Eating Well for Optimum Health: The Essential Guide to Bringing Health and Pleasure Back to Eating

Read This Book After Live Right for Your Type

I have found Live Right for Your Type to be the best single book I have read about healthy eating, but I could appreciate that book as much as I did because of what I learned from reading Eating Well for Optimum Health. I recommend that you read both books, with this one being the second in order. If you are tired of trying to make sense out of all of the conflicting claims about foods, diets, and various diseases, this book is your answer. The author bravely takes on any school of thought about food (including unhealthy ones), and provides a balanced perspective on what is wrong with that approach. Health is not only about eating. It is also about exercise, sleep, relationships with others, genetics, and environment. But for the part of health that relates to food, this book is the overall be-all and end-all for now. I say that not because of any weakness the book has, but simply because scientific information about health is expanding so rapidly. As Dr. Weil points out, the information he shares in this book is often news to medical students and physicians. Food and health are subjects that are poorly connected in our minds at this time. The book begins with an excellent section on what food means to us. While most health books focus on the disease related issues, Dr. Weil points out that food not only runs our bodies as fuel, but also is a source of pleasure (did you ever think you would hear that from a physician?), a way to create social interaction, a part of health, and a way to address some diseases toward restoring health. The second section is on the basics of what our bodies need. This is where scientific studies are neatly put together into a consistent description. I was especially impressed with the section on fats. It is very easy to omit getting the right fatty acids in your diet, and I was pleased to see this issue addressed well here. The third section then looks at the worst diet you could possibly eat (the fast food diet) and explains why the food is so appealing, yet why those french fries could be the death of you (for more reasons than you probably now know about -- beware of reused cooked fats!). The fourth section goes on to look at the best diet you can eat. Don't worry! It's nothing extreme. In fact, those who are a bit fanatic about their food regimens may be disappointed. I was pleased to find that my regular Saturday lunch of vegetable soup and a half a tuna sandwich are a good idea. There's also no harping on the need to maintain some extremely low weight. Weight is the next subject, and he looks both at how you should think about what your weight should be and how to get to that weight and stay there. A lot of the material on the satisfaction duration of the food you eat will be new and of interest to you. The next section was also very helpful to me. It talks about how to buy food and how to decide what to eat and order in restaurants. Since I travel a lot, I always need help with the latter. I got a number of good ideas. The final section was on recipes that are healthy and quick to make. Many of them sounded very appealing to me, and I was pleased to see that there were

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

excellent!

I would absolutley reccomend this book to anyone who wants to learn about food and how to lose weight. It's easy to understand and they have very good recipes.

Excellent!!

A friend of mine told me to read 2 books this fall...'Eating Well for Optimal Health' and 'The Power of Positive Habits'....WOW!! what a great health combination!! I highly recommend both of them.

An excellent review of healthy eating

I have to admit... I am very sceptical of diet books. I find that many are sensationalized accounts with mediocre science at best, and as such I tend to ignore the genre. I am, however, a fan of Dr. Weil. Having studied nutritional anthropology and ethnomedicine as a university undergrad, I first heard of Weil as his name was often mentioned among students of Richard Schultes, a Harvard ethnobotanist whose work I much admire. Looking into Weil's background -- a medical doctor (Harvard) with training in medicinal plants and nutrition ¿ I decided to read this book, and I was impressed. Weil writes in an accessible but credible manner. He takes the complex scientific processes of nutritional biochemistry and breaks it down in an easy to understand manner. His discussion of carbohydrates, fats, proteins, and micronutrients is informative without being overwhelming for the general reader (this information is also readily available in peer-reviewed academic journals. You likely won¿t find theories on low-carb or ultra-low-fat diets with as much support). Weil, most importantly, offers practical advice on how to apply the science into daily living practice. I recommend the book highly for those who want to improve their dietary habits for better health. One more thing: A previous reviewer states that Weil is ¿overweight and in need of exercise¿, and therefore places doubt on his credentials in 'telling others what to do.¿ This is an illustration of the type of diet-culture thinking many of us are lead to believe. I can¿t comment on Weil¿s weight or level of exercise from the books I¿ve read or from the info on his website (www.drweil.com), and I doubt the other reviewer can either (perhaps judging this from the picture on the cover? Can you really see what¿s under the beard?). I do believe with the information Weil presents about diet and exercise that he would practice what he preaches. Weil does not promote the instant-weight-loss angle so common to books in this genre, but presents a rational nutritional lifestyle to better promote health -- which for many people leads to weight loss. It is important to remember healthy people come in different shapes and sizes, and that being thin does not necessarily mean being healthy.

