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The Prime: Prepare and Repair Your Body for Spontaneous Weight Loss
Prepared to live at your prime?
Integrative neurologist Dr. Kulreet Chaudhary discovered a beautiful side effect to the eating and lifestyle tools she gave her brain patients--spontaneously shedding excess pounds. In this, her first book, she shows us how to sharpen the brain, and smarten and heal the gut.
Weight gain is not about the food, but about the body’s environment. Excess weight is a result of the body being in a toxic, inflammatory state. If your body is not prepared or ‘primed’ for weight loss, you will fight an uphill biochemical battle.
Her program is not about what you can't have or do, it's about adding simple teas and herbs, and succeeding without giving up any foods you love. With The Prime , Dr. Chaudhary has reverse engineered our way of eating, so we can stop dieting backward and start losing weight instead. You'll learn:
--The importance of neuroadaptation, food addiction, and the brain (or, why your brain and gut have made it so hard to lose weight in the past!)
--Why it’s not about what you eat, but what you digest
--How to determine if you have a Leaky Brain—and what The Prime can do about it (hint: everything)
--How to easily crush cravings (no willpower required), ignite energy and fat, and biohack your lifestyle habits.
Lastly, you’ll learn how to live fully Primed, the secrets of the Super-Primed, and when you’re ready to explore new foods, how to eat according to your unique constitution.
Integrative neurologist Dr. Kulreet Chaudhary discovered a beautiful side effect to the eating and lifestyle tools she gave her brain patients--spontaneously shedding excess pounds. In this, her first book, she shows us how to sharpen the brain, and smarten and heal the gut.
Weight gain is not about the food, but about the body’s environment. Excess weight is a result of the body being in a toxic, inflammatory state. If your body is not prepared or ‘primed’ for weight loss, you will fight an uphill biochemical battle.
Her program is not about what you can't have or do, it's about adding simple teas and herbs, and succeeding without giving up any foods you love. With The Prime , Dr. Chaudhary has reverse engineered our way of eating, so we can stop dieting backward and start losing weight instead. You'll learn:
--The importance of neuroadaptation, food addiction, and the brain (or, why your brain and gut have made it so hard to lose weight in the past!)
--Why it’s not about what you eat, but what you digest
--How to determine if you have a Leaky Brain—and what The Prime can do about it (hint: everything)
--How to easily crush cravings (no willpower required), ignite energy and fat, and biohack your lifestyle habits.
Lastly, you’ll learn how to live fully Primed, the secrets of the Super-Primed, and when you’re ready to explore new foods, how to eat according to your unique constitution.
320 pages, Hardcover
First published January 12, 2016
655 people are currently reading
1021 people want to read
About the author
Kulreet Chaudhary
4 books29 followersDr. Kulreet Chaudhary’s combined expertise in both modern neurology and the ancient science of health known as Ayurveda has uniquely positioned her as an expert able to pull from the broadest possible base to treat her clients. She is passionate about raising awareness for the need of a paradigm shift in contemporary medicine that focuses on patient empowerment and a health-based (rather than disease-based) medical system. Dr. Chaudhary is a regular guest on the Dr. Oz show, where her teachings about Ayurvedic medicine have been applauded by a national audience.
Dr. Chaudhary was the Director of Wellspring Health in Scripps Memorial Hospital for ten years, and remains a pioneer in the field of Integrative Medicine. Dr. Chaudhary has successfully developed a powerful system to manage chronic neurological disorders such as multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease and migraine headaches, by incorporating fundamental changes in diet, behavior, and stress, in addition to the standard allopathic approach to these issues. This program has been so successful that many patients now use it not just for neurological issues but also for a wider range of health concerns, including weight issues and chronic disease.
Dr. Chaudhary now serves as the Chief Medical Officer for New Practices, Inc. where she is changing allopathic medical practices into healing centers using compassion-based health coaching, meditation, and integrative medicine to combat chronic diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease, diabetes, obesity, coronary heart disease, addictions, and more. She also oversees ongoing research in management and reversal of chronic disease through lifestyle intervention. Dr. Chaudhary is creating a new model for healthcare that is based on teaching patients the principles of health and personal transformation in an environment of compassion, empowering them to live in a way that promotes maximum healing and vitality.
Dr. Kulreet Chaudhary is also a neuroscientist. She has participated in over twenty clinical research studies in the areas of multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, ALS, and diabetic peripheral neuropathy. Her research includes groundbreaking work in stem cell therapies for diabetic peripheral neuropathy and drug development for the treatment of ALS.
Dr. Chaudhary was the Director of Wellspring Health in Scripps Memorial Hospital for ten years, and remains a pioneer in the field of Integrative Medicine. Dr. Chaudhary has successfully developed a powerful system to manage chronic neurological disorders such as multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease and migraine headaches, by incorporating fundamental changes in diet, behavior, and stress, in addition to the standard allopathic approach to these issues. This program has been so successful that many patients now use it not just for neurological issues but also for a wider range of health concerns, including weight issues and chronic disease.
