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Eat the Yolks: Discover Paleo, Fight Food Lies, and Reclaim Your Health
Goodreads Choice Award
Nominee for Readers' Favorite Food & Cookbooks (2014)Eat whole grains. Avoid red meat. Worry about cholesterol. We live in an era of health hype and nutrition propaganda, and we're suffering for it. Thirty years of avoiding eggs, choosing margarine over butter, and seeking out "low-fat" versions of processed foods have left us with an obesity epidemic, ever-rising rates of chronic disease, and above all, total confusion about what to eat and why. This is a tragedy of bad information, food industry shenanigans, and cheap calories disguised as health food.
It turns out that everything we've been told about how to eat is wrong. In Eat the Yolks, Liz Wolfe dismantles today's myths about fat, protein, carbs, calories and nutrients to finds the truths—truths like: Fat and cholesterol aren't bad for us. We need animal protein. Whole grains aren't healthy. Counting calories is a waste of energy. Nutrition doesn't come in a box, bag or capsule.
With wit and grace, Wolfe makes a compelling argument for following a Paleo lifestyle. She takes us back to the foods of our ancestors, combining the lessons of history with those of modern science to uncover why whole, real food—the kind humans have been eating for thousands of years—holds the key to good health.
It turns out that everything we've been told about how to eat is wrong. In Eat the Yolks, Liz Wolfe dismantles today's myths about fat, protein, carbs, calories and nutrients to finds the truths—truths like: Fat and cholesterol aren't bad for us. We need animal protein. Whole grains aren't healthy. Counting calories is a waste of energy. Nutrition doesn't come in a box, bag or capsule.
With wit and grace, Wolfe makes a compelling argument for following a Paleo lifestyle. She takes us back to the foods of our ancestors, combining the lessons of history with those of modern science to uncover why whole, real food—the kind humans have been eating for thousands of years—holds the key to good health.
288 pages, Hardcover
First published February 23, 2014
129 people are currently reading
2473 people want to read
About the author
Liz Wolfe
22 books6 followersLiz Wolfe lives in the beautiful northwest with her husband, an elderly wolf named Bear and two demented felines, Weird Willie and The Cat Formerly Known as Prince.
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* Parker Investigations
* Skye Donovan Photographic Mystery
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* Parker Investigations
* Skye Donovan Photographic Mystery
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 156 reviews
July 3, 2014
I'm not a reader of Liz Wolfe's blog, so I was unaware of her particular writing style when I picked this up. I thought I'd get a nice, easy-to-read defense/proof of the Paleo diet. The introduction is by Diane Sanfilippo, and I really like her style and cookbook Practical Paleo: Customize your diet using whole foods to achieve optimal health. Instead, what I got was a poorly written and infantile book. Perhaps this kind of writing style works for some people, but I don't need my nutrition/health books to come with a side of bad humour and juvenile jokes.
This was unfortunate, because underneath the writing style is actually some good information written in an accessible manner. The chapter on nutrients was informative. However, although there are notes/resources at the back, there are no footnotes in the book itself making it very difficult to determine which piece of information came from which source.
I actually returned this book, as I disliked it so thoroughly - I was extremely disappointed in it.
This was unfortunate, because underneath the writing style is actually some good information written in an accessible manner. The chapter on nutrients was informative. However, although there are notes/resources at the back, there are no footnotes in the book itself making it very difficult to determine which piece of information came from which source.
I actually returned this book, as I disliked it so thoroughly - I was extremely disappointed in it.
Read
May 7, 2019If you've ever listened to Balanced bites then you know Liz is cuter than a slice of paleofied pie. But she's also knowledgable & credible. It is so hard to get people you love, who have eaten SAD (Standard American Diets) to step outside of their comfort zone and introduce a knew way of thinking into their life. The paleo, or more accurately described "real food" lifestyle, has been a total game changer for me. I don't stress over calories. I'm more adventurous in the kitchen. I love learning the versatility of foods I recently never even knew what to do with. Wrapping your brain around the concepts of "real food" eating can be hard, but it doesn't have to be and Liz breaks it down for us. Thanks, Liz!
December 28, 2014
I like Liz's sense of humor, but it comes across so much better on her podcasts. If I was just curious about ancestral eating (instead of already convinced), I don't think this book would convince me. I think it might make me feel a bit defensive. It seems written for a narrow audience - those looking for reinforcement of existing beliefs. I was surprised that I didn't see footnotes or more extensive citing of research.
March 3, 2014
Having switched to a primal/paleo lifestyle in 2012, I’m interested in books that support the paleo lifestyle with fact-based science. Liz Wolfe makes an excellent case for following our an-cestral diet as she debunks many of the food myths that have held America in thrall for decades. Wolfe, a Nutritional Therapy Practitioner is passionate about discovering the truth about food and educating her audience.
In her first book she dispels many long-held myths about the foods we eat and shares the inces-tuous connection grain farmers, processed food conglomerates and Big Pharma have on various studies—studies that seem to encourage consumption of foods that are potentially harmful or at the least, not designed for human consumption. Or they admonish an unsuspecting populace to avoid ingredients that are good for them. Examples include not eating eggs--particularly the yolks--or coconut oil, both of which have been proven to be highly beneficial.
