Different Bodies, Different Diets: Introducing the Revolutionary 25 Body Type System [Paperback]

Carolyn Mein (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 2, 2002

Based on 20 years of experience with thousands of patients, Dr Carolyn Mein has developed the Body Type system, a fresh new approach to health that identifies 25 different body types and recommends diets specifically geared to each type's needs. With categories such as Adrenal, Blood, Brain, Eye, Gonadal and Thyroid, Dr Mein's system is based on the body's dominant gland, organ or system each of which have particular nutritional requirements. DIFFERENT BODIES, DIFFERENT DIETS tells exactly what foods to eat, when to eat them, and how to combine them for each body type to open doors to health, well-being, self-awareness, personal empowerment and optimal weight. This book includes the body type analysis of celebrities such as Madonna, Oprah Winfrey, Tom Cruise, Elizabeth Taylor and Jack Nicholson.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

"Losing weight is as easy as finding your body type," asserts Carolyn Mein on the cover of her coffee-table-size diet book. Based on 20 years of research as an applied kinesiologist and bionutritionist, Mein concludes that each human is born with a dominant gland, organ, or system that corresponds to one of 25 specific body types. She also believes each body type manifests itself in unique physical characteristics and psychological traits. Here, Mein attempts to help readers identify their own body type, understand its specific needs (according to her empirical research), and implement a diet tailored to meeting those needs.

Opening and scanning the book proves great fun, especially for those who love delving into parallel studies like astrology or numerology. Trouble is, the task of accurately identifying a body type is easier said than done. As readers peruse hundreds of black-and-white photos of scantily clad adult bodies, "unique" doesn't always look so unique--even with help from the corresponding personality profiles. So, while Mein earnestly strives to offer a solution to the one-diet-fits-all myth, her own theory begs the question: Are we all so predictable and categorical? The flip side, of course, is that anyone who finds a perfect match of physical and psychological traits (for instance, an "Adrenal Female" who has a solid boyish figure, thrives on excitement, is competitive and ever in charge) will receive very specific marching orders from Dr. Mein. To each body type, she dedicates about six pages of notes, including a lengthy personality profile, guidelines for dietary intake, healthy and unhealthy foods, ideal meal scheduling, and a sample one-week menu. --Liane Thomas --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

About the Author

Carolyn Mein, D.C., began her chiropractic practice in 1974. She holds a B.A. in bionutrition and a certification in acupuncture and is a charter member of the International College of Applied Kinesiology. She maintains an active practice in Ranch Santa Fe, California, where she specializes in transpersonal physiology.

Product Details

• Paperback: 300 pages
• Publisher: Harper Paperbacks (July 2, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0060988703
• ISBN-13: 978-0060988708
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 8.5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #986,617 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Fun book but ?applicable, May 27, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Different Bodies, Different Diets: Introducing the Revolutionary 25 Body Type System (Hardcover)

It was fun looking through the book, reading descriptions and trying to find my body type. And it has a value in increasing one's body acceptance after looking at page after page of different body constitutions. I could not determine my "type" exactly, and got it narrowed down to three possibilities (that is after following all steps and reading psychological profiles). Next I look at the dietary recommendations, thinking that I could maybe blend them....but they were quite different and did not provide rationale for the promation of healthy vs. food to avoid.

I would find it hard to make some of the seemingly bizarre diet choices when the author offers no explanation for the "bionutrition" , either by research or by client experience. "Eat Right for Your Blood Type" is so much easier and understandable, plus the author attempts to explain/support his recommendations.

16 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars interesting but incomplete, January 15, 2002

By 

Maia Saranteas (Taos, NM United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Different Bodies, Different Diets: Introducing the Revolutionary 25 Body Type System (Hardcover)

i'm a western herbalist and student of chinese medicine. because of my background, i can surmise some of mein's basis for her conclusions, such as meridian pathways and their associated organs, endocrine hormonal influence, etc. i also think that she came up with the diets for each type via muscle-testing.
my primary interest in this book is as background material. as far as individualized diets, i recommend that people find what works for them, regardless of what they read in a book. mein's other pitfalls include not taking into account degenerative diseases, environmental stress, digestive disorders, etc. the biggest value in mein's suggestions is rotation of foods, as it is in most other diets-by-type.
we are all biochemically unique individuals and while typing ourselves may be fun, it's just one tool among many and not every tool is clinically useful in every situation.

15 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Tens of Thousands??, May 11, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Different Bodies, Different Diets: Introducing the Revolutionary 25 Body Type System (Hardcover)

First of all, I'd like to know who wrote that Dr. Mein has helped "tens of thousands" achieve their ideal body weight. Where is the evidence of this claim? It certainly isn't in the book--so on what information is this based? By writing such hype, you risk devaluing the content in this book!

I believe Dr. Mein has done a good job of correlating certain personality characteristics with marked physical attributes. Therein lies an important lesson for all of us: we need to develop greater tolerance and appreciation for these differences, especially when dealing with our children.

As regards diet, I don't know why Diet is mentioned at all in the title. The book is more about the nature of each body type than about diets. I found the diet section of the book to be a pedestrian grouping of menus, and difficult to read, perhaps because of its lack of creative organization or simplicity. Also, after following her dietary suggestions, I gained weight...so I'm not convinced they're particularly sound.

The 25 Body Type system itself is complex and hard to grasp compared to others out there, such as the Blood Type System. Maybe in trying to classify them by using organs as symbols, Dr. Mein was tempted to create too many body type definitions. A simpler system might be more beneficial in the long run. After all, Astrology, which seems overwhelming to so many people, only uses 12 categories.