Dr. Chaudhary now serves as the Chief Medical Officer for New Practices, Inc. where she is changing allopathic medical practices into healing centers using compassion-based health coaching, meditation, and integrative medicine to combat chronic diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease, diabetes, obesity, coronary heart disease, addictions, and more. She also oversees ongoing research in management and reversal of chronic disease through lifestyle intervention. Dr. Chaudhary is creating a new model for healthcare that is based on teaching patients the principles of health and personal transformation in an environment of compassion, empowering them to live in a way that promotes maximum healing and vitality.
Dr. Kulreet Chaudhary is also a neuroscientist. She has participated in over twenty clinical research studies in the areas of multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, ALS, and diabetic peripheral neuropathy. Her research includes groundbreaking work in stem cell therapies for diabetic peripheral neuropathy and drug development for the treatment of ALS.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 106 reviews
February 8, 2017
Initially, I thought I wasn't going to like this book. I looked at her website and noticed she sold "The Prime" products. I thought it would just be a big commercial for the author's products. It isn't and this is fascinating material. I understand why Dr. Chaudhary would promote it under weight loss, but it's much more than that. I think of it more as a gut health and brain function manual. With the things scientists and doctors are learning about neurological disorders (MS, Parkinson's, Alzheimer's), I think many more people could benefit from the information contained here than just people who want to lose weight. There is Parkinson's in my paternal line and I want to do everything I can to help brain function and stave off that disorder.
I have started on the program, but I'm still only in the first phase. I already have pretty good gut health since I've been eating clean for quite some time. I will be back to update this review after I am fully done with the program and write down my thoughts about it.
Update: Jan 2017
I will say I didn't follow the plan exactly. I forgot to drybrush most of the time and I did not do the curry powder, or the ginger gut flush (but this reminds me that I want to try the ginger still). I also did not take the guggul or drink the juice. Of the other parts of the program I still do most of it on and off. I like the tea and I take ashwaganda and brahmi and triphala as I feel I need it. I add fiber to my protein shakes. Along with Prime, I eat mostly Primal and I started strength training so I can't give The Prime all the credit. I don't know how much I lost due to The Prime, but in the last year and a few months I've lost (and kept off since I haven't lost anything since the summer months) 33lbs and 4 dress sizes. I still have some work to do so maybe I should get back and focus on The Prime again :) It did help me keep my eye on my target goals.
July 13, 2017
The best book I have ever read about health. So far.
Let me begin by stating that this book is not about weight loss at all. It is simply about cleaning and polishing your body from the inside. Weight loss(if you have any to lose) will simply be a side effect.
The author is a neurologist who is also trained in Ayurveda and has done research on gastroenteroloy. And her grandfather was a doctor who lived to be a 104 years. Why would anyone not want to listen to what she has to say about the workings of human body.
I have known about most of the "secrets" Dr Chaudhary talks about in the book since childhood. My dad has always tried to convince me and our family that the cause of every disease is bad digestion. He hasn't been very successful especially with the doctors telling my mother how pain in the back or migraines are in no way related to what you eat.
I stand corrected after reading the book.
I remember listening (and rolling my eyes) about how my Pitta has increased the first time I had an acne breakout. My dad gave me triphala which caused me diarrhea. It did clear out some of the zits but I didn't continue with it since my mom called the diarrhea as a severe side effect. Now this doctor has confirmed that it was simply my body trying to get rid of the toxins that had accumulated.
My dad has always talked about everything in the body being controlled by what we eat but has never been able to explain it in terms of modern science.
As I have grown up though, we have trusted him a lot more with the remedies. His simple tricks have almost always worked better(though slowly) without any side effects when done persistently than any of the medicines doctors prescribe. I have looked online many a times and haven't been able to find the "scientific" equivalents of the "ama", "amashay" and "dosh" that my dad talks about. Dr Chaudhary has tried to bridge this gap. While she says there isn't yet an equivalent of these terms in the western science yet, she does her best to explain how the herbs treat the system in terms of modern medical science and biochemistry. She has cited a long list of the research papers she used to confirm what Ayurvedic doctors have been telling for thousands of years. While I could have found these research papers, I neither had the patience nor the medical acumen to understand completely what they were saying.
She refers to the latest research in endobiogeny, neuroadaptation, biochemistry et al that are not taught in the medical colleges to our future doctors. She says, and I totally agree, that science has already found evidence for many traditional treatments. But our doctors aren't trained with this knowledge.
Not giving 5 stars because I found the book repetitive at times. Unlike a lot of other reviewers, I did not feel like the author was trying to push her "Prime" program products on the reader. She explained all the recipes first and just gave an easy option to buy all of the ingredients in one place online.
Absolutely loved the book. I have been recommending it to everyone who happens to ask me "What are you reading?". I am definitely inspired to research more about Ayurveda.
Let me begin by stating that this book is not about weight loss at all. It is simply about cleaning and polishing your body from the inside. Weight loss(if you have any to lose) will simply be a side effect.
