The Asian Diet: Simple Secrets for Eating Right, Losing Weight, and Being Well

by Jason Bussell

In this era of fad diets, detox programs, and "superfoods," this examination of the relationship between diet and lifestyle looks to the Far East to claim that the simple principles to live by are balance and moderation. By rebuilding the connections between what is put into the body and how it functions, the diet outlined in this book teaches the daily effects that particular food choices will have--on bodyweight, energy, mood, and the quality and duration of life--and that ultimately all foods are good in the right proportion. All major food groups are covered, with additional sections on dietary supplements, lifestyle, and attitude, plus a handful of recipes to demonstrate the principles of the diet.

Genres: Cooking, Health

144 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 2009

Reviews

[Orinoco Womble (tidy bag and all) · Rating 1 out of 5]

No documentation. No sources beyond something called "Supplemental Information" (We have a similar word in English--"supplementary") which is apparently what real researchers, scientists and indeed college students call a Bibliography.Most of these "secrets" are just common sense. Eat home-cooked fresh food and get exercise. Cut out sugar and empty calories, and focus on fibre-rich fruit and vegetables. Simple indeed.

"This is good." "That is bad." "Do as I say and you will be healthy." He's against plastic, cold food, hot food, raw food, microwaves, aluminium foil and milk. Among other things. He also appears unaware that there is plenty of processed Asian food on the market, made in Asia.

Strange that we are told the author is a trained acupuncturist and herbalist, and yet he doesn't feel the need to give any sources for the "well-documented" fact that if a bunch of kids walk past a bowl of rice and each tell it "you are bad", that bowl of rice will spoil faster than the one that is told repeatedly, "you are good." Or any of the other factoids he spouts. Why not? If all of this is so well-known, where are his sources for any of this?

Not that I have anything against Asian cuisine and lifestyle; I am fond of it myself and eat fresh, home-cooked from scratch Asian meals on a daily basis. But this is neither a marvellous compilation of "secrets" nor has the gentleman reinvented the wheel.
If you want a fast, superficial read, go here. If you want serious information on nutrition and Asian diet choices, look elsewhere.

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have always been curious about Asian diets and this book was a good primer. It was an easy read and makes sense. It is a quick read for 21 pages, perhaps because I was very interested in the topic. Either way, I highly recommend as a pre-cursor to more in-depth studies of this topic.

[Nhi Spika · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some are good info, some are not.
Still can not explain the idea when the author said that "the way things are outside the body is how they will act inside the body". How about the metabolism?

[Adrienne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mr. Bussell has compiled a lot of information in a very short, not-so-in-depth book. The information is very valuable; it's just very quick. He quotes "The China Study" a lot (fabulous research), and the part on supplements (and other parts) reminded me of "In Defense of Food." This book is very easy to read, relaxed, common-sensical, and informative.

[Kaye · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a quick and dirty book on what to eat under a traditional Chinese diet. It doesn't read as if it is particularly well documented, but it is certainly an easy read.