What do you think?
Rate this book
Eat Rich, Live Long: Use the Power of Low-Carb and Keto for Weight Loss and Great Health
You can take control of your health, lose weight, prevent disease, and enjoy a long and healthy life. The unique nutritional program outlined in Eat Rich, Live Long is designed by experts to help you feel great while you eat delicious and satisfying foods. Millions of people have gotten healthy through low-carb plans over the years—and a growing number have discovered the wonderful benefits of ketogenic (keto) nutrition. Many are confused, though, about how low-carb they should go. Now, Eat Rich, Live Long reveals how mastering the low-carb/keto spectrum can maximize your weight loss and optimize your health for the long term.
In this book, Ivor Cummins, a world-class engineer and technical master for a huge global tech corporation, and Dr. Jeff Gerber, a family doctor who is widely regarded as a global leader in low-carb nutrition, team up to present their unique perspectives from their extensive clinical, medical, and scientific/research experience. Together, Cummins and Gerber crack the code that shows you how to eat the foods you enjoy, lose weight, and regain robust health. They reveal how the nutritional “experts” have gotten it so wrong for so long by demonizing healthy natural fats in our diets and focusing on cholesterol and LDL as the villains. In fact, as the authors reveal by drawing on the latest peer-reviewed global research, eating a high percentage of natural fats, a moderate amount of protein, and a low percentage of carbs can help you lose weight, prevent disease, satisfy your appetite, turn off your food cravings, and live longer.
The heart of Eat Rich, Live Long is the book’s prescriptive program, which includes a seven-day eating plan, a fourteen-day eating plan, and more than fifty gourmet-quality low-carb, high-fat recipes—illustrated with gorgeous full-color photographs—for breakfasts, lunches, appetizers, snacks, dinners, drinks, and desserts. Low-carb never tasted so good!
Nutritional sacred cows are constantly being challenged in the media. How much fat should we eat—and which kinds of fats are best? Which fats can contribute to diabetes, heart disease, and early mortality? Does a high-protein diet increase muscle mass and lead to vigorous health—or can it promote aging, cancer, and early mortality? Which vitamins and minerals should we be taking, if any? How do we change our metabolism so that our bodies burn fat instead of all the sugars we consume? Does intermittent fasting really work? Eat Rich, Live Long lays out the truth based on the latest scientific research, and it will change the way you look at eating. Meanwhile you will lose weight—and look and feel great.
In this book, Ivor Cummins, a world-class engineer and technical master for a huge global tech corporation, and Dr. Jeff Gerber, a family doctor who is widely regarded as a global leader in low-carb nutrition, team up to present their unique perspectives from their extensive clinical, medical, and scientific/research experience. Together, Cummins and Gerber crack the code that shows you how to eat the foods you enjoy, lose weight, and regain robust health. They reveal how the nutritional “experts” have gotten it so wrong for so long by demonizing healthy natural fats in our diets and focusing on cholesterol and LDL as the villains. In fact, as the authors reveal by drawing on the latest peer-reviewed global research, eating a high percentage of natural fats, a moderate amount of protein, and a low percentage of carbs can help you lose weight, prevent disease, satisfy your appetite, turn off your food cravings, and live longer.
The heart of Eat Rich, Live Long is the book’s prescriptive program, which includes a seven-day eating plan, a fourteen-day eating plan, and more than fifty gourmet-quality low-carb, high-fat recipes—illustrated with gorgeous full-color photographs—for breakfasts, lunches, appetizers, snacks, dinners, drinks, and desserts. Low-carb never tasted so good!
Nutritional sacred cows are constantly being challenged in the media. How much fat should we eat—and which kinds of fats are best? Which fats can contribute to diabetes, heart disease, and early mortality? Does a high-protein diet increase muscle mass and lead to vigorous health—or can it promote aging, cancer, and early mortality? Which vitamins and minerals should we be taking, if any? How do we change our metabolism so that our bodies burn fat instead of all the sugars we consume? Does intermittent fasting really work? Eat Rich, Live Long lays out the truth based on the latest scientific research, and it will change the way you look at eating. Meanwhile you will lose weight—and look and feel great.
400 pages, Paperback
Published February 27, 2018
462 people are currently reading
496 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews
April 18, 2019
This has got to be the best nutrition book I've read.
Not only is it eminently readable and well-edited, it is also well-referenced. There are scientific studies for everything the authors claim, and it's predominantly experimental evidence, not epidemiology. The book suggests four main things you can do to evade chronic disease that plagues our times (in descending order of importance):
1. Remove refined carbohydrates from your diet, and cut back on carbohydrates in general to 20% of your calories or less.
