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Living Low Carb

by Jonny Bowden, Barry Sears (Foreword)

4.23 · rating details · 30 ratings · 10 reviews

Living low carb just gets better and better This thorough revision of Jonny Bowden's comprehensive guide includes all the newest data that support the long-term health benefits of a contemporary low-carbohydrate eating plan.Bowden explains how low-carb diets work, and helps readers choose and customize the program that's best for their own long-term weight-loss and optima...more

Paperback, 360 pages

Published January 5th 2010 by Sterling (first published December 20th 2003)

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May 08, 2011

Jennifer rated it

Recommends it for: People interested in good health

Recommended to Jennifer by: Amazon

No wonder our country is gaining in girth. The low-fat diet is making us fat. The food pyramid is all wrong.

This book convincingly explains why so many Americans are overweight and unhealthy. Insulin makes us fat; eating sugar and starches produces insulin. This is the cause of heart problems and possibly other health conditions, including cancer. Eating low-carb foods and choosing high quality foods will produce weight loss and improved health. The right kinds of fat can help us...moreNo wonder our country is gaining in girth. The low-fat diet is making us fat. The food pyramid is all wrong.

This book convincingly explains why so many Americans are overweight and unhealthy. Insulin makes us fat; eating sugar and starches produces insulin. This is the cause of heart problems and possibly other health conditions, including cancer. Eating low-carb foods and choosing high quality foods will produce weight loss and improved health. The right kinds of fat can help us lose weight. Even saturated fats are not all bad in moderation, if eaten when the body is not producing huge quantities of insulin.

Accepting the theories of this book requires a major change in outlook. Our views about healthy eating are deeply ingrained--for some of us, over decades. The mainstream media (and our friends) are constantly reinforcing these wrong views. The author helps change that outlook by first explaining the history of dieting, and how the low-fat diet came to be. The author then explains in easy-to- understand English what eating the low-fat, high-carb diet does to our bodies, as well the good results from eating low carb. This explanation is convincing because it clearly explains the chemistry behind both ways of eating. Furthermore, it relies on numerous studies, including studies by respected doctors and universities. The explanation has endnotes with supporting information.

The book explains how the low-fat diet makes us fat. Eating sugar and starches produces insulin. (Starches, even whole grains, quickly convert to sugars.) In the process of dealing with the insulin, the body produces triglycerides (and other things). To deal with those chemicals, the body stores some fat in the liver (hence the increase in fatty liver disease in Americans), and puts the rest into fat cells. The fluctuating blood sugar levels that result cause us to crave more carbohydrates and to overeat, which further makes us fat.

In contrast, a low-carb diet promotes fat loss. First, it enables fat to be burned, because fewer carbohydrates are available to be burned (and the body burns carbs first). Second, the low-carb diet creates little insulin, which greatly reduces triglycerides and other chemicals in the blood that lead to fat deposits in the heart and elsewhere. Third, the low-carb diet does not make us hungry. Our blood chemistry does not create food cravings. And, eating fat helps us feel full and satisfied.

Much of the book is really about good health, more than weight loss. An important theme throughout is the need for good fats--primarily Omega-3s. Many of the oils in our current diet are Omega-6, which are not inherently bad, but our diets are out of balance, with too many Omega-6s and not enough Omega-3s. Most importantly, trans fats should be eliminated. Another important tip for good health is the importance of fiber in the diet.

A less useful part of the book (which the reader could skip) contains summaries of nearly 40 different low-carb diets. The author describes the diet and who might succeed with it and then gives ratings. Even this section provided some good insights about eating low carb.

The author dispels two common myths: First, this is low-carb eating, not no-carb eating. Carbs in vegetables are encouraged, and even some fruit can be eaten. Second, this is not all-you-can-eat dieting. Calories do have an effect, but do not necessarily have to be carefully counted.

The book also has an approach to eating that could work as well as the many diets summarized. This mainly lists the types of foods to eat and those to avoid, and urges consumption of water and fiber. In addition, the book has a very good chapter about supplements, both that help with weight loss, but more importantly that help with good health.

Local doctors are embracing this: while I was reading this book, a friend told me that her husband's cardiologist recommended a low carb diet. The husband followed it and lost 30 pounds by cutting out all sugar, flour, and so on. Another doctor told someone I know to lose weight, and to do that by eating low carb.

This is a fascinating book.

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Jan 19, 2012

Kimberly rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: health-fitness, own-copy

This is a great book to learn about popular low carb diets from an informative perspective to help make the best decision for someone who might need to reduce carbs in their diet. My conclusion was to explore either Atkins or South Beach Diet after reading it. However, there were several other diets detailed and for sure there has to be one that works for you- author breaks it by lifestyle, economics, etc. Finally, hopefully like me you'll feel that you were able to make in an informed decis...more

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Sep 25, 2011

Helen rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: health

Amazing book under unpretentious cover: comprehensive review of the history and available now low carbohydrates diets. Including the history of fallacy of the high carbohydrates and low fat diet.

Well supported, but not overburdened, short, clear, to the point. Emotional, humorous, tense, very informative. Especially at the beginning, history section. When reviewing popular diets, author is being rather diplomatic and polite without compromising essentials.

