Customer Reviews

The Best Diet on Earth

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Here's a refreshing approach to dieting - don't do it! The reasoning goes something like this: If you go on a diet, you have to come off of it, and there lies the problem -- keeping the weight off that you just lost.

The solution is to stop dieting and eat really well all the time. Eating well means consuming lots of fruits and vegetables, some low-fat dairy products, some whole-grain products, and a little protein here and there, day in and day out. Filling up on all this good stuff leaves little room for the fattening stuff. And not only can you lose weight, but you will also be able to lower your blood pressure, your risk of heart disease, and your chances of developing diabetes.

Sounds too good to be true, and it IS if you think it can be done in 30 days or 3 months. But in an upbeat friendly style, the authors assure us we can lose 10% of our total weight in a year, three years in a row, and KEEP IT OFF for at least five years.

The book starts off with why this is a good plan to follow, then goes into how to do it. Without sacrificing easy readability, the authors offer scientific and practical information on what foods can do FOR you and TO you. The chapter that meant the most to me is the one on patterns, or ways to improve the way I eat and move. It includes how to eat healthy when eating on the go, eating out, and eating take-out, as well as how to take more steps in a day. Thank goodness they included some recipes to refresh my boring nightly menu. So not only have the authors given me the tools to get to my best weight, but they have also given me the confidence I need to start and stay with an eating plan that can help me stay healthy for a long time.

The authors of this book are so down to earth and make the "diet" easy to follow and understand. This isn't really a diet per se, it is a guide of how EVERYONE should be eating. They compare this diet with the other popular ones out there but they do it in a constructive way. They are very motivating and this "diet" has helped me lower my blood pressure, lose weight and feel better! I read this along with Thomas Moore's "The DASH Diet for Hypertension" which talks more about hypertension and the science behind the diet, and both of these helped me understand more about how we should all be eating for a healthier well-being.

When I first saw the title of this book, my immediate response was, "Yea, right!" I was in no mood for any more "way out" diet books with miraculous cures. I wanted something I could live with for the rest of my life. I've been overweight for a long time and have failed at every other diet. Now, despite initial cynicism, I'm a total fan, and who wouldn't be if this happened to them?

Blood Pressure way down; meds cut in half
Weight loss: +40 lbs and steady
Eating great food and feeling satiated

I like the way the authors have presented their material. It's upbeat and has great recipes--really easy and good. I've highlighted the book like some people highlight their Bible, and shared the good news with friends. Even my brother-in-law (a scientist and a health nut) has been converted. I feel better than ever, and am taking great pride in preparing these wonderful, healthy foods. I'm a total convert. For me, this is the best diet on earth.

Taking way more paper than needed to convey their information, the authors do a poor job of describing the way of eating they propose. They leave too many questions unanswered (how much water is recommended, role of legumes in the diet, role of vitamin supplements, use of substitute sweeteners, use of substitute fats, etc.). Their too-drippingly-cute-for-words poems rapidly become skip-overs in the reading (as is much of the other content) as one searches for the diet guidelines proposed (which are never conveniently summarized). The gist? Essentially the food pyramid with more fruits and vegetables (five servings of each instead of 5 total). Unless you really prefer to have someone speak to you as if you're in the fourth grade, I recommend conducting an Amazon search on the DASH diet and trying another book.

I bought this book for my father, and following the DASH diet lowered his blood pressure in 2 weeks. There are a couple books out there on the topic, but this particular one is easy to follow and perfect for someone who is not accustomed to healthy eating patterns, but wants to start. Very introductory and very effective.

The authors of this book are way too perky. Perky to the point of annoyance. They tell you in a happy way with cute little poems just how wonderful fresh fruits and vegies are......and even better whole grains! Actually diet plan seems very sound and healthy, but after reading the book you feel like you've just been to a Girl Scout meeting in Stepford. And no matter how many times I read the poem about fresh fruits, I still want chocolate cake!