Pregnancy and Nutrition (found 616 titles)

The UltraMind Solution: Fix Your Broken Brain by Healing Your Body First

A hidden epidemic races around the globe -- we can't see it or touch it, which makes it so dangerous.

The invisible epidemic has led to the suffering of millions who spend billions on drugs, only to find they don't work.

This is an epidemic of broken brains.

"Broken brains" go by many names -- depression, anxiety, memory loss, brain fog, attention deficit disorder, autism, and dementia, to name a few -- and show up in radically different ways from person to person, making each seem like a separate problem.

But the truth is that these "diagnoses" are all the result of a few basic problems with our biology. Pinpoint these biological problems, fix them, and let your body's natural healing intelligence take over to repair your brain. Now you can experience an UltraMind -- one that is highly focused and able to pay attention at will, with a strong, reliable memory and a mood that is calm, confident, in control, and in good spirits.

We have all heard of the mind-body connection or how our thoughts affect the health of our body. But the reverse is far more powerful: what you do to your body, your basic biology, has a profound effect on your brain.

Have you ever experienced instant clarity after exercise? Alertness after drinking coffee? A mental crash after popping candy? Does your brain inexplicably slow down during stress, while multitasking, or when meeting a deadline? Each is an example of how what we do to our bodies -- whether through nutrition, sleep, exercise, or stress -- has a dramatic effect on our brains.

Conventional treatments don't help, or provide only slight benefit, because they just manage symptoms rather than deal with -- and heal -- the underlying problem. And just as brain problems all stem from the same root causes, they all have the same solution -- The UltraMind Solution.

Our ancient genes interact with our environment to create systemic imbalances that affect our brains. Correct those imbalances -- most caused by nutritional deficiencies, allergens, infections, toxins, and stress -- and you can achieve optimum mental health without drugs or psychotherapy.

The UltraMind Solution is the future of medicine, the culmination of the last twenty years of research on what makes the brain happy, focused, and calm; research that has uncovered a few simple factors that explain why things go wrong and how to fix them.

Don't wait for this revolution in medicine to trickle into your doctor's office: it usually takes research twenty years to move from the lab to the patient. The answers are here, right now, in The UltraMind Solution.

Customes reviews 151

This will change your life (2010-05-14)

This book came to me at the perfect time. I needed to fix a lot about my lifestyle and eating, and this book inspired me and my wife to do just that! Amazing health revelations that will blow you away!!

Broken brain (2010-03-27)

I bought the CD set but you have to download the guide from their website. Health is wealth and on my way of discovering it.

Overreaching Website (2010-03-22)

My husband and I just began the nutrition plan suggested in the book. I'll report back when I have more information on our experience.

One of the items in the book that convinced me to buy it was the promise that much more additional information was available on the website related to the book. But when I went to the website and checked out the terms, I found it to be the most overreaching website I've seen. Not only does it want a lot of personal information about you (including your phone number), but, under the terms and the so-called privacy policy, that information can be freely shared with others. Also, you agree that, while the content is free now, you can be charged for it in the future.

If you're interested in the book, fine. It seems to have good information. But don't buy the book thinking you'll get the full information from the website unless you're prepared to sacrifice your privacy. At a minimum, check the website ([...]) and its terms and privacy policy to see if you're prepared to give up so much private information about yourself. You can't get the oft-referred-to-in-the-book companion guide unless you do so.

This book is WONDERFUL!!!! (2010-03-01)

I saw Dr. Hyman on a PBS show and was really galvanized! Everything he said made so much sense. I asked my library for it and they said yes we have it and will put you down for it - you are 168 in line... WHAT!? But I was so enthralled by what he had said I actually went to the bookstore and bought it, brand new, full price, hardback!

It has really changed my life. It is as if a curtain has been drawn up, I see - with horror - that the big food companies, fast food places, etc - are actually poisoning us to increase their $$$s. You take bland, nutritionally empty food and dump a load of garbage in it and suddenly it not only tastes good but can sit on the shelf for years and even the rats won't touch it. This is damaging not only our bodies but especially our delicate brains...

Read all your labels: chemicals, preservatives, dyes, high fructose corn syrup, pesticides, fungicides, ten kinds of sugars, GMOs (genetically altered), mercury and other toxic metals, antibiotics, hormones, excitotoxins (which are PROVEN in many separate studies to destroy brain cells), artificial colors and flavors... the list just goes on and on...

Did you know the FDA allows MSG to be added under the guise of "Natural Flavors" on the label? Says so, right on the FDA's site...

Did you know that Europe will not import any of our GMO crops AND the labels there (in Europe) MUST state if any GMO ingredients are in the food - the FDA says we don't need this here...

You start eating right and taking supplements you need (the guide will walk you through this) and you cannot believe how much better you will feel. I recommend this book to everybody!

I have energy, I don't hurt and my brain feels like it is new... I cannot say enough good things about this "program".

UltraMind review (2010-02-15)

A lot of good information concerning a natural way to
return to health. What's not included are the resources
such as available testing, where to buy vitamins and minerals, etc. Anyone interested in doing this yourself will be at a lose. Even the resources in his website are cleverly made fuzzy.

What to Expect: Eating Well When You're Expecting

Announcing Eating Well When You're Expecting, providing moms-to-be with a realistic approach to navigating healthily and deliciously through the nine months of pregnancy—at home, in the office, over the holidays, in restaurants. Thorough chapters are devoted to nutrition, weight gain, food safety, the postpartum diet, and how to eat when trying to conceive again. And, very exciting, the book comes with 150 contemporary, tasty, and healthy recipes that feed mom and baby well, take little time to prepare, and are gentle on queasy tummies.