Diane Sanfilippo, who shares podcast time in Balanced Bites with Wolfe, gives a foreword, and Wolfe jumps into the introduction with provocative questions and comments on the Propaganda Police, what Paleo is and what we need to know. In four thorough chapters she covers the topics of Fat, Protein, Carbs and Nutrients and does so in such a way as to provide an arsenal of facts to obliterate the naysayers. Here you’ll learn that higher cholesterol levels are beneficial, that saturated fat is not only good for you but is something the body requires for optimum health. She explains that animal protein doesn’t cause cancer; it can’t rot in the gut because it is completely assimilated before it ever reaches the “nether regions”.
If you’re looking for solid information you can take to the bank, Wolfe’s book is for you. Along with her clear reasoning and well-articulated prose is a rapier-sharp wit that will have you chuck-ling on every page. Should one be inclined to check her statements, several pages of source ma-terials are listed at the back of the book. Immediately preceding that she’s compiled a nutrition checklist in 100 words. I particularly like the ending:
“Above all, ditch obsessive behavior and “diets.” Question conventional wisdom. Eat real food.”
When conventional wisdom tells me that I need to consume Egg Beaters instead of real eggs from properly and humanely raised chickens or that cholesterol in food somehow gets into my arteries or chemical-infused and hydrogenated oil from corn, cottonseed and rapeseed is “heart-healthy”, I’ll say “phooey” and instead point to Liz Wolfe’s book.
In her first book she dispels many long-held myths about the foods we eat and shares the inces-tuous connection grain farmers, processed food conglomerates and Big Pharma have on various studies—studies that seem to encourage consumption of foods that are potentially harmful or at the least, not designed for human consumption. Or they admonish an unsuspecting populace to avoid ingredients that are good for them. Examples include not eating eggs--particularly the yolks--or coconut oil, both of which have been proven to be highly beneficial.
Diane Sanfilippo, who shares podcast time in Balanced Bites with Wolfe, gives a foreword, and Wolfe jumps into the introduction with provocative questions and comments on the Propaganda Police, what Paleo is and what we need to know. In four thorough chapters she covers the topics of Fat, Protein, Carbs and Nutrients and does so in such a way as to provide an arsenal of facts to obliterate the naysayers. Here you’ll learn that higher cholesterol levels are beneficial, that saturated fat is not only good for you but is something the body requires for optimum health. She explains that animal protein doesn’t cause cancer; it can’t rot in the gut because it is completely assimilated before it ever reaches the “nether regions”.
If you’re looking for solid information you can take to the bank, Wolfe’s book is for you. Along with her clear reasoning and well-articulated prose is a rapier-sharp wit that will have you chuck-ling on every page. Should one be inclined to check her statements, several pages of source ma-terials are listed at the back of the book. Immediately preceding that she’s compiled a nutrition checklist in 100 words. I particularly like the ending:
“Above all, ditch obsessive behavior and “diets.” Question conventional wisdom. Eat real food.”
When conventional wisdom tells me that I need to consume Egg Beaters instead of real eggs from properly and humanely raised chickens or that cholesterol in food somehow gets into my arteries or chemical-infused and hydrogenated oil from corn, cottonseed and rapeseed is “heart-healthy”, I’ll say “phooey” and instead point to Liz Wolfe’s book.
March 10, 2014
Very reader friendly and very heavy on the attitude/humor, which I like. Does a great job of breaking down nutritional science so it's easy to understand while simultaneously making it obvious that eating real food is not something you should have to put so much thought into. Refreshing read!
October 15, 2022
🎧Such an Excellent book on real food, nutrition and misinformation that has been circulating the news and the media for decades.
The author advocates real food from sources that raise, grow or catch it right. It is also written in a witty, non patronizing manner which was very pleasant to listen to as an audiobook.
The most memorable and thought provoking statement to me was: “You can’t be an environmentalist and also a vegetarian”. After this, I was desperate to hear more, and all in!
I highly recommend this one 📕💕
The author advocates real food from sources that raise, grow or catch it right. It is also written in a witty, non patronizing manner which was very pleasant to listen to as an audiobook.
The most memorable and thought provoking statement to me was: “You can’t be an environmentalist and also a vegetarian”. After this, I was desperate to hear more, and all in!
I highly recommend this one 📕💕
June 23, 2019
This was an Audible Daily Deal, and I am interested in science-based good nutrition, so it sounded ideal company for my walks. I gave it 20% and could take no more.
The first problem was my fault. Based on the book description I expected an objective critique of common diet recommendations and perhaps some recommendations on how to eat sensibly. I was sold by the promise to debunk the fad diets, etc., and I did not read far enough to discover that the author's conclusion is to follow the paleo diet, another fad! That hurt her credibility considerably, but it got worse. She slams all the large food companies and many organizations like the American Heart Association, often by simply saying that one of their claims is "hooey" or "has more holes than a pair of Crocs". She does not adequately explain why they are wrong. She describes common flaws in reasoning or argument such as the fact that correlation does not prove causation, but then she falls into the same errors and omissions when she makes her own statements. I acknowledge that I only lasted through most of the chapter on fat, but I doubt she improved in later chapters.
