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Food Sanity: How to Eat in a World of Fads and Fiction
During his 25 years as a holistic practitioner and health expert on syndicated TV and radio, Dr. David Friedman has interviewed hundreds of world-renowned doctors and best-selling authors. From proponents of a Vegan, Paleo, Mediterranean Diet, Keto, to a Gluten Free and Low Carb Diet, the opinions are as different as night and day.
After becoming frustrated with all the conflicting research and opinions, Dr. Friedman wrote Food Sanity, which explores all the fads, facts and fiction. Using a common science meets common sense approach, this groundbreaking book finally answers the question, what should we be eating?
In this International award-winning, #1 best-selling book, Food Sanity shares never-before-heard nutritional and dieting advice that will ensure they get the maximum benefits from their food and dietary supplements. Unfortunately, people can’t solely rely on scientific studies because those can change, sometimes weekly. Plus, many of them are bought and paid for. Dr. Friedman breaks through the culinary conundrum and offers an easy to follow blueprint to getting healthy, losing weight and preventing disease.
After becoming frustrated with all the conflicting research and opinions, Dr. Friedman wrote Food Sanity, which explores all the fads, facts and fiction. Using a common science meets common sense approach, this groundbreaking book finally answers the question, what should we be eating?
In this International award-winning, #1 best-selling book, Food Sanity shares never-before-heard nutritional and dieting advice that will ensure they get the maximum benefits from their food and dietary supplements. Unfortunately, people can’t solely rely on scientific studies because those can change, sometimes weekly. Plus, many of them are bought and paid for. Dr. Friedman breaks through the culinary conundrum and offers an easy to follow blueprint to getting healthy, losing weight and preventing disease.
352 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 20, 2018
23 people are currently reading
100 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
July 3, 2019
I was really excited to read this book, but unfortunately it just perpetuates the misinformation out there. I started questioning some of his ideas within the first chapter and then started looking up some of the research he was quoting. Turns out, he regularly mischaracterizes results from these studies or completely fabricates the conclusion from the study. Also, he references studies that have been retracted. When he doesn't have a citation he just represents his opinion as fact with no further explanation. Do yourself a favor and stay far away from this book.
May 8, 2018
I love this book and I am referencing it all the time. I want to continue on the path of health and wellness. It is hard when the media and the food industry seems to drive the message. Being able to cut thorough all the myths and lies and to be able to make well informed decisions about my health is liberating. I highly recommend this book if you want a well researched look at dieting and nutrition,
July 22, 2021
Very long, windy, version of his own pushing of his preferred which seems to be something related to the Mediterranean. I skipped the last chapter when he started to spin the story of his victimization by the FTC after selling supplements out of his office, which didn’t seem to fit in at all with the theme of healthy eating.
March 10, 2024
Some useful information but mostly a load of crap where Friedman has an agenda he sticks to and deliberately misrepresents studies or draws dubious conclusions. While I agree with some points there are definitely far better books our there to get nutrition information from.
In addition, as a European, much of this book is irrelevant and predominantly US based.
In addition, as a European, much of this book is irrelevant and predominantly US based.
April 10, 2018
Life Changing Information
A must read for anyone who wants to get healthy. The information in this book will open your eyes as to what goes into our food and what happens when we eat that food. My wife and I have already started making better choices for food based on the information in the book.
My goal is to reverse my Type 2 diabetes and related conditions to the point where I will no longer need the medicine I currently take.
A must read for anyone who wants to get healthy. The information in this book will open your eyes as to what goes into our food and what happens when we eat that food. My wife and I have already started making better choices for food based on the information in the book.
My goal is to reverse my Type 2 diabetes and related conditions to the point where I will no longer need the medicine I currently take.
May 22, 2018
Great information! I'm convinced
The information presented in this book in such a clear , down to earth way made clear to me how I can become healthier through my food choices
The information presented in this book in such a clear , down to earth way made clear to me how I can become healthier through my food choices
October 17, 2018
Useful, but too emotional as for me
February 16, 2019
So, I have rewritten this a couple times because it keeps turning into an essay when it should be shorter and more to the point. In the interests of actually getting it that way, I’ve decided to take to bullet points.
But first, a disclaimer: I did not finish this book. I didn’t even come close.
Let’s look at why:
• Some of the ideas purveyed by the author were true and well-proven scientific facts. Example: up to 80% of the population is lactose intolerant, making dairy consumption (especially in the form of highly processed, pus-contaminated modern milk!) inappropriate.
• Equally important facts which would put things in clear perspective are largely or entirely absent. Example: goat, sheep and other animal milks have entirely different compositions from cow’s milk and different interactions with the body, but are ignored. Meanwhile, rice milk, which the author does recommend, is usually quite high in sugar, which causes it’s own problems… which are also not mentioned.
