has been a ton of research conducted in regards to the benefits of Green Tea. Patricia Rouner has compiled and summarized this information into a great book called Lose Weight with Green Tea. While I feel the title and back cover text is very "hypey" the information presented is clear, concise, and very informative.

One of the best pieces of information covered in the book was explaining the components of green tea that actually provides the real benefit - polyphenols and antioxidants.

Other information included was:
-The different types of tea
-The best way to prepare tea
-Which commercially available green teas have the highest antioxidants
-The benefits/harms of caffeine
-Green Tea supplements and what to look for
-How much green tea should you drink?
-How green tea combats certain diseases

The bottom line is, a person loses weight with a proper diet and exercise but green tea can slightly increase your metabolism and provide additional health benefits so drinking it is a good idea, but as can be expected, you can't eat Cheeseburgers 3 times a day and lose weight just by drinking Green Tea.

I was looking for a motivational book to help me lose weight. Like many, I knew that a healthy diet and exercise was needed to lose weight and be healthy. I just needed the motivation to get me on this road to health and weight loss. This was the book that made the difference. I wish Stephen Moss would write more novels like this. This book was the turning point in my lifelong battle to be healthy and lose weight!

This is an excellent book for self help. It teaches that diets do not work. But we can make small changes in our lifestyles that can create the effect we want whether that is losing weight and regaining health or discovering what we really want in life. I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants more out of their life and doesn't know how to get it. This book will help get you where you want to be.

Lose Weight with The Power of One is a highly effective weight-loss-specific tool that is being used by Personal Trainers to increase their clients' success rate. This unique weight-loss guide not only teaches the basics of weight management, but more importantly, MOTIVATES the client into adopting a new nutritional lifestyle, one that complements each clients' tastes, cravings, and ethnicity. This is not a diet book. And that is why Trainers across the US are now making it REQUIRED READING for all clients with weight issues. By discussing the book's eight simple strategies during the training session, Trainers are improving their clients' nutritional lives, expanding their own effectiveness, and enhancing the clients' fitness/nutrition experience. Trainers: Lose Weight with The Power of One is not only a must read for your clients. It is also the doorway to the complete Personal Trainer Package.

Debbie Hickey
Executive Administrator, American Association of Personal Trainers (AAPT)
Co-Author, Feminine, Firm & Fit
www.FeminineFirmandFit.com
debbie@femininefirmandfit.com

I wish I had thought of this concept. It's brilliant to share weight loss strategies through the tale of one woman who real woman can relate to.

Readers (male or female) will be inspired by this womans journey. She is not perfect, she has fears, she has obstacles, she has set backs and she also has hope, determination and ultimately success. You are routing for her every step of the way as you are relating to her challenges and victories.

When my clients read the the 8 simple strategies they have "ah ha" moments where things begin to click and they believe in thier ability to follow the suggestions and make postive changes.

I read the entire book on a round trip plane trip from Newark to Utah. I could not put it down. I recommend this book for all of my clients who are struggling with living a healthful lifestyle. I am currently working with 4 clients who have over 100 pounds to lose and have recommended it to each of them. Several have read it more than once.

Read this book if you want an enlighten tale with real life strategies that work.

Kelli Calabrese
Exercise Physiologist
2004 Personal Trainer of the Year - Online Trainer
Co-Author Feminine, Firm and Fit www.FeminineFirmandFit.com
www.KelliCalabrese.com

Lose Weight with the Power of One: A Motivational Journey To Nutritional Sanity is a diet book unlike virtually any other. It opens on a simple premise... all diets fail. Some diets are based on myths (such as the "food combining diet") or even bad nutrition, and are certain to be harmful. Some diets are nutritionally sound on paper, but they effectively tell the dieter what to eat and when, according to someone else's rules - and human nature, complete with its changeable tastes, cravings, and moods, will sooner or later resist the morass of tangled rules and regulations. Instead of providing the reader with a meticulous eating plan, Lose Weight with the Power of One offers eight basic strategies for healthier eating, such as "reduce one's daily fat intake as low as possible", "eat breakfast", "do not bring factory made snacks, meals, or refined products into the home - use foods that are as close to natural as possible", and "stop eating when you are approaching feeling full". These simple tenets can promote a nutritional lifestyle revolution. Each principle, and the reasons behind it, is explained in-depth in a dialogue format that almost resembles reading a novel. In a world horribly over saturated with fad diets that ignore the basic needs and nature of the body, Lose Weight with the Power of One is an absolute "must-read" for anyone striving to make permanent, positive changes in their eating and health habits.