Even if the material presented had been better, her style would have been annoying.It fits the audio medium well in one sense, because it is very light and breezy, too light and breezy and "hip", IMHO. She is constantly making references to and metaphors from games, TV shoes, and movies, many of which I have not seen and which, when I do get the reference, I often found very forced.
The first problem was my fault. Based on the book description I expected an objective critique of common diet recommendations and perhaps some recommendations on how to eat sensibly. I was sold by the promise to debunk the fad diets, etc., and I did not read far enough to discover that the author's conclusion is to follow the paleo diet, another fad! That hurt her credibility considerably, but it got worse. She slams all the large food companies and many organizations like the American Heart Association, often by simply saying that one of their claims is "hooey" or "has more holes than a pair of Crocs". She does not adequately explain why they are wrong. She describes common flaws in reasoning or argument such as the fact that correlation does not prove causation, but then she falls into the same errors and omissions when she makes her own statements. I acknowledge that I only lasted through most of the chapter on fat, but I doubt she improved in later chapters.
Even if the material presented had been better, her style would have been annoying.It fits the audio medium well in one sense, because it is very light and breezy, too light and breezy and "hip", IMHO. She is constantly making references to and metaphors from games, TV shoes, and movies, many of which I have not seen and which, when I do get the reference, I often found very forced.
November 15, 2014
Fantastic read! It really opens your eyes to the "business" of making food and how it often doesn't align with what our bodies need nutritionally. I will eat more eggs and beef from properly fed hens and cows and significantly less grains as a carbohydrate source. (Cheez-its are still amazing and I will always eat them.)
March 14, 2014
Excellent book! Great explanation about why the foods we've been told to shun should be back on our plates.
June 29, 2019
This would be a great reference book for someone interested in becoming a nutritionist and who isn't a vegetarian. Most omnivores and vegetarians are solidly in their camp and can easily find books and research studies in support of their eating habits. If you are an omnivore or open to eating whole food from nose to tail (like our ancestors did), this book breaks down a lot of facts on what our bodies need.
October 19, 2024
One of the best books on nutrition that I've read so far. It is packed with information, easy to understand, and fun to read (lots of sarcastic humor throughout). Bottom line is eat "real, nutrient-filled food, as close to its natural state as possible: whole, unprocessed, unmodified, and unrefined." And ditch obsessive behavior and "diets". Find what works for you.
Following are what I think are some of the best points from the book:
"Despite all the fat-lowering and cholesterol-obsessing, people are still sick with the same diseases that those changes were supposed to prevent."
"Margarine is the greatest culinary and dietary atrocity ever to be inflicted upon our society."
"The problem isn't too many calories per nutrient-rich bite. It's too many nutrient-poor bites per person."
"Carbohydrate is the only nonessential macronutrient. Modern supermarket carbage (carb rich garbage) is always going to be dirty fuel. All carbs are not created equal."
"When we eat more carbs than our bodies can handle and the excess overwhelms our individual tolerance for too long, the consequences reach far beyond fat storage. Metabolic syndrome. This leaves blood glucose constantly high – a condition that is inflammatory, a precursor to type 2 diabetes, and a risk factor for heart disease."
"It is not about willpower or moderation. It's about eating the right foods. Eating real, unprocessed food and ditching the rest - or, put more simply, eating a Paleo diet."
"There is nothing good in grains, including fiber, that we can’t get from vegetables and fruits with more nutrition and less baggage."
"Gluten free or not, if it comes in a box, bag, or package with a long ingredients list, it’s not good for you."
"On the list of things that matter about our food, calories are dead last."
"Hormones, not lack of willpower, drive hunger and overeating in response to dieting and food restriction."
"Nutrient synergy is the reason real, whole foods are good for us and not toxic, as isolated or synthetic nutrients could very well be."
Following are what I think are some of the best points from the book:
"Despite all the fat-lowering and cholesterol-obsessing, people are still sick with the same diseases that those changes were supposed to prevent."
"Margarine is the greatest culinary and dietary atrocity ever to be inflicted upon our society."
"The problem isn't too many calories per nutrient-rich bite. It's too many nutrient-poor bites per person."
"Carbohydrate is the only nonessential macronutrient. Modern supermarket carbage (carb rich garbage) is always going to be dirty fuel. All carbs are not created equal."
"When we eat more carbs than our bodies can handle and the excess overwhelms our individual tolerance for too long, the consequences reach far beyond fat storage. Metabolic syndrome. This leaves blood glucose constantly high – a condition that is inflammatory, a precursor to type 2 diabetes, and a risk factor for heart disease."
"It is not about willpower or moderation. It's about eating the right foods. Eating real, unprocessed food and ditching the rest - or, put more simply, eating a Paleo diet."
"There is nothing good in grains, including fiber, that we can’t get from vegetables and fruits with more nutrition and less baggage."
"Gluten free or not, if it comes in a box, bag, or package with a long ingredients list, it’s not good for you."
"On the list of things that matter about our food, calories are dead last."
"Hormones, not lack of willpower, drive hunger and overeating in response to dieting and food restriction."
"Nutrient synergy is the reason real, whole foods are good for us and not toxic, as isolated or synthetic nutrients could very well be."
July 18, 2019
I read this because it was on sale, and I didn't really understand this was a paleo diet missive. I'm stupid.
