Love that excerpt on the front page! another very fine review, even if the book sucks eggs. Thanks G!

You may be right about the book, I haven't read it but just so you know, in answer to your comment about the guy who wrote a foreword in it, Mehmet Oz (who dat?)- uh Dat's just the world's foremost cardiologist/surgeon!!!

Actually I have followed Dr. Fuhrman's advice from "Eat to Live" for about a year, so it is not impossible. After reaching my desired weight I began eating a less restricted version which the author refers to in the book. I am at my ideal weight, feeling as good as ever, and my blood work at my last physical was phenomenal (despite the damage I caused years ago following Atkins' nightmare diet). This book can hardly be mentioned in the same company as the other diet books - this is not a quick fix that sacrifices health for immediate results with a yoyo-ing waistline. It sounds like the reviewer had a closed mind to it from the very beginning and never gave it a fair chance.

I don't know what book you read but the book does not tell you you can never again eat any particular foods. The author does want you to strictly follow his manner of eating for the first 6 weeks. The author formost tells you the consequences of eating as Americans have been taught since birth and what the dangers of eating various fats, franken-foods and over-processed foods are. He does not tell you you cannot eat meat, only that meat should be restricted to no more than two servings per week and/or that it should not be the main course. He does not say you cannot eat rice or wheat only that it should not be white rice or white flour, only whole grains. Basically the idea is to eat everything is as unrefined form as possible and to eat lots of green leafy vegetables raw. He wants you to get your sweets from fruits (complex carbohydrates that spread out the stress on the liver) rather than white sugar. You eat A LOT of high nutritional value, high fiber food and less high calorie, high fat, low nutritional food (or non-food stuff).

the author of this "review" had never read the book..
he don't know anything about Fuhrman and nutrition, so it's better to shut up.

I thought personal attacks weren't allowed? What happened, Droghit? Or did you not see that? So much for the "never read" part. And, for your general edification, I *did* read the book. My review is *my* understanding of it. You may or may not agree; and that's your prerogative, as it is mine to criticize or appreciate a book as I think fit. But nothing excuses a lack of civility. The BC site is about discourse; and without civility there is no discourse. I notice, too, that you do not trouble to answer a single specific point. Now why is that, I wonder? In direct contrast, see the comment by Sum Guy -- precise, concise, specific and civil.

Hi, I have been eating complying about 80-90% w/ Eat To Live 'diet' for two years now. Once I broke my daily chocolate addiction I really didn't find it so difficult at all. If someone is really into meat or dairy they will have a hard time though, I just never was.

This review is off base. Dr. Fuhrman's book contains a wealth of well-researched information. I read the book several years ago, and I still continue to recommend it highly.

Sadly, this review reads like a child's tantrum about eating their vegetables. The claims (yo-yo dieting, being impossible to follow) are delivered as speculation and without any evidence. If the author had actually tried the diet, perhaps there would be some credence, but the author does not mention actually trying the diet for any period of time.

The point about Crete is interesting. Nevertheless, much of the review appears to be a grasp to justify what seems to be an emotional reaction to the idea of giving up favorite foods.

Summing up this review: "No candy? Have to eat veggies? Yuk!"

it's true (and sad) that modern society makes it supremely difficult to follow an ideal diet on a regular basis. you would have to isolate yourself completely (not healthy) and have superhuman will-power. that said, there is nothing wrong with educating yourself so that you can eat as healthy as possible given your particular life-style and goals. offering us this information was fuhrman's job, and i think he succeeded pretty well.

my only issue is that he prescribes the same diet for everyone, instead of addressing the issue of different metabolic types. this is where i think dr. mercola's work surpasses furhman's. i personally could not live without a moderate amount of healthy fats and animal proteins in my diet. trust me, i tried many times, and i did it the right way (no refined anything, plenty of fiber, etc.). i felt healthy but somehow unstable, ungrounded inside (and the feeling increased until i finally went and ate a huge piece of meat). also, i do not do well on abundant fresh fruits. this makes my blood-sugar unstable.

overall, i think this diet is probably very good for many people, but i do believe that there is still a significant percentage of us who need more fat and animal protein than furhman prescribes

Read this book and also dr. mercola's "total health." it will give you a better sense of the range of healthy eating. after experimenting a bit, you can discover what makes YOU healthy and happy. We all have a different genetic makeup, so it makes sense to assume that there is no one solution which perfectly pertains to all of us.

