Sugars and Flours: How They Make Us Crazy, Sick, and Fat and What to Do About It

Rating:
Summary: If only we could get the whole world to read this book...
Review: I love what Ifland has to say, and I agree wholeheartedly with the idea that it is sugars and flours that are making us and our society sick and crazy. I had been thinking and heading this way for a while, and reading her book helped me to take the next step into freeing my body of these substances.

For my own first phase, I gave up obvious refined sugar and all wheat for Lent. I have never felt better, and plan to continue this way. I could never have done it a few years ago, when I couldn't digest a meal without the acid of a cola to assist me!

I gave the book only four stars because it is in dire need of a really good professional editor. (I would give it 4.5 if I could!) She tells you from the outset that she is just writing down her own experiences and ideas, and the casual style comes across all too clearly. This book is so important, and I think a good editor could clarify the information that is presented.

The second weakness is the recipes. Again, she warns you that she is deliberately vague with them, to give you the idea of how to cook this way rather than specific recipes. As something of a "foodie", I was very turned off by some of the recipes, and in particular by their general style. I could see that if you were really working to recover from a serious food addiction, you might need to take her rather austere route, but in general I really don't believe that wanting food that looks and tastes great is at all incompatible with eliminating sugars and flours from your diet. Quite the opposite!

I hate to be the only person to give a down note to the book. I do still highly recommend it - all my friends can attest to that! I'd just really like to see it produced more professionally. Do read the other reviews, they are quite inspiring.

Rating:
Summary: If only we could get the whole world to read this book...
Review: I love what Ifland has to say, and I agree wholeheartedly with the idea that it is sugars and flours that are making us and our society sick and crazy. I had been thinking and heading this way for a while, and reading her book helped me to take the next step into freeing my body of these substances.

For my own first phase, I gave up obvious refined sugar and all wheat for Lent. I have never felt better, and plan to continue this way. I could never have done it a few years ago, when I couldn't digest a meal without the acid of a cola to assist me!

I gave the book only four stars because it is in dire need of a really good professional editor. (I would give it 4.5 if I could!) She tells you from the outset that she is just writing down her own experiences and ideas, and the casual style comes across all too clearly. This book is so important, and I think a good editor could clarify the information that is presented.

The second weakness is the recipes. Again, she warns you that she is deliberately vague with them, to give you the idea of how to cook this way rather than specific recipes. As something of a "foodie", I was very turned off by some of the recipes, and in particular by their general style. I could see that if you were really working to recover from a serious food addiction, you might need to take her rather austere route, but in general I really don't believe that wanting food that looks and tastes great is at all incompatible with eliminating sugars and flours from your diet. Quite the opposite!

I hate to be the only person to give a down note to the book. I do still highly recommend it - all my friends can attest to that! I'd just really like to see it produced more professionally. Do read the other reviews, they are quite inspiring.

Rating:
Summary: Joan's Book Changed My Life
Review: I sat down to read Joan Ifland's book with a king-sized Snickers candy bar in my hand--I was that helpless where sugar and flour were concerned. But two chapters in, I knew that what I was reading was going to change my life forever. Joan provides a blueprint for living a life free of binges, uncontrollable cravings, and raging. This book is not a diet book, it is a simple, straight-forward guide for a lifetime of good health, and all the associated benefits--including better self-esteem and personal satisfaction. Since I have eliminated sugar and flour from my diet, I have lost more than 70 pounds. My sleep apnea symptoms have disappeared, and I no longer snore! My knees can support my body without pain, and I no longer have to climb the stairs one step at a time. I believe I may have avoided a collision course with diabetes. But the very best part of Joan's program for me is the inner calm I feel where sugars and flours are concerned. I no longer worry and wonder and obsess about where my next sugar "fix" is coming from, and I am able to make rational decisions about what I need to eat and when. If you ever find yourself eating food that your body doesn't need, you will understand what I mean about being set free. Please give Joan's book a try. Her words are simple, but profound, and they can change your life. May you discover a new, wonderful way of living.