A departure from its predecessor, What to Eat When You’re Expecting, which has 976,000 copies in print, Eating Well loses the whole-wheatier-than-thou attitude, and comes with a light, reader-friendly tone while delivering the most up-to-date information. At the heart of the book are hundreds of pressing questions every mother-to-be has: Is it true I shouldn’t eat any food cooked with alcohol? Will the caffeine in coffee cross into my baby’s bloodstream? Help!—I’m entering my second trimester, and I’m losing weight, not gaining. Is all sushi off limits? How do I get enough calcium if I’m lactose intolerant? I keep dreaming about a hot fudge sundae—can I indulge? Guess what: the answer is yes.

Customes reviews 35

Good basic health tips, but not for vegetarians or pescetarians (2010-03-22)

I recently learned I was pregnant, and wanted to make sure I was eating right for the baby so bought a few books to do some research. I'm not sure this one will get much use - I may donate it to a local library, in case someone else finds it helpful.

In my opinion, the original "What to Expect When You're Expecting" is preferable to this book, as this doesn't give a lot of new info if you know have a basic knowledge of how to eat healthy anyway. The one big exception is the recipes that are included here, and the detailed breakdown of what different food options are available to meet each specific nutritional recommendation/requirement for pregnancy. Otherwise it's mainly just basic nutritional advice.

The second issue I had with the book is that there is very little information available for vegetarians, or even for those who only eat fish/shellfish. It would have been nice if there had been more vegetarian dishes, or even vegetarian options listed for the meat recipes.

The what to expect series is great. (2010-03-03)

I bought this as a gift, but I have other books from this series and they are great. My niece who recieved this book as a gift says it has been very helpful.

Take it with a grain of salt! (2010-02-13)

This book is NOT written by doctors, and my OBGYN (considered one of the best in my county) strongly disagrees with a lot of stuff in the book. I also have found research that counters some of what they say.

My OBGYN was absolutely enraged at the book's allegation that pregnant women who have food allergy family histories should not eat peanuts or peanut butter. There is no medical validity to that claim--the peanut butter is not going to harm your baby, and there is no medical evidence to suggest that it will give the baby allergies.

Also, the book talks a lot about how you should eat flaxseed liberally, when in fact there are studies that show too much flaxseed can interrupt the growth of the fetus. While the book does say you should consume DHA, it barely mentions EPA (equally important). Also, it does the SERIOUS disservice of not explaining that the true and purest form of DHA/EPA is in algae--NOT fish. Seafood itself has no DHA/EPA--the fish get it from the algae they eat. There are companies like V-Pure (whose supplements I purchase) that grow their own organic algae outside of the ocean (so free from ocean contamination).

So pregnant women like me who wish to avoid seafood because of mercury DO have an option. However, the book just makes it sound like seafood is the only way to get DHA/EPA. Not true.

In the section discussing Selenium, the book states that Brazil Nuts are a "whopping" supplier--they do not tell you that one brazil nut contains 200 mg of selenium (the book correctly states you need 60 mg per day when you're pregnant) and that eating too many brazil nuts can lead to selenium toxicity--well, the average woman would not think that eating 3-4 brazil nuts a day could be harmful--but it could be.

The book also recommends DHA fortified bars and snacks which contain Life's DHA, a product by a company called Martek. However, it does not mention that the Cornucopia Foundation released a study showing that Martek extracts Life's DHA using a NEUROTOXIN called Hexane, and that severe illness and diarrhea has been diagnosed in some babies who consume formula and products with Life's DHA. I say "no thanks" to consuming that while I'm pregnant.

Thank goodness there is no guilt and good recipes (2010-02-06)

I have heard feedback from patients that really like the recipes in this book and that they are not too hard or time consuming to make since you really don't have time as a mom. There are many books out there for diet in pregnancy and this is good one to add, but there are some misconceptions out there that you are eating for two or that you need to gain a certain amount of weight during pregnancy. Just like your baby your pregnancy is different and your weight gain is going to vary based on genetics, diet, and exercise. Another great book that looks into pregnancy myths and also has an entire chapter on dietary myths in pregnancy is Hands Off My Belly: The Pregnant Woman's Survival Guide to Myths, Mothers, and Moods

What to expect: When you are expecting (2010-01-18)

This was a gift for my daughter and she enjoyed the things she learned and what things she should avoid. She said her doctor said the book made her a better patient.

Eating for Pregnancy

This thoroughly revised and expanded second edition includes the latest nutritional information, along with shopping and eating tips to keep nutrient intake high and unnecessary weight gain to a minimum. The 150-plus nutrient-rich recipes-more than 25 new to this edition-are designed with the busy cook and her family in mind. Each highlights "What's in this for baby and me" and provides nutritional breakdowns and meal-planning advice; many offer substitution suggestions and time-saving shortcuts. Eating for Pregnancy also addresses women with gestational diabetes, and includes an expanded vegetarian/vegan chapter. Plus, an all-new section, Nine Months Later, reassuringly covers information on breastfeeding, post-partum depression, and weight loss.