Actually, Robin, Dr. Furhman does not reccommend exactly the same diet for everyone. He does say that some people can eat more of the less nutrient-dense starch, but for those with a weight problem due to stubborn metabolism you really do need to cut back even if you go through a detox period. Sometimes you'll feel worse before feeling better.
Just my $.02. Not attacking anybody's point of view. Namaste :-)

I've been following dr furhman's diet/advice for the last 3 weeks. I have, over the years, realised that for some people there is no such thing as going back to eating 'normally' once a diet is over. Some of us will have to watch what we eat for the rest of our lives. I feel sorry for friends who I see clogging their arteries with high protein high fat diets (I almost fainted when I saw someone 'snacking' on bacon) or obssesively weighing foods before eating them..this diet is for people with serious health concerns (it says so on the back cover). This is the diet people with heart/diabetes problems are put on when their lives are at risk - this according to Mehmet Oz, probably the most famous/high profile cardiologist world wide (he now has his own series of books out that are a less strict version of this diet) who was introduced with that title on oprah a few weeks ago (I know, it's on oprah so it must be true! ;-)
Modifications can be made to the diet, which are recommended once you lose your weight, and there's the vegetarian diet and the protein included diet. My point is, some people need the discipline and to lose weight immediately in a healthy way. I cant think off any healthier way to do it than by starting your day with fruit/protein, and every meall with a plate full of salad and veggies. Yes, it's hard somethimes, but sometimes the easy way out (3 eggs, bacon, ham, and mayonaise for dinner anyone?), just doesnt cut it.

Ummm. This review is WAY off base. This is not a "fiber" diet. How silly. Read it again. It is NUTRIENT DENSE oriented. You will flood your body with nutrition -- that's first, the side effect is you lose weight.
You will lose your cravings for junk and binge eating.
And, of course, processed food is the main culprit. The book says as much IF one reads it before bashing it.

I just wanted to add to the list of people who can attest that this way of eating can be followed, and in fact it can be followed indefinitely! And that, as respectfully as this can be said, this summary of Fuhrman's diet is really pretty bad and makes it appear as though you didn't read the book (which, incidentally, I didn't either, but my wife did, I'm mostly concerned about the diet itself). That being said, I believe you when you say that you did read it, I just don't think you read it with much interest. I've followed pretty close to this diet - which I don't really consider a diet so much as a way of eating - for about three years. I feel great, I love what I eat (I went straight from McDonald's to Fuhrman's, no kidding) and I didn't do it to lose weight. I overcame severe stress while on this diet, I ran my first two marathons (in the first I qualified for the second; the Boston Marathon), and I became a much happier person than I used to be. I used to love meat and cheese and all forms of refined foods, but as Fuhrman points out, once you break the addiction, you stop craving these things.

As for research, I've listened to Fuhrman talk and I've read his blog, where he constantly sites research. It's a bit of the pot calling the kettle black when you complain about lack of footnotes and then make vague references to Europeans as a counter argument. Whereas he at least appears to have done his homework and simply not made a footnote, what you have written is openly speculative.

I can understand why this reviewer doesn't like the book. After all, it requires the will power and determination to change your diet from being unhealthy to super healthy. The average meat eating american probably looks at the diet and feels threatened and angry, because it makes him/ her see how terrible their diet is. I think the book is excellent, and even if you don't follow the diet 100%, it gives you REAL information about what is healthy. He doesn't say you have to follow it exactly for the rest of your life, just that you should try it for 6 weeks, or at least read the book and get the facts.

Wow, a whole-foods, plant-based diet with no portion control, but limited amounts of junk, and starch and fat amounts based on personal needs--this is an unsustainable way of eating? Please go back and read the book more carefully. There are *extensive* citations in the book and none to back up the refutations in this review.

This way of eating has changed my life. I am *so* much healthier. Allergies, acne, menstrual cramps, headaches are gone. Nutritional excellence isn't just for your life span, but quality of life.