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Perfect Health Diet: Regain Health and Lose Weight by Eating the Way You Were Meant to Eat
Suffering from chronic illness and unable to get satisfactory results from doctors, husband and wife scientists Paul and Shou-Ching Jaminet took an intensely personal interest in health and nutrition. They embarked on five years of rigorous research. What they found changed their lives— and the lives of thousands of their readers.
In Perfect Health Diet, the Jaminets expla ...more
In Perfect Health Diet, the Jaminets expla ...more
Hardcover, 448 pages
Published
December 11th 2012
by Scribner
(first published October 12th 2010)
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Community Reviews
(showing 1-30)
Don't let the somewhat corny title of this book put you off. This book is a wonderful and very simple introduction to real healthy eating for anyone currently eating a average-quality diet.
Great things about this book:
1. For those that just want the facts super-fast this book gives you a one page summary of the eating plan within the first 6 pages of the book. The book also contains lots of extra information backing up their conclusions as well, for those that want it.
2. This book is about eatin ...more
Great things about this book:
1. For those that just want the facts super-fast this book gives you a one page summary of the eating plan within the first 6 pages of the book. The book also contains lots of extra information backing up their conclusions as well, for those that want it.
2. This book is about eatin ...more
Great paleo diet. I’ve been low carb for years - this is the first book to convince me to put some carbs back in my diet with solid and methodical scientific reasoning and footnotes. Highly recommend to any who are Paleo-inclined.
This is my current thing. Yes, you do need some starches. Very technical. The ebook sample is 50 pages. I'm only following it half-assedly. Stomach lining for dinner anyone? I'm on the fence about beans, but wheat was gone already. For whatever your food plan, if you're not feeling good, you're doing it wrong. I don't know if I can fast from 8pm to noon. I have enough trouble not eating between the 8 hours of attempted sleep.
Eww!
Scientists have begun to carefully analyze the "human microbiome" a ...more
Eww!
Scientists have begun to carefully analyze the "human microbiome" a ...more
Despite the rather tacky title, Perfect Health Diet by Paul and Shou-Ching Jaminet is quite worth your while, especially if you're interested in healthy eating and even more so is you're already familiar with the low carb and paleo concepts. The eating plan (PHD) outlined in the book is a modification of the paleo diet which introduces the concept of "safe starches" and emphasizes rather heavily the significance of the right amount of carbohydrates for good health. The Jaminets define PHD as a l
...more
Everyone should read this book.
The Jaminets have outdone themselves bringing together anthropological and historical data, evolutionary biology, mammalian biology, the nutritional content of breast-milk, and other sources of data to form a strong foundational blueprint for a what the default human diet looks like. They then apply this hermeneutic to every aspect of the human diet - macronutrients, micronutrients, toxins, diet strategies for specific health issues, etc - combining copious referen ...more
The Jaminets have outdone themselves bringing together anthropological and historical data, evolutionary biology, mammalian biology, the nutritional content of breast-milk, and other sources of data to form a strong foundational blueprint for a what the default human diet looks like. They then apply this hermeneutic to every aspect of the human diet - macronutrients, micronutrients, toxins, diet strategies for specific health issues, etc - combining copious referen ...more
This is the nutrition book for smart, intelligent folks who understand data. Not condescending or too folksy in tone as many "diet books" can be. Well written and comprehensive with some conclusive thinking on sticky issue - role of 'ketogenic' diets, low carb or moderate carb?, and which supplements are actually healthy.
Frankly their discussion on safe carbs is really quite helpful. This book will definitely serve as a future resource.
Frankly their discussion on safe carbs is really quite helpful. This book will definitely serve as a future resource.
Please read this book. You owe it to yourself.
Most nutrition books do a poor job of linking to research and shy away from the science. This does the opposite and comes up with a startlingly different conclusion.
It is largely the reason why I've managed to lose 30 lbs.
Fat is not as bad as you think it is.
Most nutrition books do a poor job of linking to research and shy away from the science. This does the opposite and comes up with a startlingly different conclusion.
It is largely the reason why I've managed to lose 30 lbs.
Fat is not as bad as you think it is.
First, I couldn't finish it, and I ended up browsing and skimming. If you feel that doesn't qualify me to review it, please stop reading now.
The science in this book is questionable, and it's conclusions are complete leaps. For example the assertion is made we can use starvation to examine what should make up a healthy diet. Proportions are given are given for a human bodies constituent nutrients, and the conclusion is reached this must be pretty close to a healthy diet. I saw no mention of the, ...more
The science in this book is questionable, and it's conclusions are complete leaps. For example the assertion is made we can use starvation to examine what should make up a healthy diet. Proportions are given are given for a human bodies constituent nutrients, and the conclusion is reached this must be pretty close to a healthy diet. I saw no mention of the, ...more
I leave reviews exceedingly rarely. I am trying to change that habit, and what better place to start than with my all-time-favorite book on nutrition.
