To quote Dr Joseph Feurestein (Dr Joe): “Dude! The situation is bad.” Men in the USA and other “developed” countries are slowly eating their way to obesity, diabetes and an early grave. “Dr Joe’s Man Diet: lose 15 - 20 pounds, drop bad cholesterol 20% and watch your blood sugar free- fall in 12 weeks” is a refreshingly sensible, well researched and practical guide that offers men a way to take charge of their health. We live in a bizarre world where it’s cheaper to buy a super-size meal at a fast food chain than it is to buy a box of salad, and most of us spend more time on social media than we do preparing our meals: the fuel for our lives.
The book, is a well-balanced combination of evidence based dietary advice from Dr Joseph Feurestein, MD at Stamford Hospital and Assistant Professor of Clinical Medicine at Columbia University, and delicious, yet healthy recipes, with beautiful photographs from Gavin Pritchard a registered dietician (Stamford Hospital) and certified executive chef. Dr Joe begins with a straightford yet brutally honest explanation of the problem with the “American” diet. He explains why sugar is our enemy and how saturated fats are “killing you with every bite!”. He goes on to explain why many diets fail and how he developed and researched the Dr Joe’s Man Diet.
I was lucky enough to meet Dr Feurestein and discuss his book with him. I asked him why he wrote a book specifically for men. He explained that in his practice he sees both men and women and has had great success in helping both groups lose weight and get healthy. For men, however, the factors leading to obesity, high cholesterol and diabetes are different from women. Men tend to prefer hard facts, when making changes in their lifestyle. The start of the book is jam packed with the science behind the diet. The healthy eating program is strategic and easy to follow. And there’s some good news for the wine lovers among you “wine makes you live longer”, in moderation of course!
The recipe section of the book can’t fail to get your mouth watering. With recipes from “Get Up and Go Granola” (a daily staple in my home) to “Grilled Chicken Enchilada with Summer Squash and Chili Roja” to “Summer Berry Fro-yo Pops”, you will not go hungry or feel deprived following this diet. Ingredients are accessible, instructions are easy to follow and there is detailed nutritional information with each recipe. There are simple recipes for those in a hurry and more complicated ones for when when you want to impress your friends at a dinner party.
The Dr Joe’s Man Diet is an excellent guide for men wanting to get healthy. The science is compelling and the recipes are enticing. If you are a woman reading this, buy a copy for the man/men in your life and leave it lying around the house, for him to find or surprise him with a scrumptious dinner. No more excuses: That honed body is only a read away!