The author is a neurologist who is also trained in Ayurveda and has done research on gastroenteroloy. And her grandfather was a doctor who lived to be a 104 years. Why would anyone not want to listen to what she has to say about the workings of human body.
I have known about most of the "secrets" Dr Chaudhary talks about in the book since childhood. My dad has always tried to convince me and our family that the cause of every disease is bad digestion. He hasn't been very successful especially with the doctors telling my mother how pain in the back or migraines are in no way related to what you eat.
I stand corrected after reading the book.
I remember listening (and rolling my eyes) about how my Pitta has increased the first time I had an acne breakout. My dad gave me triphala which caused me diarrhea. It did clear out some of the zits but I didn't continue with it since my mom called the diarrhea as a severe side effect. Now this doctor has confirmed that it was simply my body trying to get rid of the toxins that had accumulated.
My dad has always talked about everything in the body being controlled by what we eat but has never been able to explain it in terms of modern science.
As I have grown up though, we have trusted him a lot more with the remedies. His simple tricks have almost always worked better(though slowly) without any side effects when done persistently than any of the medicines doctors prescribe. I have looked online many a times and haven't been able to find the "scientific" equivalents of the "ama", "amashay" and "dosh" that my dad talks about. Dr Chaudhary has tried to bridge this gap. While she says there isn't yet an equivalent of these terms in the western science yet, she does her best to explain how the herbs treat the system in terms of modern medical science and biochemistry. She has cited a long list of the research papers she used to confirm what Ayurvedic doctors have been telling for thousands of years. While I could have found these research papers, I neither had the patience nor the medical acumen to understand completely what they were saying.
She refers to the latest research in endobiogeny, neuroadaptation, biochemistry et al that are not taught in the medical colleges to our future doctors. She says, and I totally agree, that science has already found evidence for many traditional treatments. But our doctors aren't trained with this knowledge.
Not giving 5 stars because I found the book repetitive at times. Unlike a lot of other reviewers, I did not feel like the author was trying to push her "Prime" program products on the reader. She explained all the recipes first and just gave an easy option to buy all of the ingredients in one place online.
Absolutely loved the book. I have been recommending it to everyone who happens to ask me "What are you reading?". I am definitely inspired to research more about Ayurveda.
March 29, 2016
3+. A Goodreads giveaway book received and reviewed.
"The Prime" is neurologist Kulreet Chaudhary's rediscovery and application of the ancient science of Ayurveda and its holistic health benefits. She describes a treatment regimen for detoxification, rebalancing, and rejuvenation of one's body, the digestive system, and through them, one's mind and sense of well-being. She provides, in easy to grasp text, an instruction guide that takes the reader through her specific rejuvenation process. One that has the added health benefit of weight loss.
I could not escape an ever-present feeling that "The Prime" is an extended advertisement for her treatment regimen. Starting out with questionable hyperbole - bitter milk because it isn't granted voluntarily by cows in the western world - the author introduces an unwary reader to Prime Tea, Prime Broth, Prime Curry Powder, Prime this, and Prime that. The reader finds no place in the book to hide from the brand promoted. While informative, and most likely helpful, when pushed incessantly, The Prime became - for this reader - a rather sub-prime primer.
Kulreet fails to mention that Indian cuisine, south Indian food, in particular, is designed to incorporate many if not all of her recommendations. Where I come from, Kerala, we drink water boiled with cumin seeds ('Jeera') and not only rid such water of bacteria but enhance its health benefits. Our lunch is often a grand affair with Sambhar (a thick soup incorporating coriander seed powder, cumin seed powder, turmeric powder, mustard seeds, and other herbs and spices), Rasam, sauteed vegetables and greens, pickle, and buttermilk with boiled rice. While the portions of each dish are small, the entire combination forms a culinary cadence that is music to the gut and aesthetic to boot. Dinner and breakfast, in comparison, are simpler affairs which nevertheless include spices suitable to the specific duration in the daily bodily cycle. Simply put, what we put into our digestive systems is not just fuel, but a sequence of food and plant material that serves to aid our bodily systems and enhance health.
For me, one from a land that originated Ayurveda, Kulreet's book is a refresher with little new information. For all others, The Prime can be informative and educational. A book well worth reading for those conscious of holistic health: mind, body, and soul.
"The Prime" is neurologist Kulreet Chaudhary's rediscovery and application of the ancient science of Ayurveda and its holistic health benefits. She describes a treatment regimen for detoxification, rebalancing, and rejuvenation of one's body, the digestive system, and through them, one's mind and sense of well-being. She provides, in easy to grasp text, an instruction guide that takes the reader through her specific rejuvenation process. One that has the added health benefit of weight loss.
