Fit for Life by Harvey Diamond, Marilyn Diamond
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Book Reviews of Fit for Life
Book Review: my all time favorite book on nutritional healing, hands down
Summary: 5 Stars
I've read so many books about nutrition in my lifetime, it's dizzying for me to even contemplate. Some have been eye opening, others have been helpful to a point, and then there were the ones that were utterly ridiculous to me (Atkins springs to mind). But there are a select handful of nutritional iconoclasts whose work changed my life irrevocably, and I mean that sincerely. Fit For Life tops that very short list. I could go on and on about why I love this book and continue to carry around an old paperback to this day, but suffice it to say it delivered me from the limited thinking of the old school nutritional paradigm, most of which I believe exists solely to sell goods. The meat and dairy trades are incredibly lucrative to those involved, so rather than buy into ANY "scientific studies" about the necessity for such foods to be ingested I go by my own body and the way I feel. I am the only one that I can say with 100% certainty is NOT being influenced by money or other agendas. I cannot say the same for the FDA or any of the scientific studies that continue to espouse the miracles of dairy and meat consumption. If you like the taste, don't care at all about animal suffering and want to continue to age prematurely like the status quo expectation, have at it. And actually, this book offers a program that could benefit even the most resolute meat eater despite the authors' collective belief in the healing power of a vegetarian lifestyle. But you can apply the principles of food combining and the energy ladder to ANY type of diet and benefit tremendously. Having fresh fruit and/or juices as breakfast, properly combined meaty meals between 12-8pm and adding lots of veg to your diet isn't that difficult but the positive changes even at that level are amazing. I've witnessed them myself with friends and colleagues who insisted they needed to eat meat. But by trying this simple shift in food timing and combinations they all found a tremendous increase in energy, good will and resistance to illness. My coworkers and I even tried this out once a few years back as a one month experiment and we were all eating different types of foods; vegan, vegetarian (with some dairy and fish), only eating fowl and eggs, full on carnivores. We were the only folks in the office who managed to dodge the winter cooties that dropped so many others around us with a holiday flu. Maybe it's a coincidence, but I doubt it.
For myself, I worked with the Fit For Life paradigm as a chicken and egg eater, then slowly transitioned into a lacto-ovo vegetarian and I am still slowly shifting into a 100% raw vegan lifestyle. It's a goal, and along the way I find that this has offered me a very simple, energizing and joyful way to eat and live. I love the universal applicability; even someone as extreme as a fruitarian can take these concepts and apply them for greater health and efficient digestion. When something can benefit everyone from a carnivore to a fruitarian, I find that to be both precious and incredibly valuable. I grew up eating bologna sandwiches with mayo and american cheese...and man that sounds good, lol, but having my toasted Ezekiel bread sandwich with Vegenaise, fresh juicy tomato, sprouts, lettuce and luscious avocado hits the spot beautifully. That's one of their healthy sandwich alternatives and it's both simple and totally satisfying.
I have been applying these concepts to my life and way of eating since the mid 90s. I have never once been deficient in any nutrients; my docs check, believe me. My general practitioner is old school and a meat eater himself, but time and again he has to admit that my blood tests and overall exams show me to be as healthy as a teenager at the age of 40. Why? I eat lots of high water content foods, combine them properly as often as possible (though even the authors admit that a slip once in a while isn't the end of the world), follow the energy ladder principle and stay active thanks to the energy that creates. I remember being 24, having 6 medications I was told I would need forever and feeling so achy and tired after work I never had the will or desire to do anything but sit in front of a TV every night. Applying these concepts, with any type of diet I've tried, has changed my body, my personality and my life. No exaggeration. And those lifelong meds; only 2 of the 6 remain, and I feel strongly those last 2 will go the way of the dinosaur before long as well.
We can all argue 'til the cows come home (pun intended) about what diet is "right" or "perfect" and it won't change anything. We all have to find what works for us and go by the way we feel rather than what we are told. When I read this book, it was a radical departure from anything I had ever known or heard. It seemed interesting but far fetched. What I discovered when I tried this for myself was that an open mind is the path to true health and happiness. Thank goodness I didn't let lifelong conditioning deter me from something this important in my life.
Harvey and Marilyn, thank you from the bottom of my healthy heart for putting this out there. I have given away dozens of copies over the years, only to replace them immediately so I always have one of my own. At the end of the day, my experience and success in this is all that I need. :)
Book Review: This book is a life changer - for the better.
Summary: 5 Stars
First off, regarding the anonymous comment claiming this book is pseudo-science: The commenter CLEARLY did not try out any of the the suggestions put forth in this book, because it doesn't take more than about a month of practicing the Fit for Life philosophy before you notice enough benefit from doing so that you'd never go back to your old ways without regret. I've been practicing by the philosophy of this book for 2, going on 3, years now, and I've NEVER been healthier. This coming to you from someone who has been quite keen on diet and exercise for many years prior to reading this book. I thought I already was as healthy as can be. I've trained under professional weight-lifting trainers, practiced yoga, and done cardiovascular exercise throughout my adult life, along with eating healthy, and yet reading this book has STILL caused me to reap better health than I've ever had before! This is also coming from someone who did not use this book to "lose weight" -- which so many people think is the only important factor of health. I've never been overweight - and indeed I gained 20 pounds of solid muscle while practicing the precepts of this book! (And working out, of course -- which is part of the Fit for Life mentality).After practicing the eating habits recommended by this book, I find I now have more energy, get out of bed easier in the morning, have a better disposition, improved digestion, less gas, and my bowel movements have never been so healthy. (As odd as that may sound, it's a very important thing.)