Customes reviews 53

Very Useful and Helpful Guide/Cookbook! (2010-05-06)

Eating for Pregnancy: The Essential Nutrition guide and cookbook is a wonderful tool for all women, especially pregnant women. Whether you know a lot or know nothing about healthy eating for mommy and baby, this book has something for everyone. The cookbook is not only full of delicious recipes (who says you have to be pregnant to make them?!), but also very helpful information on foods the baby needs and that your body needs to help sustain the pregnancy and keep you healthy. Along with these delicious recipes that are easy to make and are what I would consider "normal". The recipes are not flamboyant, but everyday pantry items or easy to find in you local grocery store. There is also a ton of helpful information to help answer any pregnancy questions in regards to your diet and what you should or shouldn't be eating. Some of these questions include; "What should I be eating? What is dangerous and why? If I eat this how is it benefiting the baby and I?" There is also a section for your last 9 months after baby is born. The exercises and eating tips are designed to help you loose the baby weight and regain your body!

This book is truly for those considering having a baby to those who have had their baby and everyone in between! Among the many helpful tidbits of information you will find helpful list that give sources of fiber, vitamin C, and other important nutrients. There is information on how much fish, water, vitamins, and other items that you should or shouldn't be consuming. The recipes are in convenient categorized sections and come complete in a seven day menu planner. The author gives a list of pantry items needed for each categorized chapter of recipes along with time saving tips, storage tips, conversion charts and a variety of other very helpful pieces of information. The recipes range from breakfast to dinner with snack and vegetarian dishes. Eating for Pregnancy will quickly become a part of your family even after your baby is born. The recipes are for families too!

If your pregnant, planning to get pregnant, recently had your baby, are a health care professional or simply like to collect cookbooks or are interested in good nutrition, Eating for Pregnancy is for you! It would also make a wonderful gift for any expectant mother to be! It is well worth the time and money.

My daughter loves it. (2010-04-22)

I shopped online for this book for my daughter who is a great cook and lives out of town...her first baby, my first grandchild. (Sniff, sniff.)
She has tried several of the recipes and raves about each one. She is working and also having "morning sickness" but is able to enjoy cooking with the help of this book.

Great cookbook for pregancy and everyday (2010-03-23)

I just got this book a week ago and I've already made several recipes. The recipes are super easy to make and taste fresh and healthy and are delicious! This book is easy to read and has all the basic nutrional info you need to know when you're expecting. I especially appreciate the vegetarian/vegan section, which is extensive. Prior to my pregnancy I was vegetarian and my husband still isn't eating meat, so the dinners I cook are usually vegetarian so we can both enjoy them.

I think my favorite feature in this book is that each recipe states the nutrional benefits of that particular dish - like protein, vitamin a & c, iron and calories/fat, etc. I wish all cookbooks included that info.

Offering 150 recipes designed for optimum maternity health (2010-03-15)

As appetizing as the peanut butter cheeseburgers sound, it may not be the best route to a healthy maternity. "Eating for Pregnancy: The Essential Nutrition Guide and Cookbook for Today's Mothers-to-Be" is a guide to the special diet that many mothers fail to consider during their pregnancy. Offering 150 recipes designed for optimum maternity health, aiming to help expectant mothers avoid unnecessary weight gain, tips for post-natal diets, and for when out on the town, "Eating for Pregnancy" is a complete and comprehensive guide of what to put in until the baby comes out, and beyond.

A Nutrition Bible: Practical Advice and Excellent Recipes (2010-03-05)

A practical approach is what really distinguishes this new book from the myriad of others on the market. The authors provide the latest, source-based information on all aspects of nutrition during pregnancy. Then they go the extra step and suggest ways to apply it. They have straight-forward menus, shopping lists, food sources, food-safety advice, fish-safety facts, cooking tips dealing with discomforts, avoiding food-borne illness, special vegetarian and vegan guidelines, post-pregnancy weight loss, nutrition for breastfeeding, and on and on. It's well-organized and well-written which makes it a pleasure to read and follow.

What I loved is that it is also a real cookbook which I'll keep for years unlike some of the others out there in this category - mostly text with a few recipes thrown in for good measure. The recipes I have tried so far have been amazingly good: The banana muffins are so tasty it's hard to believe they are really healthy! The asparagus, hearts of palm, and tomato salad meld their flavors together beautifully along with tons of vitamins. I couldn't stop eating the sweet-potato casserole, the shrimp and veg stir-fry is easy and delicious, and the desserts are actually brilliant! We love blueberries, so I made the apple-blueberry granola crisp and the blueberry buckle reminded me of a long-ago (and long-lost) blueberry to-sigh-for dessert I had years ago in Bermuda. I made the carrot cake for my daughter's birthday, and everyone commented on how moist and yummy it was.

If you are looking for an up-to-date nutrition-cookbook "star" that will stay on your shelf long after your baby is born, look no further. This has to be the most complete before, during, and after pregnancy book out there! And, it will keep the entire family healthy - every family ought to have this nutritional gem on their shelves.

The Breastfeeding Mother's Guide to Making More Milk : Foreword by Martha Sears, RN

An essential resource for nursing mothers, endorsed by La Leche League, the world's leading breastfeeding authority. The Breastfeeding Mother's Guide to Making More Milk combines the latest information with practical advice about new findings on causes oflow supply, innovative ways to increase production, practical solutions for working and exclusively pumping moms, the special needs of premies, emotional support, and more.

Customes reviews 23

Very Informative! (2010-05-18)

My newborn was slow to gain weight initially, so I purchased this book to become informed on my milk supply. She ended up being just fine, and my milk supply was fine, as well-- but this book is a wealth of information. It'll be a great resource the entire time I nurse.

Great Information (2010-05-07)

I haven't even made it through a quarter of this book yet and I'm already amazed at all the great information. I had issues getting pregnant related to PCOS and had to take Metformin. I really wish my doctor had known to tell me to continue taking it while I was pregnant and now nursing. Apparently PCOS can cause issues with milk supply, too. I had no idea, and neither did my doctor.