I could not escape an ever-present feeling that "The Prime" is an extended advertisement for her treatment regimen. Starting out with questionable hyperbole - bitter milk because it isn't granted voluntarily by cows in the western world - the author introduces an unwary reader to Prime Tea, Prime Broth, Prime Curry Powder, Prime this, and Prime that. The reader finds no place in the book to hide from the brand promoted. While informative, and most likely helpful, when pushed incessantly, The Prime became - for this reader - a rather sub-prime primer.
Kulreet fails to mention that Indian cuisine, south Indian food, in particular, is designed to incorporate many if not all of her recommendations. Where I come from, Kerala, we drink water boiled with cumin seeds ('Jeera') and not only rid such water of bacteria but enhance its health benefits. Our lunch is often a grand affair with Sambhar (a thick soup incorporating coriander seed powder, cumin seed powder, turmeric powder, mustard seeds, and other herbs and spices), Rasam, sauteed vegetables and greens, pickle, and buttermilk with boiled rice. While the portions of each dish are small, the entire combination forms a culinary cadence that is music to the gut and aesthetic to boot. Dinner and breakfast, in comparison, are simpler affairs which nevertheless include spices suitable to the specific duration in the daily bodily cycle. Simply put, what we put into our digestive systems is not just fuel, but a sequence of food and plant material that serves to aid our bodily systems and enhance health.
For me, one from a land that originated Ayurveda, Kulreet's book is a refresher with little new information. For all others, The Prime can be informative and educational. A book well worth reading for those conscious of holistic health: mind, body, and soul.
May 8, 2017
I think that the weight loss claim was the "hook" to get people to buy the product, but this book is really much more than that. It shows you how to get your entire body in tune with itself.
The older I get, the more I lean away from Western medicine and more toward homeopathic remedies. Now I need to do more research on Eastern medicine. I should read this again and take notes.
The older I get, the more I lean away from Western medicine and more toward homeopathic remedies. Now I need to do more research on Eastern medicine. I should read this again and take notes.
February 9, 2017
I know I'm such a dork but I love this stuff!
September 5, 2020
Convinced! I will implement the metabolism program proposed by Dr. Kulreet Chaudhary! Ordered all the powders I need for this purpose from ginger to amla to triphala...I will be equipped for next week´s phase 1. And I am an invidivual who has never had any touch-points with Ayurveda before ! This book was recommended in the list of Kindle Unlimited, which I am signed up for. So I went for it and devoured it within 24 hours...
I liked how Dr. Chaudhary contextualized neuroscience with Ayurveda. Each chapter refers to the sources of her research and findings and since I love reading articles on various topics, I deep-dived in some of the articles in her reference. Now the questions is not how to implement the metabolism program as Dr. Chaudhary walks one through each phase and amplifies each phase one by one. No strict time restrictions, which I love - the exercise is to learn to listen to your body and implement this program with only goal to improve one´s overall health, lifestyle and well-being. How long does it do me good to stay in phase 1 and when is my body ready to move onto the next phase. The question remains obviously, WHY would I implement this program? Dr. Chaudhary appeals to the sense of urgency in terms of seeing our body as a holistic system as opposed to the western point of view in science, where parts of our bodies is treated as individual organs and we keep on looking for the remedies to immediate pains. Dr. Chaudhary, however, stresses that the root analysis remains in digestion and with this how we treat our organs that are in charge of our digestion. Absolutely raised my curiosity, and I cannot wait to see the hopefully positive impact on my well-being when I start implementing the metabolism program as of next week. Though you may not be looking to change your lifestyle, you may consider to do so upon reading this great book written in an auto-ethnographic style, undermining each finding with her very personal experiences. Mind-shifting read!
I liked how Dr. Chaudhary contextualized neuroscience with Ayurveda. Each chapter refers to the sources of her research and findings and since I love reading articles on various topics, I deep-dived in some of the articles in her reference. Now the questions is not how to implement the metabolism program as Dr. Chaudhary walks one through each phase and amplifies each phase one by one. No strict time restrictions, which I love - the exercise is to learn to listen to your body and implement this program with only goal to improve one´s overall health, lifestyle and well-being. How long does it do me good to stay in phase 1 and when is my body ready to move onto the next phase. The question remains obviously, WHY would I implement this program? Dr. Chaudhary appeals to the sense of urgency in terms of seeing our body as a holistic system as opposed to the western point of view in science, where parts of our bodies is treated as individual organs and we keep on looking for the remedies to immediate pains. Dr. Chaudhary, however, stresses that the root analysis remains in digestion and with this how we treat our organs that are in charge of our digestion. Absolutely raised my curiosity, and I cannot wait to see the hopefully positive impact on my well-being when I start implementing the metabolism program as of next week. Though you may not be looking to change your lifestyle, you may consider to do so upon reading this great book written in an auto-ethnographic style, undermining each finding with her very personal experiences. Mind-shifting read!
May 13, 2016
Dr Chaudhary is a western trained Neurologist who has integrated Ayurvedic medicine into her practice. Although this book is a weight loss book, it addresses broader health issues, and weight loss turns out to be a by product of general digestive health. She proposes a 4 stage approach to digestive health, heavily using products and techniques from ancient Indian healthcare.
