I'm Mad As Hell, and I'm Not Going to Eat it Anymore: Taking Control of Your Health and Your Life--One Vegan Recipe at a Time

by Christina Pirello

Christina Pirello, chef, teacher, award-winning television host, and vocal advocate for healthy living, is mad as hell-and she's going to do something about it! In this, her most ambitious and passionate book to date, Pirello takes on the food establishment, big pharma, marketers, the government, and nongovernmental health agencies in a sweeping and well-argued indictment of the roles these organizations play in the demise of our collective health, our health care system, and our planet. But she goes beyond an angry diatribe to show you how you can take responsibility for your own health and well-being even in the face of overwhelming odds. Step by step, Pirello guides you to an understanding of the causes of this country's major health problems and offers solutions that show how to create change, whether you are taking the first tentative steps toward healthier eating or are ready for a full- on commitment to embracing a completely plant-based diet and vegan lifestyle. Armed with the information and advice that Pirello has presented in her accessible signature style, which has already garnered tens of thousands of loyal fans for her books, shows, and articles, anyone will be able to take those first critical steps on the way to total health and wellness. As practical as it is inspirational, this book also features cooking techniques, advice for stocking a pantry, and more than 125 vegan recipes, including "makeovers" of family favorites.

Genres: Food, Cookbooks, Vegan, Nonfiction, Cooking, Vegetarian

352 pages, Paperback

First published January 3, 2012

About the author

Christina Pirello is a dynamic personality: a woman who discovered the value of healthy eating when, at age 26, she survived leukemia after changing her diet dramatically. She's an expert chef, author and Emmy Award-winning television personality who is passionate about eating a plant-based diet to prevent cancer, diabetes, obesity, heart disease and other health-related epidemics.
She also believes that a plantbased diet will help you look and feel younger and more vibrant. With a Masters Degree in Nutrition, she has a broad knowledge of the science of nutrition. Christina believes that much of the information released today is influenced by corporate interest rather than biological facts or in the interest of the health of humanity. She responds ardently every time a news story comes out about how to cure America's health problems. In addition to being the keynote speaker for the United States Defense Department's food service convention, Christina hosts her own national public television show, "Christina Cooks" and has been a regular guest on numerous occasions or network news and daytime talk shows.

Reviews

[Kristina · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked this book up to give me some insight into why my husband turned vegan. Unfortunately she didn't really tell me anything that Michael Pollan hasn't already told me, but in that fanatic sort of way that turns me off from her message. She didn't convinve me that meat, dairy and eggs are the true reason that we have so many health problems, only that the way our agricultural system works. I still feel that if we could get away from corporate farming, chemical additives, GMO's, government subsidies and instead return to a more natural, local way of farming we could improve the quality of the animal products we eat. Including the humanity with which we treat them. I also believe we do eat far too much of these animal products, when historically meat and dairy would have been luxury items. I do think our diets should be mainly plant based foods, but I still think we need meat especially. Chimps, our closest living relatives trade sexual favors in order to secure meat. If that doesn't say something about us and our evolution I don't have anything else to convince you.

[Kristin · Rating 3 out of 5]

There was some pseudoscience, and the recipes were mostly lackluster, but it could be helpful if you are completely new to healthy eating.

[Lindsey · Rating 3 out of 5]

You won't learn much here if you're already health minded. Maybe it will just give you some motivation to continue on or get back on track. She covers the basics: what to be sure to eat organic beyond just the same old dirty dozen/clean fifteen (that section was valuable; I learned that conventional pinto beans have very little pesticide residues, so I can stick with the cheap dog food bag sized pinto beans in the Mexican aisle at the grocery store), what to eat in each season, what foods have an alkaline effect in the body, etc. I don't entirely agree with her idea of a healthy diet though. She advocates whole foods because she is a total alarmist about most non-whole food ingredients, yet she uses lots of oil in the recipes but tells you to limit yourself to one piece of whole fruit a day?? BS! Even Dr. McDougall and Dr. Fuhrman, who aren't exactly fruit pushers, recommend 3 pieces a day if you want it. I guess it's just her obvious macrobiotic background talking. The buttloads of seaweed in the ingredients section, the daikon (blech), and the brown rice syrup give it away.

I wavered between two and three stars, I guess it's 2.5. It started out a 2, but the reminder to eat more alkaline-forming foods was a good one for me, so that's why I rounded up. Some of the recipes looked pretty tasty and simple too. And I adored the tribute to her husband in the acknowledgments section. I think it was the best piece of writing in the whole book. "Finally, to my husband, Robert. After twenty-seven years of being together night and day, day and night, you still take my breath away. Your kindness, optimism, passion, love, and pure soul make life worth living I am not sure how I feel about marriage as a concept, but with you, it's perfection. I could not do what I do without you. I love you."

[Judy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Let me start by stating how much I adore Christina Pirello. I am a huge fan and have many of her books.

I was not so impressed with this book. Based on the title, I understand she wanted to get some frustration out, but I felt she went on, and on, and on so much I was quite bored after several pages. I really don't want to hear the ranting, just give me facts and explanations. Without the ranting, I think I may have been able to get some meat-eaters to read it. I have slowly been able to get many of my friends to eat less meat and healthier foods. I only was able to accomplish this with facts and sugar.

That being said, the book has some great information about being Vegan, so I gave it three stars (I liked it).

[Deb · Rating 4 out of 5]

You do not have to be vegan (I'm not) in order to learn from this book. Christina discusses how food is grown, how it is ruining our health, how the food affects our brains, etc. Very informative and sound advice. Recipes that are easy and delicious are included in this book. Also explains about balancing alkalines and acidic foods in your system to get optimum energy. Once you read this book, you'll never look at food the same again. Plus u might not want to consume some foods when u find out what they do to your system.

[Bonnie · Rating 2 out of 5]

If you are new to the vegan/vegetarian/whole foods world, I would recommend picking up one of Dr. Joel Fuhrman's books, or even "The Kind Diet" by Alicia Silverstone. I fear if you start with Pirello's "Mad as Hell", you're going to be turned off by the rant-y approach. If you want more information on the vegan world from an environmental point of view, this would be a good book. I thought it was OK, but the tone was too over the top for me.

[hadar · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is amazing. It literally changed my life. I learned most of what I know about veganism from this book. Pirello is funny and full of personality and I learned so much from her about the food industry, the science of food and nutrition, and lots of awesome recipes/tricks for making veganism a lot less daunting. I AM A HAPPY VEGAN

[Deb · Rating 3 out of 5]

A little "ranty" as you can guess from the title but a good resource for a new vegan in terms of why to eat vegan, what to eat, cooking vegan, etc. Most of the 125 recipes are easy enough.

[Alisha Hanson Glatzel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing insight into food, something so basic that is not simple at all.
Love her recipes and have really enjoyed the rest of the book as well.

[Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

Compared to other vegan cookbooks this one was just ok, but it was great as an informational vegan book!