[.ca] No Grain Diet (ISBN 0452285089)

From Amazon.com:
Impressively modern in design, The No-Grain Diet brings a realistic viewpoint to the problems of weight loss in a genuine effort to improve the health of an ever-growing number of obese Americans. Offering a variety of "food plans," along with a set of techniques aimed at controlling emotional eating and cravings for "bad" foods, Dr. Joseph Mercola clearly understands how to motivate us--in one section, he suggests that rather than "living by the scale," we measure our success in relation to the fit of our favorite pair of slightly-too-snug jeans. Many recipes are included, most of which are free of the boring flavor substitutes so common in diet books. The diet itself combines several familiar concepts. The "no grain" model emphasizes organic vegetables and quality protein, with limited fruits and absolutely no simple carbs. Mercola's idea of "quality protein" is somewhat startling--he is deeply concerned about toxins, and urges grass-fed beef over potentially mercury-filled fish. His main point is frequently reinforced: refined grains of any type are basically deadly and eating them should be viewed as an unhealthy addiction. Here, the book veers off in a new direction: rather than gently nudging our habits in a new direction, he suggests we break what he insists is an addictive cycle with a method called "EFT," or "Emotional Freedom Technique." As a way to avoid surrendering to desires, his system of tapping acupressure points and repeating affirmations is used to overcome them. While repeat dieters will understand the necessity of examining emotional ties to food, Mercola's voice becomes a tad strident, and possibly downright offensive to those with a different opinion on what constitutes an addiction. --Jill Lightner

Where has the concept of balanced eating gone?:
I found this book in the library and checked it out because I was curious about the accupressure techniques. I already knew, and had been trying, the basics of low-carb eating for several months, but had not been able to get past the cravings for comfort foods such as mashed potatoes, a steaming bowl of real oatmeal on a cold winter's night, acorn squash, brown rice, thick crusty slices of fresh organic whole grain bread, and just out of the oven chocolate chip cookies. This book had the opposite effect on me from the concept it was trying to prove. It helped me to think about food in a different way. What was making me such a "bad" person that I couldn't stay with a low-carb plan? Was I really addicted to carbs like an alcoholic is to alcohol, as this book states? Did I really need to use a technique the rest of my life to abstain from foods that certain so called experts have decided are bad for us? What if there is another explanation for what has been going on for the past 20-30 years. What if our bodies actually have the ability to let us know when our habits have become unbalanced. What if cravings for real food (not junk) are actually the result of the huge increase in the consumption of processed convenience foods. I've certainly consumed my share over the years. We are, everyone of us, individuals with individual needs. The problem with each diet program that is promoted, including vegetarianism, is that only a portion of the population can thrive on it. It is just plain misleading to state that a particular way of eating is best for everyone. Could it be that the real reason a person isn't able to stay with a diet in which a part of the food chain is missing is because this person's body needs those foods to thrive? This book promotes an extreme and unrealistic plan for eating, then states that it must be used for the rest of your life to keep weight off. While I now eat mostly organic foods, Mercola takes even this a step further by stating that only grass fed beef should be eaten, that grain fed beef could make you fat. The constant reminders to only use this and not use that in his recipes was extremely annoying. The recommended foods list was confusing and contradicted itself in several places. And I was put off by the general tone of arrogance that ran throughout this book. Do we really need another "expert" making money off of people by promoting fears about food and insisting that their's is the "right" weight loss plan? Take a long look around. None of the ideas promoted by the weight loss industry have worked long term, have they. Canada has a national program guideline called Vitality. The concepts are: Eat well. (To me that means concentrate on real foods for the majority of my meals.) Live actively. (What do I enjoy doing that gets me moving around?) Think well of yourself. (Accepting yourself as you are right now is how long lasting changes have a chance to begin.) Do you think you could live the rest of your life eating well, living actively and thinking well of yourself (and others)? How about making our own choices instead of following someone else's rigid plan? Please listen to your own body. Pay attention to how you feel when you eat this or that. This is what I chose to do. Now the extra weight and inches are beginning to come off of me on their own.

I just don't trust it....:
As a previous patient of Dr. Mercola, I experienced being put on a program which basically drained me financially. A high number of tests were recommended and taken, and one treatment ended up being very painful for me, which I later found out was completely unnecessary. Needless to say, I had a very bad experience at his clinic, spent lots of money (nothing was covered by insurance), and got no better. It's difficult for me to trust what this person says or writes. Also, the products he recommends are the same ones he sells via certain manufacturers/distributors through his website. He's a business like any other business, and what is the bottom line for most businesses? I'm sure we all know that one...

Let's go!:
I'm a fan of Dr. Mercola. I've had a myriad of different problems from my lungs and sinuses to acid reflux and joint problems. After being sick for an ENTIRE winter I finally decided I'd try anything...including "gasp" changing my diet. Stumbling on the websight mercola.com, I was sucked in. It just makes sense. Back when we were wandering around and evolving all we could eat were vegetables above the ground and protein we killed. Also, we didn't sit down for three meals a day, but ate when we could and when we were actually hungry. As far as the guy talking about the Japanese he must be kidding. I lived in Japan for two years and what he said is a GIANT misnomer. Sure they eat rice, but they don't eat the sweets, and ultra over processed foods like we do over here. It isn't that we eat grains so much is we don't eat enough vegetables and on top of it we eat the wrong kind of grains. Japanese live longer because they have a much more balanced point of view on life, eat more fish protein (balanced Omega-3 to Omega-6 count) and plain out eat healthier. I dare you to even try to compare the school lunches here with there. Fresh fruit, fish, milk, and a bowl of rice vs. mexican pizza and chocolate milk. Need I say more?

Absolute Garbage:
I have read several of Dr Mercola's unscientific remarks on diets and he has paid no attention to the global consequences of his advice. Just as crazy at the Atkins Diet which will increase colon cancer, coronary artery disease not to mention hemorrhoids and gout, this kind of nonsense will pan out in about 2010 and then everyone will realize just how ridiculous we were to even listen! I'm a physician and I know, just like Dr Spock and Dr Osche that only a vegetarian diet will make you live the healthiest and the longest and the happiest. I would love to give you more proof here but I would urge all potential 'sucked-in' consumers to do their homework and research Mercola, Atkins and all the other flim-flam artists before they buy into their latest snake-oil remedy. It's you're choice but please ask yourselves: do you feel lucky?

THE NO-GRAIN DIET IS DYNAMITE!!!:
THE NO-GRAIN DIET IS DYNAMITE!!! I've been hearing so much about low carb diets that I couldn't resist trying to find out what they're all about, and that led me to Joseph Mercola and Alison Rose Levy's THE NO-GRAIN DIET! THE NO-GRAIN DIET IS THE BEST BOOK ABOUT NUTRITION I'VE EVER READ!!! What makes it so special? Well, for starters, the two writers go the extra mile to talk about A thorough health program, not just what's wrong with eating grain, and include lots of pointers on how to live better, like with pointers about how to sleep better at night--restrict outside light!!!--and Mercola and Levy hit home with anybody who's ever drank soda or fruit juice when they go on an all out assault on sugar, which is targeted as THE ENEMY!!! THE NO-GRAIN DIET makes it simple:avoid eating foods that can easily be converted into sugar, and avoid sugar, and you'll protect your teeth and gums, you'll help prevent high blood pressure, and you might just live longer, too! And Mercola and Levy tell you in plain English how following their system will help you to lose weight, or at least, avoid unhealthy weight gain, like by preventing your stomach from becoming a bread factory! THE NO-GRAIN DIET IS DYNAMITE!!! Chari Krishnan RESEARCHKING