On Amazon, there are a lot of positive case studies from those who have followed her advice. Although skeptical since I don't see a lot of evidence presented, I am open to trying some of the suggestions and have started a run of Triphalia, and have moved my main meal to Noon. I think I will pass on the cumin/coriander/fennel tea and try to get my fiber during the course of the day instead of via psyllium husks and flax seed capsules as she suggest. I will pass on the silk gloves meant to stimulate the lymphatic system. These are all approaches in Stage One.
There is a little quiz in the book which helps you with the duration of each of the stages, but make no mistake, this is a lifetime plan.
The subsequent stages add more Indian supplements and build on the first stage. (Cynicism always arises when the author sells all the supplements from her website for such a lifetime effort...and the supplements are not inexpensive!).
Anyhow, I will try to update this review after some first hand experience with the approach.
On Amazon, there are a lot of positive case studies from those who have followed her advice. Although skeptical since I don't see a lot of evidence presented, I am open to trying some of the suggestions and have started a run of Triphalia, and have moved my main meal to Noon. I think I will pass on the cumin/coriander/fennel tea and try to get my fiber during the course of the day instead of via psyllium husks and flax seed capsules as she suggest. I will pass on the silk gloves meant to stimulate the lymphatic system. These are all approaches in Stage One.
There is a little quiz in the book which helps you with the duration of each of the stages, but make no mistake, this is a lifetime plan.
The subsequent stages add more Indian supplements and build on the first stage. (Cynicism always arises when the author sells all the supplements from her website for such a lifetime effort...and the supplements are not inexpensive!).
Anyhow, I will try to update this review after some first hand experience with the approach.
August 17, 2018
My psychiatrist recommended this book to me, thinking that Chaudhary's background as a neuroscientist might be helpful. I've worked with Ayurvedic physicians before and would be willing to do so again--a lot of the basic principles, such as sticking to a daily routine, eating your main meal in the middle of the day, eating in alignment with basic bodily "humors," let's say (though I don't strictly follow the Ayurvedic doshas), eating seasonally... it's 5K years (at least) of cultural observation and inference and I think it makes good sense.
In other places she makes claims that seem irresponsible--skin brushing will get rid of cellulite? Liar. In general, though, no harm done here, and a lot of good. Unfortunately, she packaged what she knew into a diet book, instead of, say, a brain regulation book. She set things up so you could get individualized coaching, but then appears to have abandoned that line. So there's no way to ask questions about your particular situation.
But, as one more input into how gut health affects brain health, it's a resource.
In other places she makes claims that seem irresponsible--skin brushing will get rid of cellulite? Liar. In general, though, no harm done here, and a lot of good. Unfortunately, she packaged what she knew into a diet book, instead of, say, a brain regulation book. She set things up so you could get individualized coaching, but then appears to have abandoned that line. So there's no way to ask questions about your particular situation.
But, as one more input into how gut health affects brain health, it's a resource.
Currently reading
July 2, 2023I started reading this last night, and am incredibly excited by its potential to improve my life! The author is a neurologist (integrative Western medicine doctor), and also a trained Ayurvedic practitioner. She was trained as an Ayurvedic practitioner by NIH, which I find fascinating, and she has used an Ayurvedic lifestyle (food, etc) to help her clients with diseases like MS and Parkinsons improve their lives. She was motivated to try something besides Western medicine herself when she began to have crippling migraine headaches. I love her way of thinking that nothing she recommends is an absolute, and if you try something and it doesn't work for you, then don't do it! Makes SO much sense!! A slow, gentle guide to changing eating and lifestyle habits, and it looks like exactly what I've been looking for to help me with changing some of my own habits.
Didn't end up finishing this. We'll see whether I ever get back to it. Wish it was on audiobook, too.
Didn't end up finishing this. We'll see whether I ever get back to it. Wish it was on audiobook, too.
November 22, 2017
I love this book. I've been doing the Prime and since I started it almost 3 months ago, I've lost 8 pounds. I feel better and my head is clearer. I'm moving forward with projects I was struggling with before. It's taught me some techniques for self-care. Basically it's been life changing and I'm still only half way through. I am just starting stage 3. This stage is a bit deeper and things are getting rockier but I'm sticking with it. Finding this book (seemingly by accident) has been transformative.
Highly recommend for anyone who is looking to lose a few pounds, are feeling depressed, feeling tired all the time or have a foggy brain. It's a bit of a commitment but worth it. It's healthy and natural. I ran it past my doc too and they were pleased with my progress so far.
Highly recommend for anyone who is looking to lose a few pounds, are feeling depressed, feeling tired all the time or have a foggy brain. It's a bit of a commitment but worth it. It's healthy and natural. I ran it past my doc too and they were pleased with my progress so far.
January 23, 2016
A physician in tune with good health
I have waited decades for a physician to bravely offer this information to the mainstream. This is the new front in patient and physician relationship. The book is very detailed about how and why the Prime works to heal. It makes sense and easy to understand the information presented I highly recommend this to anyone looking to improve their health. You will not be disappointed.