I own this well informed book that gives you a motivational read to lead a healthier life. It provides some proven strategies to live by. As a cookbook author myself, I've found this book compares similar to my writing of recipes that are low in fat and high in fiber, finding some tasty and delicious recipes in this book that will add variety to anyone's diet. Recipes that are lowfat with added fiber and a section to help you cook with whole grains and where to buy them.There's even a section of muscle toning exercises to help one become a fat burner at all times. Having had health problems in the past this book has been an inspiration to pursue better health in my own life. With a bad back, I find the lower back muscle toning and stretches soothing to my aching back.

Finally, a diet book that makes sense! Low Fat Living has all the usual advice and bean recipes, but with a difference. It's about developing a skill set designed for long term success -- even we're ony adding one skill at a time. From sleeping patterns and mindset to the oils on our pantry shelves this is a book that acknowledges that readers have lives beyond what they eat. Indeed, this is a healthy food book about LIVING -- not another FAT-IS-THE-ENEMY militant diet plan that made me despair "How am I ever going to follow this?" Plus the recipes are delicious.

Book was in excellent condition and arrived ahead of predicted schedule. Would buy from this seller again.

My only complaint with this book is its title, "Low Fat Living." It goes far beyond that. This is really the "whole mind, whole body" approach to weight control and more. This book seems to be a collection of everything that the authors could find that contributes to weight loss, organized in an interesting and integrative manner. I particularly loved the study that showed that people watching television burn up fewer calories than people sitting and watching a blank screen. As a woman at age 53, I was wondering if I could ever again shed pounds. My old approaches didn't work. The one thing that I knew was that people who successfuly do lose weight and keep it off do so through making life-style changes and they tailor what they do to their own bodies. This book enabled me to have a comprehensive understanding of what those changes needed to be concerning (1) nutrition, (2) exercise (including simply increasing motion), (3) water, (4) sleep, and (5) stress management. To my surprise, stress management has actually been the most challenging-and perhaps the most rewarding. I am no longer in the "diet" mentallity. I am now concentrating on making the small changes--trying this and that until I find ways that appeal to me and that I can sustain--and these are adding up to large changes that affect not just my weight, but my general health. Through this process and over several months, I am finding that my body and mind are changing in what they want. It is like my whole system is resetting to different standards. I'm beginning to actually be drawn to vegetables and whole grains, walking the dog, and skipping TV. Who'd'a thunk?

This is a good dieting book but the two apple recipes I tried, were gag-awful.

I love all the recipes, and the simple and clear directions. A fabulous book for both the novice and professional chef.

In my busy day and quest for a health-conscious diet, innovation and creativity are sometimes hard to muster. Jennifer's book does a wonderful job of not only giving great ideas for great tasting snacks, meals, and more, but takes traditional recipes and gives them a "raw" makeover. If you find yourself trapped in the same processed-food world but don't know how to make the transition to a raw-foods/vegetarian diet, Jennifer's book is a great start!!

You can tell this recipe book was truly made with love when you open it and read the Introduction and the Blessing before the Meal. Jennifer Lynn has obviously thought this out. Unique, fresh and easy to follow recipes.

I am looking forward to making some of these recipes for my family. It will be nice to present colorful, healthy, non-processed dishes at the dinner table.

The recipes in this book are tried and true. I've prepared the pesto, deep green garden soup, and pumpkin cookies--All wonderful. Thanks Jennifer Lynn for sharing your recipes.

Ditto what George Eby and the other reviewers said. And now my experience with magnesium.

When I researched to find help for rapid heartbeat and the profuse sweating and weakness that accompanied it, I found magnesium. Still skeptical (having read all the warnings of overdose this, that, etc.), but willing to try anything, I found rapid relief in less than an hour. And continued to experience increased strength in my legs and body overall the remainder of the day and the days following.

Surprised, I noticed the next week that my frozen shoulder thawed. I'd been so busy feeling good versus being unable to do more than walk slowly around my home or just sit, that I hadn't even noticed until I reached for something that was over my head without giving it a thought...when reaching the back of my neck to wash my hair with my left arm (I'm right-handed) was all I had been able to manage for six months previously. That shoulder and arm now needed to be stretched and strengthened after being locked up for so long, but normal activities of the day took care of that in good time.

