The Blood Sugar Solution: The UltraHealthy Program for Losing Weight,… (original 2012; udgave 2012)

This book is not original enough, or well-presented enough, to justify looking at it instead of the rest of the bookshelf on nutrition. Pick the Jaminet books instead.

The quizzes (before/after) are so basic that they aren't useful.
Way too much preaching about the Evil Food Conglomerates.
A lot of scientism (talking in scientific-sounding terms) but not much science. ( )

I agree with the author's approach to health, but this book is so repetitive and really reads like he's just trying to sell you something. ( )

Even if you don't have diabetes this is an important book. Easy to read with plenty of detail but not a lot of jargon. Well worth the time and money. ( )

This book gives the reader good directions for changing their habits. Possibly a little too complex for a beginner and has a long list of supplements that might overwhelm the person just learning about their role in creating their blood sugar problems. ( )

Review:

According to Dr. Mark Hyman, Diabesity (diabetes + obesity) occurs when mild to severe cases of diabetes / insulin resistance are triggered by unhealthy eating habits, lack of exercise, and obesity; three out of four Americans are obese/overweight, and one out of two Americans is prediabetic or diabetic. These numbers should scare people, but the problem continues to grow exponentially, increasing along with America's waistline. I admit, I am far from being "in-shape" - I don't go out of my way to do thirty minutes of exercise a day, I indulge in the occasional calorie-filled treat, and although diabetes, heart disease, cancer, dementia, and Alzheimer's run rampant throughout my family history, I often ignore my better judgement's call to be more proactive. That being said, this book could not have come to me at a better time. At fist glance this book does seem imposing - 448 pages with leafy greens on the cover - ugh... but once I started reading, I was intrigued by the overall set-up and non-mechanical tone. The author does an excellent job setting the stage for the reader with an introduction concerning "the American diet" as well as the science behind it. I really enjoyed the more science-based sections, but I do think that they were more drawn out than they should have been, especially since not everyone has a science background. The self-diagnosing quizzes were kind of fun, and I liked how they solidified Hyman's main points and allowed me to delve deeper into my own health issues; though they did seem to get less interesting by quiz eleven. Some of the material was typical of modern diet books, but it was presented differently than most. The flow of the entire plan was nice, allowing for some "stretch", even though there were some aspects of the plan that required more energy, (and funds). By the time I made it through the book, I had a whole new grasp on a healthy relationship with food and exercise; one that wouldn't have me groaning about sit-ups and carrot sticks. I really liked the addition of the two weeks of recipes and the well-planned diet/exercise regimen, which I have started and hope to continue throughout the year. Starting a new "diet" can be tough, and motivation can deplete pretty quickly, but Mark Hyman makes sure that his readers feel supported. There are several websites, videos, chat-rooms, newsletters, and other forms of support detailed in the book that make it easier to stay on track. The author genuinely cares about the readers' health, and his knowledge of the subject is evident, but not perceived as overly superior. Very insightful and disciplined plan, full of strategies to reduce your health risks - and your waistline.

Rating: On the Run (4.5/5)

*** I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest and unbiased review. ( )