The best chapter I have found so far is the chapter dealing with all the different kinds of supplements you can take. It details the milk supply benefit as well as other benefits like if your anemic, diabetic, short on other vitaminss, or have a colicky baby, etc. So, you can choose your supplement by what else you need help with, too. Awesome.

BRILLIANT! (2010-03-29)

This is a FANTASTIC book - I am pregnant with my FOURTH child and am only now starting to see other areas that I can look into to manage my ongoing issues with breastfeeding. It certainly has help me put the fight back into not giving up on breastfeeding too soon.... I can't wait to tackle it head on, possibly even without ANY issues, as the advise will help me from pre-birth!

What would I do without this book? (2010-03-24)

I cannot say enough. This book gave me sanity during the first 3 months of my son's life. It addressed my fears and gave me strength to withstand them. Moreover - it offered straightforward advice and strategies to increase the supply of my milk. I so wish I had this book when my first child was born. To all desperate new mothers out there - get this book ( in addition to a great lactation consultant), and find peace with your milk.

Amazing! (2010-01-26)

This book is truly a must have for mothers who are (or think they might) have supply problems. It is perfect for those mothers who need help solving their low milk supply problems or for reassurance that they are producing enough. Lactation consultants and doctors could also benefit from this because there is much scientific and anecdotal information in there to help a variety of mothers. I usually do not take the time to rate books, but I made the time to rate this one!

When You're Expecting Twins, Triplets, or Quads, Revised Edition: Proven Guidelines for a Healthy Multiple Pregnancy

The double whammy of successful infertility treatments and an increase in the number of women having children later in life has resulted in a staggering--but perhaps not surprising--phenomenon: a tremendous increase in twin, triple, and quadruple births. When You¹re Expecting Twins, Triplets, or Quads is an outstanding, much-needed addition to the pregnancy genre for women who face the alternating joy, terror, and ambivalence associated with carrying, delivering, and coping with young multiples.

Subjects like nutrition, mom's changing body and emotions, fetal development, potential complications, and labor and delivery take on new meaning when you add another baby or two to the standard equation. With the goal of minimizing risk factors associated with multiple births, Dr. Barbara Luke and her team of writers cover each subject with a buoyant determination to tell it all and tell it well--avoiding the typical "how to name and dress your twins" issues. Accompanying the detailed medical perspective of Dr. Luke are personal experiences gathered from the journals of a few articulate moms, making each subject as real as it is educational. Simple illustrations, valuable charts (including one to plot and monitor fetal growth in grams or pounds), specific menu examples (like how can you consume 4,500 calories if you're expecting quads???), and lots of reassurance make this book a winner. --Liane Thomas

Customes reviews 200

Must read all Mom's expecting twins (2010-04-29)

I had 24 hour morning sickness during my 1st Trimester and wish I had this book from day one. As an expectant mother of boy/girl twins I would say this book is a must have. Other pregnancy books don't get into the details about twins and super twins such as bed rest and topics about premature birth, but this book does. It made me feel a lot better about certain things that were going on in my pregnancy and shared steps I should take to help ease some things. I found the information very information and comforting. There were many helpful websites and organizations including as well.

Invaluable Resource for Moms pregnant with multiples (2010-04-15)

As a Registered Nurse in the NICU, I thought I knew a lot about multiple pregnancies. I was wrong. This book is loaded with information regarding the fact that you are pregnant with multiples. I am so glad that I purchased it. I am pregnant with twins, and will take it to my first appt. with my perinatologist. Amazing how it really caters to the special needs of mom's pregnant with more than one baby. Something that none of the other books even cover in more than a page or two.

Very pleased (2010-03-15)

I ordered this book because it had a high rating. I did not expect it to have so much information that I did not already know. Pregnant with my 5th and 6th child I was looking for food intake advice. This book offers much more than that. First of all this book is based off of proven research, not just opinions. Second, a person with out a doctor degree like myself could read, understand, and put to use the information. I have always had hypoglycemia in all my pregnancies. For the first time in all of the pregnancies I have had energy, very few mood swings and not "crashed". I recommend this book to anyone pregnant with single or multiple babies and anyone who just had a baby.

indispensable for twin parents (2010-03-08)

It is more than a survival kit and complements most readings I had for twin pregnancies. It is a mandatory reading if you want to go through a twin pregnancy smoothly. It provides scientific background to the recommendations presented. I highly recommend this reading.

An Absolute Necessity for Moms Expecting Multiples! (2010-02-19)

This book was recommended to me by a friend who had twin boys. My husband and I truly consider this book one of the main reasons I was able to carry our twins to 38 weeks with no complications for me or the babies. My doctors worried that because of my size (4 ft 10 in, 100 lbs before pregnancy), I would have complications. But this book gave me exactly the advice I needed to ensure my health and safety, and the health and safety of my twins. We surprised everyone when we made it to 38 weeks on the dot and gave birth to two healthy boys - 5 lbs. 1 oz. and 5 lbs 13 oz.

If you are expecting multiples, this is the book for you!

Expect the Best: Your Guide to Healthy Eating Before, During, and After Pregnancy

From the ADA-the most comprehensive book available on every aspect of pregnancy fitness and nutrition

From preconception through pregnancy and post-delivery, this book delivers the latest nutrition and exercise information and research for each stage of a woman's childbearing years. Topics include pre-pregnancy weight management as well as eating and exercise during pregnancy and nursing.

The American Dietetic Association is the largest group of food and nutrition professionals in the world. Elizabeth M. Ward, MS, RD (Reading, MA) writes about pregnancy and women and children's health for WebMD.com and for publications such as Fit Pregnancy, Parenting, and Parent magazines. Her appearances include ABC World News Tonight, CNN, and ABC Radio News. She is the author of The Complete Idiot's Guide to Feeding Your Baby and Toddler (978-1-59257-411-7).

Customes reviews 15

Every pregnant woman should own this book! (2010-03-12)

The American Dietetic Association teams up with one of the most respected dietitians around, Elizabeth Ward, and brings women the most credible book on pregnancy nutrition. This book covers it all. What to eat before, during and after pregnancy, motherly wisdom from moms who've been there, how to find a prenatal vitamin, how much caffeine to drink (or not), whether or not artificial sweeteners are safe, how much and types of fish to eat, specific nutrients that are needed, meal plans and more.

This book even helps moms-to-be figure out how much fun food (aka sweets) to include along with specific nutritional needs for each trimester and during breastfeeding. There are chapters dedicated to food safety, infertility and recipes.

All I can say is I wish this book was around when I was trying to get pregnant. As a dietitian, I wholeheartedly believe that raising healthy eaters starts when a couple first thinks about becoming pregnant.

This book should be on the bookshelf of every woman wanting a child or that is already pregnant. I will continue to recommend it to everyone I know.

Another good book for foodies that are pregnant (2010-02-06)

I have heard feedback from patients that really like the recipes in this book and that they are not too hard or time consuming to make since you really don't have time as a mom. There are many books out there for diet in pregnancy and this is good one to add, but there are some misconceptions out there that you are eating for two or that you need to gain a certain amount of weight during pregnancy. Just like your baby your pregnancy is different and your weight gain is going to vary based on genetics, diet, and exercise. Another great book that looks into pregnancy myths and also has an entire chapter on dietary myths in pregnancy is Hands Off My Belly: The Pregnant Woman's Survival Guide to Myths, Mothers, and Moods

Again, there are many pregnancy food books out there and most of which are written by dietitians and occasional a nurse or physician. The best thing you can do is read, read, and read more and you will have a healthy and happy pregnancy. I would consider this book a necessity for the pregnant and breast-feeding kitchen

A Great Gift for Friends Who Are Expecting!! (2010-01-20)

As a dietitian, friends are constantly asking my opinion on how best to eat when they are pregnant or trying to get pregnant. This book has become my new favorite gift to give to soon-to-be Moms! It is a great resource for all women-even those who aren't planning to have children in the immediate future. Expect The Best is interesting, informative and the perfect gift!

The Best Current Diet & Excercise Compendium (2010-01-14)

Finally, a book that details (without jargon! without guilt!) precisely what and how moms-to-be and new mom should eat. As an editor at [...], I found this to be the best current compendium of all things pre- and postnatal diet and exercise. Women should pick this up for the super-current nutrition advice, and keep it long after pregnancy for the fabulous recipes.

A must-have resource for everyone! (2010-01-08)

As a registered dietitian and an expectant mother myself, I loved Elizabeth's book! The information is presented in a very clear, concise, and usable way that is perfect for every parent and parent-to-be. As a first time mother, I have purchased a LOT of books, but this is by far my favorite because it really focuses on all aspects of pregnancy - before, during and after! I like all of the lists and tables in the book, and I love all of the recipes! I have truly found this book to be an invaluable resource, and recommend it to all of my friends, family, and clients.

Skinny Bitch Bun in the Oven: A Gutsy Guide to Becoming One Hot (and Healthy) Mother!

Customes reviews 51

Disappointed! (2010-04-17)

I just read the book. If I had wanted a lecture on how to not drink or eat dairy or how animals were slaughtered I would have gone to the PETA website.
I was hoping it was going to be a funny light hearted approach to eating healthy while pregnant.
I would not recommend it to a friend. At least I paid 4 bucks for it instead of 14.95!

Very Quick (2010-03-30)

I'm glad to have found this book on Amazon for little money and it came in great condition!

Love it (2010-03-28)

I love the style of this book. I read it as a follow up to Skinny Bitch... No Bun in the oven yet but great info to get prepared.

Just happy I didn't waste money buying this book! (2010-03-26)

I made the mistake of starting to read this book before I went to bed. This book basically says that if you do not adhere to their strict guidelines that your baby will born with every conceivable disease and abnormalities. From the beginning they admit that the title is just a gimmick intended to sell you a book. Their claims are exaggerated scare tactics with one piece of "research" to back up each of their merciless statements, which irritated me to no end. Any intelligent person with access to the internet or a library card can easily find contradicting information. I might have been the slightest bit swayed if the information were presented more from a theory perspective and not from someone calling me a "jacka$$", telling me to "get my head out of my a$$", "idiot" worthless mother, and telling me to "trust no one", except them, of course. I won't even mention the endless chapters on the slaughtering of animals because most people have already mentioned it. Now I recognize the importance of eating fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, which is what my diet mostly consists of, but I have never been so turned off by a book as much as this one! (Even more annoying are the trolls who repeatedly and angrily responded to other book reviewers, who like me, throughly disliked this book.)

Disappointment (2010-02-11)

This book was an uter disappointment. I got it thinking that it was going to be an amusing twist to being healthy while pregnant... I mean seriously it has the word Bitch in the title. So I started to read it and about mid way through it goes on and on about the abuse animals suffer in slaughter houses. There was one part where they said that just for fun a guy cut off a pigs nose and laughed at it while it was in pain, and when it started to calm down he rubbed salt in the wound to hurt it more. I cried my eyes out! I love animals, and would be disturbed by this on a normal basis, but being pregnant and emotional mad it so much worse! What kind of person would write that crap knowing that an emotional pregnant woman is going to be reading it! I didn't even bother to read the rest, I threw that piece of crap in the garbage where it belongs!