The two stars were earned for giving me a lot to think about. What do you eat? Why do you eat it? These are important questions, and Wolfe does a good job of getting us to consider this in detail. She lists a lot of sources of food that I currently don't eat, and maybe I should. (Such as liver, oysters, sardines and fatty meats.)
The problem with this book is this: Wolfe is not a reliable source of information. She's an NTP. What is that? It's a Nutritional Therapy Practitioner. You can be an NTP, if you pay some cash and spend 9 months in an online class. Wolfe gives you links to NTP schools on her own website. Is that an expert? Not really. Wolfe is a personality, not an authority. And, that's cool. But, she doesn't have the educational background to make me question everything I have ever learned about food and nutrition. By her own admission, she has fallen prey to a variety of crappy diets in the past, and who's to say "paleo" isn't another notch in her diet-disaster-belt?
When someone tells you to ignore everything you have ever learned...to disregard what your doctor, what your parents, what your government and what your common sense tell you...then, it's time to worry. Wolfe asks you to believe that nutritional information is all a big conspiracy. I'm sure she's partially right. And it's always good to question the motivations of the person or entity that is giving you advice. Which is why it's a good idea to question Wolfe's motivations. She is financially rewarded by selling books and getting people to listen to her podcasts and visiting her website. Go visit her website and see what you think. Is she reliable? I'm not so sure.
Anyways, as a writer, Wolfe is entertaining but she's trying too hard. She's funny. She's adorable. She wants you to love her. It gets annoying. Luckily, it's a short book. If you're interested in paleo, or getting a shaky and questionable education on the nutritional content of various foods, give it a go.
The two stars were earned for giving me a lot to think about. What do you eat? Why do you eat it? These are important questions, and Wolfe does a good job of getting us to consider this in detail. She lists a lot of sources of food that I currently don't eat, and maybe I should. (Such as liver, oysters, sardines and fatty meats.)
The problem with this book is this: Wolfe is not a reliable source of information. She's an NTP. What is that? It's a Nutritional Therapy Practitioner. You can be an NTP, if you pay some cash and spend 9 months in an online class. Wolfe gives you links to NTP schools on her own website. Is that an expert? Not really. Wolfe is a personality, not an authority. And, that's cool. But, she doesn't have the educational background to make me question everything I have ever learned about food and nutrition. By her own admission, she has fallen prey to a variety of crappy diets in the past, and who's to say "paleo" isn't another notch in her diet-disaster-belt?
When someone tells you to ignore everything you have ever learned...to disregard what your doctor, what your parents, what your government and what your common sense tell you...then, it's time to worry. Wolfe asks you to believe that nutritional information is all a big conspiracy. I'm sure she's partially right. And it's always good to question the motivations of the person or entity that is giving you advice. Which is why it's a good idea to question Wolfe's motivations. She is financially rewarded by selling books and getting people to listen to her podcasts and visiting her website. Go visit her website and see what you think. Is she reliable? I'm not so sure.
Anyways, as a writer, Wolfe is entertaining but she's trying too hard. She's funny. She's adorable. She wants you to love her. It gets annoying. Luckily, it's a short book. If you're interested in paleo, or getting a shaky and questionable education on the nutritional content of various foods, give it a go.
August 23, 2015
Firstly, I have to state that I am extremely fortunate to live in a third world country where the processed foods so abundantly found in countries like America, took a lot longer to reach our shores. I was in high school when McDonald's first came to South Africa. I was raised on real food and I consider that an advantage.
In Eat the Yolks, Wolfe tackles some food myths, most of which originated from really dodgy "science" from the past century or so. If you have ever read about the paleo lifestyle before, you will likely be familiar with most of the ideas presented here. However, Wolfe writes humorously and her voice is an enjoyable one.
I read this simply to remind myself of some of the principles of healthy nutrition, because it is easy to become fooled by the idea that everything in moderation, including processed foods, is acceptable. The facts about plant based oils and grains served as an excellent reminder that if I want to 1) be healthy and 2) look as good as possible for as long as possible, I need to up my nutrition game, big time.
I would recommend this as an introductory book for people interested in finding out just what goes for what when you want to be healthy (hint: low fat foods and margarine ain't it!) and also to keep current paleo or even keto dieters on the right track.
One strange thing for me was that Wolfe kept saying to eat beneficial organ meats if you dare. It struck me how very different our societies must be, since organ meats are generally prized in my own culture. For that I am glad, since it would seem that the more advanced societies become, the further they move away from the "messy" foods, whereas I have access to excellent animal products, especially organ meats.
In Eat the Yolks, Wolfe tackles some food myths, most of which originated from really dodgy "science" from the past century or so. If you have ever read about the paleo lifestyle before, you will likely be familiar with most of the ideas presented here. However, Wolfe writes humorously and her voice is an enjoyable one.
I read this simply to remind myself of some of the principles of healthy nutrition, because it is easy to become fooled by the idea that everything in moderation, including processed foods, is acceptable. The facts about plant based oils and grains served as an excellent reminder that if I want to 1) be healthy and 2) look as good as possible for as long as possible, I need to up my nutrition game, big time.
I would recommend this as an introductory book for people interested in finding out just what goes for what when you want to be healthy (hint: low fat foods and margarine ain't it!) and also to keep current paleo or even keto dieters on the right track.
