Customer Reviews

Food that Helps Win the Battle Against Fibromyalgia: Ease Everyday Pain and Fight Fatigue

5 star:		(21)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Everyone seems to have a different theory about what causes fibromyalgia. This author believes that fibro is an "illness of modern life" despite the fact that there seems to be evidence of cases of fibro throughout history. The author says that fibro is caused by "poor nutrition, poor sleep, hormonal deficiencies and various sources of stress". Many doctors will tell you this, but the problem is, no one, including the author, seem to have real scientific proof that these things cause fibromyalgia and are not just symptoms (poor sleep) or exacerbaters of your symptoms (nutrition) rather than actual causes. Because they can't say what causes it, they can't fix it, merely give you "band-aid" treatments.

Part 1 (pages 16-121) is fairly informative about fibromyalgia, symptoms and common treatments. Of course, the majority of this section is spent on nutrition, food preparation, organic foods, etc. She breaks down foods to show how different things (proteins, enzymes, probiotics, fats, carbs, antioxidents, etc.) affect those with fibro either positively or negatively.

Part 2 includes the recipes (124 - 275) includes the recipes. They are arranged much as any cookbook is, starting with typical breakfast items (smoothies, eggs, fiber) going through appetizers, salsas, soups, salads, entrees, side dishes and desserts. Many of the recipes have nice pictures included. Each recipe includes a brief summary of why the foods in that particular dish are helpful to you (a good inclusion, IMO).

Now on to why I don't particularly recommend this book. First of all, if you are allergic to dairy products (as I am) or lactose intolerant, you will find that many of the recipes in this book include cheese or other dairy. You could probably still cook some of the recipes without the cheese or dairy but many of the recipes do not seem like they would work without the cheese.

Second, prepare to spend a lot of time and money shopping at health food or organic food stores. Many of the recipes call for obscure ingredients that you can't find at normal grocery stores - some you may even have to order online. I would love to eat all organic foods, but the cost is prohibitive. And the ingredients included in these recipes are not ingredients you typically have in your kitchen. I'm talking many different ingredients, not just 10 or so that you can get and use for every recipe. Fresh chopped chives, Hollandaise sauce, scallions, sesame tahini, low-sodium tamari soy sauce, fennel, cumin, cilantro, Himalayan crystal salt, corriander powder, fresh dill, pine nuts, quinoa, coconut oil, water chestnuts, shallots, miso, raw walnut halves, etc. not to mention all the fresh vegetables, fruit and meat you have to buy for each and every recipe.

Third, and perhaps most importantly to those who actually have fibromyalgia, these recipes are NOT quick and easy. Although there are some recipes that have only a few ingredients, most recipes have 10+. Most of the recipes take the better part of an hour to prepare and cook. A few can be fixed quickly, while others need to be prepared days before you want to eat them. If you have a spouse or family member who is willing to spend an hour cooking for you every meal, great. If not and you're like me, however, you don't often feel up to fixing a full meal. Sometimes it's hard to even stick a frozen pizza in the oven.

With a fibromyalgic's typical pain and energy level, both shopping and cooking are hard. Not only do you have to go to more stores in order to get all these ingredients (because you probably won't find a single store with all of them) but you have to make more trips because the fresh ingredients will not last very long. And then once you've got the ingredients, you have to cook them, which is yet another difficult task, especially when most recipes take around an hour preparation and cooking time. Then of course, you have to clean up after cooking as well.

If you have always been the type of person who spends an hour cooking dinner every night, then the recipes in this book will not seem unusual to you. If you are a busy person with little time to cook, or, like me, just don't like to spend a lot of time in the kitchen, then these recipes will not be so easy for you - fibromyalgia or no fibromyalgia.

I am sure this book can be helpful to many people, I just want you to be aware of what you're getting before you purchase it. My parents actually bought this book for me when I was diagnosed, however, neither they nor I were overly impressed by it.

One final note is that the book itself is very nice. The pages are high quality, glossy paper and it includes many nice photographs and graphics.

As an aside, I recommend the book What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Fibromyalgia: The Revolutionary Treatment That Can Reverse the Disease by R. Paul St. Amand. He actually puts forth the best theory I have found to date as to what causes fibromyalgia - and since he knows (or at least has an idea) what causes it, he is able to give a treatment that actually reverses it. Even if you don't follow his treatment, just reading his book will lead you to a much deeper understanding of the disease.