An excellent investment

A little over a year ago I took the advice offered in a customer review and purchased this book as well as Sonia Uvezian's 'Recipes and Remembrances from an Eastern Mediterranean Kitchen.' I have been using both volumes ever since and am in complete agreement with the reviewer. Dr. Weil's advice is sound, realistic, humane, and practical. I especially appreciated his concerns about the unhealthiness of fast food and his recommendation of the Mediterranean diet. Uvezian's book is a treasure trove of recipes for dishes that are both truly healthful and utterly delicious, and it is fascinating to read. These two books are exceptionally informative and easy to follow. They really do stand out and are well worth buying even if you already have other titles on these subjects.

Im amazed at Andrew's success on eating habits

Andrew Weil is very much overweight, needs exercise and he is telling others how to eat healthy?!! Whats wrong with this picture?

0 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

Awareness through eating

Ok, not a weight loss book, but a heathly eating book. On the negative side, too scientific for most readers, complicated to remember, and difficult to 'digest'. Somewhat hard to implement for most Americans, and expensive to do. On the positive side, not as strict as some diet plans out there today. Honest about its limitations.

Understanding food groups

For the first time I've been able to read and understand a book on eating healthy! The author breaks down the related food groups and explains in simple terms how they affect your body and how you can gain control of this process. The book is not a receipt book of uneatable health foods, but an explanation of what food groups will benifit your body and which do not. It allows YOU to make the choice.

Indispensable reading

Of the many health books I have read, this is undoubtedly one of the best. In addition to providing a wealth of nutritional information, Dr. Weil evaluates various diet plans and exposes the dangers inherent in a number of currently popular ones. He offers medically sound and practical guidelines for healthy and enjoyable eating, stressing that for a diet to be followed successfully over a lifetime it must be a source not only of ample nourishment but also of ample pleasure and that healthful food need involve no compromise in taste. An especially useful feature of the book is the tips it contains for shopping and menu planning as well as for making sensible choices when dining out. Readers will also find Dr. Weil's advice very helpful when consulting cookbooks. For example, following the basic principles set forth in his book, I have discovered a gold mine of great eating in Sonia Uvezian's classic, 'Recipes and Remembrances from an Eastern Mediterranean Kitchen,' which is filled with easy-to-follow recipes for a myriad of dishes that are both wonderfully healthful and exceptionally delicious.

A true life saver

Dr. Weil's 8 weeks book was great, but this book made 200% more impact on me. He takes the time to go through and explain the affect of all the different types of food on the body. The affect of the different types of oils and greases, simple sugars, etc. The information is straight forward and simple to understand, but backed up with solid clinical data. Reading this book was a big part of my lossing 85 pounds, and my husband losing 42. My blood pressure was 210/110 with a pulse of 114. Now since changing my diet and following his common sense advice it is 116/70 with a pulse of 58. It works, it works fast (I started his way of eatting at the end of march 2001), and most of all I feel great. The rapid change in my body and health blew my doctor away. I eat great food, and no longer have chest pain. BLESS YOU DR. WEIL. I actually buy people this book, THEN have them read 8 weeks once they have read this book as a nutritional primer. I got this book on tape and listened to it in the car and on walks. Now my dad,a doctor,is listening to it, and loves it too. Change your life, buy this book.

Sensibly written

One of the better diets because it is one in which you eat healthy while losing weight.

