Let's Eat Right to Keep Fit

by Adelle Davis

Eating right

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

334 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1954

Reviews

[Theresa · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was the only book I ever remember seeing my mother read. Written in 1954, the author was evidently considered to be a prominent nutritionist of her time. Part of this book is very relevant to food issues today. She talks about the importance of eating many fruits, vegetables and grains, but also emphasizes the importance of those products being grown in a chemical-free soil enriched with organic matter. She condemns over-processed foods. She also provides good visual imagery of how vitamins and minerals assist the body's functioning. But this is where her relevance ends. While I agree that proper nutrition is crucial to good health, I am not so sure that a diet that includes liver on a daily basis for breakfast and other organ meats (kidneys, heart, brains) at least 2-3 times per week is a key to good health. Nor do I believe that a good diet will cure or prevent the following: polio, depression, muscular dystrophy, insanity, eczema, alcoholism, homosexuality, irritability, psoriasis, infertility, lassitude, juvenile delinquency, etc. The author mentions circumstantial evidence to "support" these claims. She also claims that "too much salt rarely hurts." That is dangerous advice these days. As a woman of the 1950's, perhaps it is not surprising that she wrote the following, but I still found it rather appalling: "One can predict with fair accuracy both the sickness expectancy and the life expectancy of a family by observing the wife's cooking methods. Any man can be sure of decreasing his life span by marrying a fluffy-cake-and-biscuit artist or one who does good-ole South'n cooking..... I personally know one such woman....who has buried three husbands from heart disease. I call it murder by the lemon-meringue pie method. If you do wish to kill your husband, this method is excellent..."
I read online that the author's estate has been successfully sued after a follower of her method treated her infant with mega-doses of vitamins which resulted in the infant's death.

Enough said.

[Sally · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am adding a new shelf on goodreads, one I call foundations. It will include only those books which profoundly affected my entire life pattern and thinking. This book is the first one on that shelf. I went on to read all her other books, and may still have one in my closet somewhere. She is easy to read, and every page is packed with information which to this day is still useful.

[Dino Hsu · Rating 3 out of 5]

A few observations about the development of diets and nutrition:
1. At that time, the author already says to avoid processed foods, but now this extends to eating whole foods.
2. At that time, the author still advises to eat more fruits and whole grains, but now low carb and high fat is established. (also veganism or plat-based diet, but for me, it's compatible but less convincing)
3. At that time, less attention is paid to human evolution, but now paleo diet is one of the promising choices.

[Jordie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like the author's writing style. Very readable and slightly quirky in tone. My parents tell me that Adelle Davis was somewhat of a celebrity in the 70's.

Each chapter had me paranoid about whether I was deficient in the nutrient she was explaining. This is not a book for hypochondriacs. It is a book for anyone interested in details about how each vitamin, mineral and the like affect our bodies. Much of the information felt fresh and enlightening, yet this book was written in the 1950's!

[Joseph K Eggett · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although I'm not completely convinced of "miracle" foods, the book is still very interesting, useful and informative.

[Think-On-It]

If you'd like to know what I thought of this book, please contact me directly and I'd be happy to discuss it with you.

All the best,

- TB

[Lucy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Another book I haven't finished. It has some interesting info but nothing earth shattering and it's dated so I feel like most of the data is probably different now.

[Chamie]

I registered a book at BookCrossing.com!
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/10269513

[Quercus · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is very watered down by being repeated edited by MDs. In fact the first edition is really they only way to go if you're interested in suppressed information.

[Cheryl Wolfe]

1954, 1970 this is the Sixth Printing
I have a couple of copies of this book
Mixed feelings about some of it but mostly love it :)

[Veronica · Rating 5 out of 5]

U.C. Berkeley, Purdue University educated and very interesting nutritionist.

[Sherry · Rating 5 out of 5]

This has been my "Health Bible" since the 70's. Fads come and go but Adele reins supreme!