The Diet Cure: The 8-Step Programme to Rebalance Your Body Chemistry, End Food Cravings, Weight Problems And Mood Swings - Now! - Hardcover

Ross, Julia

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0670885932 ISBN 13: 9780670885930

Publisher: Viking, 1999

Synopsis

A myth-destroying examination of the actual causes of overeating and weight gain offers an eight-step plan to individualize specific problems and needs, helping to address biochemical imbalances, food allergies, and much more. 50,000 first printing. Tour.

About this title

Review

For most health books, the word "cure" in the title is a definite sign to steer clear. The Diet Cure is a refreshing exception. Author Julia Ross has the unusual job description of "nutritional psychologist", which means that she works with people to eradicate food cravings, addictions, and eating disorders (including overeating). The gist of The Diet Cure plan is that food allergies, hormonal irregularities, blood sugar swings and thyroid dysfunction, among other factors, cause biochemical imbalances that lead to food addiction and weight gain and that these problems can usually be lessened or eradicated with the proper diet and supplements.

To be sure, most of these health problems ought to be diagnosed by a medical professional, but they often go overlooked because their symptoms can be numerous and vague (fatigue, depression, inability to concentrate). They're not easily diagnosed by the common managed-care tests (such as the TSH, or thyroid stimulating hormone, blood test; Ross advises several more specific tests if a thyroid problem is suspected). Ross's questionnaires, worksheets, and profiles of case studies from her 10 years of clinical experience will enable you to determine what may be the hidden causes that sabotage your weight-loss efforts.

Ross's book should be lauded for its educational tone. She warns of the dangers of zinc and vitamin B1 deficiencies, two common problems found in chronic dieters, along with protein and fat deficiencies and adrenal exhaustion (which is particularly common in caffeine fiends). She rails against the most popular diet books including the Zone, the Atkins Diet, and even Weight Watchers for (among other things) their ignorance of food allergies such as grains, dairy products and sugar. While it might sound downright frightening to be called a sugar addict or a "recreational sugar user", Ross suggests an amino acid and fish oil supplement plan to curb sugar cravings and aid weight loss. Many of her patients over the past decade testify in the book that their environmental allergies and weight loss problems disappeared after they cut sugar from their diets.

Ross's suggestions may seem radical to many primary-care physicians; her approach to health and weight loss definitely takes a holistic approach. She does, however, back up her suggestions and plan with references to medical studies, along with dozens of print and online resources on finding a nutritionist, naturopathic physician, holistic M.D., testing labs (many of them mail-order). It makes very interesting reading for anyone interested in losing weight. -- Amazon.com

From the Author

Breakthrough techniques for weight and eating problems
Greetings Amazon Browsers! My book isn't like any diet book you have ever read. I don’t mention calories except to forbid you to eat too few! I don’t tell you to tune in to your "real" appetite because I know that if you could have you would have long ago. I don’t tell you to discipline yourself because I know that your weight and eating habits are not the result of laziness, gluttony, or because you don’t want to exercise or eat well.

You may be trapped inside a body that is malfunctioning. Your body needs help. Years of dieting, psychotherapy, and the best pep talks about accepting your body as is can’t help much when what you really need is a biochemical overhaul.

We know now that dieting leaves us in worse shape than we were in when we started. Our health, energy, mood, and weight have all deteriorated because of dieting. And yet we can’t quit. We know no other escape from the weight gain that was triggered by our last diet! What we really need now is to be cured of dieting. We have to find an entirely new way to deal with our weight--a Diet Cure!

Fortunately, we have now learned how to identify and repair the underlying physical imbalances that are the real causes of overweight and eating problems.

Amino acids are one of the keys to the Diet Cure. These nutrient supplements are stronger than willpower and more effective and safer for most people than drugs like Prozac and Fen-Phen. Available in every health food store in America, these isolated protein fragments are the miracle foods that your brain uses to dopamine/norepinephrine—your natural cocaine; endorphin—naturally stronger than heroin; and GABA—naturally more relaxing than Valium. A brain that is fully stocked with these natural mood enhancers simply has no need for a sugar high.

What’s more, you won't have to wait weeks or months to see changes in your body. My clients consistently report that within twenty-four hours after taking amino acids, their moods lift and their food cravings disappear—naturally. You will find that the amino acids and other nutritional strategies detailed in my book will work just as well for you. Best wishes, Julia Ross

Edition details

• Publisher: Viking
• Publication date: 1999
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0670885932
• ISBN 13: 9780670885930
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 320