GRAIN BRAIN by David Perlmutter has
just been released in an updated version five years after initial publication.
For those not familiar with this text,
Perlmutter is a neurologist and Fellow of the American College of Nutrition as
well as an associate professor at the University of Miami Miller School of
Medicine.
His original
Grain Brain publication was considered
revolutionary in terms of its emphasis on reducing gluten and carbohydrate
intake when other scholars were focusing primarily on fat and cholesterol. In
this latest version, Perlmutter continues his argument that carbohydrates can
contribute to brain disease like dementia, ADHD, headaches, and depression.
As the publisher explains, this revised text:
“puts forth the most compelling evidence to date that a non-GMO, gluten-free,
and low-carb diet is crucial for cognitive function and long-term health.” Perlmutter
proves a self-assessment tool and additional scientific background, plus a
discussion of dietary habits, a four-week plan of action and meal plans and
recipes. Over the years, Perlmutter's text has been of interest to our students and we expect to have the updated version on our shelves soon.
THE DASH DIET MEDITERRANEAN
SOLUTION by Marla Heller is another new text dealing with diet and
lifestyle. Heller’s subtitle is “The Best Eating Plan to Control Your Weight
and Improve Your Health for Life.”
She explains
that DASH stands for Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension and discusses
numerous “myths” and sayings (e.g., Eat Less Move More) that she finds counter-productive.
Instead, Heller suggests various “good” fats
like olive oil or omega-3 fish oils, the importance of protein in maintaining
muscle, and the benefits of replacing “empty carbs” so as to lower blood
pressure. She stresses “eating mostly unprocessed foods, such as yogurt,
cheeses, milk, and frozen vegetables and fruit.” I do hope to try a couple of
her suggested recipes (no images available) like Roasted Vegetable Salad and Pollo
alla Griglio.
I was especially curious
about her encouraging comments about strength training until I realized that
she was recommending a text that had been published more than two decades ago.
Overall, Heller’s text is easy to understand although
I found her suggestions to be a bit oversimplified (e.g., “add lean,
protein-rich foods to satisfy your hunger”) without specific examples and
lacking footnoted research (there are charts near the end and a limited
bibliography).
Diet and disease clearly
have a complicated relationship and there is still much to learn.
GRAIN BRAIN by David Perlmutter has
just been released in an updated version five years after initial publication. For those not familiar with this text,
Perlmutter is a neurologist and Fellow of the American College of Nutrition as
well as an associate professor at the University of Miami Miller School of
Medicine. His original Grain Brain publication was considered
revolutionary in terms of its emphasis on reducing gluten and carbohydrate
intake when other scholars were focusing primarily on fat and cholesterol. In
this latest version, Perlmutter continues his argument that carbohydrates can
contribute to brain disease like dementia, ADHD, headaches, and depression. As the publisher explains, this revised text:
“puts forth the most compelling evidence to date that a non-GMO, gluten-free,
and low-carb diet is crucial for cognitive function and long-term health.” Perlmutter
proves a self-assessment tool and additional scientific background, plus a
discussion of dietary habits, a four-week plan of action and meal plans and
recipes. Over the years, Perlmutter's text has been of interest to our students and we expect to have the updated version on our shelves soon.
THE DASH DIET MEDITERRANEAN
SOLUTION by Marla Heller is another new text dealing with diet and
lifestyle. Heller’s subtitle is “The Best Eating Plan to Control Your Weight
and Improve Your Health for Life.” She explains
that DASH stands for Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension and discusses
numerous “myths” and sayings (e.g., Eat Less Move More) that she finds counter-productive. Instead, Heller suggests various “good” fats
like olive oil or omega-3 fish oils, the importance of protein in maintaining
muscle, and the benefits of replacing “empty carbs” so as to lower blood
pressure. She stresses “eating mostly unprocessed foods, such as yogurt,
cheeses, milk, and frozen vegetables and fruit.” I do hope to try a couple of
her suggested recipes (no images available) like Roasted Vegetable Salad and Pollo
alla Griglio. I was especially curious
about her encouraging comments about strength training until I realized that
she was recommending a text that had been published more than two decades ago. Overall, Heller’s text is easy to understand although
I found her suggestions to be a bit oversimplified (e.g., “add lean,
protein-rich foods to satisfy your hunger”) without specific examples and
lacking footnoted research (there are charts near the end and a limited
bibliography). Diet and disease clearly
have a complicated relationship and there is still much to learn.
