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 All Thumbs Book Reviews
8 Weeks to Optimal Health
By Andrew Weil, MD
Review by Sally Fallon
This bestselling book is typical of many that offer much in the way
of good advice--from getting rid of processed foods to deep breathing--but
which perpetrate gross dietary errors. Weil is mostly pro-vegetarian
and pro-soy foods; and against animal fat and protein.
He discusses two groups of physicians: One is the large and influential
school of medical thought that recommends avoiding saturated fat; and
the other is the splinter group that questions the "lipid hypotheses,"
namely that saturated fats and cholesterol cause heart disease. Weil
says he is willing to consider the arguments of the splinter group but
in the rest of the book he sides squarely with the lowfat camp, advising
readers to "keep saturated fat intake as low as possible." He warns
against rancidity, but lumps saturates and polyunsaturates together
as equally bad. To avoid coronary heart disease, he advises reducing
animal protein as much as possible and recommends only salmon and olive
oil as sources of fat, although the actual recipes call for canola oil,
not olive oil. (He does say it should be cold pressed.) It is difficult
to imagine that optimum health can be achieved with such a limited diet.
The most serious flaw of the book is the diet for children, which
is basically lowfat vegetarian. Although he recognizes that soy is an
allergin if introduced too early, he lists a "healthy dessert" made
with banana and tofu. Children can indeed benefit from plenty of fresh
air, exercise, vegetables and a home that is free from environmental
toxins, as Dr. Weil advises, but they will not grow up healthy on the
lowfat diet he recommends.
About the Reviewer
 Sally
Fallon is the author of
Nourishing Traditions: The Cookbook that Challenges Politically Correct
Nutrition and the Diet Dictocrats (with Mary G. Enig, PhD), a well-researched,
thought-provoking guide to traditional foods with a startling message: Animal
fats and cholesterol are not villains but vital factors in the diet, necessary
for normal growth, proper function of the brain and nervous system, protection
from disease and optimum energy levels. She joined forces with Enig again to
write Eat Fat, Lose Fat, and has authored numerous articles on the
subject of diet and health. The President of the Weston A. Price Foundation
and founder of A Campaign for Real Milk,
Sally is also a journalist, chef, nutrition researcher, homemaker, and community
activist. Her four healthy children were raised on whole foods including butter,
cream, eggs and meat.
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