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Vegetarianism Explained: Making an Informed Decision
Another blockbuster from Dr. Natasha Campbell-McBride, the creator and author of the GAPS Protocol--Gut And Psychology / Gut And Physiology Syndrome. Her GAPS Nutritional Protocol has been used successfully by hundreds of thousands of people around the world for treating a plethora of chronic health problems, from mental illness to physical disorders. Her book Gut and Psychology Syndrome has been translated into sixteen languages. She has now undertaken an intense study into the value of plant foods versus animal foods. Vegetarianism Explained: Making an Informed Decision is the result of this study. Dr Campbell-McBride gives a full scientific description of how animal and plant foods are digested and used by the human body. This information will give the reader a good understanding on how to feed their body to achieve optimal health and vitality.
This book is an essential read for those who are considering a plant-based lifestyle and those who are already following a vegetarian or a vegan diet. The subject of fasting is covered and will give the reader a good understanding on how to use this method for healing and health. This book will also answer questions on where our food comes from and how it is produced, how to eat in harmony with your body's needs and how we should introduce small children to the world of food.
Dr Natasha Campbell-McBride is known for her ability to explain complex scientific concepts in a language easily understood by all. Vegetarianism Explained will be enjoyed by all ages of adults - from young teenagers to mature professionals. For those who are scientifically minded the book is fully referenced.
This book is an essential read for those who are considering a plant-based lifestyle and those who are already following a vegetarian or a vegan diet. The subject of fasting is covered and will give the reader a good understanding on how to use this method for healing and health. This book will also answer questions on where our food comes from and how it is produced, how to eat in harmony with your body's needs and how we should introduce small children to the world of food.
Dr Natasha Campbell-McBride is known for her ability to explain complex scientific concepts in a language easily understood by all. Vegetarianism Explained will be enjoyed by all ages of adults - from young teenagers to mature professionals. For those who are scientifically minded the book is fully referenced.
152 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 6, 2017
38 people are currently reading
257 people want to read
About the author
Natasha Campbell-McBride
18 books135 followersDr. Natasha Campbell-McBride holds a degree in Medicine and Postgraduate degrees in both Neurology and Human Nutrition. In her clinic in Cambridge she specializes in nutrition for children and adults with behavioral and learning disabilities, and adults with digestive and immune system disorders.
Dr. Campbell-McBride set up The Cambridge Nutrition Clinic in 1998. As a parent of a child diagnosed with learning disabilities, she was acutely aware of the difficulties facing other parents like her, and she has devoted much of her time to helping these families. She realized that nutrition played a critical role in helping children and adults to overcome their disabilities, and has pioneered the use of probiotics in this field.
She believes that the link between learning disabilities, the food and drink that we take, and the condition of our digestive system is absolute, and the results of her work have supported her position on this subject. In her clinic, parents discuss all aspects of their child's condition, confident in the knowledge that they are not only talking to a professional but to a parent who has lived their experience. Her deep understanding of the challenges they face puts her advice in a class of its own.
from http://gapsdiet.com/
Dr. Campbell-McBride set up The Cambridge Nutrition Clinic in 1998. As a parent of a child diagnosed with learning disabilities, she was acutely aware of the difficulties facing other parents like her, and she has devoted much of her time to helping these families. She realized that nutrition played a critical role in helping children and adults to overcome their disabilities, and has pioneered the use of probiotics in this field.
She believes that the link between learning disabilities, the food and drink that we take, and the condition of our digestive system is absolute, and the results of her work have supported her position on this subject. In her clinic, parents discuss all aspects of their child's condition, confident in the knowledge that they are not only talking to a professional but to a parent who has lived their experience. Her deep understanding of the challenges they face puts her advice in a class of its own.
from http://gapsdiet.com/
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
November 27, 2017
This is a wonderful book. The author is well educated and highly intelligent and she explains health and nutrition with common sense in a unique independent way that goes against some of the current common misinformation. I also have a background in health and nutrition and her conclusions were completely accurate and original as far as I know. It was refreshing to follow her unique mental pathways (which are uncorrupted by her education) to arrive at interesting new viewpoints regarding food and health, which I believe will be adopted in the future.
There are six chapters in this book: "The Heart of the Matter"; Where Does Your Food Come From?"; "Food, Glorious Food"; "Fasting"; "One Man's Meat is Another Man's Poison"; and "In Conclusion". The book has a holistic approach and is much more broad than just vegetarianism. It explains how the body handles and digests plant food differently from flesh food, and much more.
Regarding microbial digeston, I was impressed with her diagrams and comparison of the ruminant stomachs with the human colon. The cow's many stomachs (rumens), full of microbes, are close to their mouths and they bring their food back up in a cud which is repeatedly chewed whereas the human colon, full of microbes, is at the opposite end just above the rectum.
The author is a clinical physician who has gained a reputation for successfully treating many chronic physical and mental illnesses with her unusual concepts combined with the antique concept of "let your food be your medicine". I think all of us, whether healthy or sick, can benefit from the knowledge presented, and I hope to read this book again at least one more time.