2. Remove seed oils from your diet, and eat more fatty fish.
3. Eat more magnesium.
4. Get more sunlight and/or supplement D3.
While I disagree with #3 (on the basis that it's mostly confounded by the presence of phytic and oxalic acids in the diet preventing normal uptake of magnesium, rather than lack of the mineral itself - eliminate the offending acids, and you're golden), the interventions they propose are what the Average Joe on the Standard Western Diet needs. And everything is backed with research, which you can check yourself.
Not only is it eminently readable and well-edited, it is also well-referenced. There are scientific studies for everything the authors claim, and it's predominantly experimental evidence, not epidemiology. The book suggests four main things you can do to evade chronic disease that plagues our times (in descending order of importance):
1. Remove refined carbohydrates from your diet, and cut back on carbohydrates in general to 20% of your calories or less.
2. Remove seed oils from your diet, and eat more fatty fish.
3. Eat more magnesium.
4. Get more sunlight and/or supplement D3.
While I disagree with #3 (on the basis that it's mostly confounded by the presence of phytic and oxalic acids in the diet preventing normal uptake of magnesium, rather than lack of the mineral itself - eliminate the offending acids, and you're golden), the interventions they propose are what the Average Joe on the Standard Western Diet needs. And everything is backed with research, which you can check yourself.
August 1, 2024
Eat Rich Live Long: Use the Power of Low-Carb and Keto for Weight Loss and Great Health, Ivor Cummins & Jeffrey Gerber, 2018, 400 pages, ISBN 9781628602739, Dewey 641.56383
Two meals per day. No snacks. p. 79.
Recommends:
The Complete Guide to Fasting, Jason Fung, 2016
Two meals per day. No snacks. p. 79.
Recommends:
The Complete Guide to Fasting, Jason Fung, 2016
March 17, 2018
Filling in gaps
This book filled in gaps in my knowledge regarding metabolic syndrome.
I would highly recommend this book to medical professionals. It is also an excellent book for motivated Layperson.
State of the art as of early 2018!
This book filled in gaps in my knowledge regarding metabolic syndrome.
I would highly recommend this book to medical professionals. It is also an excellent book for motivated Layperson.
State of the art as of early 2018!
April 10, 2018
I greatly enjoyed the lipoprotein tour and the rest of the explanations from the second half of the book.
February 21, 2019
This book does an excellent job of plotting the history and the current state of nutritional science in a clear and informative way. It summarizes many studies and also points out their strengths and weaknesses. It gives clear guidelines for improving your health through becoming more insulin sensitive. Its only weakness is the meal plans and recipes. They talk about eating lots of vegetables (cruciferous, leafy greens, etc.) in the text, but that isn't well reflected in the plans and recipes. Regardless, I would highly recommend this book to anyone who is trying to cut through the confusion of the current nutritional debates and news headlines.
March 25, 2019
Love It!
Many years ago I had great success with the Atkins low carb / high protein/fat diet. The wisdom of the day was that carbs were good and fat was bad. That “wisdom”, in concert with my wife’s chocolate chip cookie and fresh home made bread making talent along with the science of the day, led me to abandon it. Consequently, I quickly gained back weight until I was 50 pounds overweight. For the past two months I’ve been practicing Keto and intermittent fasting and have lost 20 pounds and feel great. I love the Keto! Everything is better with butter and I’m confident that I will lose another 30 pounds and keep it off.
Many years ago I had great success with the Atkins low carb / high protein/fat diet. The wisdom of the day was that carbs were good and fat was bad. That “wisdom”, in concert with my wife’s chocolate chip cookie and fresh home made bread making talent along with the science of the day, led me to abandon it. Consequently, I quickly gained back weight until I was 50 pounds overweight. For the past two months I’ve been practicing Keto and intermittent fasting and have lost 20 pounds and feel great. I love the Keto! Everything is better with butter and I’m confident that I will lose another 30 pounds and keep it off.
April 18, 2018
This is a great book! It is very ambitious as it covers both the current state of research on low carb diet as well as a specific eating plan and recipes for those who want a specific plan. The part of the book on the latest science is very specific and has some very useful information. Very thoroughly referenced to the underlying research.
March 9, 2018
Page-turner packed with science and solid advice for anyone struggling with 'standard' nutritional advice's failures.
December 28, 2020
Not bad as an introduction to low-carb but probably not worth it if you’re already familiar with the topic. Glad some science was included, along with some interesting recipes.