• Some of the ideas presented are incomplete or weirdly biased. Example: the author is convinced that consuming red meat (particularly in large quantities) is terrible for health, he focuses less (or not at all!) on the valid science that might support that conclusion than on bizarre and pointless alternative explanations.
For instance, low-quality red meat is full of fillers, hormones and other toxic junk. Similarly, excess protein is converted to sugar in your body, leading to massive inflammation. But instead of explaining this logic – and carrying them over to all other kinds of meat! – the author launches into a diatribe about how humans have teeth/jaws/stomachs more like horses and chimpanzees than like big jungle cats, which must be proof that we weren’t meant to eat red meat at all!
• Important, well-documented science is missing. Example: the author dismisses paleo-style diets by arguing that cavemen didn’t eat the way modern paleo diets are set up… he then proceeds to explain what he thinks cavemen diets included. At no point, however, does he address the fact that human diets were vastly different in different parts of the world over the general timespan addressed (e.g. there IS no single right answer). Nor do his perceived views particularly line up with the best documentation we have – such as the work of Dr. Weston A. Price and others like him.
I believe that the author meant well and, certainly, not everything he says is wrong. I also fully understand that this book was intended for the average person, and so in-depth science and layers of complexity are not necessarily welcome.
However, the way this book is set up and the things the author chooses to either fixate on or ignore will ultimately do more harm than good for anyone trying to un-muddy the waters of their understanding about what they should or should not eat. I cannot and do not recommend it.
But first, a disclaimer: I did not finish this book. I didn’t even come close.
Let’s look at why:
• Some of the ideas purveyed by the author were true and well-proven scientific facts. Example: up to 80% of the population is lactose intolerant, making dairy consumption (especially in the form of highly processed, pus-contaminated modern milk!) inappropriate.
• Equally important facts which would put things in clear perspective are largely or entirely absent. Example: goat, sheep and other animal milks have entirely different compositions from cow’s milk and different interactions with the body, but are ignored. Meanwhile, rice milk, which the author does recommend, is usually quite high in sugar, which causes it’s own problems… which are also not mentioned.
• Some of the ideas presented are incomplete or weirdly biased. Example: the author is convinced that consuming red meat (particularly in large quantities) is terrible for health, he focuses less (or not at all!) on the valid science that might support that conclusion than on bizarre and pointless alternative explanations.
For instance, low-quality red meat is full of fillers, hormones and other toxic junk. Similarly, excess protein is converted to sugar in your body, leading to massive inflammation. But instead of explaining this logic – and carrying them over to all other kinds of meat! – the author launches into a diatribe about how humans have teeth/jaws/stomachs more like horses and chimpanzees than like big jungle cats, which must be proof that we weren’t meant to eat red meat at all!
• Important, well-documented science is missing. Example: the author dismisses paleo-style diets by arguing that cavemen didn’t eat the way modern paleo diets are set up… he then proceeds to explain what he thinks cavemen diets included. At no point, however, does he address the fact that human diets were vastly different in different parts of the world over the general timespan addressed (e.g. there IS no single right answer). Nor do his perceived views particularly line up with the best documentation we have – such as the work of Dr. Weston A. Price and others like him.
I believe that the author meant well and, certainly, not everything he says is wrong. I also fully understand that this book was intended for the average person, and so in-depth science and layers of complexity are not necessarily welcome.
However, the way this book is set up and the things the author chooses to either fixate on or ignore will ultimately do more harm than good for anyone trying to un-muddy the waters of their understanding about what they should or should not eat. I cannot and do not recommend it.
March 2, 2019
Still reading, but disappointed for two reasons:
It lacks a wholistic approach, very anecdotal, just like many studies in the nutrition sector. While one food causes increased risk of one disease, it may, in the meantime, be beneficial in other areas. How do you measure ‘health’? just by the measuring risk associated with certain diseases, which the author can pick? For instance, if you use vegetables to replace meat for iron and protein, you may need to eat a lot of vegetables due to its lower density, as a result, too much fibre may cause digestion problems for certain group of people. It can be managed well if food mix is carefully managed. Unfortunately, a super balanced mix is not offered in the book.
In addition, human has other needs from work and social activities, such as the ability to concentrate and memorise things. For example, as red meat takes longer time to digest, I feel more concentrated on work after a steak, and can focus for 5 hours easily without feeling hungry. For some professions, this is especially helpful, if eating hours are irregular.
The other problem with the book is with statistics, the increase risks are often measured by percentage of increase, ignoring two facts: 1. Base percentage/quantity. 2. Non-linearity.