I have waited decades for a physician to bravely offer this information to the mainstream. This is the new front in patient and physician relationship. The book is very detailed about how and why the Prime works to heal. It makes sense and easy to understand the information presented I highly recommend this to anyone looking to improve their health. You will not be disappointed.
January 28, 2023
Very interesting info, the gut-mind connection. I would like to continue learning about ayurvedic
November 9, 2017
I loved, loved, loved this book! It was a totally different take on how we look at weight loss, gut health, healthy practices and living a stress controlled life. Dr. Chaudhary, Integrative Neurologist, with a special interest in Ayurvedic medicine shows us how we can improve our health with simple remedies and spontaneously lose weight without even restricting our food intake.
I found this book and her concepts absolutely fascinating and have been following her protocols for about two weeks now and can't wait to continue onward. There is so much information packed into this gem of a book that makes such good sense.
She describes her own illness when she was studying to be a neurologist, and how she followed Western medicine treatments initially but found that they did not improve anything for her. After going back to her "roots" she visited an Ayurvedic physician and after following his suggestions, lo and behold her health started to improve. This book covers all the guidance you will need for the rest of your life if you begin to follow it. Outstanding, excellent book!!
I found this book and her concepts absolutely fascinating and have been following her protocols for about two weeks now and can't wait to continue onward. There is so much information packed into this gem of a book that makes such good sense.
She describes her own illness when she was studying to be a neurologist, and how she followed Western medicine treatments initially but found that they did not improve anything for her. After going back to her "roots" she visited an Ayurvedic physician and after following his suggestions, lo and behold her health started to improve. This book covers all the guidance you will need for the rest of your life if you begin to follow it. Outstanding, excellent book!!
March 1, 2018
OK......... so this is actually a pretty interesting book. it doesn't have much to do with weight loss despite the tag line. i am really skeptical of ayurveda, but the author does have a medical background and a lot of the information in this book seems really useful and legit. i picked it up on my doctors recommendation because she has another patient whose health was improved through following this guide, i wasn't fully convinced but i could use all the help i can get. i do think overall health can be promoted through the gut and what you put into your body. this book just made a lot of sense and was easy to read and i think her suggestions for improving health are worth a try.
January 2, 2018
Dr. Chaudhary is an integrative neurologist who has been blending traditional Ayurvedic medicine with "modern" Western medicine. The results are fascinating. While someone (publisher?) pushed hard to really frame this book around weight loss, there's so much more than that. I found the digestive health stuff intriguing, especially as I rebuild my digestive system after some serious health issues. I'm not "following" the program, per se, but I've found I really enjoy the tea and will incorporate some other aspects of her work and see what happens.
March 20, 2016
If you do what this books says down to the T, it will change your life. Kulreet has such easy changes that you can do, that make so much sense. You'll end up wondering why you haven't been do these little changes your whole life.
November 4, 2018
Was very interesting learning some of the Ayurveda practices. I find that there are some similarities to the GAPS diet (of which we’ve done for my ASD child) with gut healing properties. I look forward to trying this.
September 30, 2016
interesting. thank you cindy!
June 15, 2019
Great advise in alternative medicine, most of the remedies are slowly emerging to be backed by publication in medical/scientific journals. As mentioned by author, in plain words these advise are (not to be taken with a grain of salt) - not for replacing current medical treatments. I agree with most of the treatment suggestions, and are partly skeptical towards things I haven't personally tried or have heard of. From personal medical research conducted in the lab (for my bachelor thesis), curcumin (from ginger), linalool (from lavender and basil family), piperidine (from pepper family) are very potent anti-cancer compounds, and they boost general health. Obviously moderation is key, and it definitely would hurt less in the long run for your health and your wallet if we make sensible changes to our lifestyles.
Overall this book offers step-by-step advises on what you can do in attempt to better your health, and there is a variety of suggestions in case something doesn't suit you. This book had given me insight on patient education (prevention is better than cure), and to be more flexible in helping myself and others achieve better health and better quality of life.
There's no such thing as "too late", even for individuals who are terminally ill, this book may offer some valuable advise that can be incorporated in paliative care. It's suitable for all ages, young and old.
Overall this book offers step-by-step advises on what you can do in attempt to better your health, and there is a variety of suggestions in case something doesn't suit you. This book had given me insight on patient education (prevention is better than cure), and to be more flexible in helping myself and others achieve better health and better quality of life.
There's no such thing as "too late", even for individuals who are terminally ill, this book may offer some valuable advise that can be incorporated in paliative care. It's suitable for all ages, young and old.
November 7, 2019
Interesting read, backed by research and results. Get it, read it, reflect on it, try it, and see how it feels. I recommend it!
April 22, 2020
Ich werde das Konzept ausprobieren. Tolles Buch!
May 24, 2018
Totally fascinated by all Ayurvedic remedies and lifestyle. A great detox plan that doesn’t seem to hard but very healing. Going to try this after baby.