Paul Jaminet has the most rational approach to nutrition I have ever seen. He is not afraid of complexity, which unfortunately is not a characteristic that sells many books or starts diet crazes. But in a world of knee-jerk headlines about the latest correlation-sans-cause diet study ("Diet Coke causes obesity!"), Paul's framework for nutrition is ...more
Paul Jaminet has the most rational approach to nutrition I have ever seen. He is not afraid of complexity, which unfortunately is not a characteristic that sells many books or starts diet crazes. But in a world of knee-jerk headlines about the latest correlation-sans-cause diet study ("Diet Coke causes obesity!"), Paul's framework for nutrition is ...more
Okay. This is going to be a really obnoxious review, but I have to go there to give the Jaminets their due. I have an unnatural obsession with avoiding my imminent demise to the point that somewhere along the way I convinced myself that if I read enough about health, I'd live forever. Still holding out hope for this strategy; it's one of several I'm currently trying. In the meantime, I have read more than I care to admit about diet, and I read much of the health research that is released every d
...more
Apr 14, 2013
David Ranney
rated it
it was amazing
Recommends it for:
Literally everyone
Shelves:
top-50-non-fiction
A thorough and impeccably-conceived survey of the anatomical and biological purpose of nutrient consumption from an evolutionary perspective. Written with clarity and no wasted words, Perfect Health Diet weeds through a hundred years of industry misinformation to arrive at these basic food tenets: what your body expects, what your body needs (and doesn't need), and how to get it. It's not about losing weight, it's about a sustainable paradigm shift that will allow the overworked body to reach it
...more
I eventually stopped reading it. I think I am stuck in the pales style low carb mindset an their suggestion to eat 4 fistfuls of starches daily after providing all the preliminary research showing how our ancestors basically lived low carb and how we are not even designed to digest carbs - somehow they have lost me there. To continue reading while having to disagree and modify their prescribed diet just felt like a waste of time so I stopped half way. They do present a ketogenic version of their
...more
I picked this book because I wanted to better understand how the body uses different types of food, which it did, but it also convinced me to try giving up wheat and vegetable oils and to start eating more fish and fat. I'd highly recommend this book to anyone looking to eat better.
As a proponent of the Paleo lifestyle, this book was a natural draw for me. I enjoyed their scientific explanations, and especially appreciated their treatment of supplements. I'm excited to add in the "safe starches" and see how I feel. Overall, I enjoyed the book very much!
Good rationality but I'm still not ready for "safe starches"
Essential reading for knowing what to put in your body. Best book I've ever read on diet.
I generally think that much of nutritional science is a scam, and the title of this book seems to indicate it'd be more of the same, but I was more than pleasantly surprised with it. It did an amazing job of taking a very complex topic and breaking it down in a way that was both detailed and approachable. It combines evolutionary thinking with the results from modern scientific experiments to share a perspective on how to eat healthily. The only downside is that at times, it makes some leaps fro
...more
This book was very scientific, but provided great amount of detailed information about why certain foods are counter productive to health. My take away - certain decline in health is NOT inevitable as you age, it's a lifetime of toxins that have accumulated in your body that causes "aging".
an eye opener, written with health in mind (as opposed to sporting bravado)
fantastic
Highly interesting book, both directly and in a meta way. It reads more like popular science than a self help book. The fundamental premise of this book is that there is an optimal amount of every nutrient, and that the detrimental effects of deviating from that value increases exponentially.
For instance there is an optimal amount of water, let say 1 liter a day. If you drink less, you suffer from some negative side effects, maybe headaches. As the amount of water you get decreases the body has ...more
For instance there is an optimal amount of water, let say 1 liter a day. If you drink less, you suffer from some negative side effects, maybe headaches. As the amount of water you get decreases the body has ...more
My starting point to learn about macro and micronutrients and the actual chemistry of how your body utilizes these nutrients. Since I've had so many weird food reactions over the years, this was crazy helpful to understand my path toward reclaiming my health. A must read for anyone wanting to be their healthiest self.
Bought it, read most of it, and returned it the very same day.
The diet they advocate is paleo + rice and potatoes. I just saved you $12.00, and you can send that to me via check, cash, or paypal. You can find out their diet specifics on their website for free, or you can just google "paleo" and do your own research on the latest fad. Which is exactly what paleo is, in my opinion. A fad.
