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Aimed at nothing less than totally restructuring the diets of Americans, Eat, Drink, and Be Healthy may well accomplish its goal. Dr. Walter C. Willett gets off to a roaring start by totally dismantling one of the largest icons in health today: the USDA Food Pyramid that we all learn in elementary school. He blames many of the pyramid's recommendations--6 to 11 servings of carbohydrates, all fats used sparingly--for much of the current wave of obesity. At first this may read differently than any diet book, but Willett also makes a crucial, rarely mentioned point about this icon: "The thing to keep in mind about the USDA Pyramid is that it comes from the Department of Agriculture, the agency responsible for promoting American agriculture, not from the agencies established to monitor and protect our health." It's no wonder that dairy products and American-grown grains such as wheat and corn figure so prominently in the USDA's recommendations.

Willett's own simple pyramid has several benefits over the traditional format. His information is up-to-date, and you won't find recommendations that come from special-interest groups. His ideas are nothing radical--if we eat more vegetables and complex carbohydrates (no, potatoes are not complex), emphasize healthy fats, and enjoy small amounts of a tremendous variety of food, we will be healthier. You'll find some surprises as well, such as doubts about the overall benefits of soy (unless you're willing to eat a pound and a half of tofu a day), and that nuts, with their "good" fat content, are a terrific snack. Relying on research rather than anecdotes, this is a solidly written nutritional guide that will show you the real story behind how food is digested, from the glycemic index for carbs to the wisdom of adding a multivitamin to your diet. Willett combines research with matter-of-fact language and a no-nonsense tone that turns academic studies into easily understandable suggestions for living. --Jill Lightner

As seen on the Today show!

The National Bestseller Based on Harvard Medical School and Harvard School of Public Health Research...A Revolutionary Guide to Healthy Eating That Topples the USDA Food Pyramid

In Eat, Drink, and Be Healthy, Dr. Walter Willett explains why the USDA guidelines -- the famous food pyramid -- are not only wrong but also dangerous. Debunking current dietary myths such as the evils of eggs and how high milk consumption does a body good, Dr. Willett sets an all-new nutritional standard. You'll discover:

Customer Reviews:

• Eat, Drink, & be Healthy
  I can't say enough about the people I bought this book from, they were great in every way....more info
• Superb book!
  If you want straight-forward advice based on scientific evidence -- not hype -- I recommend this book....more info
• A great way to understand your health
  I very much enjoyed this book. I have spent my entire life on a diet but never understood the meaning behind diet rules and theories. This was a great read on nutrition and really helped me to understand the medical implications of the food choices we make. The author did a great job simplifying complex medical terms and provided a balanced thoughtful view on eating, drinking and being healthy.
  
  
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• Simple, Common Sense Nutrition Advice and Guidelines
  This book was recommended to me by my doctor when I asked him some questions about nutrition. I quite enjoyed this book and most certainly feel it was worth my while. There's not much that's mind-blowing here, there's no easy or magic secret to good health, but it spells out proper nutrition clearly and concisely and does recommend some foods you may not know of or consider, like quinoa as an example. The book is based on years of research, and I have no doubt that anyone's health would improve by following the advice in Eat, Drink, and Be Healthy....more info
• best nutrition book I have ever read
  I borrowed this book from the library. Now, I'm buying six copies of the book to give to friends and relatives....more info
• great book
  This book was recommended to me by my doctor when I asked him some questions about nutrition. I quite enjoyed this book and most certainly feel it was worth my while. There's not much that's mind-blowing here, there's no easy or magic secret to good health, but it spells out proper nutrition clearly and concisely and does recommend some foods you may not know of or consider, like quinoa as an example. The book is based on years of research, and I have no doubt that anyone's health would improve by following the advice in Eat, Drink, and Be Healthy.
  
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• Changed my life, and my kids' lives too
  Willett and Skerrett have put it all together in one reader-friendly book. Based on all the solid science out there, their recommendations are what I live by. The thing I really like about this book is that you can see where the big fad diets got their ideas, but you can also see all the other research they neglected in their rush to cash in on the diet book craze....more info
• Nutrition book written by an authentic expert
  The majority of books written on nutrition are written by people who have no credentials. Willett is a respected Harvard Professor. He also writes articles in peer reviewed journals. Much of this book is based on Willett;s own research. The book is short, well written, and easy to read.I learned a lot from it. It has much useful information on nutrition....more info
• Not What I thought It Would Be
  [[ASIN:B001W5AM28 Eat, Drink, and Be Healthy: The Harvard Medical School Guide to Healthy Eating] I had a copy of a book with this same title. I must have lent it to someone anyhow I can't find it. I purchased this one from Amazon it seems to be a different printing. I don't remember it in this format. There seemed to be more useful information, my other copy was a paperback also. I suspect this copy is an older printing. Look for the Paperback version I believe it is better, more up to date....more info
• Love the info, hate the print size
  Helpful information, easily understood, however, print is too small which makes it a little difficult to read... should have purchased the books on tape....more info
• great advice
  very good guidelines and recipes are delicious. no FDA-approved diet pill is ever going to change our increasing waistlines, and no one will ever make it easy for us. the food industry is absolutely disgusting in US, from high fructose corn syrup to fake sweeteners. well, at least lets all be thankful we have enough food to keep us fat, but we also have the option of not following the herd like sheep, and actually make out own choices regarding what we eat. ...more info
• Wonderful book
  Books on dieting and nutrition are available in endless numbers (perhaps exceeded only by the number of cookbooks ;-)). The trouble is that 95% of such books are crap, being authored either by persons without the proper background for expertise or with a strong agenda aside from educating the reader, or often, both issues.
  
