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Life Without Bread: How a Low-Carbohydrate Diet Can Save Your Life
Based on more than 40 years of clinical research, this illuminating book unravels the mysteries of nutrition and shows how a low-carbohydrate/high protein diet can help prevent cancer, diabetes, heart disease, and obesity, as well as increase strength, endurance, and muscle mass.
256 pages, Paperback
First published July 1, 2000
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
October 1, 2008
I read this as part of my quest to become educated on how to live a low-carb diet. I really liked the author's scientific explanations and citation of studies that back up a low-carb lifestyle.
I wasn't comfrotable with the conclusions on evolution and why it supports a low-carb diet. I also remain only partially convinced that consuming unlimitted animal fats is actually good for the body.
Thirty-some years of low-fat indoctrination is difficult to give up all at once.
I wasn't comfrotable with the conclusions on evolution and why it supports a low-carb diet. I also remain only partially convinced that consuming unlimitted animal fats is actually good for the body.
Thirty-some years of low-fat indoctrination is difficult to give up all at once.
June 5, 2012
Maybe 4 stars is a little generous, but this book did help round out some understanding that I needed. I first read "Breaking the Vicious Cycle: Intestinal Health Through Diet." "Life Without Bread" was also recommended by a friend. It has some interesting information on the many health benefits of a low carb diet. It also has a guide in the appendix which will help you determine your total carbohydrate intake.
I do not follow health fads, so it took a bit of convincing for me to change my mindset on what I felt was a potentially dangerous diet that many people used to lose weight. I am following a similar diet to help with ulcerative colitis, and it definitely does help. I don't have a grain allergy, and I don't have celiac disease. I also have never noticed any negative physical symptoms after eating bread. But after following a limited carb diet for over a month I feel much better (I actually started feeling better almost immediately).
The authors recommend 6 bread units per day (or 72 grams total utilizable carbs). This is pretty limited carbs, but technically would allow bread and other starches, fruits, vegetables, and sugars, as long as it is within the allowed amount. The diet I follow is slightly different in that it doesn't allow any grains, sugar, starch, or liquid milk. It does allow other carbs, such as vegetables and fruit, honey, etc. My diet doesn't specifically limit the grams, but suggests a healthy, balanced variety of foods. I have appreciated reading "Life Without Bread" because it introduced the idea of how important it is to limit the amount of carbs. I think both aspects are really important to be successful in healing intestinal disease, if that's your goal.
One complaint I have of the book is the emphasis on evolution, and the authors' attempt to tie that in with how well we digest grains, etc. I don't believe we descended from apes, therefore the authors lost some credibility with me.
I did appreciate the authors' review of many studies, and their explanation of how these have sometimes been used to mislead the public regarding health advice, such as doctors recommending a low-fat diet for someone who suffers from heart disease. I learned that the heart functions almost exclusively through the nutrient of fat, and the importance of animal fat in our diet. I've always been sceptical of foods with "fake" fat and "fake" sugar. I've also never bought into the "dangers" of eggs, butter, and other foods that are natural. So I enjoyed feeling validated in some things that I have always believed.
I admire those who are willing to go against conventional beliefs despite the harm that often comes to their professional reputation among those in the mainstream. There is a lot of good health and nutritional knowledge to be gained if you go to the right sources, and do some thinking for yourself. The best advice is not always the most convenient to follow. And just because we see news headlines making health claims, it does not mean that they are true. No big surprise there.
I do not follow health fads, so it took a bit of convincing for me to change my mindset on what I felt was a potentially dangerous diet that many people used to lose weight. I am following a similar diet to help with ulcerative colitis, and it definitely does help. I don't have a grain allergy, and I don't have celiac disease. I also have never noticed any negative physical symptoms after eating bread. But after following a limited carb diet for over a month I feel much better (I actually started feeling better almost immediately).
The authors recommend 6 bread units per day (or 72 grams total utilizable carbs). This is pretty limited carbs, but technically would allow bread and other starches, fruits, vegetables, and sugars, as long as it is within the allowed amount. The diet I follow is slightly different in that it doesn't allow any grains, sugar, starch, or liquid milk. It does allow other carbs, such as vegetables and fruit, honey, etc. My diet doesn't specifically limit the grams, but suggests a healthy, balanced variety of foods. I have appreciated reading "Life Without Bread" because it introduced the idea of how important it is to limit the amount of carbs. I think both aspects are really important to be successful in healing intestinal disease, if that's your goal.
