The Carb Sensitivity Program: Discover Which Carbs Will Curb Your Cravings, Control Your Appetite, and Banish Belly Fat

by Natasha Turner

A no-carb diet may lead to weight loss—at first—but ultimately this approach fails for most people. Why? Because it's not sustainable, and since nothing has been done to improve carb tolerance, once carbs are introduced people experience bloating, cravings, and rebound weight gain, plus another 5 to 10 pounds. The vast majority of us have different degrees of sensitivity to carbohydrates without realizing it. For some people, healthy carbs such as carrots, black beans, and quinoa are what's making them fat! The Carb Sensitivity Program by Natasha Turner, ND is more than a diet. It's a personalized carb rehab plan that helps readers identify the types of carbs that work best with their bodies, remove the ones they're sensitive to, and repair their metabolisms so they can safely eat those carbs again. The more energy, better health, and a slimmer body—for life.

Genres: Health, Reference, Food, Cookbooks, Diets, Self Help, Nonfiction

480 pages, Paperback

First published March 27, 2012

Reviews

[Kim · Rating 2 out of 5]

More like 1 1/2 stars, this "it's not a diet" diet book does have some merit to it. The author does have a carb sensitivity so she does know what it is like. The questions like all questions in these type of books, are the loaded "if you said yes to any of these questions you have______". All carbs are not evil in this plan, but many are to be avoided. The main problem for me would be no legumes for the duration of most the programs "are you sensitive" part since I am a vegetarian. She does however, encourage low fat dairy products and vegetarian/vegan proteins while you are undergoing the start of the program. There are menus, recipes and even strength exercises that do not require a gym membership to accomplish. I just felt that this is yet another version of what is out there already, with nothing overly new to say.

Get it free from the library and if it does work for you, then buy it.

[bookyeti · Rating 4 out of 5]

While there is really nothing ground-breaking in its concept (we all know that those with insulin resistance, diabetes, and/or PCOS have a difficult time with carbs), I really appreciated the personalized approach it takes in assisting a person in finding out which carbs negatively affect them the most. Everyone's body is different, so a "one-size-fits-all" approach is undesirable and ineffective.

Natasha Turner, the author, deals with carb sensitivity herself, so she is not unsympathetic to the readers' plights! Her program offers many simple recipes, menu examples, and relatively simple strength-training exercises. Be prepared to drink a lot of smoothies and protein shakes (whey isolate protein is recommended). Turner does seem to peddle her supplements a fair bit, but those are easily ignored; you can always use your supplement(s) of choice, so long as you're getting what your body requires.

This book mainly outlines a 6-week elimination program - not dissimilar to one of those "elimination diets" done to assess food allergies or sensitivities - in order to assist you in finding out which carbs you're the most sensitive to, affecting weight loss and overall health.

[Fredrick Danysh · Rating 2 out of 5]

Carbohydrates affect different people in different ways. The author reviews results of clinical trials regarding carbs and makes some judgements. She also talks about carbohydrates in things outside of food that we used.

[Sarah Detre · Rating 5 out of 5]

And it doesn't simply mean chose complex carbs over simple ones... A very important book for optimal health.

[Charlie Lake · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good book that leads you through a program of eliminating certain carbohydrates to find out which ones you are sensitive to. By the time I read the book I had been on a low carbohydrate diet for 5 months and had learned from the AM weigh in as to exactly what carbohydrates I was sensitive to and which of them resulted in weight gain. The book was published in 2008 and so is a little out of date but still a very useful. It contains an excellent explanation on how insulin sensitivity and resistance works and why that results in ill health and weight gain. Her approach does suggest limiting red meat as do other authors (Furhman -Eat to Live, and T Collin Campbell -China Study as opposed to more recent authors Davis Wheat Belly and Undoctored), Volik and Phinney -The Art and Science of Low Carbohydrate Living), Bowden -the Great Cholesterol Myth and Cordain -the Paleo Diet who argue that protein (meat) is a necessary part of the diet/ Moderation in all seems to be the answer.

Recommended

[Andre · Rating 4 out of 5]

Didn't really learn anything new personally, but this would be a good resource if you though carbs are part of your problem. It's a soup to nuts (ha!) explanation of things, including an eating game plan for eliminating carbs then slowly introducing them back in. Yes it's got recipes. And supplementation recommendations.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book adds to the base of knowledge about individual differences in carb tolerance. I liked it because it continues to expand my thoughts about how carbohydrates affect me personally and what steps I can take to optimize what I might do to further my choices in nutrition.

[Florence · Rating 4 out of 5]

Natasha Turner writes a powerful book on the addictiveness of carbohydrates and the effects of insulin on a normal healthy body.
I can just look at carbs and add some pounds...wouldn't it be nice to enjoy carbs without the side effects of bloating, cravings, water retention and weight gain?
Judging by the CSP success stories, CSP meal plans and suggested rules to live by, have helped many people solve faulty metabolism. By following the book one can access his or her own imbalances through a highly structured plan.
Most impressive were the metabolic repair workouts and routines using accessories like dumb bells, medicine balls and stability balls. Interval training for cardio is highly recommended; for example sprinting 50 or 100 yards and lightly jogging or walking back, repeating 10 times. (This is something my son has been doing for years!)
She recommends a schedule with a majority of strength training sessions, cardio only once or twice a week and yoga(for men and women).
The book is a great read with excellent tips and a wealth of information on a variety of health topics but will require patience and interest to follow through.

[Kim · Rating 3 out of 5]

Saw this book at Costco and put it on hold at the library. Interestingly the hold came up right around the same time I was reading Wheat Belly. Both were good books - seemed to compliment each other. I didn't try any of the recipes. Some of them looked OK but there were some that really didn't appeal to me (mainly the fish ones). I think if I was to try the program to discover which carbs I'm sensitive to I would have to use my own recipes or search for other ones that fit with the program. The instructions regarding what you can and can't eat each week were very clear though - so it seemed doable to create your own meal plans.

[Danielle · Rating 3 out of 5]

She says a lot of logical things about insulin and carb sensitivity. Unfortunately, most of her evidence is anecdotal "It worked in my office," and she plies her line of supplements regularly enough to make me cautious. And she recommends things like reverse osmosis and organic without giving a good reason. Okay, they sound nice, but why are they actually better and do I need them? Meh. The diet is really complicated, but I bet it would reveal something about particular sensitivities for people willing to go through it.

[Wildrose VuVu Magoo · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm just beginning the diet recommended by this book, and I've already lost 3 pounds... I think the points this book makes are very good, and while the initial diet is restrictive it gets better in later phases. I would highly recommend trying this book.

[Carolyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very similar to a plan on which I lost around 140lbs. Seems very sound in discovering which carbs are most concerning to the individual. I look forward to giving this a shot, try to get rid of these last 20 stubborn lbs.

[Jackie Mceachern · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an easy read and yet another eating program that I'm going to try. I liked the information presented and it was a quick read.

[Kathy McC · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very thoroughly researched!

[Louise Pronovost · Rating 5 out of 5]

This program works. Very clearly laid out in the book.

[Starr · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nothing new to see here. Might be useful for someone who has never ever read a diet book before.

[Zaya · Rating 1 out of 5]

Ugh, I wanted this to be something it wasn't. Would not suggest if you are starting Keto. This is full of "take this pill/vitamin" and "you are doing this incorrectly."

[Andrea Lewis · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was well written and easy to follow. Very insightful!

[Jennifer Jackson]

I highly recommend this book if you are trying to shed some pounds. It works!