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Book Reviews of Food & Mood: The Complete Guide to Eating Well and Feeling Your Best, Second EditionBook Review: Needs An Update and More Evidence Based Research Summary: 2 StarsThis book is not very different than the first edition. It's good for helping you identify potential links between food and mood. HOWEVER, it's not based in the most sound research. I'd love to see an update.
Book Review: Food and Mood Summary: 4 StarsThis is a very easy to read book. I was happy to see menu plans and receipes included.
Book Review: Great book Summary: 5 StarsThis is a fantastic book and highly recommended. Somer does an excellent job in breaking down the science on eating and succintly conveys these points to the reader. Not only will your body feel the benefits of Somer's advice, but you will also learn a lot about how the scientific relationship between food and mood.
I felt that the best thing about this book is that Somer does not say that you must eat any specific diet. Rather than advocating for a strict and boring diet, the author recommends eating habits that mean that eating can still be a great experience.
Book Review: BUY THIS BOOK if you never buy anything else... Summary: 5 StarsIt's so refreshing to read a book that doesn't preach "diet". It's a vicious cycle. What we eat affects our mood and our mood affects what we want to eat!!
The book (at the beginning) goes into some detail about the chemistry of the body and brain and the purpose is to show you HOW your body uses the fuel it gets. It is an easy read and very easy to incorporate the changes into your life.
The book has really been my "Bible" and I have told hundreds of people about it. It's about eating the right foods for your body and your mind, it's NOT a diet, it's a lifestyle change. The reason so many women can't lose weight and keep it off is that they are focused so much on "diet" and losing weight. It's really about being healthy overall. And what we eat directly affects our moods and THAT is a mental thing, which eventually turns physical if our moods are depressed and we continue to eat things that hurt us.
Another great thing about it is that it covers all the different types of moods and changes women go through and how what they eat either makes the mood better or worse. It also has lists of foods in the back that are good for your lifestyle. I never realized there were SO MANY fruits and veggies and other foods out there that are good for you, that I could eat. And knowing which foods to stay away from or eat during certain moods is so helpful.
For instance, late in the day when you are at work and feeling tired, eat a turkey sandwich on whole wheat bread. It does NOT put you to sleep, it's in small amounts, it actually does the reverse and perks you up. Try it!!
At least go to the library and check the book out first, I guarantee you will love it and want to buy it so you can use it for reference. I am so glad I found it, this book has changed my life!!!
Book Review: Decent Nutrition Overview Summary: 4 StarsThis book is an overview of nutritional and dietary practices, and how they can affect your health, particularly your mental well-being. It is organized into two main sections: The Food-Mood Link, and Nutrition Know-How. In the first section, there are separate chapters about such topics as blood chemistry, carbohydrates, fats and chocolate, and dietary affects on energy levels, PMS and SAD, depression, stress, thinking and memory, as well as chapters on food allergies and intolerances, and eating disorders. The second section presents advice on healthy eating habits for positive mental well-being, with chapters on shopping and supplements. At the end of the book are a glossary, a short section of recipes, a list of organizations devoted to specific diet and health concerns, references organized by chapter, and an index.
Reading this book is a bit like consulting with a nutritionist. Near the beginning of most chapters is a short self-scoring quiz about your current dietary habits or mental condition. After taking the quiz, you add up the points to see if you are eating well in this particular area, or should consider adjusting your habits. The remaining text in the chapter explains some of the problems or symptoms of the topic under discussion and various dietary factors that may play a role, or how dietary changes can help ameliorate symptoms. The suggestions Somer makes are all grounded on published scientific research, as cited in the references found at the back of the book.
While I found the nutritional information worthwhile, I found the quizzes a bit simplistic at times. Quiz 1.1 "What do you eat and how do you feel?" was particularly questionable in format. It asks you to rate your mood on a scale of 0-5 for about 25 characteristics such as "calm" or "lethargic" before lunch and then again after lunch. If any of these values change during this time, you are presumably to blame it on what you had for lunch. Such a format constitutes a classic example of how to create unfounded cause-effect relationships. Mood changes could just as easily come from hormone cycling, food you ate at an earlier meal, or something you heard on the news during lunch. On the other hand, the quizzes provide a limited means of interactivity, to make up for Somer not being able to conduct a personal interview about specific needs before giving dietary advice. Overall, I found the book informative and interesting, though the quizzes need some more polish.
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