One strange thing for me was that Wolfe kept saying to eat beneficial organ meats if you dare. It struck me how very different our societies must be, since organ meats are generally prized in my own culture. For that I am glad, since it would seem that the more advanced societies become, the further they move away from the "messy" foods, whereas I have access to excellent animal products, especially organ meats.
April 28, 2014
3.5 stars. She's on the right track and I really have always wondered why there are so many unfortunate kids today that have disabilities like autism, or ADD and ADHD or other challenges, compared to 40+ years ago. Isn't it interesting that about the time we started buying all those foods in boxes and bags and cans because 'it made life easier', was around the same time we started hearing about things like hyperactivity and other problems?
I agree with Ms. Wolfe about many things she has said like it's okay to eat red meat! (In moderation.) It's okay to eat the yolks! It's okay to use real butter instead of those processed fats and margarine. And we need to get away from all those 'easy to fix' processed foods. But there is one thing I disagree with and that is that grains WERE meant for us to eat. It's all about the moderation. Balanced diets, with the four food groups. Get rid of the junk and fake foods, but keep what has been found in nature. That's where good health lies.
Realistically speaking, we can't all move to Kansas like she did and grow and raise ALL of our food. But we CAN do better.
JUST MY OWN OPINION.
I agree with Ms. Wolfe about many things she has said like it's okay to eat red meat! (In moderation.) It's okay to eat the yolks! It's okay to use real butter instead of those processed fats and margarine. And we need to get away from all those 'easy to fix' processed foods. But there is one thing I disagree with and that is that grains WERE meant for us to eat. It's all about the moderation. Balanced diets, with the four food groups. Get rid of the junk and fake foods, but keep what has been found in nature. That's where good health lies.
Realistically speaking, we can't all move to Kansas like she did and grow and raise ALL of our food. But we CAN do better.
JUST MY OWN OPINION.
December 20, 2016
Absolutely amazing! This book should be taught in schools.
It goes further than just nutrition. Even though it explains the expected history of nutrition and how nutrition works, it goes a step further and dispels a lot of myths about nutrition. But wait, there's more!
The (amazing) author goes two steps further and explains a lot of scientific errors or misinterpretations, the focus of corporations on profit (not our health or nutrition), how certain ideas/misinterpretations came into our era, how they evolved, the political implications etc.
I don't know what more to say. I would suggest this book to anyone not familiar with nutrition, or brainwashed by the media, health/fitness magazines or by the "health" corporations in general.
It goes further than just nutrition. Even though it explains the expected history of nutrition and how nutrition works, it goes a step further and dispels a lot of myths about nutrition. But wait, there's more!
The (amazing) author goes two steps further and explains a lot of scientific errors or misinterpretations, the focus of corporations on profit (not our health or nutrition), how certain ideas/misinterpretations came into our era, how they evolved, the political implications etc.
I don't know what more to say. I would suggest this book to anyone not familiar with nutrition, or brainwashed by the media, health/fitness magazines or by the "health" corporations in general.
May 23, 2015
Enjoyed it. I didn't agree with everything, but I learned some things and found lots of food for thought —and I am not at all into the paleo lifestyle or mindset. In fact, I wonder why the author thinks our primitive ancestors were so darn healthy. They probably didn't live long enough to acquire the diseases of aging that we are facing now. If the answer was in the book, I missed it. Would like to know where she got some of the ideas (that is, footnotes would have been nice), though appreciate the lengthy list of sources. I'm definitely enjoying eggs again. Next? Maybe whole-milk yogurt!
June 16, 2014
Interesting. I don't follow a Paleo lifestyle, but it's an important perspective to explore and understand in order to be informed about the controversy surrounding contemporary dietary/nutrition practices. Liz Wolfe is an engaging writer (far more engaging than Loren Cordain) and makes some very insightful arguments as well as a very rational case for Paleo. Well worth the time spent reading it.
March 10, 2014
A well written and easy to read book. This book was very informative, thoroughly researched and presented the material in an accessible format.
April 13, 2024
A snarky (yet information packed) book about food... separating conventional wisdom and Big Farm politics from truth and real nutrition.
December 3, 2014
Great information, a bit flippant however. Would have a hard time recommending it to my parents, say.
November 26, 2017
I just wish this stuff was common knowledge .
May 25, 2018
Out of all the "low carb", "non-processed", "Paleo" books I've devoured of late, this one by far is the most accessible. If I was going to recommend one book for someone interested in the lifestyle to start with it would be this one. Although she isn't as accreditated as some of the other authors, most of which are doctors, she is part of the NTP (Nutritional Therapy Association), which is something you could literally go online right now and get your certification for so...does that mean she doesn't know what she's talking about? When you read her words it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out they are true. Her mantra, "Eat Real Foods", makes sense on every level, so why can't she be believed, even though she doesn't have the letters PHD next to her name.
