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phoenixlaughing's review against another edition
1.0
While there are some good tips, like eating more fiber and getting enough sleep, there is so much pseudoscience in this book it's hard to trust anything the author writes. No, soy isoflavones don't cause breast cancer (they're actually linked to lower rates). No, it's not a rare thing that soy as a plant food has all essential amino acids (the complete protein myth needs to die, nearly all plant foods have all EAAs, just in varying amounts and it's not hard to get the minimums of each). No, autism is not a disease and it isn't caused by a leaky gut (it's a form of neurodiversity favoring monotropism, though the stress caused by living in a hostile and discriminatory society can increase gut issues). No, spirulina does not have real, usable B12. Plant milks like cashew and almond don't naturally have more vitamin D (all the vitamin D in plant milks is fortified). A tablespoon of chia seeds don't have more calcium than milk (you need about three tablespoons). And please, don't just put some veggies in a jar of salt water to make fermentations without reading about how to do it safely.
caseybug's review
I did not realize it was a diet book when I picked it from Libby
lindseytara's review
Hold ran out and it was pretty repetitive. It really is a diet book but the one interesting thing I learned is that high impact/intensity workouts can spike cortisol. I think there’s some good information in it but it’s a little hypocritical to use animal studies as proof of her ideas and then within the same chapter use them as criticism of ideas she doesn’t support.
jorsie's review against another edition
4.0
I bought this book when I was, in fact, so effing tired. I'm no longer tired, but I read the book, anyway. I was diagnosed with PCOS by my OB-GYN in October 2020. I chose to work with a naturopathic doctor to address the root causes of my PCOS because I didn't want to go back on the pill. Dr. Amy Shah's book isn't directly about PCOS, but her treatment plan (dietary and lifestyle changes) are the exact same ones to treat PCOS: get 7–9 hours of sleep per night, try intermittent fasting, cut sugar and alcohol, eat more fiber to balance gut health, and limit high intensity workouts to lower cortisol levels.
I appreciate Dr. Shah's background as a medical doctor. Her explanation of hormones, including what they are and how they work, is very clear, concise, and easy to understand. Her chapters on adrenal fatigue, inflammation, and gut health were helpful. I will reread and reference them in the future.
While this complaint isn't exclusive to Dr. Shah, I'm going to write about it here: What none of these women's health books seem to understand or acknowledge is how much privilege is required to undertake these diet and lifestyle changes. I already eat a mostly organic, gluten-free, and dairy-light diet, and I can barely keep up with the grocery bill. Following any PCOS-adjacent treatment plan to a T is incredibly costly and time-consuming. You have to sacrifice a lot in life, including time with family and friends and pets, to achieve results in weeks. Hormone imbalances can take months, if not years, to correct, yet women's health writers insist on weeks. Dr. Shah knocks shift work in this book, as if folks can quit their jobs and create their own working hours to accommodate their adrenal fatigue. Our capitalist society has created unhealthy mental and physical health conditions, yet there are healthier ways to address it than "follow my treatment plan by liking and subscribing below."
I appreciate Dr. Shah's background as a medical doctor. Her explanation of hormones, including what they are and how they work, is very clear, concise, and easy to understand. Her chapters on adrenal fatigue, inflammation, and gut health were helpful. I will reread and reference them in the future.
While this complaint isn't exclusive to Dr. Shah, I'm going to write about it here: What none of these women's health books seem to understand or acknowledge is how much privilege is required to undertake these diet and lifestyle changes. I already eat a mostly organic, gluten-free, and dairy-light diet, and I can barely keep up with the grocery bill. Following any PCOS-adjacent treatment plan to a T is incredibly costly and time-consuming. You have to sacrifice a lot in life, including time with family and friends and pets, to achieve results in weeks. Hormone imbalances can take months, if not years, to correct, yet women's health writers insist on weeks. Dr. Shah knocks shift work in this book, as if folks can quit their jobs and create their own working hours to accommodate their adrenal fatigue. Our capitalist society has created unhealthy mental and physical health conditions, yet there are healthier ways to address it than "follow my treatment plan by liking and subscribing below."
diadandy's review
informative
inspiring
4.5
All the things a Dr will never tell you, and maybe wasn't taught, about women's health. Though I would go as far as she does and become a vegan, I did really appreciate her holistic approach to health.
nlbohr22's review against another edition
slow-paced
1.0
Terrible copy editing - very repetitive.
This is not a proven plan for anything - despite citing several studies, there are no actual studies of this diet plan (and that is all this book is). Anecdotes are provided, but anecdotes do not a statistic make. Also, some of the advice laid out is unrealistic (all foods organic? In this economy?), contradictory (supplements good, supplements bad), or downright dangerous (raw milk? Dear Thor no). It’s stuff like this that confuses the lay public - an absolute misservice by a former physician.
This is not a proven plan for anything - despite citing several studies, there are no actual studies of this diet plan (and that is all this book is). Anecdotes are provided, but anecdotes do not a statistic make. Also, some of the advice laid out is unrealistic (all foods organic? In this economy?), contradictory (supplements good, supplements bad), or downright dangerous (raw milk? Dear Thor no). It’s stuff like this that confuses the lay public - an absolute misservice by a former physician.