There are six chapters in this book: "The Heart of the Matter"; Where Does Your Food Come From?"; "Food, Glorious Food"; "Fasting"; "One Man's Meat is Another Man's Poison"; and "In Conclusion". The book has a holistic approach and is much more broad than just vegetarianism. It explains how the body handles and digests plant food differently from flesh food, and much more.
Regarding microbial digeston, I was impressed with her diagrams and comparison of the ruminant stomachs with the human colon. The cow's many stomachs (rumens), full of microbes, are close to their mouths and they bring their food back up in a cud which is repeatedly chewed whereas the human colon, full of microbes, is at the opposite end just above the rectum.
The author is a clinical physician who has gained a reputation for successfully treating many chronic physical and mental illnesses with her unusual concepts combined with the antique concept of "let your food be your medicine". I think all of us, whether healthy or sick, can benefit from the knowledge presented, and I hope to read this book again at least one more time.
July 16, 2017
A good overview of an alternative viewpoint on diet in general and vegetarianism specifically - effects on health and the planet. This book questions what is best overall for both our bodies and the environment, what is sustainable and natural and produces the best outcome for these systems as a whole. The author makes many excellent points and her arguments are sound; footnotes are numerous so the reader can verify her sources if they're curious. It's clear she derives a lot of her thinking from Weston A. Price but it's easy enough to look past that and thankfully he didn't figure as heavily in the book as I expected. Overall an important read for anyone who's a vegetarian or considering moving to a plant-based or limited-fat/cholesterol/animal product diet. As an avid environmentalist and vegetarian of 25+ years with mounting health problems, this was a refreshing read that effectively challenges mainstream, reductionist conceptions of health and green thinking. There are not enough books like this. Very much worth your time.
July 10, 2021
I especially loved the case for digestive system appropriateness. Clearly stated, humans don't have the capability of the right stomach to get very much from plant foods. Nutrition information tries to put plant foods on par with animal foods and that clearly is not the case. We don't have several ruminant stomachs with bounteous microorganisms that specialize in extracting nutrients from plant foods. We have one low pH stomach that has no microorganisms because the environment is too hostile. In short, we were made to eat animal foods. A diet of plant foods is woefully deficient and will lead to all kinds of disease and wasting away particularly from neurological disease. A temporary plant diet can help reset the body, but it was never meant for the long term, simply because it is not sustainable. I do wish that this book had a more professional tone as it would help the reputability. Also, all books such as this that research a scientific topic need to have an INDEX!
April 3, 2020
I thought this was pro vegetarian but it’s not. Turns out this is the book you would give to your son/daughter/friend who is starting to become vegan or vegetarian in order to convince them not too. So, naturally, it’s a pretty biased book. I think there was still some good info in there and regardless I still got to experience a different perspective. Still not going vegan anytime soon.
January 14, 2018
I’ve been wanting to read about the GAPS diet for a while and was thrown off by the title of this book. I decided to borrow it from the library anyway and was pleased with the tone of the book. I used to be a vegetarian for a few years and I did ok on it but just as this book explains I was essentially cleansing and not building. I’m glad that I’ve moved on from those days. I loosely follow a Weston A Price/Paleo diet so it was nice to see Dr Campbell-McBride reference him and his research throughout the book. I have been interested in fasting recently so it was another pleasant surprise to come across a chapter on that also. I’m going to check out her other books and suggested readings in the future!
November 23, 2019
What I took from the book was the notion that animal foods nourish and plant foods detoxify. We aren't intended to be in a perpetual state of detoxification. We need nourishment.
October 14, 2017
If you are a well versed WAPF’er and well red on traditional food/paleo this really contains no new information. I was hoping for something a bit more. I guess I was looking to find out something more concrete. I did not google all of the references and read them. Honesty I tire of the food politics. I do believe the ideals espoused in this book are sound and true at least in my own personal life. This is the way any subject of importance is. Religion. Politics. Food. Their are many sides. Conflicting information. Seeming proof. Everyone’s got an angle.
I hoped to get a better understanding of the motives of the McDougall/China Diet type information and there were just a few allusions to this information being propaganda from the industrial agriculturalists. But then vegans claim this information is motivated by the meat industry.
I do appreciate toward the end the information to let your body be your guide in these decisions. How to read it. How to know it.
But you can so easily be convinced by your moral/spiritual investments that your doing the right thing that a clean conscience physically “feels” good.
I’m on to read Lierre Keith’s Vegetarian Myth.
I hoped to get a better understanding of the motives of the McDougall/China Diet type information and there were just a few allusions to this information being propaganda from the industrial agriculturalists. But then vegans claim this information is motivated by the meat industry.
I do appreciate toward the end the information to let your body be your guide in these decisions. How to read it. How to know it.
But you can so easily be convinced by your moral/spiritual investments that your doing the right thing that a clean conscience physically “feels” good.