I love how down to earth and approachable this book is, mixed in with a lot of wit and humor to make it an easy read. So many of the other nutrition books were just cold hard facts (which go figure are the same facts she presents, so I'm confident listening to her because at least four other doctor's I've read agree with what she says, plus countless others she credits in the book), but her book is more about bringing the reality of a paleo lifestyle to everyone. There isn't a section in this book devoted to "foods you should eat and foods you shouldn't", instead she sums it all up by simply saying "eat food, not processed crap". I've had many many many conversations with people about my lifestyle change and all of the things I've done along the way to get in the best shape of my life, but at times it gets complex and I sometimes feel like I'm not saying the correct thing because it's been too long since I read the information, instead I started simply telling people the easiest way to think of my diet is that I stopped eating processed foods. It's nice that I now have a resource to refer people to that compliments that ideal.
This book could be life-changing to anyone who gets their hands on it!
I love how down to earth and approachable this book is, mixed in with a lot of wit and humor to make it an easy read. So many of the other nutrition books were just cold hard facts (which go figure are the same facts she presents, so I'm confident listening to her because at least four other doctor's I've read agree with what she says, plus countless others she credits in the book), but her book is more about bringing the reality of a paleo lifestyle to everyone. There isn't a section in this book devoted to "foods you should eat and foods you shouldn't", instead she sums it all up by simply saying "eat food, not processed crap". I've had many many many conversations with people about my lifestyle change and all of the things I've done along the way to get in the best shape of my life, but at times it gets complex and I sometimes feel like I'm not saying the correct thing because it's been too long since I read the information, instead I started simply telling people the easiest way to think of my diet is that I stopped eating processed foods. It's nice that I now have a resource to refer people to that compliments that ideal.
This book could be life-changing to anyone who gets their hands on it!
October 14, 2022
I selected this book to learn about nutrition. I would avoid egg yolks and fats because I wanted to stay in shape for sports. I mainly wanted to maintain my weight for Wrestling but when I learned about his book I picked it up and read it. In fact it was given to me a while ago but I never read it because I wasn't worrying about nutrition at the time.
The book begins by introducing you to basic nutrition like canola oil. It talks about how canola oil isn't good for us and how we tend to use canola oil more than actual vegetables. After learning about the oils that are used that could be harming us we learn about cholesterol. It talks about how we actually need cholesterol. It debunks some myths about cholesterol like how high cholesterol doesn't cause that many issues it just reacts different;y if you have preexisting conditions like smoking is one major one. At the end of the book it talks about vitamins and which vitamins to take if you want to stay safe. One major one is zinc because it helps fight colds and other illnesses.
The author used a lot of satire to make the book both entertaining and fun to read. The author would use real world examples and would also write in a way which made it seem like you were actually having a conversation and not just read words off a page. She would constantly grab your attention at slow points in the book. She would also make references to real world events happening at the time of which the book was write so the book felt much more modern.
The author could have reworded the facts better in this book. At many points in the book it felt like I was more of being told the facts than actually learning. At certain points in the book it was slow because of the amount of facts in a short period of pages. At many points I wanted to put the book down because of the long chapters and the amount of facts in one paragraph. If the author split up the facts more I think the book could have been more enjoyable.
Overall I think this book is a great choice for anyone who is interested in learning about nutrition and learning some basic health facts.
The book begins by introducing you to basic nutrition like canola oil. It talks about how canola oil isn't good for us and how we tend to use canola oil more than actual vegetables. After learning about the oils that are used that could be harming us we learn about cholesterol. It talks about how we actually need cholesterol. It debunks some myths about cholesterol like how high cholesterol doesn't cause that many issues it just reacts different;y if you have preexisting conditions like smoking is one major one. At the end of the book it talks about vitamins and which vitamins to take if you want to stay safe. One major one is zinc because it helps fight colds and other illnesses.
The author used a lot of satire to make the book both entertaining and fun to read. The author would use real world examples and would also write in a way which made it seem like you were actually having a conversation and not just read words off a page. She would constantly grab your attention at slow points in the book. She would also make references to real world events happening at the time of which the book was write so the book felt much more modern.
The author could have reworded the facts better in this book. At many points in the book it felt like I was more of being told the facts than actually learning. At certain points in the book it was slow because of the amount of facts in a short period of pages. At many points I wanted to put the book down because of the long chapters and the amount of facts in one paragraph. If the author split up the facts more I think the book could have been more enjoyable.
Overall I think this book is a great choice for anyone who is interested in learning about nutrition and learning some basic health facts.
July 1, 2019
I am always looking for diet insight and Liz Wolfe has lots of information to share. She is a licences dietitian who loosely subscribes to the basic philosophy of Paleo. However, she is not promoting Paleo here. As she points out, the things our hunter gatherer ancestors hunted and gathered no longer exist. Evolution happens to plants as well as animals. So, how should we eat?
Wolfe reviews many of the ideas that have popular over the past few years and debunks several. For example, she explains how the China Study was based on bad research. She also puts a less intense smack down on Paleo. Ultimately, she believes that we should eat as close to a whole food/Paleo style diet avoiding grains and legumes while eating meat from animals who live as close to a nature life as possible. Wolfe points out that the nutrients in meat are the most bio-available to us since what the animal has eaten has already been processed. However, we are not only what we eat but also what we has been eaten by what we eat. So, ultimately a Paleo style Atkins diet is probably the most natural.
Wolfe is easy to read. She is funny and full of good stories to illustrate her points and communicate her message. I'm sure I've oversimplified her message. If the diet idea I describe seems good to you, read the book. It's not too long and I learned a few things about why I should eat egg yolks!