June 26, 2019
Excellent book for newcomers as well as for experienced low-carb adopters.
The initial part does a good job on quickly explaining how the western civilization came to the ongoing obesity and diabetes epidemic. It also shows why most of diet interventions (most of them based on the low-fat paradigm) fail to show long-term and reliable results. For more depth in this subject, I recommend Nina Teicholz's book: Big Fat Surprise.
Part2 of Eat Rich Live Long has three chapters: one explaining carefully how a low carb high healthy fat diet (LCHF), one laying out a 10-step program to implementing a dietary shift and one with low-carb recipes.
Part 3 dives deeper in the science behind the LCHF diet and explains how each aspect of it will most likely improve your life. There's a chapter on the importance of insulin, the effects of diet on heart disease and cancer, the details around protein and vitamin ingestion as well as a long-term aspects of maintaining a healthy diet.
But this book excels particularly at the appendices material. Here the authors don't hold back in showing you the details of the studies and science that serve as base to the whole book. I am specially fond of the explanations regarding cholesterol molecules and the science behind the polyunsaturated fatty acids. It is enlightening.
Also, it is very amusing to see Ivor, an engineer, teaching most doctors how proper science is made. If you ever heard Ivor talking, you'll know that the book was written by that lovely irish clever jester. Ah! At the end of each chapter there is a short story regarding real doctor Gerber's patients. Inspiring!
Definitely a must read!
The initial part does a good job on quickly explaining how the western civilization came to the ongoing obesity and diabetes epidemic. It also shows why most of diet interventions (most of them based on the low-fat paradigm) fail to show long-term and reliable results. For more depth in this subject, I recommend Nina Teicholz's book: Big Fat Surprise.
Part2 of Eat Rich Live Long has three chapters: one explaining carefully how a low carb high healthy fat diet (LCHF), one laying out a 10-step program to implementing a dietary shift and one with low-carb recipes.
Part 3 dives deeper in the science behind the LCHF diet and explains how each aspect of it will most likely improve your life. There's a chapter on the importance of insulin, the effects of diet on heart disease and cancer, the details around protein and vitamin ingestion as well as a long-term aspects of maintaining a healthy diet.
But this book excels particularly at the appendices material. Here the authors don't hold back in showing you the details of the studies and science that serve as base to the whole book. I am specially fond of the explanations regarding cholesterol molecules and the science behind the polyunsaturated fatty acids. It is enlightening.
Also, it is very amusing to see Ivor, an engineer, teaching most doctors how proper science is made. If you ever heard Ivor talking, you'll know that the book was written by that lovely irish clever jester. Ah! At the end of each chapter there is a short story regarding real doctor Gerber's patients. Inspiring!
Definitely a must read!
April 2, 2018
Great book
This is the best book about nutrition I have read since The Big Fat Surprise. Its greatest strength is in explaining nutrition research as well as the physiological mechanisms of metabolism. It is not a “One size fits all” approach and explains how to determine the best level of carb restriction for individuals. I like that other lifestyle factors such as sleep, stress management, and exercise are addressed.
This is the best book about nutrition I have read since The Big Fat Surprise. Its greatest strength is in explaining nutrition research as well as the physiological mechanisms of metabolism. It is not a “One size fits all” approach and explains how to determine the best level of carb restriction for individuals. I like that other lifestyle factors such as sleep, stress management, and exercise are addressed.
May 1, 2018
Oops - I forgot to log this... But I loved it!!! It had so much great information. Keto keeps changing as we learn (so many) new benefits through science and through people who live this lifestyle. This book is so up to date! I listen to many podcasts and it seems like I’ve heard most of this info - but WHAT A TREAT to have it all at hand. The chapter about supplements is especially good to have close.
These authors are two of the most well informed out there - and it shows!!
These authors are two of the most well informed out there - and it shows!!
April 17, 2018
Health markers explained
Ivor Cummins helps make sense of an array of health markers, especially helpful if you want to understand some crucial tests your doctor may be requesting. Also, he makes an excellent case for the need to address insulin resistance as the primary driver for chronic disease.
Ivor Cummins helps make sense of an array of health markers, especially helpful if you want to understand some crucial tests your doctor may be requesting. Also, he makes an excellent case for the need to address insulin resistance as the primary driver for chronic disease.
July 10, 2018
I want to give this book seven stars! If everyone read this, took the information to heart, and consistently followed the guidelines it contains, we could see a dramatic decrease in disease and death - particularly from heart disease, cancer, and complications from diabetes. The information in this book is on point - science-based, easy to comprehend, practical, and comprehensive.
