Fed Up

by Sue Dengate

In this long-awaited, fully updated volume, health specialist Sue Dengate provides sound information about food intolerance and the adverse affect of synthetic additives and natural chemicals in food. Inspiring stories of families overcoming their problems with dietary-based illness are provided along with dozens of recipes for all kinds of occasions. This is an essential tool for parents wanting a calmer, happier--and healthier--family.

Genres: Nonfiction, Health, Self Help, Food, Reference

368 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2003

Reviews

[Cyndi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good introduction to the Failsafe diet for both children and adults. Failsafe eliminates chemical food additives as well as natural food chemicals, specifically salicylates, amines, and glutamates. Although the primary focus of the book is on salicylates, Dengate spends most of her time on synthetic food and environmental chemicals, which is fine by me. So many nutrition and food intolerance books ignore these things.

I was hoping for a level of detail, especially about amines, that simply isn't there. She refers readers to her website, http://fedup.com.au/ , which is excellent, but doesn't organize its information as well as the book. Note that the book is written for an Australian audience. While she reaches out to international readers, the terms used may be unfamiliar to Americans and others. For example, mince is hamburger meat, cordial seems to be fruit-based soda pop (with either still or sparkling water), and antioxidants includes what we Americans would consider preservatives (like BHT). But if you read carefully and follow some of the other websites and materials available, you can figure it out.

While Dengate doesn't get into food intolerance as a whole, and only touches on true allergies (which she incorrectly reduces to IgE allergies only), she does discuss gluten and dairy intolerance and her recipes include a lot of gluten-free and dairy-free options.

I would recommend this book to anyone looking into the issue of food chemicals, both synthetic and natural, or anyone who has noticed "odd" food intolerances that don't seem to make sense (like reacting to canned fish but not fresh, to greener fruit but not ripe, or the opposite, or reacting to some varieties of the same produce but not others. Also to any parent (or teacher) of a child with "behavior" issues of any sort, including (and especially) those with nice neat labels that make you think it's all figured out.

[J.K. · Rating 2 out of 5]

So I have learnt to live without gluten - with this book I found people who live on much, much less. Eye opening. SALICYLATES - know I know what and where they are found. If you suspect behavorial and/or health problems related to food - give this book a read.

[Nicola · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am really glad that I finally read this book. In terms of how the book is structured, I'd probably give it 2.5 stars and feel it could do with a edit. It's worth knowing that although the book references the Royal Prince Albert Hospital (RPAH) Allergy Unit's elimination diet, challenges, and Fail Safe diet - it doesn't contain that information (the 133pg Handbook can be ordered online from RPAH). The book is still really useful to read but is probably most useful if you have read the RPAH handbook (or at least the PDF floating around the internet which has pages 1-33).

In terms of overall content, it does have some useful tricks for encouraging allergy kids to eat, detailed information on artificial additives to avoid, information on low-allergenic fruits and vegetables, and handy recipes. I definitely want to read her cookbook!

[Justin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good overview of the false safe diet. A ton of anecdotes and recipes to the point that the book is not very information dense

[Kylie H · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book changed the way my family eats and we are all better for it. Personal accounts given in this book are quite astounding as to how much bad food choices can impact negatively on our lives. I am more and more horrified by food companies targeting children with products that pretty much consist of chemicals rather than anything that could be described as food.
If you have children with behavioral or health problems, or you yourself have chronic health issues, you will be amazed at how enlightening this information is.

[Libby · Rating 5 out of 5]

A truly amazing book about the perils and politics of our processed food generations. This book has opened my eyes to so much and has helped me make wiser food choices for my family.