Strong Women Eat Well : Nutritional Strategies for a Healthy Body and Mind [Hardcover]

Miriam E. Nelson (Author), Judy Knipe (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 19, 2001

From the bestselling author of Strong Women, Strong Bones comes the straight story on nutrition for women.

Nutrition is surrounded by controversy and misconceptions, many of them fueled by diets where weight loss-usually temporary weight loss-is the only goal. Strong Women Eat Well tells women everything they need to know to make the right decisions about eating. Readers will discover:
- easy-to-follow strategies
- why high-protein, low-carbohydrate diets are ineffective
- how to decipher "Nutrition Facts" labels;
- the formula for determining how much protein is needed;
- advice on whether to buy organic;
- what "fat-free" really means on a label;
- the latest word on genetically engineered foods;
- information on dietary supplements; and
- 50-plus delicious, easy-to-prepare recipes.

Dr. Miriam Nelson's previous books have won her more than a million readers-women who want to enhance their health by improving their nutrition. Now, this trusted authority has written a guide explaining how nutrition can work for them and their families-on a daily basis, for the rest of their lives. References. Index.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

A new book by Miriam Nelson, author of Strong Women Stay Young, Strong Women Stay Slim, and Strong Women, Strong Bones, is always cause for celebration. This time, the Tufts University researcher who taught strength training to women of all ages tackles nutrition--especially demystifying the science behind it. What foods improve health and prevent disease? What is the truth behind whether we should or shouldn't eat fat? Sugar? How do we choose among the 40,000 food items sold in the average supermarket? What about the tenets of bestselling diet books (which Nelson points out are usually by authors without nutrition credentials)? Government dietary guidelines? Nelson, with her able cowriter Judy Knipe, explains simply the truth about your dietary needs: water, whole grains, fruits and vegetables, calcium, protein. She lambastes the high-protein fad diet ("it does lead to short-term weight loss, but to the detriment of overall health") and sings the praises of soy. Clear, precise, practical suggestions for eating more nutritious foods will leave you knowing both why and how to eat better. Knipe's 61 innovative recipes include Cornish Hens with Wheatberry Stuffing, Fish and Corn Chowder, Puffed Cornmeal Pancake with Cranberries, and Barley Risotto with Shrimp and Edamame. --Joan Price

From Library Journal

Drawing on 18 years' research, the director of the Center for Physical Activity Programs and Policy at the School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University has written a very readable book. The main body of the work discusses each level of the Food Guide Pyramid grains; fruits and vegetables; milk and meat products; and fats, oils, and sugars as well as the importance of water. Sidebars offer additional information. A large number of recipes, tested by Nelson and coauthor Knipe, provide ways to increase the use and intake of some foods that most of us may be hesitant to try such things as edamame, wheatberries, and soy products. A good follow-up to Nelson's Strong Women Stay Young, Strong Women Stay Slim, and Strong Women, Strong Bones; highly recommended for consumer health collections. Mary J. Jarvis, West Texas A&M Univ., Canyon Nettles, Saundra Murray.
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 268 pages
• Publisher: Putnam Adult (July 19, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0399147403
• ISBN-13: 978-0399147401
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,005,746 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

59 of 62 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good Overview of the Benefits of Good Nutrition and Water, July 27, 2001

By 

Donald Mitchell "Jesus Loves You!" (Thanks for Providing My Reviews over 109,000 Helpful Votes Globally) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Strong Women Eat Well : Nutritional Strategies for a Healthy Body and Mind (Hardcover)

Dr. Nelson notes that the Journal of the American Medical Association has reported that 300,000 premature deaths occur each year due to poor nutrition and physical inactivity. The book's key message is to eat mostly "real, whole foods" rather than processed ones, drink enough water, and get out and walk!

Many books on nutrition skip any discussion of water. I was pleased to see that this book did a nice job of explaining why water is so important.

Each section hit on an important point that you need to know. Whole grains solve the glycemic loading problem that causes you to stress your blood sugar levels and can lead to weight gain. You should eat lots of fruits and vegetables. Avoid salt and sugar. You can get too much calcium. Soy is a valuable source of protein. Some fats help you, and some are killers.

