It's been a year or two since I read it, but I believe the part that we are getting too much, and it is a misconception as to how much we need.... also that milk is too high in protein and not the type we need since it is meant to fatten up and make grow a very different species.... Is that the part you weren't taking seriously?
Oh by the way I am happy to say that the moment I put down the book I had my husband read it. He finished it in a week and swore off meat half way through FOR GOOD! I told him read it and make your own conclusions.... no pressure, no judgement. He knew it was true since I stopped eating meat a year before him.....Also my doctor who said that at 29 his bad cholesterol was as bad as of a 60 y.o. fat guy says it's now 3 out of 100! Bonus ....
Original Post by limitles:
It's been a year or two since I read it, but I believe the part that we are getting too much, and it is a misconception as to how much we need.... also that milk is too high in protein and not the type we need since it is meant to fatten up and make grow a very different species.... Is that the part you weren't taking seriously?
Oh by the way I am happy to say that the moment I put down the book I had my husband read it. He finished it in a week and swore off meat half way through FOR GOOD! I told him read it and make your own conclusions.... no pressure, no judgement. He knew it was true since I stopped eating meat a year before him.....Also my doctor who said that at 29 his bad cholesterol was as bad as of a 60 y.o. fat guy says it's now 3 out of 100! Bonus ....
I think it is extremely important to get enough protein! Every part of us, from our DNA to our eyeballs is made of the stuff and it all needs replacing as cells die so I don't think I'd take that too seriously!
I agree about cow's milk though. We are adult humans, NOT baby cows!!
The protein chapter is quite informative. To paraphrase it:
People are more in danger of consuming too much protein rather than too little. Vegetarians get plenty of protein from beans, nuts, lentils, imitation meats, etc. It also says it's a myth that we have to combine certain foods in order to be able to use the protein, i.e. you must eat beans with rice. What they are actually finding out now is that as long as you eat a variety, you are fine. You do not have to eat certain foods together at the same time because it will all even out over the days. They make a good point asking if you have ever heard of someone having a protein deficiency. Nope. Doesn't happen. In fact, people in other countries who generally eat about half as much protein as we do, live much longer and healthier lives. And the ADA reports that an average vegetarian diet provides twice as much protein that is required in a day.
Yes thats right!!!! I remember now! Thanks!
Again agree completely.... think back to a normal rural life about a 100 years ago... a family would have a cow and maybe a pig or a few chickens, whom they kept for very special holidays - thus the whole dead meat tradition on christmas/thanksgiving/weddings, etc. We aren't meant to consume the sgtaggering amounts of meat we do today.... we never did! And of course I am not even going into the whole debate of whether we need it at all.... I'm veg so my opinion is obvious!!
I read a few chapters of this book when I was starting to go vegan, and couldn't finish it. It was rude, sexist and often borderlining on abuse. Honestly, I wouldn't reccomend it. There are so many other books and websites to get the information in that book, minus the "eat that, and you'll be a fat cow"! Or, my personal fave "fat pig syndrome". It really did nothing for me. On the other hand though, I hear a LOT of people saying that it's THE book that made them go vegan. Everybody's different!
That is so true. It just depends on the indivdual. If someone spoke to me that way in person, I'd want to hit them and do the opposite of what they say. But the book really helped me. I NEED a smack in the face to get me to quit my bad habits. I have veg books of all type though, and they all do their part.
Original Post by misscherryjane:
Original Post by limitles:
It's been a year or two since I read it, but I believe the part that we are getting too much, and it is a misconception as to how much we need.... also that milk is too high in protein and not the type we need since it is meant to fatten up and make grow a very different species.... Is that the part you weren't taking seriously?
Oh by the way I am happy to say that the moment I put down the book I had my husband read it. He finished it in a week and swore off meat half way through FOR GOOD! I told him read it and make your own conclusions.... no pressure, no judgement. He knew it was true since I stopped eating meat a year before him.....Also my doctor who said that at 29 his bad cholesterol was as bad as of a 60 y.o. fat guy says it's now 3 out of 100! Bonus ....
I think it is extremely important to get enough protein! Every part of us, from our DNA to our eyeballs is made of the stuff and it all needs replacing as cells die so I don't think I'd take that too seriously!
I agree about cow's milk though. We are adult humans, NOT baby cows!!
It was that it reccommended that you only need something like 16-60 grams of protein a day. And they tried to make it sound like olympic body builders could get and stay as big as they want on that much protein. They technically only said a certain olympic body builder was "vegetarian" (or vegan, can't remember, don't exactly keep the book on me at all times :P) not that he didn't have more than 60 grams of protein, but that's what they made it sound like. 16 grams?? Maybe for an infant. That just sounds silly. And I doubt anything bad will happen to you from having more protein than neccessary, your body doesn't store it, you'd just poop it out.