For base percentage, for instance, the the risk of a disease is the one in a million, and eating diary product increase the risk to 1.5 in a million. It’s a 50% increase, but I don’t give a shit, it’s too low due to low base.
For base quantity, it says fish has per kg mercury lower than some medicine, so fish is safe. It’s a ridiculous argument considering how much fish you consume compared to how much medicine.
For non-linearity, eating too much diary/red meat can be indeed bad, but to that quantity will we see risk to accelerate. If you’ve read Taleb, you understand the often-neglected non-linear relationship of many things in the world. Maybe eating 1-3 portions a week is good, 4-6 is okay, and only over 6 will see bad impacts? Unfortunately, a lot of scientific experiments are designed to compare the 0 portion and the 10 portion, and assume linear impacts in between. This book is no exception, it doesn’t mention boundary of increased risk.
It lacks a wholistic approach, very anecdotal, just like many studies in the nutrition sector. While one food causes increased risk of one disease, it may, in the meantime, be beneficial in other areas. How do you measure ‘health’? just by the measuring risk associated with certain diseases, which the author can pick? For instance, if you use vegetables to replace meat for iron and protein, you may need to eat a lot of vegetables due to its lower density, as a result, too much fibre may cause digestion problems for certain group of people. It can be managed well if food mix is carefully managed. Unfortunately, a super balanced mix is not offered in the book.
In addition, human has other needs from work and social activities, such as the ability to concentrate and memorise things. For example, as red meat takes longer time to digest, I feel more concentrated on work after a steak, and can focus for 5 hours easily without feeling hungry. For some professions, this is especially helpful, if eating hours are irregular.
The other problem with the book is with statistics, the increase risks are often measured by percentage of increase, ignoring two facts: 1. Base percentage/quantity. 2. Non-linearity.
For base percentage, for instance, the the risk of a disease is the one in a million, and eating diary product increase the risk to 1.5 in a million. It’s a 50% increase, but I don’t give a shit, it’s too low due to low base.
For base quantity, it says fish has per kg mercury lower than some medicine, so fish is safe. It’s a ridiculous argument considering how much fish you consume compared to how much medicine.
For non-linearity, eating too much diary/red meat can be indeed bad, but to that quantity will we see risk to accelerate. If you’ve read Taleb, you understand the often-neglected non-linear relationship of many things in the world. Maybe eating 1-3 portions a week is good, 4-6 is okay, and only over 6 will see bad impacts? Unfortunately, a lot of scientific experiments are designed to compare the 0 portion and the 10 portion, and assume linear impacts in between. This book is no exception, it doesn’t mention boundary of increased risk.
July 2, 2022
Some people say, in reviews, that this doctor is not a doctor or has everything wrong. That's opinion and to say that someone is wrong in everything would make you dumb because you can't be wrong all the time on everything, unless you are being sarcastic in saying something that you know is wrong.
This book is loaded with stats and background information on studies. The studies are used to backup the information being conveyed to help you understanding nutrition better and why you should or shouldn't be eating this or that. The thing is that if you search hard enough anything can seem bad or sound bad through writing or in studies. So I would take anything written with an open mind.
I enjoyed the book. It made realize the importance of staying away from some foods and why I feel so bloated eating this and feel better eating that. At the end of the day, it's up to you to figure out what you're body can consume so that your body and mind feel at top performance. It's up to you to make those decisions and this book can guide you in the right direction. It takes months to listening to your body. And it will take the rest of your life to learn lessons on what to eat and what not to eat. Trust me, it's impossible to stay away from Cracker Barrel blueberry pancakes, but if you take a breath make a choice in 3 seconds, you can choose the breakfast grilled catfish and feed your body some much needed nutrition for the rest of the day instead of clogging up your mind with a plate of sleep powder made into a round, warm, gooey cookie with syrup.
I greatly enjoyed reading this book on my breaks while munching on an apple or protein oatmeal. It's a great companion to have while eating at work.
This book is loaded with stats and background information on studies. The studies are used to backup the information being conveyed to help you understanding nutrition better and why you should or shouldn't be eating this or that. The thing is that if you search hard enough anything can seem bad or sound bad through writing or in studies. So I would take anything written with an open mind.
I enjoyed the book. It made realize the importance of staying away from some foods and why I feel so bloated eating this and feel better eating that. At the end of the day, it's up to you to figure out what you're body can consume so that your body and mind feel at top performance. It's up to you to make those decisions and this book can guide you in the right direction. It takes months to listening to your body. And it will take the rest of your life to learn lessons on what to eat and what not to eat. Trust me, it's impossible to stay away from Cracker Barrel blueberry pancakes, but if you take a breath make a choice in 3 seconds, you can choose the breakfast grilled catfish and feed your body some much needed nutrition for the rest of the day instead of clogging up your mind with a plate of sleep powder made into a round, warm, gooey cookie with syrup.
