Low Fat Lies (Hardcover)

by Mary Flynn (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review
Fad diets generally fall into two categories: extremely low-fat, or high-fat and low-carbohydrate. A pox on both their houses, say the fiery Dr. Kevin Vigilante, a medical professor and activist, and Dr. Mary Flynn, a nutritionist and researcher. The low-fat diets advocated by Nathan Pritikin and Dr. Dean Ornish are unsatisfying and hard to stick with, and the high-fat Atkins diet is based on fraudulent, speculative science. One banishes half of all possible foods (those with fat), while the other banishes the other half (those with carbohydrates). Both, the authors say, start on the wrong track and then derail.

They recommend--no surprise--the Mediterranean diet, which is rich in seafood and fresh fruits and vegetables, and is saturated with olive oil. Unlike other books that recommend this diet, though, Low-Fat Lies actually explains the science validating it. The authors explain the antioxidant properties of olive oil, and tell you why you don't want your cells to oxidize in the first place. (Same reason you don't want your car to rust.)

But that's not to imply that Low-Fat Lies is bogged down in science. The concepts are easily understandable for regular folks, which is a very good thing, considering how many of us fall prey to junk science masquerading as a "breakthrough" diet. Moving even farther away from theory, the book includes 40 pages of recipes from top American restaurants, along with a simple and useful chapter explaining how exercise blunts your appetite, and offering ideas about how to get more of it into your day. --Lou Schuler

Product Description
Low-fat diets are unsatisfying, nutritionally deficient, and just don't taste very good. They may even be dangerous. Extensive research shows that high triglyceride levels--elevated by very low fat diets--are associated with the same health risks, such as heart disease, that often prompt people to start low fat diets in the first place. Low Fat Lies not only exposes the low fat scam, it offers an alternative: A delicious, satisfying and healthy way of eating and living.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 200 pages
• Publisher: LifeLine Press; 1 edition (May 25, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0895263211
• ISBN-13: 978-0895263216
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.4 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars See all reviews (34 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #586,431 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

108 of 111 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Important and thought-provoking, May 15, 2000

By A Customer

This is a very good book indeed: informative, clearly written, realistic, and practical in its approach. Drawing upon scientific evidence, the authors expose the flaws in fad diets and provide a sound, healthful, and easy-to-follow alternative: the Mediterranean diet, with its modest amount of meat, lots of fruits and vegetables, use of olive oil as the primary fat, and daily glass or two of an alcoholic beverage (preferably red wine). They stress the importance of eating and drinking in moderation as well as physical activity, recommending walking as probably the single best form of exercise. For really exciting recipes, however, I turn to my extensive library of cookbooks. One book that I have enjoyed reading and cooking from immensely is "Recipes and Remembrances from an Eastern Mediterranean Kitchen" by Sonia Uvezian. In addition to recipes for uncomplicated dishes that are not only healthful but also taste wonderful, this fascinating volume contains an important message: slow down and smell the roses. Of the two dozen-plus Mediterranean cookbooks I own, Uvezian's is by far my favorite. I was amazed at how compatible "Low-Fat Lies" and "Recipes and Remembrances" are in their philosophy; one book actually reinforces the other. In reminiscing about her eastern Mediterranean childhood, Uvezian describes precisely the life style Dr. Vigilante encourages. The region's love affair with food in general and vegetables in particular and the gardening, walking, biking, dancing, and socializing are all part of her memories. Vigilante's Italian "passeggiata" (daily promenade) is Uvezian's "shamm al-hawa" (smell the air) and serves the same purpose--in the doctor's words "a source of exercise, fellowship, relaxation, communication, psychotherapy, street theater, and pure amusement." "Low-Fat Lies" and "Recipes and Remembrances" have deepened my understanding and appreciation of the Mediterranean diet as no other books have, and I recommend them both very highly.

38 of 39 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Finally, a healthy diet that really works!, May 21, 1999

By A Customer

Kudos to Dr. Vigilante and Dr. Flynn for writing the best book on health and nutrition that I've ever read! If you are looking for guidance to not only lose weight, but also lead a healthy lifestlye, this book is a must read! In it, they expose the hidden dangers of low fat diets that we've been subjecting ourselves to for years, explaining the science behind the nutrition in a very understandable way. I read the book in only a few days, it was that enjoyable and interesting to read! Even better, they don't just promote the Mediterranian diet, they tell you how you can easily apply it to your life; and the recipes really are delicious and easy to make. Living and eating well don't have to be difficult anymore!

32 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Great Second-Half, July 4, 1999

By A Customer

If you don't know much about the Mediterranean Diet and are confused about whether you want to try the two most popular fad diets (low-fat or Zone), then you owe it to yourself to read the book. It crearly debunks why low-fat diets are almost impossible to stay on, and shows the shoddy research methods behind the claims of the high-protein/low carbo fanatics -- not to mention the dangers of these diets.

My biggest criticism of the book is that the authors spend an inordinate amount of time debunking the bad fad diets -- nearly the entire first half of the book. Maybe this amount of space devoted to trashing these fads is worth reading if you had not heard, or were not previously convinced, about how bad the fad diets are. For me (since I previously had read plenty of articles on the topic), it was preaching to the converted. So, I did not get as much out of the first half of the book as maybe others would.

The second half, which does cover the principles of the Mediterranean Diet, is alone worth the cover price. The books summarizes the very solid research to date on the natural and very healthy diets of the Mediterranean peoples. Unlike other books on the topic, the authors tell you how to limit the calories with handy tables. There's also a good list of items to stock in your 'fridge at all times. The one complaint about the second half is wanting more: more detailed data about the benefits of the diet, more discussion of weight loss on the diet and more thought about simple rules of eating Mediterranean without gaining weight. But hey, maybe the writing team is already thinking along these lines for a sequel. I'll certainly buy it.

(P.S., if you like this book, think also about getting "The Mediterranean Diet Cookbook," by Nancy Harmon Jenkins -- it also covers the principles of the diet and features scores of great recipes).