A lifelong diet of too much protein damages your kidneys. I've read that in several different sources. It's the same for our pets too, which is why there is such a huge controversy surrounding high protein dog foods. Their point with the numerous althetes they mentioned in the book is that you can get all the protein you want on a vegetarian diet. They said you need between 16-80 grams a day. So say, for myself, I would probably need about 16 because I sit on my butt all day. The althetes probably need 80. But people in general consume more than that just because of all of the animal products they eat too much of. Keep in mind this book lists sources for almost every point they make- it's not just two people giving their opinion about something. They pull their info from factual studies, books, and articles.
What i found from the book is that, while they give a ton of good advice about eating natural and pure ingredients and sticking to basics, some of it is just too unrealistic for the average person. plus there's so much contradictory advice from other sources, particularly about caffeine. some studies say caffeine is great for you right before you work out, that it boosts metabolism, etc.
plus,as i was reading i never really felt thee people were entirely qualified to be giving out advice. i mean, one's a model and one's a writer (or something like that). they did a ton of research but neither is a nutritionist, doctor, etc...just two skinny vegans really.
the best thing you could do is read the book and see what's realistic for you from it. at least that's what i took from it.
Kim Barnouin has a Masters degree in Holistic Nutrition. I would say she definitely qualifies to give out nutrition advice. I didn't notice any contradictory evidence in it. In fact, one thing that impressed me so much is that everything in the book was pretty parallel with other great health books I've read. I gotta say, I'm quite surprised at the negative reviews. The only thing I could see that would put people off would be the attitude in which the book was written.
having a "degree" in something clled "holistic nutrition" has nothing to do with having a degree in, for example, nutrition. read this whole thread or google.
So then you also disagree with the 14-page list of sources they used?
i didn't know that! i stand corrected. i still need my caffeine though :)
I agree. Sometimes I wonder if I will ever be able to get off sodas or if it's just a pipe dream.
I'd definitely say give this book a read. The tone is not for everyone, but I really loved it - it was just what I needed.
I live the Skinny Bitch lifestyle as well as I possibly can. You know that four-week menu plan in the back of the book? I've been following that, and this Sunday is my last day. I love all the new things and variety I've tried. After the plan is over, I'm going to give the fruit for breakfast, salad for lunch recommendation a try. If that doesn't work, I'll still stick to healthy options. I've eliminated caffeine, aspartame, and sucrose from my diet wherever possible. I eat as many veggies as I can, lots of fruit, and I only buy organic. I have to say... I feel so much healthier after going vegan and cleaning up my diet. This book changed my life 
Original Post by ava13:
I read a few chapters of this book when I was starting to go vegan, and couldn't finish it. It was rude, sexist and often borderlining on abuse. Honestly, I wouldn't reccomend it. There are so many other books and websites to get the information in that book, minus the "eat that, and you'll be a fat cow"! Or, my personal fave "fat pig syndrome". It really did nothing for me. On the other hand though, I hear a LOT of people saying that it's THE book that made them go vegan. Everybody's different!
I think I will give it a skip then. I hate being taunted in a book. Dr Phil and Trinny & Susanna spring to mind...
Original Post by ka2007:
having a "degree" in something clled "holistic nutrition" has nothing to do with having a degree in, for example, nutrition. read this whole thread or google.
True enough! Some backwards-ass states like Arizona give out clown degrees like "Doctorate of Holistic Medicine," and "Masters in Planetary Religion."
Yeah, these aren't the people you get hard science from. I think the fact that she has this degree and tries to pawn it off as a real dietician's degree is enough to discredit her. If you want to learn something, check her so-called sources. I believe that Ann Coulter also had a very lengthy citation list - most of which were irrelevant/misleading/at odds with her actual statements.
It's more pop diet bull****. Here's my source, from wikipedia, "a book written by Rory Freedman, a former modelling agent and Kim Barnouin, a former model." WOW, IF EVER I WANTED GOOD, SOUND NUTRITIONAL ADVICE TO KEEP ME HEALTHY AND EATING WELL, I'D GO STRAIGHT TO MY NEAREST MODELLING AGENCY!
Original Post by kdawg81:
A lifelong diet of too much protein damages your kidneys. I've read that in several different sources.
Any examples of these 'sources'? You either read them wrong, or the authors either mis-interpretted or mis-represented the data. There are no studies that show high protein diets damage healthy kidneys.
Original Post by ka2007:
having a "degree" in something clled "holistic nutrition" has nothing to do with having a degree in, for example, nutrition. read this whole thread or google.
I'd be interested to know where this 'degree' came from. The only place I could find that offers a masters in holistic nutrition is an unaccreditied online 'school' that has a pretty significant page on Quackwatch.
Original Post by misscherryjane:
I agree about cow's milk though. We are adult humans, NOT baby cows!!
I like Alan Aragon's discussion of this:
"I love it when I hear folks say that human adults weren’t meant to consume milk, much less the milk derived from a different animal species. Are you kidding me? So who gets to decide which parts of the cow we should consume? Let me get this straight--we can eat the cow’s muscles, but not the milk that laid the foundation for the growth of those same muscles? Huh? The logic is just too rock-solid for me."
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