  This book is authoritatively and objectively written by Dr. Willett and as such brings to the market a much needed *reliable* source of information.
  
  It should be noted that this is *not* a diet book. Dr. Willett is a nutritional epidemiologist, and so true to form, he expounds on the known links between dietary choices, and various forms of disease, as they have been established over time by epidemiological studies. It's also important to point out that Dr. Willett does not here describe the results of the latest study on this or that, and thank goodness, because he confines what he presents to associations that are based on solid evidence - that is, large, well designed, and multiple studies, and therefore, knowledge that can be relied upon. Where he does on occasion mention *apparent* epidemiological links that need further study to validate, he dutifully and carefully indicates that with caveats.
  
  Dr. Willett also respects the reader - although this is written appropriately for a general audience, he nevertheless engages the reader with mechanistic explanations for why a dietary choice is associated with disease, if the mechanism is known, for example.
  
  I was thankful that although the book is on dietary choices, he includes a chapter on weight control and exercise. While it could be considered to be offtopic, Dr. Willett is an MD/PhD, and rightfully includes this chapter because of the overriding strength of the epidemiological evidence for *these* lifestyle choices, as well as *what* to eat, keeping the big picture goal of patient health in mind.
  
  All in all, I can't say enough good about this book. If you care about your health, I can wholeheartedly recommend that you buy and study it thoughtfully, and implement his recommendations. I have been doing that, and have found that I feel better, and have been losing weight in terms of short term benefits. Of course the long term benefits of reduced risk for so many chronic disease patterns are at least as important in the end.
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• Fantastic
  This is the best book about health that I have ever read. The author is head of nutrition at Harvard Med. School and only sights examples of real science not the junk variety that you see in so many of the diet books now. Author has wonderful credentials and has a clear way of describing the best way to eat your way to better health all backed by scientific studies....more info
• Good common sense advice on nutrition
  I have been saying almsot nothing but good about this book to my friends and family for the last week or two. I read this book once and then had to read it again because it is packed with such good common sense advice which is backed up with explinations about major studies confirming the advice.
  
  Willet starts out with nothing less then suggesting major changes to the food guide pyrimid. The next chapters delve into the reasons for these changes. He explains in more depth about the importance of maintaining a healthy weight, choosing carbs low on the glycemic index, the need for unsaturated fats in the diet, the importance of eating low fat protiens, and the need to eat many fruits and vegtables (not potatoes)daily. Much of the book seems to agree with the mediterranean diet and He refers a few times to the "seven countries study" done by Ancel Keys who was an early proponent of this diet. I was curious to see how the diet worked for Keys and found he lived to be 100 years old!
  
  The book is a treasure and I will refer to it often in the future. One note, some of the recepies and ingredients in the back are difficult to prepare or hard to come by. But don't let this stop you from reading this book and making changes to your diet. It has inspired me to make changes to mine.
  
  
  
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• Brilliant and Extremely Practical
  This book changed the way I cook and eat! I read it in 2003, and since then have incorporated many more fruits and vegetables into my diet. I sometimes joke with my friends that
  we should get bracelets saying "WWWD"--that is, What Would Willett Do?, when
  faced with decisions on what to eat. Finally, nutrition advice
  based not on fads but on epidemiological data. Thank you Willett!
  ...more info
• I learned why food does what it does to my body.
  This book was a fantastic learning experience. It was an easy read that is packed full of useful information.
  
  In elementary school I learned about the food pyramid - then the eating standard. But no one taught me (until now), that the food pyramid was backed by the food industries.
  
  No one explained how food works with my body. Simple questions such as "Why is my cholesterol high?" and "How can I lower it?" weren't explained to me in a manner that ever sank in. The answers were - "It's what you're eating" and "change your diet".
  
  This book went beyond the 2 minute explanations I got from my family doctor. It went beyond just giving recipies or meal plans to change the way I eat. In a way that was easily understood, it was explained why food reacts as it does with the body, and how to change to become a healthier person.
  
  I have recommended it to anyone who's thinking about changing their diets and their lives. I am now on the road to healthy living, thank you Dr. Willett...more info
• Very thorough. Now you know what you're eating!
  Glad to find a book that breaks down what I'm eating and what it does or doesn't do for me. Tired of wasting my time eating junk. I want more energy and food, sleep, and exercise are key!...more info
• Can't Recommend it Highly Enough
  I will keep this short and sweet as other reviews have covered the book in great detail. For those of you confused about what is good for you and what is not, this easy to read book will provide you with answers based on high quality, long-term research. Ignore the no-carb faddists weighing in with their opinions. They will be espousing the Ice Cream Diet next year and warning about protein causing cancer.
  
