Member Reviews
I am not sure I was part of a target audience for this book, as a physician. I was hoping for good information so I could recommend this to patients. I think this is more of a blog post than a resource, unfortunately. There is some good information, but not what I needed.
The main point of this book is to increase awareness of the typical person's dehydrated state and the author's make a compelling case for the importance of keeping your body hydrated through the book. I love that the book gives resesrch statistics, case studies of patients with dehydration related illnesses, and includes a simple hydration plan. However, I feel that the medical research could easily overwhelm someone that is not familiar with anatomy.
So the main premise of this book is that most people are dehydrated which leaves them feeling sluggish, having headaches, brain fog, autoimmune issues, or other daily problems. Subsequently, it offers reasons why its easy to fall into this pattern and how to fix it and feel better. Quench attempts to address all types of people, from those who are sedentary, to those who are active. I certainly appreciated that this book isn't a super pushy, sell-sell-sell one. The authors aren't marketers, but rather, want their readers to succeed and be healthy and I think that's wonderful. That being said, I didn't feel that the book was completely Earth shattering and full of new information. It was interesting in parts and the plan was okay, but I am not a liquids-all-the-time person (soups, smoothies, and juices). I, personally, need to chew to feel sustained. However, there were still some recipes that are worth flagging for the future so for that I am happy!
I enjoyed this book on the benefits of proper hydration. I liked that it shows us how many of us are dehydrated today and don't realize it. Written by a doctor and anthropologist, I found this book informative. They explain a 5 day plan to help us get hydrated and stay that way to improve focus, concentration, and perhaps even help with illnesses such as Alzheimer's.
I would like to thank Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a review copy in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion of it.
This wasn't for me. I believe that drinking water is the best thing for the body. I needed more research and credibility. I wasn't given any. I won't be reading the rest of the book. Thank you netgalley for the book to review.
This is a excellent reference on a very important health issue, hydration. The author presents a kick start program , suggestions and long term ways to stay hydrated for better health. This the author ties into many health issues that are related to dehydration. What is shocking is how under hydrated we all are. I found it interesting and a good addition to my self help library. Thank you for the ARC that does not affect my personal opinion. I highly recommend this book.
I am typically not one to read these types of books, but this is grounded in a subject that I am particularly interested in water and the science and myths that surround it. The first half of the book is pretty good and cites a lot of recent research on hydration and water transport within the body. This is both concerning and interesting. Concerning because emerging science can be both shortsighted in how conclusions are developed, and a lot of peer research has not been performed. And interesting in that you'll definitely learn something new from reading it. The further the book gets away from the research foundation set in first half of the book, the less credible the book becomes. The book shares patient notes from Dana Cohen's office, but reader beware, this is a very small sample size. Where the book loses all credibility is when discussing in the Quench Plan, what water you should drink. The authors' #1 recommendation is spring water that you bottle yourself at a spring. This is very concerning. For the general public to be encouraged to go find a spring to bottle their own water is troubling. People generally wouldn't know what a spring looks like. Springs can be a pathway for pathogens. They can be located on private property, it could be illegal to bottle your own spring water. The list goes on.
Get your diet advice elsewhere people. Do everything in moderation.
As someone who has bipolar disorder I take lithium, a medication that requires that I must drink enough water on a daily basis to be healthy, I was very excited to read "Quench" since it had a new perspective on what is true hydration. It's an excellent, well-written, and interesting book that provides plenty of evidence as to why it's important to imbibe "gel water" which is water from plants. The authors provide a five-day-jump start meal plan that's very useful and they encourage readers to take small steps on their way to revamping how they hydrate. It's a great and original book. Highly recommended.
This book is really fascinating. Written by a doctor and an anthropologist, the benefits of proper hydration and different ways to get that hydration are explained in detail. I learned a lot about scientific breakthroughs regarding water and how it affects the body. I am inspired to try the Quench plan explained in the book to see if it helps me with my various health issues and weight loss.
A "have to read" nonfiction that is more interesting, helpful and inspiring than most the fiction I've read. ~ I am looking forward to Quench being published so I can make sure my library stocks a copy.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for gifting me with this ARC. I offer my unbiased opinions in exchange for the review copy.
Quench is a unique approach for those looking to improve their overall health and rid their bodies of aches,pains and toxins. It’s not meant as a weight loss plan but it certainly promises to help reduce belly gut and other extra fat. The basic premise is water and lots of water combined with certain foods, mostly plant based will eliminate and attack all those unwanted areas leaving you feeling lighter, healthier and more energized.
