Naturally Slim and Powerful [Paperback]

Philip, Ph.D. Lipetz (Author), Monika Pichler (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1998

A diet book, based on the idea that conventional diets lead women to have lower levels of serotonin in their brain chemistry, which affects their mental well-being, introduces the idea of women-friendly carbohydrates. 25,000 first printing.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 254 pages
• Publisher: Andrews Mcmeel Pub (April 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0836252845
• ISBN-13: 978-0836252842
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.9 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #291,544 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Recommending it to all my friends, June 18, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Naturally Slim and Powerful (Paperback)

I was amazed when i got on the scale. On the 15th day of this program, i had lost 5 1/2 pounds. I am feeling great emotionally and physically. To me, this is not a diet, this is a new way of eating. The recipes are delicious and i eat as much as i need to. I don't feel at all deprived of foods i enjoy. I also have more energy and it seems as though my concentration skills have improved too.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A life-changing diet, July 27, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Naturally Slim and Powerful

I have been following the dietary suggestions in this book for almost a year and it has changed my life. My husband says I'm more fun to be around, my boss says I have made dramatic improvements in (what was already very good) performance, and I am at peace with myself. I do wish the web site links and product information were accurate!

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars About The Book, February 23, 2005

By 

Tidewater Design (Cheasapeake Bay) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Naturally Slim and Powerful (Paperback)

In their groundbreaking book, Naturally Slim and Powerful, Philip Lipetz and Monica Pichler describe this crucial relationship as follows: "Insulin controls serotonin synthesis. Tryptophan, the amino acid that is made into serotonin, is ordinarily stored in reserves that are not available for serotonin synthesis. Insulin causes stored tryptophan to be released and transported into the brain where it is converted into serotonin. Insulin's primary function is to control the blood sugar created when you digest carbohydrates. Therefore, eating carbohydrates elevates serotonin. This is why dieting women with low serotonin develop uncontrollable carbohydrate cravings."

Lipetz and Pichler go on to give evidence that this is not true for men. A man's serotonin level is not affected when he skips meals, or goes on a diet. What the research validates is what women have complained about for a long time; namely, that men can lose weight easily and with less effort than women. Furthermore, men are not nearly so subject to the depression that accompanies low serotonin levels in the brain.

What is going on here? The answers arise from compelling scientific advances. Fundamental differences show up in the brains of men and women. To begin with, women's brains have much more serotonin. Next, female sex hormones enhance serotonin activity; male sex hormones inhibit serotonin activity. Scientists today use Biological Evolutionary Theory to explain why this occurs. This theory states that our biology today is a product of our evolutionary past. In effect, our bodies are still subject to the same forces and genetic drivers as when we were living in prehistoric times.

Ten thousand years ago, before the advent of agriculture, humans were hunter-gatherers. When prehistoric man got up early in the morning, and had nothing to eat, his body signaled, "We are in a famine! Get out there and start hunting!" His serotonin level, and hence his mood, was relatively unaffected. Nature designed his body to protect the species. Consequently, he could go without food all day, and still have the strength, speed, and stamina to carry out the hunt. His ability to think was not at its peak, but he could still function without feeling depressed and lethargic. Today's male still carries the ability to miss breakfast and lunch, yet go like crazy all day as long as he stays task-focused. At times like these, he is running on adrenaline and testosterone. At night, he comes home to immediately clean out the refrigerator and recharge his batteries on the couch. His cognitive illusion is that he is thinking efficiently despite his poor eating habits.

A woman's scenario in prehistoric times was very different. As a gatherer, when prehistoric woman got up in the morning and did not eat within the hour, the body signaled, "We are in a famine! Shut all systems down and conserve energy! Start storing fat!" Her serotonin levels would begin to plunge, making her depressed, lethargic, and less likely to move around. In contrast to a man's body, nature has designed a woman's body to preserve the species, thus insuring that she stays close to her offspring and keeps them safe. Lipetz and Pilcher state, "Depression also makes women more likely to care for their young because nursing and nurturing children alters brain chemistry and relieves depression. This mechanism favoring the feeding of babies is so perfect that low serotonin even alters critical hormones to increase the production of milk and fat." The ramifications of this theory for today's modern woman are clear. Skipping breakfast for women is a sure-fire method to gain weight and feel depressed. Going on a diet can prove so disastrous to a woman's mood and motivation that low self-esteem develops. According to Lipetz and Pichler, "Dieting just a little - eating about 1575 calories per day - can result in impaired vigilance, poorer immediate memory, and longer reaction times."

What is the leverage point here? Women need to keep in mind that men and women have critically different nutritional requirements. Diets that work for men do not work for women. If women are to stay mentally sharp, they require lots of breaks and frequent meals. Above all, they must monitor the carbohydrates they are eating. In case you have concluded that men seem to have all the benefits here, be aware that the story is not over yet. Scientists believe that lower levels of serotonin are the cause of much higher rates of suicide and violence for men. On the other hand, higher levels of serotonin in men are correlated with social dominance, approaching others, and other forms of social cooperative behaviour. ---- by Sonia Herasymowych, PhD