October 30, 2018
A lucid account of where the science is at with nutrition and the chronic diseases of modern society.
A masterful project, should be a compulsory read for general practitioners and associated health care professionals!
A masterful project, should be a compulsory read for general practitioners and associated health care professionals!
February 27, 2022
Interesting information on health and how to tell if you are healthy. From tests you can take, to suggested vitamins, recipes, and suggested carb/protein/fat ratios depending on your test results.
February 23, 2020
This book is great for the curious and motivated person, but not necessarily scientific-knowledged, who wants to learn and apply low-carb/keto diets for its benefits in treating/reversing metabolic damage caused by Westernised diets.
Filled with lots of references to scientific articles/studies and Dr. Gerber's own patients stories, it offers not only a plan/prescription to lower your insulin levels (the master hormone to manage your weight, burning fat and reducing chronic disease), but also clear explanations about all the persistent nutritional myths of the day, especially about cholesterol / cholesterol ratios and their impact on heart disease, daily glucose intake, obesity and hormone disregulation, saturated fat vs polyunsaturated fat and much more.
Bonus for Ivor Cummings's Fat Emperor podcast: you read the book with Ivor's Irish accent!
Here are the 10 rules that everyone should follow:
1. Eliminate refined carbs and sugars;
2. Eliminate refined vegetable oils;
3. Greatly restrict processed foods;
4. Correct your carbs;
5. Eat nutrient-dense sources of protein;
6. Get most of your calories from fat;
7. Eat only 3 meals a day;
8. Consume adequate vitamins and minerals
9. Be mindful of your environmental factors;
10. Partake in healthy exercise.
Filled with lots of references to scientific articles/studies and Dr. Gerber's own patients stories, it offers not only a plan/prescription to lower your insulin levels (the master hormone to manage your weight, burning fat and reducing chronic disease), but also clear explanations about all the persistent nutritional myths of the day, especially about cholesterol / cholesterol ratios and their impact on heart disease, daily glucose intake, obesity and hormone disregulation, saturated fat vs polyunsaturated fat and much more.
Bonus for Ivor Cummings's Fat Emperor podcast: you read the book with Ivor's Irish accent!
Here are the 10 rules that everyone should follow:
1. Eliminate refined carbs and sugars;
2. Eliminate refined vegetable oils;
3. Greatly restrict processed foods;
4. Correct your carbs;
5. Eat nutrient-dense sources of protein;
6. Get most of your calories from fat;
7. Eat only 3 meals a day;
8. Consume adequate vitamins and minerals
9. Be mindful of your environmental factors;
10. Partake in healthy exercise.
March 19, 2020
This book has changed my life. I know, I know, such dramatic words. But it really did. The book was recommended to me by my little brother. My bro is a man of few words but when he sent a lengthy email detailing the changes he had made in is health journey, starting with reading this book, I was intrigued.
The hubs and I have been on our own health journey for the past year or so. I have wanted to get off my BP meds but nothing seemed to work....until we decided to begin a “keto lifestyle”. I am now off my BP meds, I feel more energetic than I have in years, the brain fog that I didn’t even know I had has lifted. I am shocked and amazed really. Everyone’s health road with keto/low carb/high fat is different. To used the oft used phrase, “Results may vary.” But I can tell you that the detailed science that underpins this book convinced me that this is the eating lifestyle that I want to peruse for the rest of mylife.
The hubs and I have been on our own health journey for the past year or so. I have wanted to get off my BP meds but nothing seemed to work....until we decided to begin a “keto lifestyle”. I am now off my BP meds, I feel more energetic than I have in years, the brain fog that I didn’t even know I had has lifted. I am shocked and amazed really. Everyone’s health road with keto/low carb/high fat is different. To used the oft used phrase, “Results may vary.” But I can tell you that the detailed science that underpins this book convinced me that this is the eating lifestyle that I want to peruse for the rest of mylife.
July 3, 2024
Years ago I was asked to write an article on obesity. I chose to write about the medical contributions to this escalating problem - the negative ones. I chose the aversion to dietary fat and the inversion of the food pyramid that began in the 1970s , the rise in the prescription of neurocognitive drugs like antidepressants with their tendency to make people fat, and the widespread use of artificial sweeteners which help drive the addiction to unhealthy carbohydrates. I came across Ivor Cummins’ podcast, The Fat Emperor, a few years ago and was happy to hear similar messages from a systems engineer who had taken a deep dive into the subject when he was given the conventional medical advice about his metabolic derangements. This book may have a little too much science in it for some people, but it is understandable, and the tenth chapter, on the importance of insulin to health is kind of mandatory reading from everyone in this day and age.
