It’s amazing how many different diets–including Paleo, Atkins, Mediterranean and Keto–we have at our disposal. I myself have tried Tim Ferriss’ slow-carb diet, though I’m familiar with others. One thing is clear: there’s not a lot of consistency in terms of what you may or may not eat from one diet to another.
Leave it to a chiropractor to figure it out.
In Dr. David Friedman’s recently published book, Food Sanity: How to Eat in a World of Fads and Fiction ($19.99, Turner Publishing), which I accepted an offer to review, he pores over unbiased research to debunk myths and create a definitive list of what foods to eat and what foods to avoid.
For example, the Paleo and Atkins diets pretty much give free reign to eat as much meat as you want. However, Dr. Friedman cites research that shows red meat causes colon cancer, beef also increases the risk of diabetes, pork also can cause liver cirrhosis and milk should not be consumed beyond infancy.
But, if you must eat these items, he recommends only USDA-certified organic beef; grass-fed or free-range pork, preferably in the form of pork loins; and almond, hemp (!), rice, cashew or coconut milk.
I appreciated that the book is an easy read, and it uses a combination of studies and common sense to open your eyes to what we put in our bodies. I’m going to use Food Sanity as an ongoing reference guide to healthier eating.
Other chapters include explanations on:
- Fish–“There exists no scientific proof that the minuscule amount of naturally accumulating mercury adults ingest from eating fish can cause … health concerns” such as vision, hearing and speech loss.
- Vitamins–“The human body doesn’t fully absorb vitamins and minerals in pill forms for several reasons.”
- Sugar–Artificial sweeteners “have been linked to ailments like depression, arthritis, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease and even cancer.”
As mentioned, Dr. Friedman is a chiropractic neurologist, as well as a doctor of naturopathy and clinical nutritionist. One of his anecdotes that served as a catalyst for the book was about a patient who had chronic lower back pain that only receded once the patient gave up red meat.
He’s also the author of A Cup of Coffee with 10 Leading Chiropractors in the United States and is the host of the nationally syndicated radio show “To Your Good Health.”
Tags: Paleo
