Diet Book Reviews.

Thousands of diet books are on the market. There are so many weight loss programs and theories that it is difficult to choose one, and stick with the plan.

I do collect books of all kinds, and read many books while doing research for this website. Some of the books I've read recently are shown below, with a few of my personal comments.

Dr. Atkins' New Diet Revolution
by Robert C. Atkins, M.D.

(Please see the page devoted to this book and the low-cal diet phenomenon. Click here.)

Michel Montignac Recipes and Menus
by Michel Montignac

This is the French answer to the refined sugar and fat problem. This book has taken the continent by storm, but is just recently translated into this English edition. At times one is aware of the translation, when a few parts slow down.

Mr Montignac has built his best-selling diet book around the Glycemic Index Chart that is used by diabetics. Perhaps for this reason this diet has been branded a low-carb diet by those who haven't actually read it. Mr Monignac does not believe the low-carb diet to be safe, and carefully substitutes healthy whole-grains, beans and other unrefined carbohydrates, rather than giving them up. This diet appears to be very well-rounded, and the recipes are excellent.

The Town the Lost a Ton
by Clemen, Kirkwood, Schell and Myerson

This is truly inspiring. It really makes me wish I had the leadership skills to put this book into practice where I work (we may have more people in our four buildings thant they hae in Dyersville, Iowa). Four women who work in the local hospital got together and created a plan that energized Dyersville and several towns close by. After enough of the people in these towns had signed up and gone through the simple supportive program, even the McDonalds started selling healthy food.

I tend to believe that the obesity epidemic is not caused by something wrong with our human bodies, but by something very wrong with our food supply. This book shows that the companies that supply our food will listen if enough people band together and create a market for healthy food.

The book is broken up into chapters that follow the 10 week plan, and includes the information and inspiration that is needed to recreate this program in your own city or company. Well worth the read.

The Fasting Diet
by Steven Bailey, M.D.

(Please see the page devoted to this book and fasting for weight loss. Click here.)

The Ice Cream Diet
by Holly McCord, M.A., R.D.

When I first saw the title of this book (and the picture of a scoop of chocolate-drizzled vanilla ice cream on the cover) my first reaction was "you've got to be kidding."

Then I saw that it had been written by the nutrition editor of Prevention magazine. And that they claim the diet not only allows you to lose weight, but it also is supposed to lower your blood pressure, cut your colon cancer risk, and reduce your PMS symptoms. How? By getting you to eat an adequate amount of calcium, which comes in the frozen dairy products that make up a portion of this limited-calorie diet.

Am I convinced? No, not even close. This diet seems to have been created with the sole purpose of tapping into our natural, instinctive cravings for sugar and fat. However, I am actually glad I read this book, because it led me to do more research into the weight-reducing potential of calcium. I have become so excited about the research, and the very results that they're finding, that I've written a separate page on this website about it.

If you'd like to know more about calcium and how it can speed your weight loss when your on your (reasonable, non-ice-cream) diet, you would do well to read this book. The main idea may be silly, but the book is well written and hold your attention all the way through.

Fit for Life
by Harvey and Marilyn Diamond

This is one of the oldies on my bookshelf, but I still go back to it on a regular basis, just for the excellent recipes. I even included Marilyn's recipe for the New York Goodwich in one of my first newsletters. (To read it, click here.)

Some people find that the combination-style diet is too complicated, and that the preparation of this mainly vegetarian diet takes longer than most people have in this busy world. And that's unfortunate, because everyone I've ever known who has tried this weight loss plan has admitted they felt better than they had in years, even though they don't follow the plan any more. To get the same health benefits and the same burst of vitality, you might want to consider the books by Dr Dean Ornish instead.

The False Fat Diet
by Elson M. Haas, M.D. and Cameron Stauth

This book is really more about food allergies and toxicity than it is about weight loss. And Dr. Haas admits that the first ten pounds you drop in a few weeks is probably all water.

But that's probably true of all diets - and this one explains why all that extra water is really not good for you. Well written, good source of information, especailly about common food sensitivities such as wheat flour.

For a listing of all the best-selling weight loss books, click here.

Jonni Good is the author of most of the original articles on this site. Jonni always looks for the easy way to solve common health problems, by working with human nature. Her books have helped hundreds of people lose weight, get fit, and regain their health - with less struggle. Please take a moment to visit her other sites:

Do You Gain Weight... Even when you eat less than your thinner friends? Learn why it happens, and how to use nutritious, satisfying food to break the metabolic pattern that causes some people to gain weight too easily.

Sugar Cravings and Addiction – Describes a simple program to help people break their addiction to sugar and fat. This book has been popular ever since it came out in 2003, and has helped hundreds of people lose their cravings for sugar and other simple carbs. Once the cravings are under control, it's easier to stick with your diet and regain your health.

Weight Lifting for Absolute Beginners – A guide to lifting weights for strong muscles and bones.

The Easy-Does-It Diet – A guide to creating your own delicious and healthy frozen diet meals. Eat healthy, low-fat meals without paying extra for store-bought frozen diet food.

Disclaimer: This site and the articles contained here are for information purposes only. The authors have made every effort to make sure the information is accurate, but no health decisions should ever be made based on this or any other website. Please contact your doctor before starting any diet or exercise program.

Diet Book Reviews.

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