August 1, 2021
The real title of this book should be "Respect your Insulin" but that wouldn't be near as exciting. This book explains everything to do with insulin extremely well in everyday language that is easy to understand. I've read several books about sugar/carbs/low-carb and this one does the best job in explaining what's happening in the body and what to do about it. I especially like how the authors explain the insulin resistance spectrum and that if you creep out of the insulin sensitive zone and have insulin resistance at all, even a low level, you have diabetes now and need to make changes. Don't wait until you fall off the metabolic cliff when you're diagnosed with type II diabetes. I read this book cover-to-cover, including the appendices, every part was helpful. I will be referring to this book in the months and years to come.
January 28, 2021
I have read an awful lot of diet/lifestyle books and this is one of the best! Very well written and easy to read. Lots of studies reviewed and explained beautifully. Each chapter ends with an actual patient’s story to make it more relatable! The appendices was a nice addition for those who wanted a deeper dive in certain areas. Overall, very well done and I certainly learned a few additional nuggets of diet/lifestyle information. His 10 step program was well thought out and would certainly benefit and change many people’s long term health! Well done!😎
January 20, 2019
Comprehensive review, plan, and sample meals of where *many* should focus their diet along the paleo, low car, Keto, Spectrum. Chock full of great science to back up what is finally emerging as a truth: low inflammatory foods is the way to get our best health and the most for our health. Diabetes and undiagnosed pre-diabetes is the scourge of the standard American diet and this work is fundamental in this movement to regain health as a Citizen Scientist. Well done.
December 21, 2019
Fabulous read. Well researched, sensible, sound dietary advice backed by scientific evidence . Exposes the fallacious advice given, from mainstream advisory groups which have been bought out by the big players in Agriculture, Chemistry and Pharmaceuticals. A way of eating for health and fitness that avoids the dangers of the pseudoscience which has been pushed on us as proven fact by self interest groups for half a century.
May 26, 2021
A very good modern book about the science of nutrition with lost of references to studies. Great insights about carbs and fats, and their impact to insulin. And how insulin may be killing us slowly through decades in full silence. The only thing I missed is even a deeper dive into the mechanisms of disease on the cellular level.
May 29, 2021
Good read
I believe in this eating plan and it explains the increase in obesity and diabetes in our generation that was not in my parents or grandparents generation.
Begs the question ....was the Canada food guide and the “don’t eat fat “ statement deliberate?
Sure has profited the pharmaceutical industry??
I believe in this eating plan and it explains the increase in obesity and diabetes in our generation that was not in my parents or grandparents generation.
Begs the question ....was the Canada food guide and the “don’t eat fat “ statement deliberate?
Sure has profited the pharmaceutical industry??
March 15, 2022
Nice easy explanation of nutrition basics - almost a nutrition for dummies (read forgetful!) I had forgotten a lot of this and so it was a good reminder. The last part of the book is more about a diet plan that the authors have worked on which was less interesting to me. If you want a good primer on Nutrition this would be a good start.
February 25, 2024
Read again!!! Such a great book with great info about trust healing so many health problems, including various chronic conditions including diabetes, insulin resistance, and musculoskeletal disorders like plantar fasciitis, frozen shoulder, and even my Dupuytren’s contractures resolved after following this way of eating - that was a total surprise!
So worth reading and referencing often!!!
So worth reading and referencing often!!!
June 7, 2025
well written, easy to understand, something for everybody
Excellent book, well researched and able to be understood by first timers and health geeks alike. All the meaty parts of the book are filed away in appendices for the science brains and such like if the main body of the text is too light.
Food pictures are stunning. Recipes are quite easy.
Excellent book, well researched and able to be understood by first timers and health geeks alike. All the meaty parts of the book are filed away in appendices for the science brains and such like if the main body of the text is too light.
Food pictures are stunning. Recipes are quite easy.
December 5, 2018
This book was a little better read than some of the other books I have been reading on this subject but still not my style. That being said it is a good resource book so I gave it 3.5 stars out os 5 stars!
June 9, 2019
Well documented highly readable book for regaining excellent health
This book is one of the best I've read. It has tons of footnotes to relevant scientific studies. Buy it and devour it!
This book is one of the best I've read. It has tons of footnotes to relevant scientific studies. Buy it and devour it!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews