Foods That Cause You to Lose Weight

by Neal D.; Brown Barnard

More than one million copies sold!

No more counting calories-discover the foods that take the weight off and keep it off!

Did you know that certain foods have an incredible negative calorie effect that actually melts fat? This revolutionary approach, outlined by Neal Barnard, M.D., and proven effective by thousands of men and women who have tried it, can bring about the permanent weight control every diet promises but seldom delivers.

Find out how, by following the negative calorie plan, you

Boost your metabolic rate Burn calories more effectively Lower dangerous cholesterol levels Enjoy better health-and protect your heart Eat the delicious foods you love-in the quantities you want Watch the pounds disappear-without stressful dieting or the temptation to binge Delicious negative calorie recipes included

Genres: Health, Nonfiction, Diets, Food, Cooking

175 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 1998

Reviews

[Amanda]

I found this book really interesting. It helped me shine a light on the fatty foods that disguise themselves as healthy. I also tried out a good amount of the recipes in the book and many of them taste great! Definitely the right book to pick up if you want to get on track to better nutrition and a healthier lifestyle.

[Cindy Williams]

This is a good book for trying to lose weight w/o going hungry. There are many good recipes in it.

[Lindavt08]

Excellent book! It's the most common sense diet out there. It's a great and healthy diet that leaves you feeling great!

[Jennifer Fischetto]

I've only recently discovered Dr. Barnard--after following others with similar beliefs, that a whole food, plant based diet is the best. This book is pretty basic. You're not going to find an in depth study about the foods that are healthy and unhealthy. It's for someone starting out, someone who wants to "try this". I'm not that person, but I still found the book to be enjoyable.

He has a nice writing style, it's a quick read, and there are plenty of recipes, as well as a 7-day menu plan (with those recipes in the book), if that's what you're into. Over half the book is recipes. There are no pictures. But it's a great addition to my whole food, plant based library.

The one weird con is that he discussed how awful processed fats (maybe it was all fats) are for you, but the recipes didn't seem to follow his advice strictly. This isn't the first book I've read that does this, so I think that could be confusing to someone who's new to this way of eating. A better book, in this way, is the Engine 2 7-Day Rescue Diet. The advice is similar if not the same, and the recipes match the advice given.

I gave this book 4 instead of 3 stars because I enjoyed Dr. Barnard's down-to-earth style of information. I didn't buy the book for the recipes, so they don't weigh in on my rating.

[Xanthi]

A down to earth, easy to follow book about dietary advice for those of us who need to lose some weight. Some simple plant based recipes and pointers are included. I already eat vegan but this book helped to open my eyes as the where in my diet I can make improvements.

[Joe Sampson]

It works for me. To lose weight and stay slim go on a low fat vegan diet plus exercise for 30 minutes each day.

[Marilyn]

This is completely outdated. Fat free?? Went out with button shoes!

[MD Arif]

★★★★★

Foods That Cause You to Lose Weight is an interesting and accessible read for anyone curious about the relationship between food choices and weight management. I enjoyed the book’s focus on everyday foods and the idea of looking at nutrition from a different perspective.

The writing is straightforward and easy to follow, which makes the concepts approachable even for readers who are new to nutrition. I especially appreciated the emphasis on understanding food choices rather than simply following complicated meal rules. The book encourages readers to think more carefully about what they eat and how different foods can fit into a balanced lifestyle.

Another aspect I enjoyed was the practical feel of the discussion. The subject matter gives readers plenty to consider and can inspire them to explore healthier eating habits in their own way. It is an engaging read for anyone interested in nutrition, food choices, and weight-management strategies.

Overall, I found this book informative, thought-provoking, and easy to read. It presents an interesting approach to a popular topic and encourages readers to look at familiar foods from a fresh perspective.

Five stars for its accessible writing, interesting ideas, and practical focus. A worthwhile read for anyone interested in learning more about nutrition and making more thoughtful food choices.

[Sohan Ali]

Foods That Cause You to Lose Weight: The Negative Calorie Effect presents an interesting perspective on food choices and weight management. The book encourages readers to think more carefully about the foods they include in their everyday meals and offers an accessible discussion of nutrition and calorie awareness. I found the subject matter engaging and easy to follow, particularly for readers who enjoy exploring different approaches to healthy eating. The straightforward presentation makes the book approachable without becoming overly technical. Overall, it is an interesting read for anyone curious about nutrition, food choices, and the relationship between diet and weight management.

[Tammy]

Fantastic alternative and very informative

I really liked how easy the book was to read and understand. Also, the "old way" and "new way" comparison for the recipes was something I didn't know I needed in my life!

[Clyde Wonder]

This is a great book for those just investigating a vegan diet. The primary theme is definitely all about losing the fat in your dining. Easier said than done. He offers a variety of recipes and meal plans as you would expect from any such book, but the real value is the underlying suggestion that low fat, high carb, moderate protein is the way to go.

For me, there was little new here. I'm already a long time vegetarian and have recently made a dramatic move toward veganism. I get the value. I was hoping for more specific info on what foods, in particular, tend to increase the metabolism to help with weight loss. Honestly, I wasn't looking for a diet book. I want to more naturally keep the weight off as my metabolism slows. Dr. Barnard, in chastising other diet manuals, suggests this is NOT about dieting. I agree with what he says, but it's semantics in the end. This book is definitely suggesting a dramatic change in the foods you eat. It may not be pushing a crash diet, encouraging a life-long change instead, but it's a dietary change any way you look at it.

The book was good at confirming choices I have already made or am making. The recipes remind us it is possible to make interesting food without loads of butter and oil (or any animal products, of course). That was all good.

I've always respected Dr. Barnard's opinions and approaches to nutrition. I'm also a fan of the Physician's Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM) and their mission. I'm happy to have this book on the shelf and I will experiment with some of the recipes, but my search for specific metabolism drivers continues.

[Tiffaroonie]

Rookie based primer with recipes that are so very basic. This would be a good starting point for someone who has no clue about what to eat or why. I assume it’s for severely overweight and out of shape people because he talks about not exercising any more arduously than a 30 minute walk. OK! I’m on board with that! Woohoo. I can stop doing my HIIT boot camps and relax with a 30 minute stroll.

You’d do better to find recipes on the internet and eat Whole Foods that are not processed just because they are not animal products.

What I don’t understand is how he seriously thinks fake processed meat like fake hotdogs are better for you than a chicken breast. I think if you’re going to go vegan you should stay away from processed foods and only eat them very sparingly.


Rant over.

[Astrid]

2.75 This was a bit disappointing because there wasn't as much emphasis on eating whole foods, there was quite a bit of prepared food stuff in there, vegan, true, but still processed. And I still don't understand the emphasis on no fat, especially in terms of nuts. I get the no added oil, but then he lets you have crackers and other replacement meats, if you must, and I think that processed stuff is less good for you then if you eat an avocado or a handful of nuts. It seemed to be more written as if it is more important to get people off the meat and dairy then what you replace it with. OK for the meat eater or vegetarian but not for the person who is trying to live plant-based.

[Matt Speer]

So many authors, so many opinions or ideas out there. Who is right? Who is wrong? All, some, none. Who knows? Dr. Gundry says eat olive oil. Dr. Barnard says no to olive oil. I don’t know what the best plan of action is regarding diet/lifestyle but I’ve got to figure out what’s wrong with what I’m doing because I’m rapidly regaining weight that I lost from May through August of this year. I am struggling and frustrated… and my readings are not providing me the solution I need… either that, or I’m not doing things right. I will keep trying…

[Bonnie]

Hope to bring down my cholesterol

I may not be able to cook without a little butter, coconut oil or olive oil, but no animal products other than a bit of butter on my bagel works fine for me. I can do vegetarian with no problem. To totally drop dairy and eggs will be hard but I have done it before and dropped 20 pounds.

[Carol]

Good ideas.

This book contains a lot of information and ideas that anyone could use. The writing is very clear and accessible. No hyperbole or guarantee of results. No special ingredients or secret potions to mix.

I haven't tried this revised approach to eating yet, but I have created some meal plans and have my shopping list ready.

[Fredrick Danysh]

Doctor Barnard contents that a high protein diet is bad for you and gives advice for a low protein, low calorie diet. Most of the book is comprised a recipes to support his diet. As always, you should consult your own doctor before starting any diet system.

[Stacy Simpson]

This was a great book with a vast amount of knowledge put into it. I’m going to try and give it a go. The science was well put out on how we are basically killing ourself by diet.

I’ve struggled with my weight due to my autoimmune disease so any help in this matter was a for sure plus!!!

[D-Ray]

Quick read - as a diet book should be. Lots of notes taken. Really informative book to try and get people off animal food products. Lots of good recipes. I read and took away a lot from this book in a couple of hours. I've got some good notes and will implement many things into action.

[Tamara]

This is a book that provides some good information about healthy eating. However, some of the information I found to be outdated and no longer relevant. I did enjoy the many recipes that make up the 2nd half of the book and plan to try a few.

[Jenn]

Wonderful Encouragement

I love this man's taste profile and cannot wait until I try some of these awesome looking recipes! Let's see what happens!

[Madina]

I find it a bit too simplified

This book is perfect for somebody who is not interested in too much science - but it is still pretty convincing.

[Susan]

I'll be able to hopefully lose weight with some of the advice here. Due to other medical conditions I can't use a lot of the recipes at the end of the book.

[Yves]

This book basically is the precursor of the forks over knives movement, where the elimination of meat sources of protein is the pathway to weight loss and health ... in that order.

[Taralynne Tara]

Excellent information. A learning read.

[Nasha Robertson]

Informative

This book makes everything easy to understand and follow. It is very simple and will help you be able to make better, healthier choices for you and your family.

[Kevin]

Weight loss ideas that keep you from being hungry.