Fit for Life
by Harvey Diamond, Marilyn Diamond
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Book Reviews of Fit for Life
Book Review: Our bodies adhere to the "rules" of chemistry...
Summary: 5 Stars
An amazing book. The authors basic eating principle is "to stay alive, eat live foods." To die a slow and painful death, eat dead foods. I find it very hard to argue with this principle.My real reason for writing this review is to take a poke back at the nay-sayers and people who didn't like this book.
"They don't have any credentials" - both Marilyn and Harvey are graduates of the American College of Health Sciences. Granted the college is not "accredited". But accredited by whom? The drug-establishment, of course.
"Protein doesn't leach calcium..." - multiple studies have been done and written up in the Lancet, New England Journal of medicine, etc. all CITED by the authors in their second book, Fit for Life II. Articles that can be EASILY found and verified. Excessive amounts of protein in the diet DOES in fact cause calcium leaching. The eskimos of northern Canada are prime examples. By the ages of 35-38, most child bearing women are hunched over from osteoporosis because of their diets and multiple children.
The beauty of the "program" is that it ISN'T a program. It teaches us to respect our bodies, that our bodies can't TAKE 17 different foods at once (a typical thanksgiving dinner) and expect to get much out of it. Granted most of America is alive, but it also happens to be the MOST drugged nation in the world. Like the authors said, it isn't a coincidence, that the number 1 non-prescription drug 3 years running is an Ant-acid for heartburn. Imagine if EVERYONE tried fit for life? Where would those pharmaceutical companies make their profits?
"We're still alive at 80, and not food combining." There are different levels of ALIVE at 80. Most 3rd world cultures do not have the luxury of having more than one or two foods at their dinner tables come supper time. They've been food combining for ages without knowing it. It's only been in our western society, with our western afflictions and ways of curing them (how about a spoon full of mustard gas for that colon cancer?) that we've been running into the problems of affluency.
Moderation is indeed the key. The Diamonds have been able to divulge the reasons why in fact moderation is the key to a long happy, and pain free life.
Book Review: Natural Hygiene for dummies!
Summary: 5 Stars
Well, nobody is a dummy, but for those of us who want to know about nutrients, how food breaks down in the body, it is all laid out in Fit for Life in an easy to understand language!Harvey Diamond shows the approach to the Natural Hygiene system in an informal, non-judgmental way. All of the pertinent information is clear, concise and well footnoted.
Diamond explains many key points such as the three different body cycles, the reason why eating a traditional breakfast is detrimental, easy to understand and follow food combining and the reasoning behind high consumption of FRESH fruits and vegetables.
Although the typical natural hygienist doesn't really eat animal products, Diamond doesn't make the reader feel like a big loser for it. Although, he does outline the facts about what animal products really do in the human body.
The second part of the book is a months' worth of menu planning ideas and included recipes along with a list for shopping ideas. Some of the recipes have meat, dairy or too much fat for myself (I'm already a high raw vegetarian), but the concept is so easy to grasp, that it's simple for me to make meals for my family who isn't vegetarian.
To the skeptics of food combining, I offer this: People who don't think food combining is true or makes a difference, really don't know any better. I know this as the more I clean up my diet and eat simple, unprocessed foods, the less I can tolerate so many combined foods in one meal. I know of many people who eat simply who cannot tolerate it as well. When I used to eat the Standard American Diet, I never noticed any difference because my system had become very accustomed to it, however I had other symptoms such as lethergy, sickness, gas, irritability, etc.
Also, a note about fruit acidity. Yes, fruit IS acidic on it's own, but the point Diamond makes, is that it turns alkaline in the body. Processed foods, meats, and dairy are alkaline on their own, but when eaten turns acid in the body.
This book is excellent...understand that it was written almost 20 years ago, so many statistics and such has changed. It would be great to see a revision advising a lower fat intake.
Anyone looking to lose weight and gain health permanently should read this book!
Book Review: Just try it and judge for yourself
Summary: 5 Stars
The attitude of the negative reviewers on this book just amazes me. My take on this is simple.... LISTEN TO YOUR BODY! You ask ten different doctors their opinion on a particular subject and you will likely get 10 DIFFERENT answers. Some reviewers dispute the science of food combining... do yourself a favor; eat a traditional meal of steak with potato and veggies and notice how lethargic you feel aftewards. The next day eat just a steak and veggie dinner and miraculously notice how you DONT feel lethargic. Now "food combine" for a week and notice your energy level go through the roof and the pounds melt away. Continue for a few more months and notice how you are feeling better than you have your whole life and wait a minute... you have not been sick like everyone else in your family or your co-workers at work. It amazes me that 95% of the reviewers who have actually had the open mind to try the principles and the fortitude to make it through the first few days report that they have never felt better and say things like "it changed my life".... yet the cynics say "ya but, it is not scientifically proven".