Wolfe reviews many of the ideas that have popular over the past few years and debunks several. For example, she explains how the China Study was based on bad research. She also puts a less intense smack down on Paleo. Ultimately, she believes that we should eat as close to a whole food/Paleo style diet avoiding grains and legumes while eating meat from animals who live as close to a nature life as possible. Wolfe points out that the nutrients in meat are the most bio-available to us since what the animal has eaten has already been processed. However, we are not only what we eat but also what we has been eaten by what we eat. So, ultimately a Paleo style Atkins diet is probably the most natural.
Wolfe is easy to read. She is funny and full of good stories to illustrate her points and communicate her message. I'm sure I've oversimplified her message. If the diet idea I describe seems good to you, read the book. It's not too long and I learned a few things about why I should eat egg yolks!
November 30, 2024
A most entertaining and educational book that lays the facts out in plain English, with common sense, so that the average person can understand. When all the pieces of the puzzle are put together, it clearly shows her philosophy for a healthy lifestyle. I appreciated the authors holistic approach to our consumption of food and fueling our bodies.
The author recognizes that all things, plants, animals, and humans were created to fulfill the full measure of our creation. That we are part of a food chain where animals and fish are eaten by their peers further up the food chain, and it is all part of trying to survive and continue to live on earth. When the author mentioned how primitive tribes didn’t waste any part of the animals they killed and even worships them, I appreciated their conservation approach. I have never had a desire to go hunting (hard to look Bambi in the eye and take his life), but I can see doing so now, if done with a proper and respectful spirit.
Her focus on nutrients was most helpful, ignoring things like calories and the balance between protein, fats, and carbohydrates. She acknowledges that each of us are unique in our needs for protein, that at different stages of life those needs will change. I liked that she leans toward the paleo lifestyle but doesn’t exclude dairy, otherwise why would she choose the title for this book.
The author recognizes that all things, plants, animals, and humans were created to fulfill the full measure of our creation. That we are part of a food chain where animals and fish are eaten by their peers further up the food chain, and it is all part of trying to survive and continue to live on earth. When the author mentioned how primitive tribes didn’t waste any part of the animals they killed and even worships them, I appreciated their conservation approach. I have never had a desire to go hunting (hard to look Bambi in the eye and take his life), but I can see doing so now, if done with a proper and respectful spirit.
Her focus on nutrients was most helpful, ignoring things like calories and the balance between protein, fats, and carbohydrates. She acknowledges that each of us are unique in our needs for protein, that at different stages of life those needs will change. I liked that she leans toward the paleo lifestyle but doesn’t exclude dairy, otherwise why would she choose the title for this book.
August 22, 2019
Still not sure I buy the general 'paleo-diet' thing about eating like those 'healthy' cavemen, but the theme of this book is more about avoiding industrialized and factory-farm food and the reasons these things, that are advertised as healthy, are anything but. The arguments presented make a lot of sense and the history of how the American diet has gotten to where it is (greed and politics) is very disturbing because its so believable.
Lots of discussion about the importance of whole food and the vital interactions between the different vitamins and nutrients available in real, whole meats and diary. There is also a lot of the book dedicated to the necessity of meat in a human's diet, so she spends a lot of time talking about the shortcomings of a vegan or vegetarian diet.
I wish I had read this before I had my kids - I thought I was eating healthfully, but if even a fraction of her points are true, then I may have missed the boat. Still, as she emphasizes in the books closing, making any better choices can help - so its better to be informed and to do what you can (found a sustainable farm near me the weekend I finished the book, thank you!).
Lots of discussion about the importance of whole food and the vital interactions between the different vitamins and nutrients available in real, whole meats and diary. There is also a lot of the book dedicated to the necessity of meat in a human's diet, so she spends a lot of time talking about the shortcomings of a vegan or vegetarian diet.
I wish I had read this before I had my kids - I thought I was eating healthfully, but if even a fraction of her points are true, then I may have missed the boat. Still, as she emphasizes in the books closing, making any better choices can help - so its better to be informed and to do what you can (found a sustainable farm near me the weekend I finished the book, thank you!).
September 7, 2019
I like that this author encourages the reader to apply critical thinking skills to the things we're told about nutrition. I also like her approach towards the end to acknowledge the difficulty of accomplishing some of the ideals she focuses on in her book and that she encourage the reader to do what's right for them.
I don't love her humor. It was okay at first, but it started to wear on my nerves by the end of the book. I don't know if perhaps I was just a little jaded because of reviews I had seen, though. Maybe I wouldn't have noticed, had I not seen anything about this ahead of time. I kind of doubt it, though.
I had ups and downs with this one. I like to think she shared some good information. I'm disappointed by the feeling that she somewhat undermined our physicians by (without using these words) making them sound like nutrition sheep.
I also almost decided to quit listening a few times, because the things she said were good to do sounded so unrealistic for me. I'm ultimately glad I stuck with it and am glad she had more rounded recommendations near the end. I wish there would have been more of that earlier on.
I don't love her humor. It was okay at first, but it started to wear on my nerves by the end of the book. I don't know if perhaps I was just a little jaded because of reviews I had seen, though. Maybe I wouldn't have noticed, had I not seen anything about this ahead of time. I kind of doubt it, though.
