Eat, Drink, and Be Healthy: The Harvard Medical School Guide to Healthy Eating: Amazon.ca: Walter C. M.D. Willett: Books

Product Description

Book Description

As seen on the Today show!
The National Bestseller Based on Harvard Medical School and Harvard School of Public Health Research...A Revolutionary Guide to Healthy Eating That Topples the USDA Food Pyramid

In Eat, Drink, and Be Healthy, Dr. Walter Willett explains why the USDA guidelines -- the famous food pyramid -- are not only wrong but also dangerous. Debunking current dietary myths such as the evils of eggs and how high milk consumption does a body good, Dr. Willett sets an all-new nutritional standard. You'll discover:

eye-opening new research on the healthiest carbohydrates, fats, and proteins
why weight control is the single most important factor
menu plans and recipes that make it easy to reinvent your daily diet

Inside This Book (Learn More)

First Sentence
WE EAT TO LIVE. Read the first page

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Customer Reviews

64 Reviews

5 star:		(54)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(4)
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1 star:		(1)

Average Customer Review

4.7 out of 5 stars (64 customer reviews)

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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Good eating is not common sense, Mar 3 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Eat, Drink, and Be Healthy: The Harvard Medical School Guide to Healthy Eating (Paperback)

I had always thought that what you should and shouldn't eat was simply common sense until I read this book. The best chapters are the ones about good carbs/bad carbs, and good fats/bad fats. Dr. Willett explains that highly processed carbs such as white bread, white rice, pasta, instant oatmeal, and potatoes cause sharp spikes and then sharp drops in blood sugar. The sharp drops trick the brain into thinking you need to eat, so it sends out hunger signals despite the fact that there is plenty of food in the system. This can lead to overeating. Over time it can also lead to diabetes. Willett also explains the concept of glycemic load. Foods with a low glycemic load raise and drop your blood sugar slowly, so you feel full for longer and have more energy. I have switched to eating whole grain breads, old fashioned oatmeal, Uncle Ben's converted rice, and bran cereals, all of which have low glycemic loads. I used to always feel fatigued (even though I'm in my early 30s). Now my energy level has improved dramatically.

The author is opposed to low fat diets. Willett talks about a study in which participants who had diets high in unsaturated fats had significantly fewer heart attacks than participants on low fat diets. This is because unsaturated fats raise good cholesterol. I also found out how to recognize trans fats when I look through lists of ingredients. The author explains the importance of getting many different colors of fruits and vegetables per day. So, everyday I fry a medley of five or six different kinds of vegetables for dinner, and lunch the next day. This is easy to do if you buy frozen vegetables.

My one complaint is that the book did not mention high fructose corn syrup. This is a sweetener that is in many breads, yogurts, crackers, juices, and breakfast cereals. It is man-made and the metabolic system has a difficult time processing it. HFCS actually slows your metabolism when you eat it, which is ridiculous considering that we eat food for energy. I was the same weight for about 5 years. Less than two months after cutting out HFCS, my weight went down 10lbs without any other changes in diet or exercise. I wish Dr. Willett had discussed this because it would have been extremely helpful information for his readers.

Other than that, this is an excellent and life-changing book. I am following everything the book suggests (except drinking alcohol in moderation because I don't drink and never will) and I definitely feel better. Forget the Atkins Diet. Follow the simple instructions in this book and you will be both healthier and thinner.

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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars best nutrition book I have ever read, May 20 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Eat, Drink, and Be Healthy: The Harvard Medical School Guide to Healthy Eating (Paperback)

I borrowed this book from the library. Now, I'm buying six copies of the book to give to friends and relatives.

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5.0 out of 5 stars MUST-READ for anyone trying to lose lbs/better their health, April 18 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Eat, Drink, and Be Healthy: The Harvard Medical School Guide to Healthy Eating (Paperback)

This book is truly a must-read. I have been on and off low carb diets over the last 2 years, only to start over the correct way and actually see and feel results. But, this book is not just for low-carbers. I recommend it to anyone on any diet or non-diet. It suggests a NEW improved, and PROVEN food pyramid, rather than the one that was literally shoved down our throats for the last decade or so. The book does read a little text-booky at times, but I don't see that as a flaw. One will gain an understaning of the different types of fats, cholesterols, and why eating a potato is just as bad as pouring sugar in your mouth with a shovel. The book also goes into calories, food portions, and the glycemic index. The book explains that the best way to lose weight is limiting calories, but choosing foods with good fat and a low glycemic index count (which is what works for me). I really think that approach will help 75% of people if not more. It doesn't matter if you are on Atkins or Weight Watchers, YOU NEED THIS BOOK!

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Most recent customer reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Simple, Safe, Authoritative, and Healty. Hard to Beat that.
This book by Dr. Walter C. Willett is the second of two very good books on nutrition I am reviewing. The first was 'Nourishing Traditions'. Read more

Published on Feb 29 2004 by B. Marold

5.0 out of 5 stars From the mouth of a skeptic...
I abhor diet books. I approached this book with great skepticism, yielding only to the consistently good reviews from reputable sources and, finally, the personal recommendation... Read more

Published on Feb 11 2004 by Robyn Morton