Get Ready to Get Pregnant

Doctors and researchers are increasingly learning that by the time a woman gets pregnant, she may have already missed a critical window of opportunity to give her baby the best start in life. In this friendly and authoritative guide, Dr. Michael C. Lu, an expert in the field, offers a step-by-step prepregnancy plan that will help you have a safer pregnancy and a smarter and healthier child.

Dr. Lu's plan explains how you can help prevent pregnancy complications such as gestational diabetes or preeclampsia, and minimize the likelihood of many childhood conditions, from asthma to autism. His expert advice includes:

• Ten brain foods you should eat more
• Ten toxic foods to avoid
• Ten steps to strengthen your stress resilience
• Ten steps to tune up your immune system
• Ten steps to detoxify your environment
• And much more!

Customes reviews 9

Concise, listy, but not personal (2010-04-26)

If you are looking for a straight-forward, list-driven, do- and do-not type of pregnancy planning book, this is it. It's full of important, easy-to-understand advice, much of which I am taking to heart as we begin to think about pregnancy. I like the top 10 lists. I think it is too simple and dry if you are looking for a book with a more emotional connection. I only gave it four stars because I think it can cause some women undue anxiety because some of what the author presents as big toxic monsters is simply unavoidable. Overall, I recommend this book as a supplement to other pregnancy books, not as a stand-alone.

the perfect pre pregnancy list (2010-03-16)

I think i've read about 10 pre pregnancy books and by far this was my favorite. it went beyond the usual be healthy routine and really got down into the nitty gritty of things u can do to have as healthy pregnancy as possible. if u only buy one prepregnancy book this should be it!!

Exactly what I've been looking for... (2010-03-10)

I've been hunting all over for books that discuss preparations for getting pregnant. I've had a hard time finding ones that focus solely on preparing your body and not fighting infertility (while those are definitely useful books, they weren't what I was looking for). This book covers in great detail everything you can do to prepare your body (and your husband's/partner's) well before trying to conceive. From food to exercise to managing stress - and the author provides simple steps in the form of measurable goals for each of the areas, which is a huge plus. So many books tell you what to do but now how or why to do it - Dr. Lu covers all these areas as he addresses each recommendation - and they are all backed up with research and studies.

The tone could potentially come off as know-it-all and pushy but not if you read it realizing he is an experienced doctor. He tells it how it is, without encouraging paranoia and obsession, and that's just how it should be. I highly recommend this to anyone who is planning to try to conceive in the near (or even distant - the more time to prepare the better) future.

Very informative (2010-02-22)

This book was informative and helpful. It does not discuss HOW to get pregnant - i.e., fertility, timing, ovulation, etc. - but there are plenty of other books that do. Rather, this book covers everything a couple should do BEFORE trying to get pregnant, including starting on an exercise regime, getting to a healthy weight, eating the best possible diet and eliminating environmental toxins. It has lots of practical tips and is written in a very accessible style, but what I particularly liked is that also has proper footnotes to all of Dr. Lu's sources, so you can do your own follow-up research on the technical stuff, if you are so inclined.

Great Book for Everyone (2009-12-10)

This is a great book. Simple, clear, informative - in fact, it is a great read for anyone, not just moms or dads-to-be. If you have any proclivities, allergies, diseases, etc. this book points out how they may have developed while in utero. Fascinating read and well written.

Special-Needs Kids Eat Right

Good news for parents of special- needs kids: a proven approach to everyday meals that fosters learning and development.Any parent of a child with autism, Asperger?s, ADHD, sensory processing disorder, or other developmental disabilities knows that special-needs kids often have food sensitivities and can be very fussy eaters. Plus, they?ve been told to avoid such common ingredients as gluten and casein, making it even harder to give them the balanced, healthy meals all children need.Now, Judy Converse, a registered, licensed dietitian, offers new advice and guidance on how to use food as an essential tool for development. Based on the latest research, Special-Needs Kids Eat Right includes:? Simple substitutions that can be easily customized to suit any child?s needs? Advice for helping the whole family?along with school staff and caregivers?adjust and take part? Strategies and tips for staying on track at restaurants, holiday gatherings, school parties and lunches, and overcoming obstacles? Shopping and resource guides? A long-term program for measuring progress and making adjustments

Customes reviews 13

Fantastic resource - I am executing the well-laid out plan (2010-05-18)

This book is great for those who are convinced diet/GI tract is partly the matter, but for whom dietary adjustments alone have not worked. While my son is indeed over the top when he has days with more "bad" items from other ASD diet lists, the dietary adjustments did not change the underlying challenges. The step-by-step approach is logical and essential for getting to the bottom of the behavioral drivers. I am at the beginning of my journey with the recommendations in the book, and am confident we will find out the GI changes needed to help our son be successful. Clearly, we need to work on the direct behavioral and physical therapy end of things as well... but one can only beat their head against this wall for so long before seeking a more successful, integrated solution.

Judy's book is like talking with an old friend (2010-04-13)

This book a must is for anyone who has attempted Biomedical Interventions for health issues in their children and has not gotten the results they were expecting. Judy's explanations demystify and explain what frazzled parents can do to help their children thrive and flourish.