I had ups and downs with this one. I like to think she shared some good information. I'm disappointed by the feeling that she somewhat undermined our physicians by (without using these words) making them sound like nutrition sheep.
I also almost decided to quit listening a few times, because the things she said were good to do sounded so unrealistic for me. I'm ultimately glad I stuck with it and am glad she had more rounded recommendations near the end. I wish there would have been more of that earlier on.
January 13, 2020
Fantastic book. Inspiring and full of core-shaking logic/science. Like any nutrition book quoting studies, you have to assume the studies are hand-picked because they don't conflict with the story the author is trying to sell you on. But you really can't argue with wanting to eat whole, real food, grown by conscientious farmers rather than processed junk by corporations with no long-term view about land-management and the like. The bottom-line, seek out locally raised/grown food. Don't expect anything sold in box to impact your health in a positive way. I think that was the coolest mental shift for me. To look at 90% of a grocery store's content at Not-Food. Just edible paper or something. You can technically eat it but you'll need a lot of it to power your body, and most of it won't be all the beneficial in the long term.
If you're interested in light nutrition science, paleo, grain-free and other current diet findings, check this book out.
If you're interested in light nutrition science, paleo, grain-free and other current diet findings, check this book out.
January 7, 2019
A horse girl wrote an easy, accessible defense of reasonable paleo (the kind with dairy and occasional potatoes). The writing style is a little over-the-top bloggy, but most of it is cute and funny enough to forgive. The science is thorough, well-cited, and peer reviewed, which makes it real good and genuinely supportive of the arguments to eat like rational cave-folk, not follow some arbitrary nutritional gospel presented by some Cro-Mag fetishist with no understanding of actual anatomical or endocrine function.
Only four stars because why are there so many poop jokes? How is this helping your message? They weren't even good poop jokes, if such a thing exists outside of grade school. Saying the word "fart" isn't, itself, a joke. Get it together, horse girl. You were so close to credibility.
Only four stars because why are there so many poop jokes? How is this helping your message? They weren't even good poop jokes, if such a thing exists outside of grade school. Saying the word "fart" isn't, itself, a joke. Get it together, horse girl. You were so close to credibility.
March 9, 2017
I should preface my review by saying that I don't think this book was really written for me. It may be a great introduction to the real food lifestyle for some coming from the Standard American Diet, but if you have personal experience living this kind of life, or if you've read on the topics of public health, our food system, and the history of government dietary recommendations, this book will mostly be review (but you will be treated to many "jokes" that sit between parentheses just like these).
As someone who reads the studies and really does their own research on whatever my topic of interest may be, I found the way Liz presented what she'd found in her research to be frustrating. She opted for less detail, whereas I usually read a book about nutrition or dietary lifestyle looking for ALLOFTHESCIENCE. Similarly, she spent some time (rightly) criticizing the major players in the low-fat movement for confusing correlation with causation, but then on multiple occasions uses that argument to champion a Paleo or real food lifestyle, which undermines her argument. Finally, though I love her personality on the podcast she does, I find it just didn't translate well for me to paper. I found the jokes and silly side notes to be distracting and jarring, and I imagine someone trying to learn this stuff for the first time would too. I know it was meant to make the text more approachable, but I honestly though her writing style was approachable enough without all of the pop-culture one-offs.
What I did love was Liz's perspective on the three macronutrients (fat, protein, and carb), which is that they are all important, and that we should not be vilifying any single one of them. This is a very grounded perspective and I think it's pretty vital information for a newcomer to the concepts she goes over. I also found Chapter 4 on nutrients to be well written, and it has some important rebuttals in there on the dangers of salt and vitamin A.
Overall if you're new to the idea of sticking with real food/Paleo, then this book may be great for you, with the caveat that you aren't too much of a science "nerd" and want a quick read on how to get started with the lifestyle. You'd probable be best skipping it if you don't fall into this category.
As someone who reads the studies and really does their own research on whatever my topic of interest may be, I found the way Liz presented what she'd found in her research to be frustrating. She opted for less detail, whereas I usually read a book about nutrition or dietary lifestyle looking for ALLOFTHESCIENCE. Similarly, she spent some time (rightly) criticizing the major players in the low-fat movement for confusing correlation with causation, but then on multiple occasions uses that argument to champion a Paleo or real food lifestyle, which undermines her argument. Finally, though I love her personality on the podcast she does, I find it just didn't translate well for me to paper. I found the jokes and silly side notes to be distracting and jarring, and I imagine someone trying to learn this stuff for the first time would too. I know it was meant to make the text more approachable, but I honestly though her writing style was approachable enough without all of the pop-culture one-offs.
What I did love was Liz's perspective on the three macronutrients (fat, protein, and carb), which is that they are all important, and that we should not be vilifying any single one of them. This is a very grounded perspective and I think it's pretty vital information for a newcomer to the concepts she goes over. I also found Chapter 4 on nutrients to be well written, and it has some important rebuttals in there on the dangers of salt and vitamin A.
Overall if you're new to the idea of sticking with real food/Paleo, then this book may be great for you, with the caveat that you aren't too much of a science "nerd" and want a quick read on how to get started with the lifestyle. You'd probable be best skipping it if you don't fall into this category.
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