Healing with Whole Foods, Third Edition

Brand new as ordered

I’ve been trying to lose a little weight since having my first baby. I followed Pitchford’s diet recommendations, page 45 and another that I forgot, during my second pregnancy. After pregnancy/first months postpartum, I dropped 20-25 pounds lower than my starting weight (150 lbs… I was 135 lbs at the beginning of first pregnancy and now I’m even less than that, back to beginning of high school weight which for Americans is “skinny” but compared to other cultures is healthy). The major recommendation is to eat about 50-60% WHOLE grains which is very against the current fad diets (keto, low carb, etc). It’s been a year since I’ve had my baby, and I’m the same weight - it hasn’t come back. This author is very strict in what he suggests. I have children and don’t have the time or energy or desire to change all that he suggests (very specific oil types, no sugar at all, going vegan etc). I just tried to focus on his general recommendations and most of all focused on WHOLE grains and less fat/meat. My mother also used this book (she had introduced me to it) and dropped 30 pounds. I’m convinced that he has something right. Looking at Japan and their diet (whole grain RICE), I now understand how most of them are so “skinny” compared to Americans. Their restaurants serve nearly double the amount of rice served at American restaurants (also less meat).

I was vegetarian from the time I was 12 to 21 and then off and on after. In the past year I have found that despite supplements and additions of b12 and iron in my diet I was suffering from all the symptoms of b12 and iron deficiency. My moods had never been very stable, my periods always came with much PMS. We were looking into whether or not I was bipolar. I looked into many options, Naturopathic medicine, herbalism, aromatherapy, shamanism, western medicine, psychiatry, yoga and then I found this book. After reading it I came to the hard conclusion that I would try eating meat. It was never a choice I felt comfortable with but faced with my life's collapse and feeling that diet and exercise was a stronger medication than any mental health medication I tried it.I immediately felt the effects. The exhaustion, the mood swings, went away. Months later the PMS went away. A few more adjustments to my diet including eliminating eggs and nuts, which I found created too much excess.. and my anger, my irritation dissolved. Leaving me with a much more peaceful life, a more peaceful mind. This was from me reading a book, not talking to a doctor. This book is comprehensive, and easy to use so much so that I could change my life. It was as if Paul Pitchford was sitting in the room talking with me. A couple of times reading the sections that related to me and I had a workable plan. Putting the plan into action I immediately saw my life transform.So please don't put your health and body into a stereotype. This book helped me transform my life! I want to share it with you because each person is unique in what is best for them. Sometimes people are telling you to do this or that because it will make you healthy; raw food, vegetarianism; or because it is good for the earth, veganism.That if you are sick you should take this medication or accept a label for what is wrong with you. When in reality if you change the foundation of your life through diet and exercise until you find what is right for you.. your life and the way you think can transform. But you are unique. This book recommends a vegetarian diet, but empasis is put on finding what works for you. There is a disease and illness guide, sections of vitamins and minerals and what that looks like for your body in excess and deficiency. Combining Chinese medicine and nutrition you have all the tools you need to look at yourself critically, to heal, to grow, to thrive.

I have many books on healing foods, herbs and modalities. This is above and beyond all of them. It is a serious text book in size and content, yet easy to follow and understand. It was immediately helpful to me in correcting my dietary choices to improve my overall well-being. It dispels confusion about foods promoted by various sources.

This book has a lot of information, but the diet he proposes is very low on protein, at least for me. It is very thorough and has many recipies.

Healing with Whole Foods by Paul Pitchford is an amazing book. It is amazing for the depth that it goes into in how asian traditions combined with modern medicine can be used in making you healthier by what you choose to eat. This book is well over 600 pages, and while it is thick, he does a wonderful job of boiling down this vast amount of information and will help you to customize a diet that works well for you. Since reading this book I have made many changes to my diet, and I feel better. Much of this book contains very sound traditional ideas on diet and exercise, but I like where it dives into why Asian practice is different and what the theories are on what will make you feel better.So often in western medicine we are given cookie cutter diets that are perscribed to everyone, and this book really helps you develop a more customized approach. I like that this book will ask you questions and go over a variety of symptoms then explain why your body may behave like it does, and then the author will help you make changes that will help with these symptoms and help you heal your body. Generally none of the approaches are too extreme, but rather small choices you can make that will help make a difference.My only complaint with this book is that it really advocates leaving out the dairy and meat out of your diet. Personally, for me, this isn't a choice I want to make at this time. I do choose to limit red meat intake, and ensure that the quality of protien I get is high, and I sometimes eat vegetarian, but not always. If you are interested in a wholistic approach that teaches something other than low fat diet, check this book out. This is an amazing read and if it can help you with even one or two minor health issues this is worth the price of the book just on the fact you don't have to reach into a medicine cabinet and try to cure yourself.