April 18, 2018
Chaudhary was raised in India where Ayurvedic medicine served the needs of the population. She moved to the U.S. for medical school and practiced here. Later she redefined her practice to be much more influenced by her Ayurvedic roots. In this book, she provides a research base and explained the steps to a healing diet and weight loss and she did it in a way a person who did not grow up in India can understand.
Her book is clear, well grounded, and very helpful.
Her book is clear, well grounded, and very helpful.
April 24, 2025
I reread this and found it just as insightful the second time. The Ayurvedic approach to health and balance really makes sense to me. The author, a neurologist and researcher with training in Ayurvedic medicine, does an excellent job of explaining the gut-brain connection in a clear and fascinating way.
August 22, 2018
First off, as a scientist (biologist) utterly steeped in Western medical tradition, this book was a superb intro to the 5,000 years of wisdom behind Ayurvedic practices. As a biologist with no background in Ayurvedic or any other Indian practices, I'd previously found the Eastern health philosophies too difficult to adapt into my own lifestyle. Dr. Chaudhary (a board-certified MD practicing neurology in San Diego, California) explains everything inthe book TWICE: once in terms of purely Western medicine (letting me feel like I understand it very well) and then second in Ayurvedic terms (which is then a bit less intimidating with all the Indian terms and such, because you already understand the underpinnings that were explained lin English” so to speak.)
Dr. Kulreet Chaudhary grew up eating/using Ayurevedic for health but left it behind as adult then later “rediscovered” it to solve her own health issues (headaches, weight gain), began recommending her neurology patients to see ayurvedic docs for certain issues and ultimately trained in it so she could treat her neurology patients' directly! She found that for most of them their health overall improved and they lost weight EVEN THOUGH THERE ARE BASICALLY NO DIETARY CHANGES REQUIRED FOR HER PROGRAM. (Sorry for all caps, I don't have italics on this ipad!) Anyhow, her plan focuses on detox and adjusting gut bacteria and digestion for optimal health.
Hher plan does NOT dictate you eat or not eat any particular way, and b) she includes a large chunk of the program to addressing and dealing with CRAVINGS, which you mentioned in your review. My hubby and I have started for a week and it's so simple and straight forward that even my red-blooded “meat and potatoes” eating husband really likes it so far! We drink the Prime tea made by boiling seeds of fennel, coriander, fenugreek and cumin plus a small chunk of fresh raw ginger, which I was skeptical about [I normally hate anise & fennel/licorice flavors, and strongly Indian spices] but we both LOVE this tea!!! Even my husband begs me to make it if I don't start a fresh pot first thing every morning!! [And I was worried he wouldn’t like it!!] We do the dry brushing (garashana sp?) and take triphala each evening and drink 12 oz of water with fiber (psyllium and ground flaxseed) every other night. (That's all first phase requires!) In our first week, my fibromyalgia lymph node pain has gone completely away! And my husband's ankle edema has reduced. Also, I totally lost my desire for my morning coffee (a decade plus long addiction of mine!) and nearly all dairy cravings (again, one of my favorite food groups!!) Total surprise!
We just started program to improve our gut health! Anyhow, the gist of The Prime is that healthly eating supported by the gut health and detox allows you to lose weight “effortlessly” by just listening to what your body tells you it wants. The second step is all about herbs that help balance cravings (brahmi, guggul, ashwanda sp?, etc) and keeping a cravings diary to learn to understand when/why cravings happen & recognizing what your body needs at those times. Etc. A very thoughtful, kind, healing program, gentle and easy to ease into, surprisingly effective at dealing with both the physical AND psychological reasons we eat and hold/release ama. So, if you get a chance to check out this book from the library or Kindle Prime or what have you, I highly recommend it, it might really help you enhance your eating practices.
Dr. Kulreet Chaudhary grew up eating/using Ayurevedic for health but left it behind as adult then later “rediscovered” it to solve her own health issues (headaches, weight gain), began recommending her neurology patients to see ayurvedic docs for certain issues and ultimately trained in it so she could treat her neurology patients' directly! She found that for most of them their health overall improved and they lost weight EVEN THOUGH THERE ARE BASICALLY NO DIETARY CHANGES REQUIRED FOR HER PROGRAM. (Sorry for all caps, I don't have italics on this ipad!) Anyhow, her plan focuses on detox and adjusting gut bacteria and digestion for optimal health.