One complaint I have of the book is the emphasis on evolution, and the authors' attempt to tie that in with how well we digest grains, etc. I don't believe we descended from apes, therefore the authors lost some credibility with me.
I did appreciate the authors' review of many studies, and their explanation of how these have sometimes been used to mislead the public regarding health advice, such as doctors recommending a low-fat diet for someone who suffers from heart disease. I learned that the heart functions almost exclusively through the nutrient of fat, and the importance of animal fat in our diet. I've always been sceptical of foods with "fake" fat and "fake" sugar. I've also never bought into the "dangers" of eggs, butter, and other foods that are natural. So I enjoyed feeling validated in some things that I have always believed.
I admire those who are willing to go against conventional beliefs despite the harm that often comes to their professional reputation among those in the mainstream. There is a lot of good health and nutritional knowledge to be gained if you go to the right sources, and do some thinking for yourself. The best advice is not always the most convenient to follow. And just because we see news headlines making health claims, it does not mean that they are true. No big surprise there.
February 17, 2016
There is no ebook edition of this one; unless they have plans to put one out. This one is again more proof that the Atkins diet, a.k.a the low carb high fat diet actually works and it is making a few of the nutrition "doctors" a lot of money by writing books that copy-cat what Atkins knew back in the 70's.
You can save the time and money and instead of reading this book just simply cut sugar, breads, pastas, starchy foods/veggies from your diet, keep carb intake below 20grams per day and VIOLA! you will lose water weight at first and then your body will go into what is called Ketosis (not ketoacidosis which is quite a different ball game) and your body will learn to convert fat into ketones which it will burn for energy.
Simple as that!
You can save the time and money and instead of reading this book just simply cut sugar, breads, pastas, starchy foods/veggies from your diet, keep carb intake below 20grams per day and VIOLA! you will lose water weight at first and then your body will go into what is called Ketosis (not ketoacidosis which is quite a different ball game) and your body will learn to convert fat into ketones which it will burn for energy.
Simple as that!
January 25, 2013
Changed my life. It started basically with this Book!
July 28, 2011
Excellent book. If you believe carbs are good for you (mmm, fruit juice, bread, pizza, cakes, cookies, candy), and fat is the root of all evil, you believe pure, unadulterated lies. The don't call cancer, type-II diabetes, arthritis, etc. etc. the "diseases of civilization" for no reason. While the authors don't go this far (Lierre Keith does), agriculture is the root of pretty much all evil on this planet. And while Keith doesn't go THIS far (Lobaczewski does), psychopathy is the reason it was able to be such.
April 16, 2013
SO GOOD!!! ......"Once again, we see that the influence of a reduction of carbohydrates plays a key role in a health benefit. Fat is not the culprit here, nor is fat the culprit in most other age-related degenerative diseases. The time has certainly come to return to the diet that mankind evolved to eat, and to set the human race on a steady course to eliminating many of today's 'incurable' diseases." (page 123). "The only way to burn fat is to reduce carbohydrates enough so that the fat-burning hormone glucagon gets activated." (p 134).
October 28, 2018
This is a pretty good, common-sense introduction to low carbohydrate nutrition.
It's not perfect, though. Contrary to the claims in the book, there actually is some evidence in favor of low-fat diets (though I consider it to be much weaker than the low-carbohydrate position). On the other hand, I think dr Lutz is overly lenient towards carbohydrates and plants in general. But then, a more radical and ultimately healthier stance of no plant foods is too far outside of the Overton window - or at least was until recently - to be effective in knocking some sense into normies.
It's not perfect, though. Contrary to the claims in the book, there actually is some evidence in favor of low-fat diets (though I consider it to be much weaker than the low-carbohydrate position). On the other hand, I think dr Lutz is overly lenient towards carbohydrates and plants in general. But then, a more radical and ultimately healthier stance of no plant foods is too far outside of the Overton window - or at least was until recently - to be effective in knocking some sense into normies.
February 17, 2019
Some of this (mostly related to the low-carb thing) is valuable. Other parts (such as the high protein idea) have been proven invalid, counter-productive or suboptimal by newer science. Not a bad read, but I wouldn't make it your only one on the subject!