I greatly enjoyed reading this book on my breaks while munching on an apple or protein oatmeal. It's a great companion to have while eating at work.
December 3, 2020
A reductionist (non-wholistic) book that only covers topics that meets the author's pre-existing expectations, committing the same sins he's warning against, such as a whole chapter about the dangers of milk without even considering the circumstances people consume it in (e.g. often with sugary cereal) or that not all milk comes from unhealthy American cows.
Same for meat, his narrative goes like: it's not true that you need meat to do body building, look, there was this guy in the '70s who was vegetarian, so it's proof that meat is poison...
Or: look, our teeth aren't like those of carnivores, therefore we shouldn't eat meat - our stomachs are not like those of herbivores either, the author is just cherry-picking (pun intended) whatever leads to the conclusions he wants to arrive to.
Nutrition is a *very* difficult topic, don't expect one "expert" to clear it up, based on what his God thought we should do.
Same for meat, his narrative goes like: it's not true that you need meat to do body building, look, there was this guy in the '70s who was vegetarian, so it's proof that meat is poison...
Or: look, our teeth aren't like those of carnivores, therefore we shouldn't eat meat - our stomachs are not like those of herbivores either, the author is just cherry-picking (pun intended) whatever leads to the conclusions he wants to arrive to.
Nutrition is a *very* difficult topic, don't expect one "expert" to clear it up, based on what his God thought we should do.
December 15, 2021
I rarely stop reading a book once I'm a decent amount in but I just couldn't continue. This book starts by examining all the conflicting information regarding different fads and studies and the flaws and bias within nutrition studies. So I thought it was going to delve into that more and actually provide some good scientific evidence. But nope, more bullshit and poorly supported "facts" that are really just to support the author's own ideas. I realized I stopped trusting anything that was said after the author used the fact that cows have more stomachs than humans as justification for not drinking cows' milk.
April 6, 2021
The authors arguments seem to be borderline extremist and therefore makes one wonder the conclusions are biased. The fact that cows milk is meant for it's calf means humans ought not to drink it. Or the fact that human teeth being more like horses seems to indicate humans weren't designed to eat meat - I thought these were expounded only by prejudiced vegetarians.
He's not an impartial outsider, and he exposes the food industry's trickery and deception.
He's not an impartial outsider, and he exposes the food industry's trickery and deception.
May 13, 2022
Kind of weird and bizarre. From the title and summary, I was hoping to read about different fad diets and the problems with each. This book basically preaches about the horrors of red meat, salt, GMO's, milk, chicken, pork, and even vitamins. Unless you are a nutrition fanatic, I don't recommend wasting your time. My real nutritionist is so much better and actually understands the human equation.
October 11, 2022
I was expecting a reliable information instead I'm being fed misinformation. I got suspicious when author started claiming milk is not a good source of calcium. Afterwards I spent some time trying to find a research which would prove his claims - found more and more disagreement, if anything pasteurization seems to improve calcium absorption not decrease it... I stopped reading at that point to avoid any further disappointment.
September 22, 2023
Warning: Book contains harmful and disproven medical misinformation and conspiracy theories and weaves it in with real facts and science to make the two indistinguishable to the average person. Do not read. Save your time and money. This is very immoral as it can lead to real world illness or worse.
I was hoping to learn more about nutrition but this one is a scam. I know some of what I learned here was based in real evidence, but not all of it.
Stay away from this one.
I was hoping to learn more about nutrition but this one is a scam. I know some of what I learned here was based in real evidence, but not all of it.
Stay away from this one.
December 3, 2022
I read Food Sanity last year and it really is the best health, diet and nutrition book ever written. Dr. David Friedman covers everything about everything. He busts common food myths, a few of them totally blew my mind and have changed how I eat, drastically. No fad diets here. Food Sanity finally answers the questions all of us have.
December 25, 2018
This is a great resource that’s easy to use. A combination of Pollan’s wisdom, Murdoch’s longevity research, personal experience and doctor knowledge, Friedman’s interesting, enjoyable and valuable book is a winner. Highly recommended for anyone who eats!
December 5, 2021
Although the book is quite biased towards plant-based diet, and I'd not fully trust on all the things written there, there are many ideas that worth linger on.
December 9, 2021
No, I can’t DIG this
November 6, 2022
I couldn't shake the feeling of this not being entirely objective (I don't know why), and slightly sensationalistic. This does divert from the message and its believability impact somehow.
December 22, 2023
This is a nonsensical book written by a nonsensical 'doctor.' Don't take your nutritional advice from a holistic alternative physician.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews