Page 56 - Winter2008

All Thumbs Book Reviews

A Whole Foods Primer and tomatoes, and of artichokes, which were con-
The Sweetener Trap & How to Avoid It sidered suitable for banquets by wealthy ancient
By Beatrice Trum Hunter Romans. She refers to many studies explaining
Basic Health Publications, 2007 the health benefits of certain foods, such as why
cranberries help with urinary tract problems.
Beatrice Trum Hunter has been writing about In the chapter on grains, Hunter explains
food and nutrition for over thirty years and now what happened to grains with the advent of steel-
at the age of ninety, she is still going strong. The rolling mills. Grains are praised for their health
fact that she has published two more books on benefits but Hunter recognizes the fact that not
her favorite subject at an age when most of us everyone can consume them. Regarding nuts, she
would be lulling our brains in quiet retirement is offers a thorough summary of their variety. She
a tribute to her dedication to good health and the praises nuts as a high-fat food and explains the
positive effects of a lifetime of careful eating. benefits of nuts in heart health.
Both A Whole Foods Primer: A Comprehen- The protein section addresses amino acids
sive, Instructive, and Enlightening Guide to the thoroughly, offers a good overview of the nu-
World of Whole Foods and The Sweetener Trap tritional value of eggs and refutes many myths,
& How to Avoid It are thoroughly researched such as the idea that we should discard the skin
and cover their topics extensively, giving the of poultry. She covers organ and muscle meats,
historic and current use of a food, the benefits or problems with soy foods and addresses the ques-
concerns it offers, and practical tips. Her points tion of how much protein we actually need
are supported by many studies. These books are Hunter has an interesting section on the ques-
good resources as well as enjoyable to read. tion of which is safer, a wooden or plastic cutting
A Whole Foods Primer has five chapters board. Much to their surprise, researchers found
covering vegetables, fruits, whole grains, nuts that wooden boards were more sanitary.
and seeds, and protein foods. Learning the history of many common foods
Her primer offers practical points such as helps us appreciate them not just for their nutri-
how to make vinegar easily and how to select tional value but as a food that has been enjoyed
certain fruits and vegetables in the store. She and useful to humans over countless years.
presents interesting details about the history of (Continued on page 55)

(Warrior Diet, continued from page 53)
butter, all the recipes at the end of the book are low-fat, calling for lean who actually wants to lose weight. Furthermore,
cuts of meat, skinless chicken breast, non-fat cheeses and non-fat dry milk for those of us not in the business of waging war,
powder. but, say, raising children, it is a distinct advantage
Hofmekler says his diet will work without the workout, but it is unclear to nourish ourselves and our families with three
how his method of eating is terribly different from calorie restriction, or or even four satisfying meals during the day. Be-
simply eating more healthy, nutrient-dense food. While his method could ing slightly hungry all day is a good way to stay
benefit an overweight, but otherwise healthy person, it could mean trouble lean, mean and aggressive. . . and anti-social. For
for someone with unstable blood sugar, or a family history of diabetes. those who are healthy and looking for an edge,
He correctly states that during fasting, insulin levels go down and growth this diet could be modified to include high quality
hormone is released. But he incorrectly states that insulin resistance is saturated fats and soaked seeds, while omitting
reduced during fasting, when in fact, numerous studies show that fasting raw egg whites, but for the rest of us, it gets a
increases insulin resistance. thumbs down.
Overall, the diet is interesting, but seems of limited value to anyone Review by Selina Rifkin
56 Wise Traditions WINTER 2008