Mark Hyman (1) (1959–)

Everything Hyman says in this book makes sense. You can't really argue with the logic or science. The reason I docked a star is because I don't think 10 days is a long enough time to see the miraculous results he promises. If you read about sugar detox (other than in this book), you'll learn that it takes a long time to reset your cravings. Sugar is as addictive as cocaine. You don't just kick those something like that in 10 days. Not that I have direct experience with drug addiction, but show more c'mon.

The detox is a great start, though, and you will learn a lot about yourself (like how much of your life revolves around food and booze). You will start to feel less interested in sugar and carbs. You will start to enjoy the taste of simple foods, like steamed greens. You will start to see motivating results. But in my experience, THIS IS HARD WORK.

The hardest part for me was psychological. When I couldn't reach for a sweet treat to soothe myself after a long workday, I had to think of other ways to find comfort. I had to face how many of my food and drink habits are tied to boredom and anxiety. I wondered if I could find things in life that would bring me joy, other than food, or if I maybe I was broken inside. Yes, these are real thoughts I had and they were not fun.

But, these thoughts eventually passed. I started to see results -- a 4-lb weight loss -- and focus on other things. I found a sense of peace. That alone was worth it.

NOTE: I did not use any of the supplements suggested. I took my regular Vitamin D, B, and fish oil. I still lost 4 pounds. The only "cheat" I had on the meal was store-bought salad dressing containing a small amount of sugar. I didn't follow the meal plan exactly, but ate from the provided recipes. Some were good, some were just ok. The recipes are poorly written, so make sure you read through them thoroughly first. show less

Today I'm fuming a bit. I got The blood sugar solution 10-day detox diet from the library after watching a couple of documentaries about sugar, with Dr. Robert Lustig, and thinking I could reduce our intake more. I've done detoxes, and know they're possible and beneficial, but not only does this one seem extreme, (many are), but there are unaddressed issues in what I've read so far.
For example: it's hard for some of us to pay for all the weird foods you are supposed to eat instead of show more processed food, and what do you do after the 10 days (some of which I've read, and sounds a lot like "I love it so much why would I stop?". Or how do you deal with things like social occasions? (when it looks like you have to bring your own food with you everywhere)? Sometimes the party is worth the hangover- just not all the time.
I recognize that refined sugar is, in fact, a slow poison, and consuming as much as we do is bad for us. But we all know someone who finds some great new diet/exercise regime/philosophy/religion and won't shut up about it. If this works, how do you avoid being that person?

I already cook using whole foods for almost everything, although I don't avoid gluten and casein (grain and dairy - is he looking for the people who are suffering from hidden sensitivities?) But as a cook I am infuriated by the suggested time estimates for making suppers. They are mostly on the order of 10-20 minutes prep time, and 15-30 minutes cooking time. BULL. That's only if you have a staff to prepare, or can buy your ingredients pre-peeled/sliced etc. If you're doing it yourself, it's going to take you twice as long. I can't imagine that people who are NOT used to cooking aren't going to feel betrayed by this misdirection.

Then warning lights flashed: He says: you're going to need support to get through this, you can reach other people on our website. (Wait a minute, this is beginning to sound like a cult!), and if you really want it to work- use our supplements (buy here if you can't find them locally- it's not just a cult, but a for-profit one. Can you say Scientology boys and girls?)

I've gotten to the recipe section and am not soothed. While he suggests that you adapt to your own tastes, the meal plan is basically Smoothie for breakfast (most of them look gross), followed by soup or salad for lunch and for dinner: salmon/snapper or chicken breast. SOME people like not having to think about what's for dinner, but I prefer variety, and changing herbs or from broiling to poaching doesn't count. Also, I think his taste is different than mine- some of us cannot stand cilantro and arugula. Nice for you if you do, but I don't. The recipe section makes me want to say "Liar, Liar, pants on fire!" when he gives his "cook time 20 minutes, prep time 15 minutes" estimates. PERHAPS if you buy your vegetables pre-sliced, and have someone else put all the ingredients out pre-prepared and measured in little bowls like on a cooking show, it would only take that long, but it makes it look like you'll only be spending a half hour in the kitchen a night, and it looks more like twice that- NOT counting clearing up. I guess we know what people will be doing for the hours before bed they're not allowed on the computer!

So I'm thinking I should find another book on sugar detox without those problems. But maybe give it the benefit of the doubt and read a bit more. I'll update this if anything much changes. show less

Somewhat resembles a gluten-free, dairy-free carob-chip cookie with no sweeteners. Looks appealing, potentially good for you, but by the end, potentially a little hard to swallow. I will say this for it: at the heart of the book is a truth we all need to hear: Our lifestyles are making us sick.