I’m on to read Lierre Keith’s Vegetarian Myth.
March 5, 2022
The premise is that animal proteins are building blocks and plant foods are cleansing. Both are beneficial but animal proteins are more essential. A vegetarian diet can be healthy for some if it incorporates a good amount of pastured eggs and raw or cultured dairy products. Vegan diets can have short-term healing benefits but if engaged too long will lead to serious nutritional deficiencies and complex health problems.
Pulls no punches.
Pulls no punches.
December 30, 2020
This is the most ridiculous book I've ever read. Please go to nutritionfacts.org and throw this book away.
September 4, 2022
I bought the book because I have a friend who has been a staunch vegan for over thirty years (and a vegetarian even longer). She has gotten sicker and sicker, and I was hoping I would find some material to help me convince to eat some meat. I am not sure if I will ever convince her. I am still trying to convince myself. Meanwhile, the GAPS diet seems to have healed a close relative of her gastrointestinal issues, just by consuming lots of chicken soup (and eliminating just about everything else, at least for now). I recommend reading any of Dr. Natasha Campbell-McBride's books -- the information might help you or a close friend or relative.
Here are a few takeaways from the book: 1) One can survive and even thrive without eating any plants at all. 2) It is OK if someone doesn't like vegetables. 3) Cows have digestive systems suitable for digesting plants. Human digestive systems are not so sophisticated and do better with animal food.
Here are a few takeaways from the book: 1) One can survive and even thrive without eating any plants at all. 2) It is OK if someone doesn't like vegetables. 3) Cows have digestive systems suitable for digesting plants. Human digestive systems are not so sophisticated and do better with animal food.
April 27, 2022
great read
Very thorough book and easy to read. I am a Crohn’s patient in remission and had an alarming colonoscopy. I decided to go vegetarian, eating some fish x 21/2 years. Three years later my colonoscopy was negative of any precancerous polyps. Yay! However, my stomach lining was hemorrhaging and I was in real bad shape. I now have introduced meat back into my diet and I’m feeling much better. So honestly I think moderation is the key to your diet. Don’t go from one extreme to another, the body doesn’t like it.
Very thorough book and easy to read. I am a Crohn’s patient in remission and had an alarming colonoscopy. I decided to go vegetarian, eating some fish x 21/2 years. Three years later my colonoscopy was negative of any precancerous polyps. Yay! However, my stomach lining was hemorrhaging and I was in real bad shape. I now have introduced meat back into my diet and I’m feeling much better. So honestly I think moderation is the key to your diet. Don’t go from one extreme to another, the body doesn’t like it.
February 12, 2018
This book was full of very useful information. I think everyone should read it.
March 28, 2019
Great explanation of what the body needs and how to get it. Essential starting point for anyone who wants to improve their nutrition.
April 7, 2019
Excelente!
Didático, verossímil e bem embasado. Todos interessados no assunto nutrição deveriam ler...duas vezes no mínimo. Leia também o livto GAPS da mesma autora.
Didático, verossímil e bem embasado. Todos interessados no assunto nutrição deveriam ler...duas vezes no mínimo. Leia também o livto GAPS da mesma autora.
February 10, 2021
The most alarming and informative alternative view to veganism and vegetarianism I've come across. Thank heavens I read this now and not later.
November 29, 2021
Veľmi zaujímavý pohľad na vegetariánstvo a jeho nástrahy z pohľadu GAPS diéty. Odporúčať čítať s otvorenou mysľou, prináša zaujímavé podnety na zamyslenie.
May 8, 2022
Meat you at the top!
If you want to be at your best, read this book. Combine your reading with podcast interviews, and this book will take you to another level.
If you want to be at your best, read this book. Combine your reading with podcast interviews, and this book will take you to another level.
February 1, 2023
This book does spell out benefits of a vegan diet and benefits of a non vegetarian diet. Informative.
March 29, 2021
I agree with her case to eat whole foods, and fermented, soaked, and sprouted plants. Her arguments to eat such a high amount of animal products IF YOUR GUT FLORA IS HEALTHY did not persuade me, and I found it to be full of half truths or blatant misinformation. After fact checking on most of her book, I would say her information is accurate about 60% of the time within these 145 or so pages. Her claims about arable land being worse for the environment than grazing land for cattle is false, for example, by a long shot. I can see the benefit of using animal products to help improve your gut health occasionally, and to supplement during the winter (or in times of famine) when plants are not as readily available to give us all our needed vitamins. Her anecdotes and blanket statements are extremely weak, and leave a lot of questions. This personally reminded me of the importance of keeping balance within a Whole Foods, Plant Based diet, incorporating variety in my plants, fermenting, sprouting, soaking as much as possible, and keeping animal products minimal (around 10% of your weekly or monthly calories, possibly less in the summer and if you have a healthy gut), but of the very highest quality.
https://findingmykid.com/2014/10/29/m...
https://findingmykid.com/2014/10/29/m...
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews