Primal Body, Primal Mind: Beyond the Paleo Diet for Total Health and a Longer Life [Englisch] [Taschenbuch]

Primal Body--Primal Mind: Empower Your Total Health The Way Evolution Intended by Nora Gedgaudas;

All the other five-star reviewers have covered what's in this book, but I want my 3 minutes to sing praises too!

This book is off the charts, I'd give it 10 stars if I could. I only just got Primal Body a few weeks ago and have barely started to implement some changes here and there in my already fairly excellent diet. Still, I am already sleeping better, feeling far fewer fluctuations from normal in the digestive, circulatory and nervous systems. My skin is smoother, too. And, I know, without a doubt, the guidance and resources provided by Nora's book will extend my life and provide for a much higher quality of life as well. When I got to page 88 I quit reading and ordered a case of books, one for each family member and various best friends and neighbors.

I'm a health nut from way back, always telling my friends the latest about Omega-3's, the horrors of trans-fats, the crucial need for Vitamin D and more. I learned most of it first from my sister, I admit, but I found Barry Sears by myself. My sis actually has a 1938 publication by Weston Price, and first got going with Adele Davis. I've read countless books, magazine articles, newsletters, and manuals trying to understand what's what. I'd trade all I've ever read about diet, nutrition, and health food for this book. This is a reference book that I will be leaning on for years to come.

I almost did not order this book when I first heard about. First, I couldn't find it in a local bookstore, then when I found it here on Amazon, a couple of reviewers had concerns that gave me pause, and I passed on it. A few weeks later I spent the weekend with my friend, Phyllis, who had recommended the book to me in an email. Phyllis is one of the clearest thinkers and analysts I know, and after telling me more she said, "Everyone needs to read this book." So I ordered it. I am so glad!!

Nora has the most delightful personality, her writing reflects it wonderfully. Her narrative is funny, engaging, and easy to read even when she is talking about some fairly complicated bio-chemical situations. She makes complex and confusing things understandable. Yes, sometimes I did have to read some sections a couple of times to get it, but making extremely complex things clear is one of Nora's great gifts. A couple of minor typos are not a problem for me, unlike for a couple of reviewers who marked down for them. (He who is without grammar or spelling issues may caste the first stone, I certainly will not.)

I am a sixty-one year old mom who has read enough about nutrition to know that Nora did an astonishing amount of reading, analyzing, and synthesizing to sift the truth from the incomplete, false, intentionally misleading, and otherwise wrong information. There are so many references in the back of the book, it makes my head hurt. It would have taken her twice as long to write this masterpiece if she had forced herself to cite all her reference to every statement made in this book. The richness of advice here is utterly mind-boggling, it is enough, for me, that Nora has tiny details referenced in her head. She CLEARLY understands the big picture. (Plus there are countless general references in the back of the book!)

We need nutrient rich foods to sustain us in these stressful times (which I think are only going to get more stressful in the near term, before getting better again). If we want to give our children and grand-children optimum potential we need to pay attention. We who are of retirement age do not want to be dealing with cancer, memory loss, heart disease, immobility, or any of the other myriad of syndromes that nutrition can either eliminate or mediate.

Young or old, I honestly don't think there is a better book to use as your guide to maintaining your physical or mental health.

I even love the book's cover; I am always in awe of beautiful art that is thousands of years old!

Nora's great gift is to synthesize information as a generalist while having tremendous in-depth understanding of so many specialties. She has walked the walk. Her website is absolutely terrific too.

Amazon readers are always told "If you liked this book, you will like _______" I didn't think it was possible to have another book out there as good as this one, but Catherine and Luke Shanahan (she's an MD) wrote one: Deep Nutrition: Why Your Genes Need Traditional Food. These two books are joined at the hip. They fit together perfectly with minimal duplication. They both give jaw-dropping insights into who we are bio-chemically, and what we can do to survive in a world where profits drive food production and medical care.

If you don't have heath care (I mean "sick care"), BUY these books. You'll be fine, unless lightening strikes.

The best money you will ever spend on your health (or on any two books) is the money you will spend when you right this minute order both these books. You will not regret it and you will be wondering why no one else has told you about them. (They are new books, and you are the trail-blazers on this.) I have already thanked my friend Phyllis four times for telling me about them, and I've only owned them for three weeks.

Primal Body-Primal Mind is a fabulous compilation of FACTS not fads about the nutritional needs of the human body. By reading this book you will understand how our culture has gotten away from eating the foods we were meant to eat and learn what your body truly needs to not only exist, but to thrive. If you find yourself getting lost in the fodder the general media spews about food and nutrition, come back to Nora's book for a clear understanding about the physiology of the body and its nutritional needs. You can't help but wrap your mind around the information in this book and feel an intuitive desire to follow the words put forth. It is an inspiration. I keep Nora's book on the surface to lend to friends and clients when answers are needed about the fundamentals of proper nutrition. Check out her website for delicious recipes and more information.

2 positives:

One: It's well researched and really digs deep into background information on health and how hormonal imbalances are the main cause for being unhealthy and getting fat. Lots of interesting information.

Two: Helps you to develop a new mindset for being healthy in a world that makes it profitable for you to be unhealthy. Then as you unlock a new healthier you, the weight will come off naturally without much effort.

2 negatives:

One: This is a big book. I felt it got a little long-winded with information we didn't necessarily need. But Nora wanted to cover all her bases, so that's not a big negative. I just prefer short books.

Two: The information on exercise was ho-hum. Nothing that I haven't seen before.

Pairing up the unique information from The 5-Second Flat Belly Secret - Lose 2-3 Inches from Your Belly in Less Than 1 Month with this would've taken this book to the next level since you need more than diet and supplements for total health and weight loss.

The gist: This is more than just a diet or weight loss book. This is a book that breaks things down so you have the foundation to build a new and improved you. That's more important than some magical diet.

I give this book 4 stars. It's worth buying.