$2.95   ISBN: 0525947337 The No-Grain Diet: Conquer Carbohydrate Addiction and Stay Slim for the Rest of Your Life Authors : Joseph Mercola Alison Rose Levy Release Date:  24 April, 2003 Manufacturer:  Dutton Adult Availability:  This item is currently not available. List Price:  $24.95   Accessories: (none) Similar Products: Dr. Mercola's Total Health Program: The Proven Plan to Prevent Disease and Premature Aging, Optimize Weight and Live Longer The Metabolic Typing Diet: Customize Your Diet to Your Own Unique Body Chemistry Going Against the Grain: How Reducing and Avoiding Grains Can Revitalize Your Health Dangerous Grains: Why Gluten Cereal Grains May Be Hazardous To Your Health The Rosedale Diet   Impressively modern in design, The No-Grain Diet brings a realistic viewpoint to the problems of weight loss in a genuine effort to improve the health of an ever-growing number of obese Americans. Offering a variety of "food plans," along with a set of techniques aimed at controlling emotional eating and cravings for "bad" foods, Dr. Joseph Mercola clearly understands how to motivate us--in one section, he suggests that rather than "living by the scale," we measure our success in relation to the fit of our favorite pair of slightly-too-snug jeans. Many recipes are included, most of which are free of the boring flavor substitutes so common in diet books. The diet itself combines several familiar concepts. The "no grain" model emphasizes organic vegetables and quality protein, with limited fruits and absolutely no simple carbs. Mercola's idea of "quality protein" is somewhat startling--he is deeply concerned about toxins, and urges grass-fed beef over potentially mercury-filled fish. His main point is frequently reinforced: refined grains of any type are basically deadly and eating them should be viewed as an unhealthy addiction. Here, the book veers off in a new direction: rather than gently nudging our habits in a new direction, he suggests we break what he insists is an addictive cycle with a method called "EFT," or "Emotional Freedom Technique." As a way to avoid surrendering to desires, his system of tapping acupressure points and repeating affirmations is used to overcome them. While repeat dieters will understand the necessity of examining emotional ties to food, Mercola's voice becomes a tad strident, and possibly downright offensive to those with a different opinion on what constitutes an addiction. --Jill Lightner   Customer Reviews   Mercola and his products Rating: 4 I do not own this book but it appears that people believe it has more receipes than nutritional info (particularly compared to the information on his website). Moreover, a lot of the info on this book can be accessed from the website. So one has to ask himself...do I like to read and upload page by page on the website and spend hours looking around or do I like to flip through a book quickly? I've done the spending hours looking around his website already so this book may not be as "needed" for me. But it's still a great item to have in my library and/or to give/show to my friends and family. I've learned so much from him in terms of nutrition and to start thinking critically about what the mass media "feeds" me. Of course, you may not agree with everything he says but then it's up to you to continue your research isn't it? Also, I've enjoyed many of his products that he recommended. Thinking about buying it but changed my mind - READ THE TRUTH! Rating: 2 I read most of the reviews on here and I also read enough reviews on other sites, including Mercola's to get an idea of what this book is about. When anybody says "Don't Eat This..[ insert a natural food here ] " I tend to go hum-.. Grains as well as seeds, nuts, vegetables and fruits, animal flesh, have been around since the beginning of man. Yes it is true that grains contain phytic acid which is a strong chelator of important minerals like iron and calcium, among many others. However, incorporated into a complete diet with some calcium-rich organic dairy, whole grains supply nutrients and can help buffer excess calcium and minerals. The problem is, the industrial revolution allowed people to over consume all types of foods. We became gluttons by our own devices which set in motion this belief system that huge meals are the norm. That is so, totally wrong! In our past, and in many poor countries today, people walk around and pick berries, hand-harvest grains, kill their own meat and so on. People ate smaller because things had to last longer and their weren't machines to supply foods to grocery store shelves so we could stuff or faces at all hours of the day. I believe even a natural food source if eaten in excess can have some negative consequences. Did you know that cruciferous