The Best Resource for Food-Related Health Information

If you are tired of trying to make sense out of all of the conflicting claims about foods, diets, and various diseases, this book is your answer. The author bravely takes on any school of thought about food (including unhealthy ones), and provides a balanced perspective on what is wrong with that approach. Health is not only about eating. It is also about exercise, sleep, relationships with others, genetics, and environment. But for the part of health that relates to food, this book is the be-all and end-all for now. I say that not because of any weakness the book has, but simply because scientific information about health is expanding so rapidly. As Dr. Weil points out, the information he shares in this book is often news to medical students and physicians. Food and health are subjects that are poorly connected in our minds at this time. The book begins with an excellent section on what food means to us. While most health books focus on the disease related issues, Dr. Weil points out that food not only runs our bodies as fuel, but also is a source of pleasure (did you ever think you would hear that from a physician?), a way to create social interaction, a part of health, and a way to address some diseases toward restoring health. The second section is on the basics of what our bodies need. This is where scientific studies are neatly put together into a consistent description. I was especially impressed with the section on fats. It is very easy to omit getting the right fatty acids in your diet, and I was pleased to see this issue addressed well here. The third section then looks at the worst diet you could possibly eat (the fast food diet) and explains why the food is so appealing, yet why those french fries could be the death of you (for more reasons than you probably now know about -- beware of reused cooked fats!).

Has Helped Many People Better Their HEALTH AND WELL BEING

In his book Andrew writes ' a healthy diet is the cornerstone of a healthy lifestyle. You will find in these pages all the information you need to put that cornerstone in place.' In reading this I was reminded of another book called 'WORKING ON YOURSELF DOESN'T WORK: A BOOK ABOUT INSTANTANEOUS TRANSFORMATION' by Ariel and Shya Kane. THIS IS A GREAT BOOK! For me the Kanes' book is the cornerstone of my life being wonderful and satisfying. The Kanes' book is easy to read, inspiring, humorous and life transforming. I whole heartedly recommend the Kanes' book to anyone interested in having a CENTEREDNESS AND WELLNESS FROM WITHIN THEMSELVES. ps The Kanes' tape are also wonderful!

a real eye opener about a lot of things

this book is very good if you want to learn about what you should and should not eat. while scientific in nature, dr. weil gives very easy to understand advice(which is synopsised at the end of each chapter)that is simple to follow and easy to live by. i already feel 10x more energetic and lively and i have only been following his guidelines for a few weeks!!!read this book!!!!!

He's done it again!

Dr. Weil has done it again. A simple clear approach to eating well and staying healthy. This is another great addition to his earlier books. A must read for anyone serious about wellness.

Totally Wonderful Book for Everyone!

I enjoyed Weil's prose and humor as well as his exacting knowledge about health and diet. I can't say this book changed my life, but it did change my eating habits and attitude about certain diets and foods. I got my health under control by using hypnosis, meditation with a Light & Sound machine, and Neurosync behavior modification techniques. You really have to take a positive attitude and want change for the benefits and not because you feel obligated. I highly recommend this fine book to everyone.

Most excellent guide regarding nutrition

This is another top book by Dr. Weil and like his others before, it's highly recommended. In this book e.g. he explains exactly how metabolism work and herewith helps us understand what type foods are healthy why others are harmful. Every reader will get something valuable out of this excellent nutritional guide. Sure, this time Dr. Weil explains scientific stuff, but the book doesn't lack practical advice which everybody can understand and utilize. Regarding the philosophical aspect to mental and spiritual health I highly recommend Dietmar Scherf's 'Depression: Avoiding and Overcoming: I Love Me.'

Cannot say enough about this book~

I found this book to be wonderful! Please take the time to read it and incorporate it into your life. You will not be sorry! You will be thinner and healthier in no time!

Too Much Science, Not Enough Practical Tips

I bought this book because I'd seen Dr. Weil on TV and liked what he had to say. I agree with his basic premises, and believe that he gives sound advice. The book reinforced this opinion, but I did not particularly enjoy it or find it helpful in a practical way. There is far too much technical, detailed, BORING stuff about metabolism and nutrients. Those parts need to be streamlined. Also, the glycemic index table was very limited. I wanted a longer list of 'good' carbs. The book is really not geared to the masses who will buy it simply becuase it's a well-marketed 'diet' book on a bestseller list. (FYI -if you are thinking this is a book about losing weight, think again. It's simply good advice on how to eat healthily.) I am a vegetarian, and Dr. Weil reinforces my conviction to stay that way. His mantra: 'eat more fruits and vegetables.' And I enjoyed reading his daughter's piece on why she 'eats healthy.' Weil includes his recommendations on vitamin and mineral supplements, which I found helpful. I guess I would recommend the book, but not highly. It's just a tad too intellectual for most of us -- I want a more practical, easy to use guide.

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