The focus of this book is on how improperly combining your food will lead to digestive disorders and drain your energy you could otherwise be using. In addition, improperly combining foods you eat in a single meal slowly poisons your body over the years. The authors lay forth why this occurs -- WHICH IS NOT PSEUDO-SCIENCE, AND I HAVE VERIFIED EACH OF THESE FACTS BY READING PHYSIOLOGY BOOKS SINCE. (I went looking shortly after reading this book -- the claims were so shocking that I just had to know if they were true). The authors also lay out clear and simple means of understanding how to combine foods properly without suffering such unwanted results. If you try these methods, you will IMMEDIATELY feel the difference. I have many friends who have solved major digestive issues by living the Fit for Life mentality. But it's much more than even just good for digestion. I honestly feel just aweful (physically) on days when I break the rules for proper food combining. Throughout my whole life I had many "off" days when I just felt no good, but never figured that there was such a correlation between what foods I ate together in a single meal, and my feeling no good that day. But now I clearly recognize the correlation. The evidence of this book is clear once you practice the philosophy set forth.
But if you're one of those people who just read about great ideas that you never try out for yourself, you sure aren't going to get anything from this book, or any other. (That line is just for you, Mr. PseudoScience.)
;)
This book is an excellent book I highly recommend to all my loved family and friends. This book should be read by anyone seeking better health, of any age. If you have your children read this book, they will likely benefit throughout their entire lives from it.
The only things you need to know about the book in advance are:
* There is a corrected mistake which is later addressed in one of the following books, regarding the healthiness of sunlight (The book was written in the mid-eighties where we were just beginning to come to scientific conclusions regarding the increasing risk to skin cancer due to the deterioration of our atmosphere...)
and...
* That the book was marketed towards people who want to lose weight, because that was the only thing back then selling health books, but it's soooooooo much more than just being about losing weight. It's packed with enlightening information that will change the way you look at things forever.
This book is a paradigm shift of knowledge and practice of living, eating, and hygeine. It will push your brain to new places. I'm not kidding. Every single friend of mine who has read the book has reaped great benefits from it. And they all look at things differently now.
Book Review: This book is a life changer - for the better.
Summary: 5 Stars
First off, regarding the anonymous comment claiming this book is pseudo-science: The commenter CLEARLY did not try out any of the the suggestions put forth in this book, because it doesn't take more than about a month of practicing the Fit for Life philosophy before you notice enough benefit from doing so that you'd never go back to your old ways without regret. I've been practicing by the philosophy of this book for 2, going on 3, years now, and I've NEVER been healthier. This coming to you from someone who has been quite keen on diet and exercise for many years prior to reading this book. I thought I already was as healthy as can be. I've trained under professional weight-lifting trainers, practiced yoga, and done cardiovascular exercise throughout my adult life, along with eating healthy, and yet reading this book has STILL caused me to reap better health than I've ever had before! This is also coming from someone who did not use this book to "lose weight" -- which so many people think is the only important factor of health. I've never been overweight - and indeed I gained 20 pounds of solid muscle while practicing the precepts of this book! (And working out, of course -- which is part of the Fit for Life mentality). After practicing the eating habits recommended by this book, I find I now have more energy, get out of bed easier in the morning, have a better disposition, improved digestion, less gas, and my bowel movements have never been so healthy. (As odd as that may sound, it's a very important thing.)The focus of this book is on how improperly combining your food will lead to digestive disorders and drain your energy you could otherwise be using. In addition, improperly combining foods you eat in a single meal slowly poisons your body over the years. The authors lay forth why this occurs -- WHICH IS NOT PSEUDO-SCIENCE, AND I HAVE VERIFIED EACH OF THESE FACTS BY READING PHYSIOLOGY BOOKS SINCE. (I went looking shortly after reading this book -- the claims were so shocking that I just had to know if they were true). The authors also lay out clear and simple means of understanding how to combine foods properly without suffering such unwanted results. If you try these methods, you will IMMEDIATELY feel the difference. I have many friends who have solved major digestive issues by living the Fit for Life mentality. But it's much more than even just good for digestion. I honestly feel just aweful (physically) on days when I break the rules for proper food combining. Throughout my whole life I had many "off" days when I just felt no good, but never figured that there was such a correlation between what foods I ate together in a single meal, and my feeling no good that day. But now I clearly recognize the correlation. The evidence of this book is clear once you practice the philosophy set forth.
But if you're one of those people who just read about great ideas that you never try out for yourself, you sure aren't going to get anything from this book, or any other. (That line is just for you, Mr. PseudoScience.)
;)
This book is an excellent book I highly recommend to all my loved family and friends. This book should be read by anyone seeking better health, of any age. If you have your children read this book, they will likely benefit throughout their entire lives from it.
The only things you need to know about the book in advance are:
* There is a corrected mistake which is later addressed in one of the following books, regarding the healthiness of sunlight (The book was written in the mid-eighties where we were just beginning to come to scientific conclusions regarding the increasing risk to skin cancer due to the deterioration of our atmosphere...)
and...
* That the book was marketed towards people who want to lose weight, because that was the only thing back then selling health books, but it's soooooooo much more than just being about losing weight. It's packed with enlightening information that will change the way you look at things forever.
This book is a paradigm shift of knowledge and practice of living, eating, and hygeine. It will push your brain to new places. I'm not kidding. Every single friend of mine who has read the book has reaped great benefits from it. And they all look at things differently now.
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!