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How to Live Life Book Review
In this book, Dr. Fuhrman offers long term health solutions in a world that is endowed in complex dietary problems that only offer only short term health solutions. I selected this book because it connects to the current problem where people are trapped in a vicious cycle of unhealthy food additions. He offers an effective and easy health formula that guarantees better health, elevates diseases and ensures a happier life. He advocates for diets composed of high nutrient density food as opposed to calories. According to Dr. Fuhrman (2014), high nutrient density foods are more satisfying, they help in the natural healing of the body and they eliminate toxic cravings. Thus, they promise a long, healthy and happy life.
I was motivated to choose the book because it seeks to offer a permanent solution to a common dietary health problem. This book advocates for G-BOMBS approach; meaning greens, beans, onions, mushrooms, berries and seeds (Fuhrman, 2014). In this approach, Fuhrman lays much emphasis on vegetable diet. He cites the reason being that an animal protein is one of the leading causes of ailments and death, making it unhealthy. Animal protein according to research has been found to be the leading cause of cancer and diabetes (Fuhrman, 2015). Most people consider having animal proteins that may seem as a temporary solution to their weight protein, but will be securing diseases in future. Dr. Fuhrman stresses for a high plant protein content food that will be helping in healing the cells and reversing diseases.
I view the book as a big revelation on how to live healthy through nutrition. The book effectively takes a natural health outlook, inside and out and a healthy body weight. He has clearly laid out simple and effective recipes that convenient to anyone. For those who love cooking and those who do not, this book addresses the problem of food addiction, giving the impression that it is possible to overcome this addiction and uncontrolled health desire. Often people while they struggle with weight solution, find themselves addicted to very large amounts of junk foods. Just like drug addiction, it has a certain effect on the brain leading to addiction. The junk foods are great contributors to the toxins in the body.
Dr. Fuhrman further explores the psychological difficulties of being fat and sick. The ordinary thinking is that a stressed person tends to eat more “comfort foods” usually sugary and in effect get more calories in the process that eventually makes one to gain weight (Fuhrman, 2014). Although there is some truth in this, he has given a scientific finding that fully illustrates the real cause of weight gain. He shows that a stressed person is likely to add more weight than a non-stressed individual because the metabolic processes in the body are altered and the immunity system is suppressed. When this happens, there is a high probability of an individual to gain substantial weight and be sick at the same time.
While I agree with Dr. Fuhrman’s advice on using healthy foods to promote a healthy lifestyle, I disagree with some of his food specifications. Specifically, I disagree with his view that avocados are part of the fatty foods that should be avoided. I think this is an assumption. This is because olive oil and saturated fats are important for the normal function of the body (Saxelby 2006).
However, the book is consistent with other authors about nutrition. Just like Fuhrman, Saxelby, in her book “Nutrition for Life” gives the best practical lifestyle practices that have a positive impact on the body (Saxelby, 2006). In her book, she indicates that a healthy diet combined with routine exercise and personal reflection will lead to very successful results (Saxelby, 2006). The consistency shows that health elements of nutrition are significant for personal health and national health. Both Fuhrman and Saxelby note that people often fail to learn the basic important nutritional practices because of lacking awareness and nutritional education.
References
Fuhrman, L.J. (2014). Eat to live, End of dieting. New York. New York Times.
Saxelby, C. (2006). Nutrition for Life. Melbourne: Hardie Grant Publishing