Rating:
Summary: Joan's Book Changed My Life
Review: I sat down to read Joan Ifland's book with a king-sized Snickers candy bar in my hand--I was that helpless where sugar and flour were concerned. But two chapters in, I knew that what I was reading was going to change my life forever. Joan provides a blueprint for living a life free of binges, uncontrollable cravings, and raging. This book is not a diet book, it is a simple, straight-forward guide for a lifetime of good health, and all the associated benefits--including better self-esteem and personal satisfaction. Since I have eliminated sugar and flour from my diet, I have lost more than 70 pounds. My sleep apnea symptoms have disappeared, and I no longer snore! My knees can support my body without pain, and I no longer have to climb the stairs one step at a time. I believe I may have avoided a collision course with diabetes. But the very best part of Joan's program for me is the inner calm I feel where sugars and flours are concerned. I no longer worry and wonder and obsess about where my next sugar "fix" is coming from, and I am able to make rational decisions about what I need to eat and when. If you ever find yourself eating food that your body doesn't need, you will understand what I mean about being set free. Please give Joan's book a try. Her words are simple, but profound, and they can change your life. May you discover a new, wonderful way of living.

Rating:
Summary: The value of Abstinence!
Review: I was fortunate to hear Joan's "Flour and Sugar" presentation on the first Tuesday night in September. Before she was half way through, I knew her words were changing my life. I purchased the Sugars and Flours book that night.

On Saturday morning, I began reading it aloud while my husband and I were driving to Austin for the weekend. That afternoon, we went to Whole Foods and purchased every grain listed in her book as well as other items to get us started. The following day, on Sunday, we had our first day of abstinence from sugar, flour and wheat.

Both my husband and I now have 7 1/2 weeks of abstinence, and we are grateful every day. This is the most nurturing thing we have ever done for our bodies. My lifelong sleep disorder left me immediately. We have more constant energy and also our moods are very constant. My husband's snoring has almost completely stopped, and overall we feel our lives are richer. The weight for us is secondary, but additionally, my huband has lost 12 lbs and I have lost 4 lbs.

We are extremely grateful to Joan for writing this book and highly recommend it to anyone who is interested in optimal health.

Rating:
Summary: This book is for carbohydrate addicts....
Review: In this book Ms. Ifland describes what I did not recognize as my addiction to carbohydrates. While addiction may seem a rather strong term to describe anyone's relationship with food, Ms Ifland does a good job of detailing, and documenting, the pattern of compulsive and irrational eating habits that can arise as a result of the way the body digests and processes simple and complex sugars. In the same way that booze can trigger excessive drinking in an alcoholic and a drug can lead to uncontrolled using by a drug addict it is shown that carbohydrate metabolism in many individuals can lead to irrational cravings and eating urges -- even if an individual is not, per se, hungry. I had always thought that I could control my eating and lose weight "if I put my mind to it." While a person must always be ready to employ mental tools to combat compulsive eating, the elimination of carbohydrates from my diet has eliminated the overwhelming physiological urges that were almost unbeatable by sheer willpower. This food program takes away the offending substances that drove me to the pantry or the refrigerator. In my compulsion to reestablish my sugar levels, I would cram anything into my mouth -- from bread to candy to fruit to nuts. Once I started on this binge I would not stop, even when feeling full or when the symptoms of hypoglycemia had abated. Later, when my blood sugar levels had come down, I would resume eating in an attempt to get another jolt of sugar, or to insure that they did not dip down to low levels again. I did not know that I was being driven by my bodily cravings, until I read this book. I must say that within the first three days of eliminating sugar, flour and wheat I saw a dramatic drop in my craving for excessive food intake. It was such a liberating experience! If you think you might fit the description of one who struggles with carbohydrate addiction, give this food program a try. It is not as hard to give up these offending substances up as it may first seem. And you will not be sorry with the results. I lost 30 pounds without effort over three and one half months.

Rating:
Summary: sugars and flours, how they make us crazy sick and fat...
Review: Joan Ifland's book changed my life. I began implementing the recommendations within it four years ago, when the book was in an earlier incarnation. I lost 50 pounds effortlessly. I have been implementing the book's food plan ever since and have kept the weight off. Eliminating sugars and flours has made me feel better in so many ways. I recommend this book without reservation.