I attempted to follow the 5 Day Jumpstart Quench, which is offered in the book including recipes & shopping lists. I failed on day three. I think being restricted from food and only having smoothies was too much for me. I did enjoy some of the drinks and I will incorporate some recipes, exercises and ideas into my daily life but living on mostly liquids certainly isn’t for me. And adding salt to your morning water is NASTY!!!!
I think this book has a lot to offer and suggest and is definitely worth exploring.
This book is obviously about hydration. Yes, we all know we need to stay hydrated. This book has a different look at ways to stay hydrated. Like having a green smoothie every day. Getting hydrated by foods is key to proper hydration. One author is a doctor the other is an archaeologist. Strange "bed fellows" you might think but the archaeologist has an interesting take on how people centuries ago stayed hydrated, especially those desert dwellers.
Lots in this book we all know but do not practice. But the authors do a great job of explaining why we don't do what we should and why we should. I have started to use most of what they talk about in this book every day so we shall see. :)
It's probably no surprise to any reader that most people are dehydrated to varying degrees; this book offers reasons for why that is and remedies to fix it.
The main point that appears to be where this book digs its heels is that water is better absorbed when its in a gelatinous state, as opposed to when you're drinking it straight of a bottle, or from the tap. Via published scientific reports, experiences with various patients, and knowledge about various cultures (that have made the suggested eating/drinking habits tried and true), the two authors want to present a program meant to incur a holistic change of health for the reader, whether you are an office worker subject to a sedentary lifestyle, or an athletic person seeking for that edge to stave off injury and prolong endurance.
Admittedly, the book doesn't pop with the pizzazz that so many of these types of diet books get you with, and I'd attribute that to the fact that the authors aren't salespeople by trade; they want to see you living life to the fullest, and they think this is a fast lane to such a goal. If the presentation of the program feels more unpracticed and clinical than stuff you've read in the past, maybe that's the reason.
Other reviews mention contradictions regarding foods and drinks in the diet, but I hardly think it's enough to dissuade me from suggesting that anyone turn away from the "Quench" plan or at least something resembling it---in effect, this book is full of neat-looking smoothie, soup, and drink recipes that will certainly have you feeling better that, frankly, would be worth the price of the book alone. Personally, I already incorporate many of these foods in my diet, and I can agree that they make a world of difference. If you're not a health nut, then please, by all means, read this and consider the information therein. I don't believe there's a single thing in this plan that would be of any detriment to you (unless you're allergic to something). It might hurt your wallet a little, but the book also provides some wiggle room for substitutions based on budgetary constraints. Just try a few things if you're skeptical, a few things you know you can manage.
It's a good recommend from me. There's great information on display in the book, I've learned some tips and treats to put into place in my life, and I know of several people who could severely benefit from a program like this.
I am interested in hydration since my acupuncturist suggested that dehydration might be adding to some of my health issues. I enjoyed the overview of hydration i this book with examples. However, the rigid insistance to their particular diet was distracting and unnecessary. Any improvement in hydration using their techniques should be beneficial, not just their particular program. Also, there were some conflicting bits of advice given.
Overall, some great information: gel water, making sure to move during the day and why; water with lemon in the morning and a glass of water with meals helps with hydration; and the relationship of oil and water in the diet. The authors could have used some help with the micro movement portion of the book from a good yoga instructor, as well. I do appreciate some sample recipes to try.
"Quench" is about hydration through eating plants and through movement. I've been interested in this concept of a fourth phase of water since watching a YouTube TEDX presentation about it. This book used that same material and other information you can easily find on the internet, though she did include some information about fascia that I hadn't heard before.
The authors talked about how your body uses water and how dehydration may be a cause behind various health conditions. They talked about the fourth state of water, which naturally occurs in abundance in foods like fruits and vegetables. They talked about how eating whole fruits and veggies is a good way to hydrate and how movement, even small movements, helps to keep you hydrated. Unfortunately, I often didn't find the descriptions of suggested micro-movements to be clear and the simplistic illustrations didn't clarify things for me. They also talked about hydration for anti-aging and in special populations, like children and the elderly. They included smoothie, soup, and other hydrating recipes and a 5-day plan of what to eat and drink to be optimally hydrated.
Unfortunately, they would often say one thing in one spot and then say something seemingly contradictory in another spot. For example, they talked about how great Yerba Mate is for hydration, but it's high in caffeine (which they don't mention). Yet they strongly recommend that you minimize or eliminate tea and coffee due to its caffeine content. Then they talked about a study that shows that up to 4 cups of coffee will not dehydrate you. Also, they suggested adding a pinch of salt to every glass of water you drink even though salt is dehydrating. So it is a good topic, but the presentation was confusing at times.