That was January 2002. I've continued to discover all the ways that magnesium works in the body. I can sleep through the night without getting up to use the bathroom. I don't frequent the bathroom during the day, even keeping my water intake high. I no longer leak when I sneeze or cough.

Magnesium keeps me free of edema, and will release excess water for a few hours after waking...notoriously if I travel somewhere. I used to be puffy and tight, and stiff especially in the feet. What some people like to label plantar facsiitis. No more.

I came to realize how unwell I had been for decades. I am feeling better now at age 51 than at age 30 and even childhood. Never as much energy as the other kids, or even my own siblings.

As you read this book you will learn that sugar and refined grain products leach magnesium out of the body. You can learn to live without those non-nutrient edibles. Then you won't be needing so much magnesium to just get even, you can keep it steady. And you'll discover what other symptoms those two non-foods create. See 'Sugar Blues' by William Dufty.

Read 'Three Minute Therapy' by Michael Edelstein to help you get real with what you put in your mouth...and anything else in your life that you unwittingly allow to give you grief.

Oh, I've even used warm magnesium sulfate baths (Epsom Salts) to revive abandoned barn kittens from coma after unexplained seizure.

Get your life back. Read The Magnesium Factor. And then get some Magnesium Taurate here at Amazon from the Vitamin Shoppe.

I had pvc's and pac's for 14 years. Was told by a group of doctors at one of the best hospitals on the east coast that I might have 6 months left. They gave me all the usual heart meds, stomach meds, and over 100 ekg's, heart monitors, halter monitors, a recorder I pressed to my chest...etc. All of which would only record sporadic painful arrythmia's

I tried Magnesium, Centrum, Vitamin C, Accupuncture (helped more than anything else), meditation, and even a psychologist. If I heard the word "psychosamatic" or "in my head" one more time...

I started MagOx in the fall of 2005 and 48 hours later my symptoms went from over 4000 (not a typo, yes, somtimes 4000) pvc's a day to 2 or 3 a week. I can exercise again and no longer have 90% of my chest pain.

I don't know about all the other symptoms, but if my story can help just one other person (I suffered horrendously for years) than I highly recommend just trying this supplement. It can't hurt. I take 400mg a day, which is about the same as what you receive in 2 cups of Broccoli or such.

Oddly, I haven't had the flu since I started it now that I think about it.

I have no affiliations with this book or the writer or any medical agency. I sell Servers and network setups in Washington D.C.

Chad Laibly
Annandale, VA

I can hardly add anything useful to all the other reviews here, except to say that I admire the heck out of late Dr. Seelig, who has contributed so valuably to the magnesium literature.

Scientists who do basic research in the not-so-sexy fields of vitamins and minerals are our unsung heroes. They aren't motivated by the glamor, that's for sure, or for the big bucks. And because so much is already known about vitamins and minerals, there's little chance for a "break-out" discovery that will shoot their name to stardom. Instead, they keep patiently refining what we already know, applying it to more and more biological processes.

I can only imagine that their motivation is helping us all to stay healthy and avoid the suffering that comes with diseases. And, perhaps it the elegant simplicity that draws them. Imagine....preventing or curing so many diseases that are endemic in our society with a simple element that will not harm us. What pharmaceutical can claim that? (I'm grateful for the "miracles" of pharmaceuticals, too, but it's hard to argue that most don't come with side effects.)

Mildred Seelig was such a scientist. And we owe her so much.

This book should required reading in high school health classes. It could prevent so many problems later in life.

When I found I was suffering from many of the symptoms of magnesium deficiency, I looked on Amazon and found two very highly rated books - "The Magnesium Factor" and "The Magnesium Miracle". Unable to decide between the two, I ordered them both.

Both books are great resources on magnesium but there are some very important differences between them:

"The Magnesium Factor" spends a lot of time discussing the results and debating the conclusions of magnesium research. It also goes into great detail about the biochemical processes that are involved in various magnesium-dependent reactions in the body. While this is important data, it may be overkill for the average reader. In my opinion, this book would be better suited to health professionals or those with scientific backgrounds who need and/or want more detailed information.

"The Magnesium Miracle" by Carolyn Dean provides the pertinent research and biochemical information in a concise and easily readable format that would likely be more accessible to the layperson. This is the book I would recommend to family and friends.

I had "burn out" more than a year ago. The symptoms were similar to panic disorder and agoraphobia. My doctor believed that antidepressant, tranquilizers, beta blockers, sport and time are good enough treatment. The situation did improve with that, but very very slowly.

After about six months I was able to quit REGULAR tranquilizer usage, with the help of beta blockers. After that I have been able to reduce somewhat the beta blocker usage, but I still needed to use it several times per week. And I was not able to quit using the antidepressants. My trials for reducing it led always to very wild and scary heartbeats.

Then something happened. I found this book and it changed my life immediately!!! I have not needed the beta blockers after the very same day I started to take magnesium&kalium supplement. It really makes my heart run smoothly, I don't feel it beating anymore in a strange way for example when trying to sleep! And my dizziness is gone. And the situation seems to get better and better all the time! I just reduced the antidepressant usage a couple of days ago and I'm very confident that now I can slowly quit using it!

I have been using quite huge amounts of magnesium now in the beginning. The last four days I have taken 1200 mg per day, and I'm feeling just great! Even the last 200 mg or so in the evening makes me feel better. But I suppose I have to reduce the dosage soon.

It was this book that helped me to find out that my body was suffering from lack of magnesium! It is nice to know that after all there is nothing wrong with my head :-)

I really enjoyed this book and I am grateful that this book is available at all, when you are faced with an incurable disease the most important thing is finding some hope and gaining some control back over your life.

This book is great for that.

I was really hoping for more specific guidelines though, for example.

How to prepare for an ELISA test (if this is possible)
Where to get an ELISA test done.
Start off with X,Y,Z suppliments.
Eliminate one food group at a time.
Common alternatives to common (problem) foods are ...
Staying strong and avoiding temptations (there are a few excellent ideas on this in the book but I felt that they could have been restated towards the end of the book)

I understand that this information IS in the book but I just felt that after reading it I needed more guidance.

Changing your diet is hard enough - when you have such a deeply compelling reason for changing it I feel that one cannot have too much guidance in acheiving it.

"Welcome to an MS world that is not dark and dismal, but a place filled with hope, progress, and gratitude," Ms. Sawyer confidently states in the introduction to this clearly formulated, comprehensive plan for controlling this devastating disease. What MS sufferer would not want to discover how to achieve this?
Not only is MS clearly defined in highly readable, medically backed terms, but specific aids to recovering one's health are given, such as "The Benefits of Exercises" (highly specific) and "Depression: A Block to Healing." Both "Ann's Story" and "Judi's Story" are deeply moving. I have the greatest respect for the steps these courageous women have taken in their transformations from compromised physical lives to those of normalcy. The stories of other MS sufferers also provide direction and support.
And the diet? Once you find the "trigger" foods--those that aggravate your MS symptoms--you can stick with a diet (and partake of the 140 pages of delicious recipes) that will lead to the recovery of your life.

This book provides a multitude of invaluable information for those who suffer from M.S. The diet and recipes are excellent and easily explained. The history and personal stories sre inspiring. It's wonderful to have these tools to control M.S. for those of us who suffer from it!! This book is a God-send! Thank you Judy and Ann!

I feel extremely lucky to have found this book. When I was diagnosed with MS in October 2007, I instinctively became very careful with my diet because of past health problems due to food (Celiac's,food allergies & sensitivies).

But there were things I didn't know in regards to food & MS. This book explains why diet is important & how different foods effect MS. I also enjoyed reading all the personal case histories of real MS patients who have tried this diet.

I plan on staying on this diet the rest of my life. (I want to do everything possible for me to achieve the best possible outcome, so I also take one of the MS drugs (Avonex) in addition to this diet.)

Also, this book explained more to me about the disease of MS than all the neurologist's I have seen put together. I am deeply grateful to Ann Sawyer & Judith Bachrach for writing this book...Thank You!

I would recommend this book to anyone with MS. I was diagnosed 18th months ago with MS and have been taking medication prescribed by my neurologist. The medicine definitely helps, but this book has given me renewed hope. In addition to the information and stories provided, this diet is amazing. After one week on this diet I noticed a marked change in my ability to walk and my stamina.