Diet as we have been taught is not good science. For many years, the only acceptable research has been on low fat diets. The experience of the last 25-30 years has shown that low fat does not work well. Look at the results of a healthy diet full of Whole Grains, and low fats. We have an “obesity epidemic” though you can not catch obesity. There are more people than ever with Gastro-esophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) - actually not a disease but a syndrome or complex of symptoms related to acid from the stomach backing up in the esophagus. It is like a backed up sewer and just as allowing sewage to back up in our house could make us sick so can GERD. We have too many over weight children that began as over weight babies because their Moms had gestational diabetes, another problem caused by high carbohydrate, low fat diets with too many total calories.

We seem to think that everyone in America is a lazy slob and that it is the lack of exercise that is the problem. If you have noticed the terrible financial crisis, that was caused by the same thing that is causing our obesity epidemic. the first factor is greed. The people in charge turned their heads to obvious, known problems that had easy solutions before everything crashed down. It is greed, wanting more and more, faster and faster no matter what the cost. The other factor is accurate information and a will to act on that information. We have to act and to do that we have to understand. Most of us just want to work, get paid and allow someone else to run the country.
We see what the cost of that can be. The financial crisis cost us money and some of our dreams. The obesity crisis can cost you your life or the quality of your life.

You need accurate information and you can not depend on those in power to give you accurate, unbiased information on finances or on food. The food industry is an over 2 trillion dollars per year business. We talk about trillions like they were amounts you could earn. Here is an illustration of what one trillion dollars looks like. Do you think they are going to risk the market with information that threatens profits? NO WAY! You are going to have to hunt for the information for yourself. Here are some good sources of information.

James Carlson  M.D. is a practicing physician and now an author. He chose the name Genocide for his book for its shock value and to emphasize the fact that dietary ignorance was causing the serious health problems we face. It has been written in many places by many distinguished, knowledgeable authorities that if we don’t change things, my grandchildren’s generation will be the first in America to have a shorter life expectancy that their parents. This is all preventable with correct information. Dr. Carlson presents dietary information in a logical way and makes some of the difficult concepts easy to understand. He also presents solutions to our dietary problems. His book might be a good place to start. His information is not the final word, but it is more accurate than many of the books I have read previously.

If you want to read a book that is scientifically rigorous, well documented and based on solid information after a review of the literature and over 150 interviews then Gary Taubes is the person you want to read. This is written for health professionals. It is not easy reading as it is more textbook than simple nonfiction. Taubes presents the same information as Dr. Carlson but in a scientific way. He looks at the origins of our low fat diet recommendations and at the accuracy of the science behind it versus other recommendations. Taubes is a science writer and researcher. He is doing the same work for diets that Woodward and Bernstein did during Watergate. He is searching for the truth and stirring up quite a controversy in the hierarchy that makes the current recommendation. His book has a couple of areas where it could be more thorough but generally it s greatest flaw is that it can not be easily understood by the lay public. No matter what you need this reference on your bookshelf as you find your way to a longer healthier life.

Dr. Larry McCleary is a very knowlegable author on brain science. He ought to be since he has been a pediatric neurosurgeon for 30 years. He has brought his knowledge of the brain into the realm of the layman. Dr. McCleary explains our brain’s functioning and its needs in a clear manner. He explains what we can do to enhance our brains potential and protect its functions throughout our lives. His book will help us to understand how we can best eat to protect our “Brain Trust”.

These two books are not diet books. You need a way to get started with a change process. The best two authors to do this are Dr. James Prochaska and Leo Babauta. I am presnting Leo’s book first - Zen Habits. Leo took his life by the horns, got himself out of debt, quit smoking and lost over 30 pounds of fat. He took up running, became a vegetarian and fulfilled his dream of making a living from writing. He began a blog that is one of the top blogs on the internet. He credits learning to focus on what is most important now to his success. His first book - Zen to Done - is available as an $8 down load from Amazon. His second, Zen Habits is a thin hardback that leads you step by step into the system Leo used to accomplish and maintain his progress. It’s simplicity is what makes it both powerful and effective. I highly recommend understanding what Leo teaches as a frame work for implementing what you lean from these authors on diet.

The book Changing for Good by Dr. James Prochaska, PhD explains the process of change. We pass through stages at various rates of speed. Dr. Prochaska has identified and labeled these six stages as well as the pitfalls that can cause us to slid backwards and lose progress we have worked so hard for. He maintains that if we skip a stage, we will lose our momentum and slid back. One example he uses of skipping stages is the person who is in stage two - contemplation. They are thinking they need to exercise, to “get back in shape”. Then one night they see an infomercial about a machine that can do it fast and save them time. They jump over preparation directly to action and buy it, use it for a few weeks an then don’t see the promised results. They slid back to contemplation twice shy of doing anything and less confident they can actually succeed in accomplishing this important goal. Reading this book can help you change yourself or to be a better coach to a friend or family member who is trying to change.

These 5 guide books can help you become better informed so you can apply the correct knowledge to your efforts. If you need someone to talk to about this, you should contact me about coaching or about a custom seminar for you and 4 friends. You can not do anything until you sign up and that just puts you into my loop and tells me you really want my help. OK, so sign up and contact me.
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