vegetables like broccoli when eaten raw and in excess can block thyroid function? Who knew that something so good for us, when eaten in excess could be so bad for us. BUT this does not mean that natural, wholesome foods should be totally eliminated from our diet. A portion of grain is about the size of your clenched fist, but how many Americans eat just that amount? The problem is not eliminating grains, but eliminating over consumption and living by portion control. I read a review on here from a doctor who claims that a vegetarian diet is the most healthiest. Don't believe that folks. Vegetables are extremely healthy for us, but not exclusively. I was a vegetarian for almost 10 years and I was not at my healthiest. Most of the vegetarian groups and friends I knew were also skinny and sort of gaunt looking. It was only when I started eating a balanced diet including some animal foods AND high in vegetables, did I start to feel and look better. Living long and being healthy is not rocket science... - Eat lots of vegetables, include raw and raw juices. (lightly steam cruciferous vegetables to deactivate the thyroid-hampering properties) - Organic, raw fruits. - Nuts and seeds (raw), grains, legumes. - Organic chicken & wild salmon. Organic beef 1-2 times a week at the most, (if you like beef that is) - Plenty of fresh, clean water - Most important, PORTION CONTROL! - Cardio vascular and weight-resistance exercise each day. If you don't use it, you'll loose it! - Quality sleep. 6-10 hours a day, depending upon the quality of your sleep and physical needs. - Avoid stress as much as possible. - Stay away from cane sugar, salt, tans-fats (hydrogenated oils), and junk foods, white flour products. - Avoid all types of alcohol. - Don't smoke and avoid second-hand smoke. Yes this includes cigars and chewing tobacco. The reason people have such a hard time with food and diets is the fact that they don't understand and live by portion control. For example see how many of these do you over eat... A portion of nuts is about 5-10. How many of you have eaten handfuls? A portion of fruit is one small apple (not the huge softball sized red delicious type). Berries about a handful. A portion of grains is about 4 heaping spoonfuls or the size of your fist. How many of you eat a huge bowl of cereal? or eat all that bread, or tortilla chips at restaurants before the meal is served? A portion of meat is about the size of a deck of cards. That is pretty small by American standards. How many of you are a glutton at BBQ's? or eat those big slabs of steak they serve at restaurants? - That 'aint a portion folks! How many of you go to All-You-Can-Eat restaurants? The Standard American Diet, stands for S.A.D. And sad it is. It's no wonder so many people are over weight and sick. The key is-.. moderation, diversity (i.e. nutrient diversity), staying away from junk food, and most important... Portion control of our meals. If you found my review helpful, you might enjoy reading other reviews by me. Just click on the: "See all my reviews" link at the beginning of this review. Truth Lies and Simplicity Rating: 2 Perhaps Dr. Mercola has some valuable insights; however, this book is way too convoluted in its writing. Who wants to trudge through the verbiage to get at the significant kernels? In addition, it is clear that anyone who cuts out grains and sugars is likely going to end up cutting out calories in the deal - that is probably the basic truth of this eating plan. The rest is hype-like. Are you willing to devote an immense portion of your time to food planning and preparation in pursuit of the demands of this diet? Just think, time you don't spend in the kitchen or in the grocery line is time you could be spending out exercising. When he writes, somewhere in the middle of the book, that if you are following the diet religiously and still not losing weight, then you should consider limiting your calories to 1000 per day. OKAY! What just happened here? We've been switched to a low-calorie diet, only without grains! So, if you have a weight problem that just doesn't like to budge and a metabolism that just drags you through life, you may end up on the 1000 calorie diet plan, where you've been many times before. So try it, but save wasting your precious $$$$ on the book. It goes like this: no grains, no sugars, no simple starches (potatoes, carrots, etc.), certain fruits only, most vegetables unless very starchy, meats, fish and poultry - preferably organic, butter, cream and cheese (all within reason, I suppose): you'll need to read the book if you want more detail, certain good oils and no bad oils, almond butter sometimes, walnuts sometime, etc. Hey folks, it really is just plain old horse sense, you know this stuff anyway!!!