All I can say to the people reading these reviews trying to decide whether or not to read this book is as the author says "don't take my word on it, try it out and listen to your body". Some people take this information and run with it to various degree's; some turn into a strict vegan, others (most) like myself, continue to eat meat just in proper combinations.
In ending let me just say that my lifestyle (i.e. eating habits) is not all that radical. I just follow a few basic principles; nothing but fruit until noon (75% of the time), don't eat proteins w/starches (75% of my meals) & no dairy products (I have pizza / ice cream a few times per month) and only eat sweets maybe once a week. As a result, I'm in great shape, I live an energetic life and am NEVER sick.
A hundred years from now we may find out that this book is not 100% accurate, but for now it comes a lot darn closer than any "credited" nutritionist or MD can come up with.
Give it a whirl and see for yourself.
Book Review: Common Sense
Summary: 5 Stars
The book "Fit For Life" was, indeed, an eye opener.
One thing that the average reviewer and reader has to keep in mind is that any book, regardless of who wrote it, and how many degrees he or she has under their belt, is simply opinion. Opinion, based on research and scientific studies perhaps, but still only the author's opinion.
And, for some reviewers to condemn the book for it's "only fruit before noon" approach, and the author's personal views on food combining is ludicrous.
These authors aren't trying to start a new diet revolution, they're simply stating the facts, opinions that are in large part based on years of research, careful study, and other author's opinions.
And, in the process, you would be blind if you came away without your eyes being opened to the truth about how your body and its organs work, what's involved in digestion, and, once again, how the FDA, the government and the media lies to the public.
I may not agree with absolutely everything they say, but that's not the author's intention anyway. They don't expect you to follow the system like a robot and they never indicated that the only way the "Fit For Life" health plan would work, or benefit you, for that matter, is if you adhered to it like glue.
They are simply offering guidelines that should be followed to live a healthier, longer, non-obese life.
Maybe if more people did follow it by the book, the obesity rate in this country would drop in half. And why would that be a bad thing?
All in all, a very informative book that will definitely keep me thinking the next time I sit down to a four course meal, a hamburger, or even a glass of milk.
This book makes you want to try their plan just to see what all the hype is about. And, from reading most of it in one day, I personally don't understand why it could fail.
I will definitely be buying more books from these authors, and I highly recommend "Fit For Life" to anyone who wants to become healthier, have more energy, and eat good food.
Book Review: Love this diet for quick weight loss
Summary: 5 Stars
I picked up this book in 1984. It was the first time I ever had a problem with being over weight (30 lbs at that time).
I'm the kind of person who can never really stick with anything if it doesn't work quick. But the one thing I could stick with was the fruit until noon. When I saw the pounds falling off at warp speed, I kept increasing the fruit until later in the day. I mean once you start seeing the scale start dropping, you are inspired to keep going. to me the headaches sucked but the weight loss was worth it.
The longer I could eat the fruit during the day the more weight I lost. I would usually lose 7lbs in a week just following the principals of the moring regimine and the lunches and trying to behave at dinner. (BUT AT THAT TIME i ALSO DRANK ALCOHOL LIKE A FISH AND IT STILL WORKDED)
I could never really stick with the evening meals. It was just too restrictive for me, for long periods of time. I just love my meat an dairy products.
anyway, I've lost a lot of weigh each time I went on this way of eating. Now over 20 years later, I am convinced, if I do nothing else but eat the fruit during the day as long as I can stand it, (like I used to) and make sure I get 2/3 veggies and 1/3 "hard" food at each meal, I'll be able to take it off again.
I give it five stars for quick wonderful weight loss, but I would never consider staying on it for years at a time retrictively. I would however, stick witht the food combining to the best of my ability for the rest of my life.
Oh, and by the way when I would drop 30lbs at a time, I ALWASY CHEATED a LOT.
So, tomorrow after all these years, I'm coming back to something that actually works to get the weight off. There's just something about those fruits and meal proportions that works beyond belife.
Still, I believe after you get the weight off, it's time to start eating "normally" which is also quite healty.
thanks to the diamonds!