Steven G. Pratt

There is a plethora of books out there advocating healthy eating. This one details micronutrients available from each of the “superfoods” that he lists. I wasn’t interested in the micronutrient details, so quickly read for the highlights.

I appreciated that in most cases the super foods were listed as families of foods.

“White flower was not available until 1880. In 1943, some of the nutrients that has been stripped out in processing were added back, including some of the B vitamins and iron to white flour. In 1998, folic acid was put back in. The lost vitamin a in various forms and the phytonutrients were never returned and, given the complexity of these nutrients, probably could not effectively be added back. Get everything that’s missing from refined grains: eat whole grains! White flour was not available until 1880. In 1943, some of the nutrients that had been stripped out and processing were added back, including some of the B vitamins and iron to white flour. In 1998, folic acid was put back in. The last vitamin E in various forms and the phytonutrients were never returned and, given the complexity of these nutrients, probably could not effectively be added back. Get everything is missing from refined grains: eat whole grains!” (Page 78)

“Flavonoid are a class of polyphenols found in fruits, vegetables, legumes, nuts, seeds, grains, tea, and wine. There are over 5000 flavonoids that have been identified and described in scientific literature,“ (page 87)

Spinach is an important source of CoQ10 (Page 140)
He also recommends spinach to prevent macular degeneration and cataracts.

Table of Contents
Part II: The Superfoods
- beans
- blueberries
- broccoli
- oats
- oranges
- pumpkin
- wild salmon
- soy
- spinach
- tea
- tomatoes
- turkey (skinless breast)
- walnuts
- yogurt
Each of these super foods also has sidekicks - foods with similar benefits.

Part III is recipes.

There is also a long list of specific foods and where to get them. A person could spend a lot of time fussing with the detail in this book. No thank you. I’ll keep it simple. I will concentrate on whole foods is as natural as state as possible.… (más)

This is the kind of book that is good to read through but not a keeper--particularly if you've read and own the original book by Pratt on the subject, SuperfoodsRX. I thought that book better structured, with each of the 14 "superfoods" getting a chapter and a section following with Menus, Recipes and Shopping Lists. The "Healthstyle" book is structured by season, and I find that harder to pull information out of, despite the topic index. I do appreciate Pratt's approach to nutrition--it seems solid and mainstream and the opposite of extreme, faddish or puritanical. This book was worth a read through for the added foods spotlighted (among them apples, avocado, cinnamon, dark chocolate, honey) the tips on them and sleep and exercise--but I found little here that was new to me, particularly having read the other book--a favorite I frequently reference. That one is a keeper--this one more a book to borrow from the library and take a few notes from.… (más)

What I love about this book? Well, for one, the things that you won't find mentioned in it: Gluten-free, Low-Carb, Detox, GMO Foods, Juicing, Paleo, Vegan, or plugs for the author's own line of protein powders, supplements or food additives. In other words, there isn't a whiff of quackery, faddism or environmental agenda that seems to permeate so many books on nutrition. The author is both a researcher and clinician and spotlights foods whose health promoting abilities are backed up by mainstream research not just anecdotal evidence.

I learned a hard lesson in lifestyle and its connection to health this autumn when I was diagnosed a diabetic. One of the first things I learned from a diabetes educator is that a diabetic diet is basically just a healthy diet. The difficult part of course is learning what that is when so much extreme and contradictory advice exists out there in books and online. I know lifestyle makes a difference because I saw it in my own life these past six months. As I changed how I ate my weight and cholesterol went down, as did my insulin doses--which I was able to eliminate months ago; my endocrinologist thinks that, depending on my next round of tests, I may be able to get off medications altogether. That's how powerful food is--or right versus wrong foods anyway.

And this book isn't extreme, isn't puritanical, doesn't restrict entire groups of foods. The model meal plan and recipes are doable and delicious. Some recipes are involved, but a lot are very simple, affordable and easy to add to your life: Patty's Pumpkin Pudding, Grilled Wild Salmon Burgers (using canned salmon), Superfoods RX Salad, Tropical Yogurt Parfait, Fortified Cereal. All were very easy to incorporate. I found his shopping suggestions invaluable in beginning to make changes. Too many diet gurus seem to sell their own products. When Pratt lists cereals, breads, canned goods, etc, they're from many different brands and not favoring any in particular--there are usually multiple suggestions.

Not that I don't still have work to do. I find you can't change your life on a dime and have it stick. It takes time, and it's easiest to make a few changes at a time. I probably could use more beans in my life. I doubt I will ever be able to work in the amount of citrus, berries and yogurt he recommends daily. I'm dubious of incorporating as much fruit juice in my diet as is suggested here--it's about the only part of his diet that doesn't go well with what I've been told is good for diabetics. But the information in this book has proven invaluable--a list of his Superfoods and "sidekicks" and recommended amounts are up on my refrigerator door as a daily reminder.… (más)