In a nutshell, he claims that we should be eating a plant-based diet. He doesn't like the term 'vegan' because as he's met vegans who live on french fries and beer. Best foods: beans, berries, cruciferous vegetables, greens, nuts/seeds, whole grains, tea, coffee, and water. I can't say any of this was breaking news to me, but I was surprised that he was so against alcohol (including red wine), olive oil, seafood (including omega3 fish like salmon), and kimchi. He also didn't seem particularly impressed with nut milks. Some interesting recommendations were: 1 T flaxseed/day, 1/4t turmeric/day, and 4 Brazil nuts/month. I liked his 5:1 rule on whole grain foods. Divide carbs by fiber and quotient should equal 5 or less. I've been using this rule when buying any whole grain food and feel happy if I get a 7 or less!
Am I going to live (and die?) by this diet? No. I'm not giving up cheese or eggs or seafood. I'm going to continue to eat beef tenderloin on Christmas and make my annual pot of Cincinnati chili in January. And I can't imagine life without good champagne in it. But I will be more conscious of what I'm consuming, incorporate many of his suggestions, and just label myself a 'flexitarian' for now.
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| Some of the new things I'm doing include buying a big bag of kale every week. I can buy a pound for $2, which I think is really cheap! It's easy to add kale to salads, soups, and vegetable dishes. I decided to try my hand at kale chips. Above is the before picture. I drizzled olive oil and sprinkled it with seasonings. |
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| This is after I baked it at 350 degrees for 20 minutes. As you can see, it really shrinks up. The whole family was surprised at how good it was. Crispy and tasty. |
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| Another new thing I've been making is bowls. This one has baked haddock, corn, avocado, cherry tomatoes, black beans and cheesy riced broccoli. My husband and daughter were skeptical at first when I told them about this sort of dish, but after trying it, they jumped on board. |
If a diet makes you feel good, it is a good diet. No two bodies are the same. One thing for sure, sugar is bad, alcohol in excess is bass, probably anything in excess is bad. If I eat too much broccoli, spinach and other dark green vegetables they contribute to kidney stones...tea as well. At least that is what my doctor told me and I don;t want to go through those stones again. I with you on the gluten thing.
ReplyDeleteKidney stones are a nightmare. My husband has one that isn't budging. I agree that everyone's body is different and reacts differently. Just have to try your best.
DeleteNo one diet works for everyone. Have to do with what works best for you. Doesn't hurt to get more info though and to try and curb health issues.
ReplyDeleteI like learning more about things that directly affect me and this book had some good tips.
DeleteI had to change my diet when I found out I had diabetes. I still have some of the carbs I'm not supposed to have but I have to be happy about what I'm eating. lol
ReplyDeleteThat's the thing . . . I'm not about to give up certain things. Cut way back, yes, but not say never!
DeleteI'm always skeptical of one-size-fits-all solutions, including diets. Every individual has needs that differ from those on your left and those on your right. One of the greatest joys in life is finding that balance that makes YOU feel your best.
ReplyDeleteFor the record, Kale is amazingly easy to grow and is even better fresh-plucked! Um, unless you're Queenie. For her life has more joy when Kale-less.
The first half of the book has chapters specifically related to the top diseases. Quite in-depth.
DeleteI've never understood people who don't like certain lettuces. I actually like kale because it has some flavor! Most are flavorless to me (Romaine, spinach, butter)
Sounds pretty similar to the plan I lost 90 lb on, altho mine had fish and chicken. Flax-seed and turmeric are very familiar.
ReplyDeleteBut, uh. . . you know you're still gonna die, tho, right? ;)
People really criticize that title online. It cracked me up that so many focused on that.
DeleteI've read some diet advice books and believe that a little bit of everything that you enjoy is a good thing. I finally realized I had to cut back (though not give up!) on sugar. I eat what my husband calls a "semi-vegetarian" diet - I like chicken and seafood and have it a few times a week. But I also love a lot of vegetarian dishes.
ReplyDeleteI don't think we understand yet how much various herbs and spices can influence our well-being. My husband still balks at thyme tea for a cough, but he's adopted the flax seed and chia seeds in our daily breakfast oatmeal, along with a few walnuts.
This book sounds interesting. I'll have to look for it.
My response to criticism to a title like that (or something similar, prompting an "we all will die of something") always is, "It's not how or when we die - it's how WELL we live until we die."
There is an interesting section in the book promoting the use of herbs/spices. I've been adding cinnamon to more things and drinking a lot more herbal teas. You are probably a flexitarian like me!