Divided into six somewhat disparate parts, book sections include: Understanding the Modern Plague, a section on the diabetics epidemic with a strong implication that most of us are pre-pre-diabetic; show more Seven Steps to Treating Diabesity, which includes a number of lifestyle surveys identifying one's own insulin resistance; The Blood Sugar Solution: Preparation, or steps to implementing a healthier lifestyle; The Six-Week Action Plan, which includes a basic and 'advanced' diet plan for those who are more sugar-dependent; Take Back Our Health,how to including community support in your changes; The Meal Plan and Recipes; and of course, references.

For those sensitive to it, a note on formatting. Structure is very much of the "Dummies" school of writing, which includes (overuse) of bullet points, sections broken down into 2-page easily digestible segments, action steps, sidebars and (repetitive) life-style quizzes. This truly isn't meant to be an educational tome so much as a motivational speech coupled with a plan for lifestyle change.

The first part inundates with statistics proving that the American diet is unhealthy, causing an epidemic of obesity. He attempts to link obesity to industry, government and pharmaceutical companies--certainly all implicated in problems with the modern food chain, as well as general individual confusion about nutrition. There's vital substance here--much like the almonds in your chocolate bar--but it feels a little media-spun and breezy, and I would have preferred something more substantial. For instance, his assertion that "The food industry has decided to preempt any food-labeling regulations that would given consumers real, credible information" (p.47) is some what misleading. While I'd agree that industry isn't/hasn't been helpful, food labels now are more readable than ever before. It's actually a voluntary front of package labeling that industry suggested that he has issue with. Certainly true, but spun in a way that diminishes consumer responsibility and government efforts to improve knowledge. Personally, I would have been interested to learn more factual information about the deliberate creation of (unhealthy) highly-processed food on the part of industry--after all, I'm a sucker for an big conspiracy, especially if I get to blame my weight on it. But for that, I plan on checking out the lauded [b:Salt Sugar Fat: How the Food Giants Hooked Us|15797397|Salt Sugar Fat How the Food Giants Hooked Us|Michael Moss|http://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1361919312s/15797397.jpg|21520265].

Still, while every health care provider should already be aware of the current health crisis around poor diet and minimal exercise, some of this information might be new to the average American who may not have made the links between lifestyle and health (I don't know how they wouldn't have, but I'm trying to be generous here). Points he brings up include "low-fat" diets--there is now is strong evidence that defining healthy food strictly in terms of fat content is not enough. Likewise diet sodas--he cites a newer well-done study that links diabetes with higher diet soda consumption. I also like his assertion that too many medical practitioners--and their patients--accept the "pre-diabetic" label without actively fighting against further development of diabetes.

Other positives include linking inflammatory food choices with lifestyle stresses and inflammatory health conditions, although he often characterizes these as "toxins." There's a wide body of scientific research hoping to connect food, stress and inflammation, but as of right now, blanket statements are definitely out. Science is relatively certain inflammatory factors play a role in disease progression, specifically cardiovascular disease, breast cancer and autoimmune diseases (at least the ones that I know about off the top of my head). However, the link with inflammatory or "toxic" diets has been tenuous. A new European study on the Mediterranean diet was just released, and that seems to provide more conclusive proof. (However, contrary to Hymans' recommendations, that diet does contain alcohol, so it is sure to gain wider support).

There is a lot of good information here, spun in a way the average consumer might appreciate. However, because so much is referencing his website, it somewhat limits the extent to which it is accessible to everyone. My dad, for instance, should read this book; however, as he is computer illiterate, the online questionaires and resources would be useless. This issue perhaps hints at one of the hidden plagues of the food revolution--it usually requires significant economic or time resources to change.

Recipes and meal plans seem healthy, and no doubt would be part of a great balanced diet. He includes smoothies, breakfasts, snacks and solid meals. I also appreciate his checklists of kitchen supplies and spices, undoubtedly helpful for the kitchen impaired. It truly is a step-by-step recipe for change for those who are interested.

There is also a lot of selective information. Hyman would prefer that you don't drink alcohol at all. Not that I'm a fan, necessarily, but by not acknowledging the numerous studies that show a glass of red wine a day seems to be cardio-protective, he chips away at his own validity. And while I appreciate his emphasis on both 'real' food and food prepared by the consumer, I fail to understand how he doesn't consider it hypocritical that he would also recommend supplements.

Although I certainly believe in increasing environmental and pharmaceutical toxins, I think there aren't many studies that draw clear correlations with health, and those that do tend to center around asthma and cancer. Even then, connections are challenging to prove--if it was clearly provable, we'd have more success with EPA regulations. I feel his assertion of "increasing levels of toxins... are a significant cause of diabesity" (p.9) is seriously stretching the science. This truly is the section of the book that caused me the most skepticism. His self-analysis questions cover just about every symptom possible, so I think it would be hard to find someone that didn't merit his detox diet with supplements.

As a side note, for people into testing, he recommends a battery of blood work that is unlikely to be supported by many doctors and many more insurance companies. A full thyroid panel and insulin testing are two of the more esoteric ones that most practitioners--and clinical guidelines--would only recommend a screening thyroid and fasting glucose. Again, this speaks to well-financed readers, and I feel it is somewhat irresponsible to suggest someone with limited financial resources spend $800 on lab testing (just guessing off the top of my head as I don't have the book in hand--it's actually more like a couple thousand if it was market cost) that would need to be repeated in order to assess "improvement."

Well, it's not really, but a side-side note. I recently saw a paper talking about the wide difference in gut enzymes between dogs and wolves, even though they are related species. Genes that sequence certain starch-digesting enzymes are to twelve times more common in dogs (Nature, Jan. 2013). It speculated that the gut evolution enabled dogs to take advantage of human's more carb-heavy diets. Similarly, current human guts are built to digest carbs as well as proteins--a diet that immediately classifies all carbs as 'toxic' is problematic. His diet seems extreme and fails to acknowledge evolution with dietary change. Similarly, I remember a anthropological study that looked at how cereal grains enabled civilization to progress beyond the hunter-gatherer because it allowed for concentration of food and diminished fool-collection energy consumpton. So I'd be interested in knowing how Hyman connects his own dietary suggestions back to food industry. Where are all these lean meats coming from? Harvested nuts and beans? It's ingenuous to suggest his diet is the answer to agribusiness' "Frankenfoods" without recognizing it is a reciprocal relationship, and that demand for his type of foods will be no different.

At the end of the day, I'm not sure to what extent cause matters. Humans are hard-wired to select sweets and fats, so whether its because of capitalism or choice, we're gonna pick the unhealthy ones most of the time. I do buy into the 'addictive' component; again, whether it is from a dopamine cycle or habit is almost irrelevant. Almost, because knowing can help us with strategies. I do dispute Hyman's tendency to equate heroin with sugar. A little extreme, maybe? But that's where the addictive behavior figures in, and where behavior modification has to be an emphasized component of dietary and lifestyle change. I do like the way Hyman tries to connect that back to community, and how to enlist community support in ones' change. I don't know that the web community is the only option, but it is the one most strongly supported by this book.

I did chuckle at his Inflammation questionnaire: "At work, I am exposed to pesticides, toxic chemicals, loud noise, heavy metals, and/or toxic bosses and coworkers." Tell me that isn't funny stuff!

If only his prescription didn't also include his own brand of products. There was one line I found quite ironically funny where he complains that the solution isn't "diet and exercise" the way we've been hearing our doctors suggest for decades. Um, hypocritical much? Because that is, after all what he is recommending. Along with a healthy dose of his brand of supplements.

Summary: if it gets you to healthify your lifestyle--awesome. But don't waste your money on lab tests and supplements.

http://clsiewert.wordpress.com/2013/03/14/the-blood-sugar-solution-by-mark-hyman... show less

I was a bit skeptical about the premise of Eat Fat Get Thin cookbook but I have been seeing that eating so many carbs, little fat or protein was expanding my waist line.. Even though I knew that it was important to change my diet I didn't until I was diagnosed as pre-diabetic. I slowly made changes in my eating and then found Eat Thin, Get Fat. This cookbook has to be one of the easiest, tastiest cookbooks I have found on my journey to eat differently.

I am not the best of cooks but each show more recipe I made was delicious. I first cooked the Tamari and Orange-Marinated Cod with Bok Choy. Its ingredients are simple. You don’t have to go to specialty stores to find them. In such a short time I made a dish that everyone in my family loved. It plated beautifully. I will be making it again and again.

I wanted to try a dish that had more challenge to it. I cooked Slow-Cooked Chicken with Thai flavor. I had never cooked a whole chicken or used coconut milk. Again, tasty, a little dry in places, (which I have found in other dished where I use the slow cooker and white meat) but overall it’s Thai flavors infused the throughout the chicken and my family enjoyed it.

One downside is that there are too few pictures in the book and also though I am able to find most of the ingredients (live in a big city) I cannot imagine how someone who lives in a small, city, or in a rural area would have access to many of the ingredients needed. Overall, it is a keeper for me and I plan on using it quite often.

Thank you to Netgalley for allowing me to review this book for an honest review. show less