A comprehensive resource for parents, and professionals who work with children (2010-03-10)

Judy Converse, nutritionist and author of Special-Needs Kids Eat Right: Strategies to Help Kids on the Autism Spectrum Focus, Learn and Thrive, is on the forefront of a movement that treats childhood mental illnesses by addressing the health of children's digestive systems. In the book, she discusses the current gap in our medical system that overlooks the nutritional needs of children with sensory processing disorder, autism, Asperger's, ADHD, learning and mood disorders. The science and practice of helping children with bowel and nutrition problems is not new, she says. The new part is recognizing that children in the groups above usually have inadequate diets or undiagnosed GI problems that can benefit from nutrition therapy.

Unfortunately, this connection is often lost because most kids do not see a dietitian or nutritionist. They see a pediatrician who has been trained to treat patients with pharmaceutical drugs, and not nutrition. For example, she describes toddlers who have stopped growing, or whose growth slowed so much they fell beneath the 5th percentile for their age, who are prescribed growth hormone shots by their doctors, overlooking the basic question of whether the children have the tools to properly digest and absorb nutrients. Or, children with mental health problems who are referred to a neurologist, psychologist or other mental health professional who views the illness as only brain related. Consequently, most children without obvious GI problems don't get a referral to a dietitian or nutritionist. Yet many have GI problems that go under the radar of their parents and pediatricians.

The signs of compromised nutritional status vary from child to child, and may include:

frequent diarrhea, irritable mixed stools, bloating, reflux
colic in babies
poor picky appetite
heightened sensory irritability (light, sound, touch)
eczema, rashes
frequent infections
asthma
anxiety, mood issues, irritability
growth problems
dyslexia
seizure disorders
ADHD
autism
incontinence in a previously potty trained child
persistent sleep problems
pallor with allergic shiners under the eyes
headaches and migranes

Undiagnosed food sensitivities, allergies and intolerances can be part of the problem, affecting both growth and behavior. Converse discusses signs and symptoms in babies and children, formulas to try for breastfeeding babies, and when ELISA (IgG), RAST (IgE) testing, or the use of an elimination diet, is appropriate and useful. She discusses what to do if your child is reactive to multiple foods, testing for nutrient deficiencies, and other available diagnostic tools.

You can learn more about nutrition care at Judy Converse's website. Her book outlines a seven step process for assessing and treating a child's nutrition problems, and has a wealth of information on growth assessment, supplements, lab tests and diet. This book is a must read for parents who have a child with any of the aforementioned problems. Pediatricians and professionals who treat children with mental health issues can use the book to help determine when a nutrition referral is appropriate. It is also an important resource for school administrators, counselors and special education teachers who can provide it as resource material for parents.

So informative and helpful to a parent! (2010-03-06)

This book literally changed the course of care for my son. I learned so much from reading this book and realized that my son had growth regression and it was probably related to his special diet. (He has food allergies and some intestinal problems. He is also rather picky, further limiting his diet.) Because of Judy Converse's book, we were able to recognize his dietary deficiencies, to apply our new knowledge to my son's care, and decided to seek counsel from a nutritionist instead of immediately going the growth hormone route. Judy Converse is so knowledgeable and provides detailed information while also offering practical advice for parents of kids with special needs/diets. She also offers some recipes in the back of the book -- the gluten-free pumpkin bread recipe in her book is delicious! I am so thankful that a friend recommended this book!!

Does not contain menu plans or recipies (2010-02-01)

This book gives you a good overview of the reasoning and science to show that food equals mood for children. However, it does not contain specific menus or recipies, which I wanted when I ordered this book.

Real Food for Mother and Baby: The Fertility Diet, Eating for Two, and Baby's First Foods

Customes reviews 23

Real Food for Anyone (2010-05-18)

I read this while reading her "Real Food: What to Eat and Why" book. While they covered the same topics [which aren't new ideas by any means], I felt this was well tailored to a pregnant/new mom... and frankly it was a shorter read than Real Food, a plus for any parent! I even recommended it to my post-menopausal mom because the writing is so clear and concise. I was shocked by some of the facts she cited [all the references are in the back!], though many are the reasons I became vegetarian 10 years ago. I've eaten organic eggs and occasionally fish [hopefully making better choices thanks to safefishlist], but this book has done the most to sway me back to eating meat--the right, local, grass-fed meat! While I would never drink alcohol while pregnant, I appreciate that Nina, who enjoyed a glass of wine, constantly reminds you to do what you feel is right, with tradition and scientific fact taken into consideration. Pregnant or not, I recommend everyone read this book as a primer to the world of whole, raw foods.

Very informative... (2010-03-13)

I found this book at our local library and couldn't put it down. Very fun reading and helpful information. I enjoyed the personal way the authoress writes.
The only reason I don't give this book 5 stars is because the authoress gives evolution as a reason for why we need the foods we were designed by God to eat.

Some good, information, many flaws (2010-03-06)

Nina Planck's Real Food is an excellent primer for ditching industrial crap and eating wholesome nourishing foods, so I was excited to read Real Food for Mother and Baby. No, i'm not planning on having a baby anytime soon, but if you are planning on having a baby ever, it's important to start planning when you are young. In this book she makes the point that when you are having a baby, it is drawing on fat stores laid many years before. What kinds of fats do you want going into your future children?

Nina Planck is of the Weston A. Price school of thought. I am personally a paleo dieter, but since there is no paleo baby book currently and WAPF has some intersection, lots of this advice might be useful for prospective paleo parents.

Her fertility chapter is particularly good. Her four fertility rules are: be an omnivore, eat good fats, eat seafood, and don't eat carbage. She talks about the most important nutrients and how to get them.