DeleteYour meal in the final photograph looks AMAZING! With the exception of the haddock, those are things I eat almost every single day. As you know, I don't eat meat or fish. And not because I think they're unhealthy or anything, it's just that I don't like them. Never have. I've always just been a natural vegetarian because I like vegetables, nuts, grains, beans, etc. I could never be vegan though because I ADORE cheese!
ReplyDeleteI also LOVE kale. OMG...I love it! I sometimes eat it alone or will mix it in with my salads.
"....but I was surprised that he was so against alcohol (including red wine), olive oil...."
There is no way in hell I could ever give up any of those things.
Over the past 10 years, as far as my eating goes, I eat or drink whatever I want...in moderation.
But I do take supplements (vitamins and a probiotic). I know that's where you and I differ. But that's okay because we're all different; therefore, need different things.
Great post, my friend! Enjoyed! X
I generally eat a lot of the same things everyday, too, like tomatoes, avocados, nuts, broccoli and kale. LOL...I couldn't give up wine either. That's crazy talk!
DeleteNot sure I could follow his diet recommendations. I would miss my protein and in what he listed to eat, I didn't find anything that would take the place of it. I do like those bowl concepts; so much variety you could put together in them too.
ReplyDeletebetty
Nuts and beans take the place of proteins. He recommends 3 servings a day of beans, but one serving could be hummus, so there's that!
Deletelook delicious...I should try your diet
ReplyDeleteNow I'm trying to change it up on using new fruits/vegetables for variety.
DeleteThere are so many nutrition fads out there I tend to ignore all nutrition books and Jenny and I just try to have a diet that's as vegan and as well-balanced as possible. We both like kale and we used to eat it virtually every day at one time. But I think my favourite vegetable is still broccoli.
ReplyDeleteI love broccoli, especially when it gets a little crispy from roasting in the oven. My fave vegetables would be anything in the squash family because it's so versatile.
Deletebroccoli is one of my favorite vegetables
DeleteWow, not enough nuts for me (five a month?). I do like Kale and never realized I could be Vegan and eat fries and drink beer (that's knowledge I didn't need to know)
ReplyDeletebtw, in my latest post, I also reviewed a cookbook, but probably not one nearly as healthy, but I recommend it for the stories (that part is calorie free)
www.thepulpitandthepen.com
No, he highly recommends nuts, but only 4 Brazil nuts a month because of the possibility of selenium overdose. I will check out your blog!
DeleteNo wine?!? Oh, hell no! But seriously, Bijoux, I think it's great that you're trying to eat healthier, but you don't have to full-on granola head either.
ReplyDeleteI, too, like fish, eggs, and wine. I understand the importance of a healthy diet, but being miserable every time the dinner bell rings doesn't sound very healthy to me.
Good luck with your eating goals and you've got to invite me down for that Cincinnati chili!!
Cincinnati chili is the best! My husband's parents were from Cincy and that's how I was introduced to its deliciousness.
DeleteOmgosh. I lost 10lbs while on vacation - my kids eat healthier than I do and are waaaay more active - and I came home thinking of trying a different way of eating. The carnivore diet caught my eye. Nothing but meat.. I might be able to do that but I haven't committed just yet. I have until Monday to decide. I know for certain. I won't be eating just veggies. I have a sweet tooth and chocolate is my kryptonite! :D
ReplyDeleteOh dear! The Carnivore diet would be the opposite of this!
DeleteMy integrative care doc has referenced this guy before but even he (and he's an ovo-vegetarian), told me to eat fatty fish. I do think there is much of value in this book, even if I think he overstates the vegan case. But I've cut way back on chicken and make a lot more fully vegetarian meals. I eat lots of kale and other cruciferous veggies. But I'm not cutting out alcohol completely or cheese. Also, my IC guy wants me eating TWO tablespoons of flax a day. At first I thought I couldn't do that, but now every day I have a bowl of oatmeal with 2 T flax, some cinnamon, and a variety of nuts and dried fruit. And fresh berries if I have them. And it's delicious. Good for you for trying to adapt your eating style some. And I'm with Pixel Peeper that "It's not how or when we die - it's how WELL we live until we die."
ReplyDeleteI've been adding cinnamon to my Greek yogurt and oatmeal, as well as the flaxseed. I can't taste the flaxseed and barely notice the texture. I'm findng that I really enjoy all the new foods I'm incorporating, like the kale and green tea. And I'm not missing the junk!
DeleteIt's amazing how quickly diet fads come and go as our understanding of nutrition evolves. Remember when eggs were supposedly bad for you and low-fat diets were all the rage? That caused people to turn to carbs and sugar and contributed to the obesity epidemic and higher rates of diabetes. I know from firsthand experience! My philosophy is, eat what you want (in moderation, of course) and get plenty of exercise.
ReplyDeleteThat's not a terrible philosophy!
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