The book also has a fine section on how to read food labels, another on eating out, and some tasty-sounding healthy recipes. My favorite section was on what to keep in the house.

The book's simple focus on eating the right foods, avoiding the wrong foods, drinking enough water, and walking does have a downside. Each section seemed to miss at least one other point that you need to know.

Here are a few examples. With water, if you weigh more, you need more water. This book is one size fits all. Also, if you drink caffeinated beverages and alcohol, you will lose more water due to the diuretic effects of these drinks, and need to consume more water than is suggested here.

With calcium levels, research has shown that getting enough calcium doesn't seem to eliminate bone breakage. In fact, studies have shown that women in countries where they get less calcium have fewer bone breaks. It isn't clear why that's the case, so don't cut your calcium intake yet.

The book also recommends the USDA Food Pyramid and the fifth set of guidelines that came out in 2000, which doesn't reflect the latest research from all the long-term studies of how nutrition affects health as I have read about that food pyramid in other recent books on the subject.

Like most such books, there is little customization for age, sex, and blood type.

If you are looking for a book on this subject, you should also consider Healthy Women, Healthy Lives and Eat, Drink and Be Healthy which will give you more detail on these points, more information about what foods to favor and disfavor, and how each food is related to various diseases. You might also enjoy Your Body's Many Cries for Water. ...

After you have worked on a healther physical lifestyle, how can you improve your emotional lifestyle? In Love and Survival, Dr. Dean Ornish points out that having loving relationships helps health more than anything else. Be sure to read Relationship Rescue if you would like to work on your relationships.

Live well in all dimensions of your life!

44 of 46 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Good Nutrition Advice, Tiresome "Perfect" Family, August 27, 2002

By 

"suzyt16" (Seattle, WA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Strong Women Eat Well : Nutritional Strategies for a Healthy Body and Mind (Hardcover)

I have loved Miriam Nelson's other books, and eagerly anticipated this one that would focus only on nutrition, especially for women. The good news is that she does not disappoint in this area: solid, sensible information, with eating plans that are like those in her other books. LOTS of data, based on research, and split up into great chapters, like "water" and "calcium."

If only she hadn't felt the need to incorporate her and her family into each section. I really got tired of reading about their perfect eating plans and perfect life with a community dairy, nearby farmer's market---and apparently no restriction on spending or time to buy and prepare food! While it's nice to practice what you preach, it is tiresome to readers who have to hear about the perfect eating habits of a family who dotes on tofu and fresh-ground corn for breakfast pancakes several times a week. And don't forget the sunflower seeds in your Sunday morning whole wheat waffles. On and on she drones, at least that is how it seemed to me. I was very disappointed and wondered how her editors let this happen.

I will keep the book for its sound information, but after reading it, I won't be buying more to give as a gift to others, which I did many times with her "Strong Women Stay Slim" book.

28 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars 3 Cheer for Real Foods!!, August 13, 2001

By 

Joanna - See all my reviews

This review is from: Strong Women Eat Well : Nutritional Strategies for a Healthy Body and Mind (Hardcover)

Chock-full of useful information I've been curious about for years! "Experts" are always recommending "whole" grains and getting "enough" of this or that, but Dr. Nelson finally tells us what those words really mean - and how to enjoy eating foods that are both healthy and delicious.

The clarification about how to read the ingredients list to find out if the bread is truly "whole" grain and how to interpret a food label is so appreciated. I am delighted to see how many more options there are for whole grains that I can serve with dinner, and I'm anxious to try the recipes! With a crazy Monday through Friday week, I'll sample the recipes on the weekends and follow the tips for planning ahead for the coming week.

The sample menus provide an easy, practical framework for slowly adopting a more wholesome diet. I am also grateful for the honest opinion about supplements -- the ones I well might need (like vitamin D) as well as the ones I probably don't or that

have yet to be shown safe and effective (isoflavone supplements). Rather than having supplements pushed upon me, this book provides an honest, fair assessment of what my body needs and how to get that from whole foods whenever possible.

From ideal cholesterol and triglyceride levels to good versus bad fat to an appendix second-to-none, I feel empowered to make changes in my diet and enjoy the wholesome, delicious foods I now have "permission" to eat! A million thanks!