For some reason, search engines keep directing people here instead of finding my new blog. So I am re-posting my review of SuperFoods RX.
I finished reading the book SuperFoods Rx, by Stephen Pratt and Kathy Matthews, during my Christmas break. Since I’ve been writing a fair amount about nutrition, I thought I would share my thoughts on the book.
I felt like I had developed an attention-deficit disorder while I was reading it–there were too many details to process. There were sidebars with charts containing unnecessary and distracting details, like a chart listing the amounts of seven anti-oxidants in one medium orange bell pepper. There are too many numbers in this book; it’s hard to sort out which ones are truly useful.
Each chapter on a SuperFood lists Sidekicks (other foods with similar nutrient profiles) and a recommended intake. However, there is no summary chart listing all the foods and intake amounts. This would have been handy for a quick reference.
It’s a minor picky point, and probably the publisher’s fault rather than the authors’, but one of the fourteen SuperFoods (yogurt) was omitted from the list on the back cover of the paperback book.
That concludes my critique of the book’s organization. Now, on to its content.
One of the book’s principles is that SuperFoods are whole foods. However, in another section on the principles, there is discussion of how “SuperFoods Rx is about what you should eat, not what you shouldn’t eat” and “there’s room for a bit of most any kind of food that gives you pleasure.” While I generally agree with this positive view, I think that an average person could misunderstand this as license to continue eating fried chicken and packaged snack cakes while feeling virtuous about choosing a glass of tea over a Coke at lunch and eating a handful of nuts as a snack. It seems irresponsible to not address the unhealthfulness of refined and highly processed foods, even though I know that is not the main point of this book. Although increasing consumption of healthy whole foods should lead to a decreased consumption of unhealthy foods, I think it is necessary for people to be aware that these foods are actually bad for them, not just not-as-good as SuperFoods. People should know that they should actively try to minimize consumption of processed foods.
There is a definite slant towards nutritionism in the book. The beginning of each chapter on a SuperFood lists the nutrients that qualified it for that status, and there is a chapter on “The Fourteen Super Nutrients.” While the section on whole foods mentions that whole foods are complex and the synergy of nutrients is important, there is still an overwhelming sense that you are advised to eat these foods because they are good sources of very specific nutrients.
Although fourteen SuperFoods are featured, most were considered all-stars in a category. When I counted the number of Sidekicks and added them to the SuperFoods, I found that there were ninety-nine foods recommended. In the book SuperFoods HealthStyle, eleven additional SuperFoods were identified, with at least that many Sidekicks. I suspect that as more research is done, the list of SuperFoods will just keep growing. Listing fourteen SuperFoods is attention-getting and helps sell books; the real point, that whole foods are vastly more nutritious than processed foods, got lost somewhere.
Even before reading The China Study, which makes a strong case for reducing the consumption of animal-based foods, I considered the SuperFood status of turkey (skinless breast) and its Sidekick, skinless chicken breast, somewhat suspect. Unless you’re replacing beef or pork, I don’t think that making a point to get more chicken and turkey in your diet will improve your health.
Two other SuperFoods are animal-based: wild salmon and yogurt (along with their Sidekicks). Because of my previous reading on the probiotics in yogurt (friendly bacteria for your intestines) and the high levels of beneficial omega-3 fatty acids in wild-caught cold-water fish, I accept their ranking as SuperFoods. I consider them healthy choices when consumed in moderation, but the recommendation of two cups of yogurt daily seems a bit much.
Overall, I found the book disappointing. There was a time in my life when I was more strongly influenced by nutritionism and would have given it a higher rating, but my understanding of nutrition has changed. The advice is mostly sound. An average person who made a serious attempt to follow the recommendations would enjoy improved health, but they would not come away with a holistic understanding of nutrition.
If you enjoyed my review of this book, you can find more that I’ve written about food and nutrition at One Yellow Marker.
I thought SuperFoods RX was a great book. I have read a number of books on heathly eating and SuperFoods is by far the best. It is easy to read, logical, discusses the studies backing up the recommendations, and is easy to implement.
I was able to immediately incorporate some of the suggestions into my diet. While I admit I did not followed all the recommendations, I have made incremental improvements to my diet. I do not think it is right to say this book is “disappointing”and thereby discourage people from reading it without offering alternativies that they should read. I have not read The China Study yet but I will in the near future.
For people that do not want to make an in-depth study of nutrition and diet but would like a book that is easy to read and very easy to implement, SuperFoods RX is the book. People should be encouraged a read book like this not discouraged from doing so.
This lifestyle change really does work. I started off at 253 pounds at 5foot4 and 4 months later I’m at 218 pounds. I had a hard time reading the book at first, but I read the most important chapters and went over the meal plans to get a feel of what I should eat. The first week I droped 5 pounds and two weeks later another 10 pounds. I either walk an hr a day or just ran on the treadmill up hill mode. On average now I lose about four pounds a month since my weight loss has slowed down. I will continue until I reach my goal of 150 pounds. A hundred pounds lighter on the RX diet is the goal i am going for. My skin,nails, and hair look awesome. I’m glad I finally found food that I engjoy eating without ever counting a single calorie. My energy level is up the wall! this diet saved my life!