Hher plan does NOT dictate you eat or not eat any particular way, and b) she includes a large chunk of the program to addressing and dealing with CRAVINGS, which you mentioned in your review. My hubby and I have started for a week and it's so simple and straight forward that even my red-blooded “meat and potatoes” eating husband really likes it so far! We drink the Prime tea made by boiling seeds of fennel, coriander, fenugreek and cumin plus a small chunk of fresh raw ginger, which I was skeptical about [I normally hate anise & fennel/licorice flavors, and strongly Indian spices] but we both LOVE this tea!!! Even my husband begs me to make it if I don't start a fresh pot first thing every morning!! [And I was worried he wouldn’t like it!!] We do the dry brushing (garashana sp?) and take triphala each evening and drink 12 oz of water with fiber (psyllium and ground flaxseed) every other night. (That's all first phase requires!) In our first week, my fibromyalgia lymph node pain has gone completely away! And my husband's ankle edema has reduced. Also, I totally lost my desire for my morning coffee (a decade plus long addiction of mine!) and nearly all dairy cravings (again, one of my favorite food groups!!) Total surprise!
We just started program to improve our gut health! Anyhow, the gist of The Prime is that healthly eating supported by the gut health and detox allows you to lose weight “effortlessly” by just listening to what your body tells you it wants. The second step is all about herbs that help balance cravings (brahmi, guggul, ashwanda sp?, etc) and keeping a cravings diary to learn to understand when/why cravings happen & recognizing what your body needs at those times. Etc. A very thoughtful, kind, healing program, gentle and easy to ease into, surprisingly effective at dealing with both the physical AND psychological reasons we eat and hold/release ama. So, if you get a chance to check out this book from the library or Kindle Prime or what have you, I highly recommend it, it might really help you enhance your eating practices.
June 28, 2019
I have an addiction to endorphins which is why I work out a lot. I was told once by my doctor after I had surgery and couldn't seem to get back to my "level" of exercising, "you have two choices: 1 - you slow down or 2 - you never exercise again." So I took it slow and since I've not got back to my level of fitness that I was at once upon a time but I've never stopped doing what I love and that's working out. I'm just not seeing the same results that I use to which is why I picked up this book...
From the title I thought it would was about priming my body for exercising or about conditioning it to get ready to go for the longest endurance but to my surprise .. it was about detox. I've heard of it and I've read a few books on it and most of the ingredients needed for the detox are exotic and you spend more money just trying to get the ingredients needed let alone the time it takes to make the "drink" or "smoothie"... it had some good ideas but all in all it was a 1 star for me because it didn't help me at all.
From the title I thought it would was about priming my body for exercising or about conditioning it to get ready to go for the longest endurance but to my surprise .. it was about detox. I've heard of it and I've read a few books on it and most of the ingredients needed for the detox are exotic and you spend more money just trying to get the ingredients needed let alone the time it takes to make the "drink" or "smoothie"... it had some good ideas but all in all it was a 1 star for me because it didn't help me at all.
May 18, 2020
They hype of health books is on the tide and it’s not too uncommon to see irresponsible diet or medical advice.
It doesn’t mean that this book is throwing random fancy herbs name such as Ashwagandha.
I gave the supplements and the methods in this book a good two months of try. Yet, l was not able to see effectiveness from what the book offers. I am not falsifying them either. In fact, there are research studies about them. But I, personally, don’t think those research are adequate for drawing such firm conclusions that the book does.
Bottom line, the book has definitely interesting nutritional information. While I found references to endorse the book’s claim about the supplements and the detoxification methods, I didn’t see a noticeable effectiveness on myself. I believe more researched must be conducted and the results must be compared to placebos.
It doesn’t mean that this book is throwing random fancy herbs name such as Ashwagandha.
I gave the supplements and the methods in this book a good two months of try. Yet, l was not able to see effectiveness from what the book offers. I am not falsifying them either. In fact, there are research studies about them. But I, personally, don’t think those research are adequate for drawing such firm conclusions that the book does.
Bottom line, the book has definitely interesting nutritional information. While I found references to endorse the book’s claim about the supplements and the detoxification methods, I didn’t see a noticeable effectiveness on myself. I believe more researched must be conducted and the results must be compared to placebos.
January 10, 2017
Interesting, Insightful, Doable
I enjoyed the author's simple yet thorough treatment and recommendations of different Ayurvedic practices. I'm looking forward to implementing the recommendations here. I recommend the book as an alternative to those who have tried different types of detox methods/diets ... The Prime seeks to inform a way of living, not impose a short term system shock.
I enjoyed the author's simple yet thorough treatment and recommendations of different Ayurvedic practices. I'm looking forward to implementing the recommendations here. I recommend the book as an alternative to those who have tried different types of detox methods/diets ... The Prime seeks to inform a way of living, not impose a short term system shock.
January 10, 2018
Fantastic book. I have recommended this book to many other family members that can benefit from the information Kulreet Chaudhary gives about how to repair the digestive system so all other aspects of your health and body fall into place. I can't rate this book high enough. The phases she has the readers follow are very easy and any supplements she suggests using can be bought anywhere (Amazon, Nature Store, etc. and are very reasonable). I highly recommend reading this book.
February 26, 2020
This book is marketed as a weight loss book but is far more than that. I heard Dr. C on NPR and was very interested in the Ayurvedic approach and the focus on GI in healing your out of whack body. A lot of the information in the book was such an eye opener for me. I plan on starting her suggested plan on the next week. Can't recommended this enough!
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