A no-nonsense, tough-love guide for savvy girls who want to stop eating crap and start looking fabulous! 

I was recently given this sassy little book by a client and good friend asking my thoughts on its contents. In general, I (reluctantly) give it a thumbs up. Like any bias opinion, you have to take a good portion of this book with a grain of salt and decide what’s best for you and your body. With the amount of cursing paired with chapter names such as The Dead, Rotting, Decomposing Flesh Diet and Have No Faith: Governmental Agencies Don’t Give a $#*! About Your Health, it’s needless to say there are some intense bits of information, and much of it not for the light-hearted.

The authors clearly state that the main intention for this book is “to help end animal suffering and the cruelty associated with a meat-eating diet.” Having been vegetarian and borderline vegan (I couldn’t part with the drunken goat cheese) for over two years, I have my own opinions about living a veg lifestyle. The reality for me is that my ancestors were a primarily meat eating culture and my body thrives on meat. I tend to live by my grandmother’s favorite expression: everything in moderation, including moderation.

I do feel that people who choose to eat meat should educate them selves and experience first hand the type of energy that goes into what we put into our bodies. I personally choose to eat organic, humane, and as often as possible, support local farms when I shop for food. This stretches across the broad spectrum of everything we eat. Vegetables that travel 1,800 miles have much less vitality and nutritional value than those grown in our own gardens. Not to mention the damage to our planet with that much shipping.

So, the major drawback with this book, for me, is the intensity in which the opinions are projected with no real suggestion other than “suck it up, stop eating animals.” I feel that when it comes to health and well-being, you sometimes have to meet people where they’re at and offer baby-steps towards a greater goal. I would like to have seen more on supporting local and organic farming. 

Having said that, there are a number of things that I really like about this book, and why in the end, I give it a thumbs up. Here are a few:

♦ The great wealth of information on the harmful effects of refined sugar as well as chemical sweeteners such as Sweet & Low, Equal, Nutrasweet and others containing aspartame. 

♦ The specific and very in-depth information about the conditions found in today’s meat raising plants, bringing light to the irresponsible and sneaky nature of the FDA and other governmental agencies. 

♦ The mention of fasting and list of specific vitamins and minerals for healthy digestion. 

♦ The thorough list of good foods to eat and a well-rounded sample menu. 

 

In conclusion, I wouldn’t run and go out of my way to purchase this book, but if the sassy, tough love approach works for you, this could be a good book to get some great information and change the way you think about food.

 

Enjoy,

Guinevere Amadeo, LMP.