Written for a...moreAmazing book under unpretentious cover: comprehensive review of the history and available now low carbohydrates diets. Including the history of fallacy of the high carbohydrates and low fat diet.

Well supported, but not overburdened, short, clear, to the point. Emotional, humorous, tense, very informative. Especially at the beginning, history section. When reviewing popular diets, author is being rather diplomatic and polite without compromising essentials.

Written for a mass reader, it doesn't treat him as an uneducated simplemind (as so many similar books do), it doesn't oversimplifies ad nauseum and provides well selected essentials for making the informed choice for future progress.

Good handbook to give you a start when lean diets for weight loss failed, or if you are stuffed, bloated and starved, following "balanced and healthy" food pyramid recommendations. For those who have to look elsewhere in the search of solution for their problems.

Why some people are slim, no matter what they eat, and others are overweight on any of hight carb, lean meat diet, why both on the same calories diet have opposite consequences.

All types of diets fall generally into two categories: thermodynamic (calories count, "overindulgence at the table" as a reason of obesity) and hormonal (genetic or acquired inability to process carbohydrates as a cause of obesity). And what you can do about it, when everything else failed.

In depth hormones involvement for those who are interested, practical recommendations for those who have a problem to solve. FAQ, myths, troubleshooting, tricks of the trade, supplements. How these are different from verbose, bloated, oversimplified "good for you" nutrition and enzymotherapy books! Reviews of other, selected and recommended books and online sources, for reviewed diets was provided information about what book is best to start and which one has best in-depth coverage.

Author intentionally made book usable even if you open it in any place, you can find the useful information, and that you will be able to skip freely from one part to another, and succeed in this. Thumbs up!

For me, apart from general interest facts, was particularly useful to find similar to mine heath condition that was successfully solved a hundred years ago by dietary changes (one of diet controlled problems). There were many other examples, maybe there will be something for you.

Anyway, proper food is more affordable than full-scale enzymotherapy (Enzymes: Go with Your Gut book), it worth to try it first.

Highly recommended.(less)

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Jan 03, 2011

Loafingcactus rated it

Shelves: read-2011, library-out

The tone of the book is very collegial and kind as Bowden praises some diet authors, erm, more than others. The book is solid and grasps the few worthwhile ideas from each of the other books. I had read Bernstein first, amongst other things, so I had a good background in what was being discussed. Otherwise it may be a bit too note-like to follow easily.

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Aug 21, 2007

Jim rated it

· review of another edition

Recommends it for: anyone looking for a sensible weight loss program

Bowden is a certified nutritionist and trainer who gives sensible advice. He tells why low carb diets work physiologically and reviews the leading low carb diet plans on the market. This is the place to start if you are thinking about trying out South Beach or the Zone or a similar plan. Bowden also gives detailed reviews on what supplements are helpful for low carb dieting, especially those supplements that will give an extra boost to your metabolism. This is good advice from a level headed...more

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May 16, 2011

Julie rated it

Very interesting with great scientific/medical explanations.

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Aug 21, 2011

Lynneth rated it

· review of another edition

a good reference for those interested in low carb way of life. Helps one choose from the current low-carb plans or has tips in the back of the book for starting out on your own.

· see review

Aug 08, 2011

Laura rated it

· review of another edition

This book cuts to the chase on all the differenct low carb diets out there. You can read up on each one to see what might work for you. Low carbing is definitely the way to go!!

· see review

Mar 13, 2010

Les rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: cooking, non-fiction

This was the book I used to review the various low-carb diets and decide which one was right for me.

· see review

Aug 08, 2011

Elizabeth added it · review of another edition

Nicely sums up and rates various low carb plans -- very helpful.

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Feb 09, 2012

Sarah Battista marked it as to-read · review of another edition

Jan 27, 2012

Donna rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: 2012, diet-health, donna-womer-2012, non-fiction

Jan 22, 2012

Chris added it

Jan 19, 2012

Cindy rated it

· review of another edition

Jan 18, 2012

Dan Nuffer rated it

· review of another edition

Jan 05, 2012

Mo is currently reading it

Jan 02, 2012

Donna rated it

· review of another edition

Dec 25, 2011

Nevena marked it as to-read

Dec 10, 2011

Bill rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: nonfiction

Nov 29, 2011

Cory Kerr marked it as to-read

Nov 14, 2011

Alexei rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: health-med

Oct 27, 2011

Denise Rolon rated it

Oct 12, 2011

Sara marked it as to-read

Shelves: low-carb

Oct 23, 2011

Heather Roberts rated it

Aug 22, 2011

Linda rated it

Aug 09, 2011

Michelle marked it as to-read

Jul 28, 2011

Michele Longenbach rated it

· review of another edition

Jul 25, 2011

Michael Schraff rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: sports-and-nutrition

Jul 17, 2011

Michelle Williamson marked it as to-read

Jul 14, 2011

Nick marked it as to-read

Shelves: victuals-and-victims, being-of-sound-mind-and-body, at-the-liberry

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