Scan barcode
karen_wrighton's review against another edition
5.0
Sara explains the science behind auto immune diseases and then sets out a protocol for treating them using diet and lifestyle changes. The evidence do far seems to be that at very least these changes improve health and for some people the effects can be dramatic and even put their diseases into remission. I've been on the diet for two weeks now and am already feeling positive effects. Would recommend without hesitation to anyone who has an auto immune disease. Excellent work Sara!
insearchof_wonder_'s review against another edition
4.0
This book is helpful for anyone seeking to find help with autoimmune conditions. Be warned the science is detailed and heavy and difficult to wade through. The diet itself is very restrictive so only those intent on results and determined to do what is necessary will find this book helpful.
a2jc4life's review against another edition
5.0
This book is HUGE. As in, college textbook-size. It's gorgeously designed, in full color, and there's so much information here I don't even quite know where to start!
The tone of the book is one of the best things about it. Dr. Ballantyne is very knowledgeable, and her information is clearly science-based. But it's also very down-to-earth - and understanding. Having "been there," in terms of chronic illness, she knows what it's like to be exhausted. She knows what it's like for food to be the enemy. She knows what it's like to be scrabbling for answers. So while her writing is firm, there's also a gentleness there that is often lacking in other health sources. (I don't know about you, but my body beats me up enough; I don't need food writers doing it, too! So this is a big deal to me.)
I really can't begin to tell you all that's IN the book. Seriously - you'll simply have to take a look at it yourself. The first two chapters talk about autoimmune disease - how the immune system is meant to work, what goes wrong that causes autoimmune disease and what sorts of things can trigger it - and about food and how it interacts with this whole process. There is a ton of science here. Many of you may even find your eyes glazing over and have to skim over it or jump forward. It's that in-depth. But anyone who is dealing with autoimmune disease, suspected autoimmune disease, or any kind of chronic illness that doesn't already have some other clear explanation, NEEDS to read this book.
Once this foundation is laid, there is a ton of practical information. What not to eat - but also what to eat. How to address other lifestyle issues like stress management, exercise, and sleep. Supporting various body systems. Supplementation - when it's called for and what to look for. And there's a very long chart of foods with a pretty thorough overview of their nutritional value.
I particularly appreciate that it what can be eaten. There is a whole list of foods that are okay. And it's fairly detailed. I don't just mean "meat & poultry." I mean "antelope, bear, beaver, beef, bison, boar, camel, caribou, deer..." - and as you can probably guess, that's only the beginning. There is so much I can't eat (and I'm not even on the AIP diet yet!) that my brain sort of "checks out" and I can't remember what I can eat, even though I know there are options, so I found this really helpful.
Definitely worth the investment!
The tone of the book is one of the best things about it. Dr. Ballantyne is very knowledgeable, and her information is clearly science-based. But it's also very down-to-earth - and understanding. Having "been there," in terms of chronic illness, she knows what it's like to be exhausted. She knows what it's like for food to be the enemy. She knows what it's like to be scrabbling for answers. So while her writing is firm, there's also a gentleness there that is often lacking in other health sources. (I don't know about you, but my body beats me up enough; I don't need food writers doing it, too! So this is a big deal to me.)
I really can't begin to tell you all that's IN the book. Seriously - you'll simply have to take a look at it yourself. The first two chapters talk about autoimmune disease - how the immune system is meant to work, what goes wrong that causes autoimmune disease and what sorts of things can trigger it - and about food and how it interacts with this whole process. There is a ton of science here. Many of you may even find your eyes glazing over and have to skim over it or jump forward. It's that in-depth. But anyone who is dealing with autoimmune disease, suspected autoimmune disease, or any kind of chronic illness that doesn't already have some other clear explanation, NEEDS to read this book.
Once this foundation is laid, there is a ton of practical information. What not to eat - but also what to eat. How to address other lifestyle issues like stress management, exercise, and sleep. Supporting various body systems. Supplementation - when it's called for and what to look for. And there's a very long chart of foods with a pretty thorough overview of their nutritional value.
I particularly appreciate that it what can be eaten. There is a whole list of foods that are okay. And it's fairly detailed. I don't just mean "meat & poultry." I mean "antelope, bear, beaver, beef, bison, boar, camel, caribou, deer..." - and as you can probably guess, that's only the beginning. There is so much I can't eat (and I'm not even on the AIP diet yet!) that my brain sort of "checks out" and I can't remember what I can eat, even though I know there are options, so I found this really helpful.
Definitely worth the investment!
strickvl's review against another edition
4.0
Anyone who's picked this book up will know that it's a treasure-trove of information, useful charts, detailed explanations, diagrams and support for those beginning to try a restrictive diet approach to managing autoimmune issues. Highly recommended as a first port of call.