Cutting out junk food and eating whole foods is great, and yes, it's most likely way healthier for you, but th ...more
The diet they advocate is paleo + rice and potatoes. I just saved you $12.00, and you can send that to me via check, cash, or paypal. You can find out their diet specifics on their website for free, or you can just google "paleo" and do your own research on the latest fad. Which is exactly what paleo is, in my opinion. A fad.
Cutting out junk food and eating whole foods is great, and yes, it's most likely way healthier for you, but th ...more
Although this book is FULL of information and cites hundreds of studies to support its claims, it is not fun to read through. And, after awhile, it all starts to run together (as Gary Larson wrote, "Blah, blah, blah, Ginger). That's not even including additional notes, which the authors say are available for each chapter on their website. At least chapters tend to wrap up with a take-home message that gives you the gist of what they're recommending.
I think some of their conclusions are quite so ...more
I think some of their conclusions are quite so ...more
By far the BEST diet book I've ever read, not just because the authors are scientists with the ability to dig into all the cold hard facts and synthesize research results but because it looks not just at nutrition but toxins. That's right - toxins. They are the other side of the coin that lurks inside everything we eat. What the Jaminets do is weigh the pros and cons of different foods to find which contain the highest nutrient density with the lowest toxicity. They then balance that with nutrit
...more
Finally finished this! Fell out of my reading habit for a while, long story short, but happy to be back.
Anyway, the book was super awesome. I'd put it right up there with 'Good Calories, Bad Calories' in terms of health/nutrition books. Both are very scientific, which is something I deeply appreciate/respect/want. Studies and research are cited as it goes along, and calculations done as well on nutrient profiles, etc. A bit less so than GCBC, but that sets an almost impossibly high bar, so this ...more
Anyway, the book was super awesome. I'd put it right up there with 'Good Calories, Bad Calories' in terms of health/nutrition books. Both are very scientific, which is something I deeply appreciate/respect/want. Studies and research are cited as it goes along, and calculations done as well on nutrient profiles, etc. A bit less so than GCBC, but that sets an almost impossibly high bar, so this ...more
Notes:
*a scientifically-based scam -- another detox diet pitched as a lifestyle
*an attempt to convince you that you were meant to eat like a caveman that evolved from apes; heavy emphasis on evolution
*18+ supplements are necessary!!!!! EIGHTEEN!!!! eight are daily!
*bone broth is not going to help you with your calcium needs -- just one of many poorly researched items of this book
*enjoy leftovers mixed with 3 egg yolks for lunch every day for the rest of your life -- that's the meal plan folks
*up ...more
*a scientifically-based scam -- another detox diet pitched as a lifestyle
*an attempt to convince you that you were meant to eat like a caveman that evolved from apes; heavy emphasis on evolution
*18+ supplements are necessary!!!!! EIGHTEEN!!!! eight are daily!
*bone broth is not going to help you with your calcium needs -- just one of many poorly researched items of this book
*enjoy leftovers mixed with 3 egg yolks for lunch every day for the rest of your life -- that's the meal plan folks
*up ...more
I'm one of many new converts who started reading and implementing the PHD soon after reading The Paleo Manifesto. With the help of butter and olive oil, I've never had so many vegetables in my life. Oven-baked yams and potatoes are a daily staple.
The PHD's dietary recommendations of what to eat and avoid sometimes appear unusual at first, and require more money and preparation time than the cheap, pre-packaged and heavily processed meals that bedeck the halls of your grocery store. However, I ca ...more
The PHD's dietary recommendations of what to eat and avoid sometimes appear unusual at first, and require more money and preparation time than the cheap, pre-packaged and heavily processed meals that bedeck the halls of your grocery store. However, I ca ...more
Two things: (1) the authors did a lot of diligence reviewing relevant research and coming to independent meaningful conclusions on a very complex subject, this is not just a rehash of the work of other authors, and (2) the conclusions here seem to help reconcile conflicting findings of other authors, which in itself is a very valuable service.
When the authors draw a conclusion that differs from common received wisdom, they don't always tie it back to the specific evidence for it. While there is ...more
When the authors draw a conclusion that differs from common received wisdom, they don't always tie it back to the specific evidence for it. While there is ...more
I really think the paleo lifestyle is great, but I don't know how sustainable it is (and I say that honestly having tried to follow it off and on for over two years). I think if more people went in the paleo direction, we'd be better off. But THIS version, where there are some safe starches that are allowed (similar to Chris Kresser's Your Personal Paleo Code: The Three-Step Plan to Lose Weight, Reverse Disease, and Stay Fit and Healthy for Life), makes things a lot easier. A little potato here,
...more
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“We know how hard it is to give up bread. Yet there may be no single step that can do more to improve health.”
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