Most Helpful Customer Reviews
270 of 283 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
What Most Doctors (including ME) Were Never Taught, March 9, 2009
One of my guiding principles has always been: Never read a book that has the word "ultra" in the title.
However, interesting perspectives on diet & health intrigue me, & when I saw endorsements from such respected doctors as Dean Ornish, Christiane Northrup & Mehmet Oz, I decided to break my rule and plunge into The UltraMind Solution.
I'm glad I did, for this book is an engaging read that's full of cutting edge science & practical advice. Dr. Mark Hyman has been on a mission to do medicine & health differently since conventional medical thinking failed him in his own debilitating illness twelve years ago. He convincingly argues that maintaining the body's health is essential for the brain's well-being, and that many mental & psychological disorders can be rooted in physical, biochemical derangements in the body's health & metabolism.
In part one of the book he details the background: his personal story which led to his changed philosophy & practice of medicine. He is an advocate of what is termed functional medicine, a relatively new discipline which focuses on not the established "label the disease, give it a drug" approach but "find what's functionally wrong behind the patient's symptoms, then correct the body's metabolism back to optimum function."
The second part of the book contain the outline of his "Seven Keys to UltraWellness" (argh! there's that word again!). He covers optimizing nutrition, balancing hormones, reducing inflammation throughout the body, fixing digestive tract problems, enhancing the body's detoxification, boosting energy metabolism, & calming the mind itself. The third part of the book covers a six week plan to initiate many of these changes, while the fourth part goes into specifics for each of his seven key areas.
Ok, so what's the bottom line? There's a lot of intriguing information and sound advice in the 400+ pages, & I saw nothing that I absolutely disagreed with. Like any diet or health book, he has his own viewpoint & focus, & some of his strategies & recommendations will work better for some than others. This book was a major swing factor in my own decision to try a vegan gluten free caffeine free water only lifestyle, which was difficult but very beneficial for me in multiple areas. I can see this book being useful for two groups of people: First, people who are suffering from problems such as anxiety, depression, "brain fog", adhd, migraines or other brain related problems might find something helpful or even life-changing in his plan. Other people, like myself, who are interested in new approaches & optimum health will certainly find new concepts & tools that they can implement in their own healthy lifestyle. Either way, an excellent book to read.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
348 of 373 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Restore your energy naturally, December 18, 2008
I was privileged to be one of the participants who was chosen to undergo the Ultramind solution for six weeks prior to publication. Although it has only been 18 days since I started, the change in my energy level and my ability to concentrate is remarkable.
I have been suffering from intense fatigue and trouble concentrating for the last two years, and my physicians have been unable to find a medical diagnosis for my symptoms. Being a 46-year-old graduate student, wife, mother and employee, I have to be able to concentrate for long periods of time, especially in the evenings after work. Before the Ultramind solution, I could not concentrate or stay focused past the early morning. Without knowing exactly when it occurred, I now find that my energy has been restored enough so that I can work twelve hour shifts at the hospital without fatigue and still go home and study, while retaining what I read. As a side effect, I have lost close to ten pounds without ever going hungry.
Although it may sound totally impossible to remove all processed foods, sugar, dairy, trans fat, wheat and flour products as Dr. Hyman required from my diet, I have discovered that all of my prior sugar cravings have disappeared completely, even now during the hoiday season when cookies and candy abound. I snack on nuts and fruit and make sure I eat good proteins and plenty of fresh vegetables and I drink plenty of water.
In the beginning I thought I would never be able to make it six weeks, but three weeks have breezed by. I am definitely going to make the Ultramind Solution a way of life from now on. Dr. Hyman's principles are simple yet effective.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
66 of 73 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
How I got my focus back, January 5, 2009
A little over a year ago I had my second child. I worked hard at eating healthy while I was at home for the first three months, and I was quite successful, but when I returned to work full time I felt to busy to continue my healthy lifestyle. For lunch I would eat packaged, frozen entrees or even worse go to our hospital cafeteria and have grilled cheese sandwich with french fries and a soda, this was happening three to four times a week. On my way home, I would stop by the store and pick up dinner that was already prepared or food that was pre-packaged so all I had to do was heat it up. This was no way to teach my kids healthy eating. I have a petite frame and was not overweight by any means but I could tell I was slowly getting thicker around the middle, in addition, I constantly felt tired, unfocused, and distracted. Every time I ate I felt sick, almost like a feeling of being hung-over but without drinking. I decided it was time to change how I, and my family, ate. I have heard of the healing power of food and I decided it was time to try the benefits of whole, unprocessed foods.
Upon starting this program, I decided I had to commit myself wholly. I began by doing all my grocery shopping in Sundays as well as cutting up all my fruits and vegetable so they were easily accessible. I also planned out my breakfast, lunch, and dinner menus in writing for the entire week and stuck to them. I will admit the first week was hard; giving up sugar and my biggest food obsession - soda. After the first week it became easier and easier. As the program continued, my mind felt clearer; I felt sharper at work. The fog that inhabited my brain was lifting and I started to realize that I had been going through daily motions without motivation or care for what I was doing; now I take on challenges because I enjoy thinking through the problems. I also began to feel more energized, more so than I had in a long time, I could finally make it through the entire day without complaining I was tired; I wake up at 4:30 in the morning to exercise before getting ready for work and I don't get to bed until my kids are finally asleep around 9:30 pm. I have the liveliness now to work, be a wife, and play with my kids every day.
There were definitely added benefits to following Dr. Hyman's six-week program. By eating food that was promoted in book and avoiding the foods that contribute to brain fog, inflammation, and, for me, the overall feeling of frustration, I lost body fat, my clothes fit much better, and I am down to my goal weight/size that I have been trying to achieve for years. When you eat whole, unprocessed foods, your weight is naturally controlled; no need to count calories. Additionally, within the first few weeks my skin looked brighter, I now feel comfortable leaving the house without make-up and my skin is much healthier. I feel Dr. Hyman's programs and books are well worth the time and commitment, I would recommend it to anyone who is trying to bring focus and clarity back into their life. You feel so good about yourself that I think it will be difficult to go back to old eating habits. I look forward to my future of a healthy body and brain, both inside and out.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
|
|
Most Recent Customer Reviews
|
![[Start the discussion]](http://g-ecx.images-amazon.com/images/G/01/x-locale/communities/discussion_boards/start-new-discussion-sec._V192250339_.gif){kind=small}