July 28, 2019
Good info, got a little deeper into the scientific jargon than I needed but overall it was important information to be aware of.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 21, 2019
A pretty good book that I decided to read over a year after going keto and being grain, sugar and potato free for over a year.
Good information presented well.
Good information presented well.
January 28, 2022
Excellent book
June 26, 2010
I bought this book to try and supplement my reading about other low-carbohydrate approaches to nutrition. The book was billed to me as taking a scientific approach and a critical look at actual effects in disease conditions. Unfortunately, the writing is not very good. The outline is somewhat rambling. And I found the science to be rather weak.
Just using scientific words and explaining principle of biochemistry, physiology, and theories of human evolution are not the same as demonstrating a real cause and effect relationship. There is a lot of semiscientific data from Dr Lutz's clinical practice but no clinical trials have been performed. The authors also cite epidemiological data which on one side they say only establishes associations yet on the other they use to show the benefits.
All that being said, I think there is an underlying kernel of truth that low carbohydrate nutrition is likely beneficial. The data is not there for low fat diets either.
If you want a little insight as to why low carbohydrate diets mY have the beneficial health effects they claim I recommend this book. Otherwise it is probably not worth it.
Just using scientific words and explaining principle of biochemistry, physiology, and theories of human evolution are not the same as demonstrating a real cause and effect relationship. There is a lot of semiscientific data from Dr Lutz's clinical practice but no clinical trials have been performed. The authors also cite epidemiological data which on one side they say only establishes associations yet on the other they use to show the benefits.
All that being said, I think there is an underlying kernel of truth that low carbohydrate nutrition is likely beneficial. The data is not there for low fat diets either.
If you want a little insight as to why low carbohydrate diets mY have the beneficial health effects they claim I recommend this book. Otherwise it is probably not worth it.
June 27, 2011
I thought this book was a bit easier to understand than Breaking the Viscious Cycle by Elaine Gotschall. They fall into the same category of restricting carbs for better health, only I felt that this book was a bit more layperson friendly...not so much science talk and when there was it was well explained. Life Without Bread differes from the SCD, but it has many similarities as well. It's big purpose is to have people cut down to 6 bread units a day (this includes basically all carbs, including fruit) and eating more meat, cheese and eggs. In some ways I'd prefer it to the SCD b/c I could eat some of the things I once loved but can't eat now on the SCD, but at the same time I think it was good for me not to even get to consider eating breads, etc b/c it'd probably lead me down a bad road. Overall, I'd suggest this book to anyone with a gastro condition, diabetes, blood sugar issues, etc. It's a great read on how diet plays a huge part in what is going wrong in our bodies.
April 11, 2013
I agree with the author that excess carbs can cause various diseases, but not all carbs are the same, and in that opinion I differ. He says a sugar, is a sugar. I do not agree. But what really bothered me about this book was his random assigning of 72 g of carb as a healthy daily intake. He never explains why this number is the chosen number! Other than to say that excessive carbs are bad. So what is the different between say 72 g and 150 g or 400 g or even 20 g of daily carb intake? He never explains this! I find it frustrating when someone makes a statement, but shows nothing to support or back up the statement.
February 18, 2015
This was a good book and very informational. It presented abundant information on the reasons why a low carbohydrate diet is the best one for the human population. It was a bit technical and scientific in parts though, which I personally find boring, so I couldn't rate it higher. I'd definitely recommend reading it though. Fortunately I was already on a low carb diet before I started it having given up sugar and breads so I already knew of the benefits to this type of diet.
November 19, 2011
Very readable. This book explains how current nutritional advice is completely upside down and highly damaging to health. Excess carbohydrate result in high levels of insulin, obesity and dramatically increased risk of arterial disease, strokes, heart attack and cancer. We would all be much healthier if we ate more fat. A must read.
December 10, 2014
In spite of its title, this is actually a moderate and sustainable diet. Eat bread, by all means, and rice, and pasta, and fruit. But do it the traditional way. Italians have only about 2 oz of pasta, and then they eat a meat and vegetables course. So must we.
May 14, 2011
Funnily enough this is a low carb plan that allows some bread. This is a very moderate plan by an Austrian doctor.
August 16, 2012
Interesting book with good, common sense, advice.
April 14, 2013
Good book to start breaking out of modern nutritional dogma. And you really should before your gut breaks down from all those GMO grains.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews