The New York Times bestselling author of Tomatoland test drives
the most popular diets of our time, investigating the diet gurus,
contradictory advice, and science behind the programs to reveal how we
should--and shouldn't--be dieting.
"Essential reading . . . This will completely change your ideas about
what you should be eating."--Ruth Reichl, author of Save Me the
Plums
Investigative journalist Barry Estabrook was often on the receiving end
of his doctor's scowl. Realizing he had two options--take more
medication or lose weight--Estabrook chose the latter, but was paralyzed
by the options. Which diet would keep the weight off? What program could
he maintain over time? What diet works best--or even at all?
Over the course of three years, Estabrook tried the regimens behind the
most popular diets of the past forty years--from paleo, keto,
gluten-free, and veganism to the Master Cleanse, Whole30, Atkins, Weight
Watchers--examining the people, claims, and science behind the fads, all
while recording his mental and physical experience of following each
one. Along the way, he discovered that all the branded programs are
derived from just three diets. There are effective, scientifically
valid takeaways to be cherry-picked . . . and the rest is just
marketing. Perhaps most alarming, Estabrook uncovered how short-term
weight loss can do long-term health damage that may go undetected for
years. Estabrook contextualizes his reporting with an analysis of our
culture's bizarre dieting history, dating back to the late 1800s, to
create a thorough--and thoroughly entertaining--look at what specific
diets do to our bodies, why some are more effective than others, and why
our relationship with food is so fraught.
Estabrook's account is a relatable, pragmatic look into the ways we try
to improve our health through dieting, revealing the answer may be to
just eat.
