Member Reviews
Laugh out loud at times, I love the conversational style of Juna's writing. 'Dr. Eddie's' [my nickname for him] contributions as a man of science are also appreciated. I am motivated in a way that I have not been since pre-pandemic times! This is more of a gentle nudge to those of us who have tried many diets and ultimately regained the weight. We can embrace a holistic lifestyle without beating ourselves up because we lack will power or feel unworthy. I really enjoyed this book and their podcast by the same name.
This book is very interesting, and filled with both facts and funny anecdotes. I liked that they discuss "healthy" looking different for different people.
As someone currently on a journey to improve my health while avoiding diet culture and harmful ideas, this book is super helpful and affirming. Thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for giving me a copy!
This book gives very sound information and advice that’s research based and does in a way that’s super easy to understand and is fun to read!
*This book was given for free by Netgalley in return for an honest review
Food, We Need to Talk by Juna Gjata and Edward Phillips is an exploration of diet, weight and health. This book provides insight into our relationship with food. So much of our lives are centered around food, and we can often develop an unhealthy attitude around food. This book provides medical information, research, and additional information about the culture of diets. Important information was provided to the readers about metabolism, body changes throughout the years. This book is a wealth of information. Do not anticipate that this will be a quick read as there is so much information conveyed to the reader. This book delves into debunking the myths quick easy weight loss and fad diets. The following topics are explored: what is a healthy food, exercise, cleanses/teas/supplements, the science of weight loss, history of dieting, and much more. I liked that the authors are relatable, providing personal tidbits and information. The depth of information was immense. It required slow reading, in order to take time to process the information, but it was easily understood, but will require time to implement. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the advance review copy in exchange for my honest review.
Food, We need to talk explores the history of dieting, metabolism and how to make decisions about your health.
They are reminders to diversify food and prepare it yourself. The authors suggest several benefits of exercise, with the advice on choosing exercises that fit with how you feeling in the moment and to diversify what you do. Regarding nutrition suggestions are made to be flexible, enjoy your food and listen to your body. The book covers the range of health advice including details on how to improve the quality of sleep. I appreciated the attention to habits and how they can assist with health goals. Ultimately, the authors suggest that readers answer this question, what matters to you? Overall, I enjoyed the message of this book to move away from thoughtless, fad diets and to an approach that is healthy.
This book is AMAZING. It is what I needed to discover in my life, right now! Thank you for the opportunity to read this in advance. I have found the research-based info and relaxed tone of the book to make the topic very approachable.
This deep dive into all things health and wellness was packed full of information. Equal parts funny and factual, the writing of Juna and Dr Edward read like a conversation between friends. The personal anecdotes kept me interested when at times it seemed a little like a college course. I did appreciate the in-depth look into metabolism, calories, and everything else physiological because it was important in understanding how everything affects your body. My favorite part was the beginning where they talk about how bodies have changed over the years and how society changes its mind every now and then on what the “perfect” body actually is. Highly recommend to anyone who is looking to learn about diet in culture and society.
I think this is one of the books that just about anyone can be benefitted from. This book goes over everything food and how it affects us, humans.
I have personally always been against dieting, because life is too short to not enjoy good foods. Will I die a few years younger? That's up in the air. But I don't need the Kardashians or a doctor telling me if i don't look skinny, then I am sick. That being said, I have also been on the thinner side, while others around me have struggled to maintain a healthy weight. When I really micro analyze it, it's basically what the book tells. I am active almost every single day, I stick to less processed foods, have a healthy mentality with food (i have chips and chocolate every single day, but a very small amount). After this book, I want to tweak a few things about my lifestyle, but it was just so educational.
I am going to reference the book's description as given as I cannot word it as well as they can.
Synopsis:
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This is an unusual – and unusually interesting – exploration of diet, weight and health that touches on memoir but lands on practicality. It’s a cut-to-the-chase book that makes you realize that not everything you know about dieting and weight loss – no matter how much you've read or experienced before – is true, and that way too much of your brain, your time and your pocketbook has been taken up with the endless (and futile) quest. The authors’ two distinct voices thread and play off each other throughout the book as they cover these intensively-researched topics:
–Metabolism
–Why Every Diet Works... and Then Doesn’t
–What Actually is “Healthy” Food?
–The (Almost) Magic Pill: Exercise
–Detox Teas, Juice Cleanses, Supplements, & Waist Trainers
–The Science of Fat Loss
–Sleep, Stress and Your Waistline
–Disordered Eating or Eating Disorder?
–The History of Dieting
–The Biggest Key to Success - A Manifesto on Body Image
–How to Make This Your Last Diet
–Becoming a Professional BS Detector
Diet is not just about food - it is about so many different things...I have been eating 1000 calories a day for three months and I have lost ... 2 pounds. But at least I am not gaining. (Okay, I hate exercising so that is probably part of it!)
Don't listen to "influencers" or pay for their product$$$...they don't work. And those Kardashians and Kardashian-wanna-bes are only after your money. Read this book and truly understand weight loss and food's part of it. Remember that Ozempic averages 18 pounds lost OVER SIXTEEN MONTHS and realize that that is not the answer..plus one should not take a diabetes drug when they are not diabetic. Become a Professional BS detector with this book and lose some weight...or at least live a bit more healthily.
I will recommend this book far and wide...especially to those whose New Year resolutions stalled in mid-January.
Maybe I can make peace with my body...or at least learn to not hate, loathe and abhor it!
I had a very mixed response to this book, which I feel may be an audience issue. The information is great and seems well-researched and up to date. The "hey, girl!" tone on the other hand.... I found it incredibly grating. But then, perhaps I am not the audience for this book? I consider myself well-informed about food and nutrition science and I'm 42. I had a hard time evaluating it as it would appear to its intended reader, who is almost certainly quite a bit younger than I and has probably absorbed a lot of incorrect and harmful information about food, weight loss, and exercise. I can't tell if they'd find it obnoxious or not - I am therefore going to rate it on the information alone, which is very good.
What a fascinating book! As a foodie and as someone who struggles with food and body image this was perfect for me! Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced copy for the purpose of this review.
I enjoyed the writing and the subtle jokes and humor that Juna brings to the book. It’s a mix of scientific chapters with personal stories. There are also bits about diet history that had me mentally checking off all the ones I’ve tried during my life!
Give this book a read!
This book is FANTASTIC!
Juna and Eddie bring science to the table in a way that is understandable, and clarifies so much of the confusion that is perpetrated in society about dieting, weight loss, etc. It was so hard to put down that I spent maybe too much time late at night reading about metabolism and TDEE differences.
The approach to what is presented is very honest, with Juna explaining her own disordered eating and confusion about different diets and the best way to lose weight and thinking why "skinny" was the way to be.
Eddie gives some insight into what lifestyle medicine is, and it brings a lot of hope to the future of medicine.
I am definitely jumping over from the book to listening to their podcast.