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Rating: 
Summary: Some structural problems with this book...
Review: Dietician Elizabeth Somer has done it again: she has written yet another politically correct nutrition book that has little truth in it. In this one, she's attemtping to cash in on the current interest in the Paleolithic diet--the way our ancestors ate.Somer starts off by rightly stating that for 99% of its history, humanity lived and thrived on a hunter-gatherer diet and that widespread use of agricultural foods is a relatively recent phenomenon. She rightly states that, at the genetic level, people are still the Paleolithic eaters of yesteryear, implying that we should eat more Paleolithic foods. After that, her premise gets thrown right out the window and she recommends such modern food items as skim milk, whole grains, low-fat cheese, and soybeans! I'd like to see evidence of paleolithic peoples eating a bowl of brown rice. It is just stupid and historically impossible. Her book is full of Food Pyramid hogwash--from misinformation on fatty acids to eating tons of grains to maintain optimal health. Don't waste your money on this piece of unmitigated garbage. Better and more accurate buys would be Allan and Lutz' book LIFE WITHOUT BREAD, Weston price's NUTRITION AND PHYSICAL DEGENERATION, or Fallon and Enig's NOURISHING TRADITIONS.
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Summary: What an excellent book! The best I have ever read
Review: Elizabeth Somer has done it again. The Origin Diet is insightful and presents sound nutritional idea in a way that is easy to understand without oversimplifying this difficult subject. Our ancestors ate a mixed diet of plants and lean game. By staying close to our origins, we provide our bodies what they need and deserve. I have found this book to be an excellent addition to my library. Read it for yourself and make up your own mind.
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Summary: The Origin Diet
Review: Finally, a nutrition book that makes sense. The Origin Diet is so well researched and the information is so thorough and practical, it has made it easy for me to incorporate healthy habits into my life, lose weight and still enjoy food. Somer takes age-old wisdom adn finetunes it for today's busy lifestyles so that you don't have to eat woolly mammoth or live in a cave, You can still enjoy yummy foods while boosting your health and losing inchces off your waistline. I just had to write something after reading a few of the bad reviews on this book. Obviously, these comments came from people who haven't read this book and have not yet discovered tha you don't need to follow dangerous fad diets. Elizabeth Somer is among the top nutritionists in the country, if not the world. Readers should take advantage of her vast wealth of nutritional and weight loss expertise and eat this book up--as well as every nugget of nutritional information in it.Carole Jacobs Senior Editor, Shape Magazine
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Summary: Some structural problems with this book...
Review: I have no comments as yet about the content of this book -- I'm trying it out and will have to see for myself how the advice works for me. (I will say that it's kind of hard to argue with someone who tells you to stop eating donuts and start working out, and I for one am glad to have qualified advice on how to approximate a more natural diet with the foods that are available today. Not all of us have the wherewithal to track down gazelle.) However, as an ex-tech writer, I do have to comment about the structure of this book. Some chapters are straightforward heading/sub-heading text, but once the guidelines and lists and tip callouts start, you're in trouble. I found it incredibly difficult to determine which set of "Five Habits" or "Seven Guidelines" I was reading. I'd routinely run into, say, item four of some continuing list and have to flip back to remind myself what subject I was on. This book needs:
- fewer and clearer heading styles
- fewer and clearer numbering styles (ABC, 123, and bullets abound...)
- a page design that differentiates between central content and informational asides. I am looking forward to the Origin Diet Cookbook should such a thing be in the offing (not to mention the Origin Diet Shopping Guide -- where DOES one obtain bison burger, anyway?) However, I hope that future offerings are a little more carefully designed than this one.
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Summary: The Origin Diet
Review: I've been interested in nutrition and weight issues for most of my adult life. The Origin Diet really put things in perspective. When I eat in sync with my body, putting in the kinds of foods that our bodies are designed to use, I experience a sense of healthy balance that allows my weight to stabilize or decrease. (I don't have experience with needing to gain weight but I assume that would happen if the person was underweight from restrictive dieting.) Anyway, this book explains the concepts from an evolutionary point of view that just make sense. The author uses that point of view to explain why vegetables are healthy for us, why saturated fat in red meat is not and why we crave chocolate but not chard. I'm using this book to learn why and how to work with my natural instincts to lose weight, have more energy and curb cravings. I've always hoped I could feel this good! Best of all, the advice in the book is practical and up-to-date with modern life. I usually don't like menus and shopping lists but I have the sense that these were created for "real people." The recipes are really good! As with Somer's other books, The Origin Diet is research-based but the information is clear and easy to apply. I highly recommend The Origin Diet for people who want to jump off the fad diet bandwagon and get on with losing weight for good. For good health, that is!
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Summary: Breath of Fresh Air
Review: The Origin Diet is a breath of fresh air after all those ridiculous fad diet books. The research and reasoning behind this book makes perfect sense. But, Somer isn't a food faddist that wants you to eat baked eel or gather weeds for dinner. The book is loaded with great brown-bag lunch ideas, breakfast and dinner suggestions, shopping lists, fast-food ideas, recipes, menus, you name it. The Origin Diet has everything I needed to get started in finally taking care of myself the way my body needs to be cared for. I've lost weight, but more importantly, I feel better than I've ever felt! Shannon in Gardnerville, Nevada
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Summary: Not really stone age
Review: The Origin Diet is another great book by Elizabeth Somer. As always, Ms. Somer writes with authority and presents information in a way that makes it easy to read, understand, and apply to life today. I find that Ms. Somer is one of the most knowledgable nutrition writers today. I look forward to her books and never question whether they will be worth reading. The Origin Diet is no exception--a must read!
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Summary: Amazing, Inspiring, and Motivating Book!
Review: This book is written in a style that is honest, and really motivates you to eat healthier. The lists, illustrastions, and recipies are extremely helpful, and I have lost 10 pounds by adopting the techniques of my ancestors. An excellent read!
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