Isn't it nutritionism to reduce it to nutrients? No, because our modern diets are so deficient that to get these naturally has to be learned. Most Americans get their folate and iodine from enriched bread and salt. You have to be aware and willing to adjust your diet to get them on the paleo diet. She also emphasizes the importance of MEN getting these nutrients too and points out all the studies that show that the quality and quantity of most modern men's sperm has decreased. For men the most important nutrients are antioxidants, vitamin C, vitamin E, folate, iron, DHA, selenium, and zine. It's a good excuse for future moms and dads to go enjoy some oysters together and then...well, you get the picture. The missing part of this chapter is information on recovering your fertility after taking the pill FOREVER, as many modern women do.

The prenatal chapter is less useful, as it talks mostly about how much trouble she had complying with the WAPF prescriptions and how she drank alcohol because the risk isn't *that* high. Hmm. The information on morning sickness is interesting though. Apparently it's a universal thing from !Kung hunter-gatherer women to modern women and is an evolutionary adaptation. Even more useful is the information on iron. Nina points out how excessive Iron can feed bad bacteria in the gut. Many doctors give pregnant women iron supplements, but there is strong evidence that the decline in iron concentration is a natural adaptation to protect women from infection.

Her childbirth chapter goes even less well. She really really wants to have a "natural" childbirth, but ends up needing a C-section because of the unusual position of her baby. I wish she had gone into more detail about why she wanted such a natural childbirth in the first place, since so many people think they concept is woo. But there are good reasons to not want a C-section and birth where your baby is immediately taken away to a ward, one of them is that it permanently alters the gut ecosystem and another is that it can affect the release of bonding hormones, which is discussed in detail in the CThe Continuum Concept: In Search Of Happiness Lost (Classics in Human Development).

BTW I think the idea that life for paleolithic woman was HORRIBLE because of pregnancy is garbage. Clearly, many many many women, almost all of our ancestors, gave birth without a problem. It was painful and some women did die, but I'm personally sick of hearing paleo detractors go on and on about it. Paleo diet is a diet and a thought paradigm, not a reinactment club. The fact that so many women gave birth in harsh environments is a testament to their health. It can unfortunately take generations of eating better to fully recover that strength in the form of better-formed pelvic bones that many of us lack these days.

The breastfeeding chapter is very interesting. Nina is a former low-fat vegetarian and presents valuable information on why that is NOT a good choice for nursing mothers. The smoking gun is the level of DHA, the important omega-3 fat, are .10% in vegans and the desirable level is .35%.

To my surprise I found that the Weston A. Price foundation does not endorse this book.

I understand why. This book is good, but it also highlights the extremely difficult struggle to have healthy children in a modern urban environment. After reading this book, I vowed that if I have children I would want to have a supportive community first.

Nina tries to feed her baby healthy, but doesn't seem to want the other moms to think she is a weirdo, so she lets her baby have crackers and bread. Soon enough, that's all baby Julian wants to eat.

There are good arguments for not turning children into pariahs with "weird" diets, but you should be able to feed a non-talking baby whatever you want. If anything, this exposes a flaw in WAPF. Adults know that fermented properly prepared grains are the only healthy grains, but a baby doesn't. It doesn't matter if you are feeding your baby the best bread ever, you are still giving it a taste for bread. It's too bad, because Nina recognizes that grains are unnecessary and even detrimental for young babies. With the culture against you, I think it's important to at least get in the best possible nutrition before kids realize the social status of cake. And this will happen.

I suspect a major problem is her friends, who she mentions don't think twice before feeding their kids white flour. I hope the paleo community is big enough when I have kids, so I don't have to worry about mothers in my playgroup who think not giving your kids cupcakes on their birthday is a human rights violation.

I also have to wonder about prenatal yoga. This is SO trendy in cities like NYC and Nina participates in it. Her quest for a natural childbirth is thwarted because her baby is in a strange position and has to have a C-section. Hmmm, maybe contorting our adult bodies into unnatural positions isn't good for us.

Another New York problem rears its head. Nina has to work, so she has to hire a nanny. Early humans would have relied on family members to pick up the slack, but in today's sad isolated world, grandma lives 500 miles away and you have to pay someone who isn't related to you or a permanent part of your life...yet who will have a permanent influence. I remember when I worked at a camp and some children were picked up at 5 by nannies. They would look jealously at the children picked up by their mothers and grandmothers. Many would cry. Some of these nannied children had speech difficulties because their nannies didn't speak English well. There is also the inevitable loss of tradition as children are raised by strangers. I understand that some poor women have to send their children to daycare because their work feeds their family, but Nina Planck is not poor and later in the book they buy a second home. She talks about how carrying our babies is an important part of our evolutionary heritage with real benefits, but then she proceeds to hire a nanny? Hmm.

Overall I think this book is a good primer, but one of these days some paleo mama will come out with a book that's even better.

Real Food for mother and baby (2010-02-28)

Wonderful book! I am not yet pregnant but am trying to look into some of the things that I should be doing now so that I am not on information overload when I do get pregnant. I really liked this book. It is straight forward about it's ideas and a wonderful book to read if you want to get pregnant, are pregnant, or have a small child at home!! I would definitely recommend this book!!

OK, not as detailed as I would have liked (2010-02-20)

I like the book but it lacks some details. For instance she says just do this or that very casually but then when you read where she did something very specific later. She says to just feed your kid what you're eating and then later describes how she did not feed her child anything that was a combo food (like a soup or casserole), only single foods (such as a carrot) for several months. I found that kind of frustrating.

On the other hand, this is a good supplement for Nourishing Traditions and support for my natural/real food philosophy. I can show others that I have multiple resources saying it is ok to feed your baby egg yolks.

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