I purchased this book for my wife who has been diagnosed with Fibromyalgia after a co-worker recommended it. After making some changes to our food and what we eat, we are noticing a dramatic boost in energy and a reduction in aches and pains and sniffs and sneezes. I am enjoying eating real tasty food again since my wife has been using the recipes. You don't have to have fibromyalgia to benefit from this book.

This book is an eye opener. More like deer in the headlights shock...to find out that all the chemicals in processed foods and possibly the insecticides used in our produce can slowly be poisoning our systems is a real shocker for me! I've wondered what all the fuss is about for "organic" foods. Now I know. My mother had fibro and now all my brothers and sisters and myself also have fibromyalgia! I believe we will be eating more organic foods. The severe pain we suffer with throughout our entire bodies has got to stop! Why aren't the produce farmers listening? This is definitely a book everyone with fibro should read. A must for your library!

I like the recipes in this book, but some of the ingredients are hard to find in this little town where I live. I can go to the metroplex & shop, but I don't get there very often. Following a better nutritional diet has helped with my fibro pain.

This book is a gift to all who suffer from the medically elusive, persistent symptoms of fibromyalgia, as it tells them in clear terms what they can do to help themselves. It's divided into two easy to read parts. The first explains how our lifestyle, diet, environment, etc. contribute to the syndrome; the second offers mouthwatering, healthful recipes (complete with nutritional information) and full page photos of which food combinations offer significant health benefits. This is a nutritional treasure trove and cook-book in one beautiful, concise package.

I read this book almost from cover to cover. Even though I do not personally have fibromyalgia, I found it to be most helpful. As a group fitness instructor, I have had a few participants who were dealing with this syndrome. I now have a better understanding of what they are dealing with as well as what they can do to ease the symptoms and eventually be completely free of them.

This book is written in such a way that everyone on all levels can understand and immediately, apply it to their lives and refer back to again and again. I'm looking forward to trying some of the recipes Dr. Rawlings offers, and being the starter cook that I am, the smoothie recipes are a great starting point.

Whether you have sought after books relating to Fibromyalgia or just happen to stumble upon this one while in search for something else, you will not be disappointed. I highly recommend "Food That Helps Win the Battle against Fibromyalgia" to anyone who is looking for ways to eliminate various body ailments, and specifically, fibromyalgia. The information and recipes provided in this book will help build better health for anyone!

Very Good. Probably the best book I've read on the subject so far. Very helpful with useful recipes. Up-to-date, as far as I can judge.

Overall this book was much more informative than I had originally thought. It isn't geared just for fibromyalgia sufferers- the author thoroughly explains what consuming various foods really does to your body. One big problem I have with this book is that the first 126 pages explain what/why you shouldn't eat certain products ie, sugar, alcohol and coffee and on page 264 there is a recipe for chocolate mousse. This recipe contains sugar, chocolate and cognac/grand marnier! WHAT?!? Other than those few flaws, overall a really informative book that makes you think twice about what you're putting in your mouth.

The information in this book is available in many other books on Fibromyalgia and related conditions and it is nothing new nor a revelation. Most important though is the premise that foods impact the severity of this illness which I agree with from my own personal experience, it is advised to avoid WHEAT AND GLUTEN, then the recipe section contains GLUTEN, WHEAT, EGGS, SUGAR and other foods that are not recommended in the book. WHAT ??????? I have wasted my Money again on a product that is NOT helpful. I do not recommend this book to anyone with fibromyalgia. Take an ELISA ACT test and determine your specific foods allergies and then AVOID those foods. It is difficult at first but when you feel better you will be happy you were a brave warrior for your own quality of life. I am very frustrated having this misunderstood illness and being used and abused by many people who will sell anything to make another buck from desperately ill people..... disappointing. I cannot use these recipes which contain Gluten and lots of Eggs and Milk, etc. Who created these recipes and did they even read the book?

This book is a must have for anyone that is battling with Fibromyalgia. I have had the pleasure of meeting this author. In addition I had the pleasure of introducing this book to individuals who have suffered with
this disease and they have all stated that they have either been told they were insane by their doctors or they have been told that they needed more medicines. So for anyone that has been told that it's "all in your head", or "take these medicines and let's hope it works" -- this book will finally end your frustrations! In fact, it will radically transform your life. MANY THANKS TO THIS AUTHOR for writing this book! I recommend those who are in support groups to use this book as a guide.