  Willett is even-handed and objective. He differentiates when something is overwhelmingly supported by hard scientific evidence and when something represents only the best guess based on evidence to date. Results are heavily based on several very large (100,000+ participants) studies carried out over many decades. You will be shocked by some of the things you will learn. You will feel relieved knowing how to make the best choices.
  
  As mentioned elsewhere, this is not a diet book. But it will give you the tools to eat the healthiest diet. By adjusting the foods you eat you can easily reduce calories and achieve the goals you are looking for. ...more info
• Great no-nonsense guide to nutrition and health
  This is a great book that looks at the relationship between what you eat and your health and backs it up with scientific data from long term studies. A very quick read!...more info
• Great!
  The book came promptly and was in great condition, as described. I am really enjoying reading it. Thanks much!...more info
• Authoritative advice without any gimmicks
  There's no shortage of "diet" books out there, so how do you choose the right one? The truth is, it's difficult. I've come to the conclusion that almost any diet can "work" (at least in the short term), because what they do is force you to think about what you're eating and motivate you to exercise. However, where gimmick diets fail is in changing your lifestyle.
  
  This book is an entirely different breed of "diet" books, because it's not really a diet book at all. What it is is conservative, non-controversial, and authoritative advice regarding healthy eating. Nothing in this book is going to go out of style any time soon.
  
  There's no gimmick here; it's not going to tell you that you can eat sausage all day and be healthy. It's going to tell you what you already know; eat more greens, veggies, fish, fruit, and whole grains. It's going to tell you that there's no secret to losing wait; eat fewer calories and exercise more. It's going to tell you that the knowledge of the glycemic index/load is useful for controlling your appetite by moderating blood sugar. It's going to explain that there's a big difference between good fats and bad. It's going to tell you that the Mediterranean-style diet is well known for being one of the healthiest in the world (and why).
  
  I've actually read a couple dozen books on healthy eating. All of the others had a few good things to say, but had some sort of gimmick to sell the book. This book is more or less the intersection of all those other books. In the end, this is the best of the bunch and absolutely the one to get if you only want to read one book on healthy eating.
  
  However, this book may not be for everyone. Some people may be put off by the conservative nature of this book. If you have special health concerns that aren't addressed by mainstream knowledge, or if you are the type of person that prefers to live on the bleeding edge, you may need to look elsewhere.
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• Sometimes the obvious needs to be pointed out
  I hear everywhere how I should eat less junk food, more veggies, cut back on carbs and red meat, etc., etc., etc. but somehow it still never dawned on me; just in one ear and out the other as I continued with my unhealthy eating habits. This book was eye-opening for me not just by clearly and concisely pointing out what types of foods I should eat, but also by explaining the "food politics" surrounding the USDA food pyramid. Knowing now how the Beef industry and the Dairy Council have lobbied long and hard for their not-so-healthy products gives me a new perspective when looking at my meal choices. This book also shed a lot of light on the low-fat food industry, while also pointing out that not all fat is bad...some of it is in fact very good for you.
  
  This book clearly explains how the body works and uses food so their revised food pyramid makes sense to you, and isn't just another health story to ignore. I gained a better understanding of food portions, and am now better able to read the labels on packaged foods. I now look at food industry marketing and the seemingly endless stream of health reports with a bit more skepicism and armed with a lot more knowledge. This is a terrific book with good, solid advice on the best ways to eat healthy for the rest of your life without feeling deprived. I've successfully used Dr. Willett's advice, and have loaned this book out to many people, most of whom return it only to tell me they went out and bought their own copy! A a former unhealthy eater, I have to say this book changed the way I look at food, nutrition and health forever!
  
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• The gospel according to Willett
  This book changed my life. After reading it, I gave up dieting and lost 104 pounds. I had all the carbs, fat and flavor that I wanted and still lost weight...every last pound of it. This is not a diet book, it is not a cook book...It is a logical explanation of food and how the body uses it...it will revolutionize the way you eat. Thank you Dr. Willett!...you saved my life....more info
• Nutrition made easy
  This book provides a common sense, readable approach to good nutrition and use of supplements. The recipes are excellent as well....more info
• Great Advice
  Finally! A book with some real information I can use to make my diet healthier and remain easy to follow. I only take off a star because a lot of the information was repeated over and over and over. The book could have easily been slimmed down 100 pages without losing any content. I also appreciate the sample menus and recipes in the back. Overall, I think everyone should be forced to read this book- our collective health would be much better!...more info
• GREAT BOOK, GENIOUS AUTHOR!
  Dr. Willett has got to be the most informed researcher regarding nutrition ever. This guy has the knowledge backed up by good science. Has this guy been awarded a Nobel prize yet? This book can change your life. Buy it and do it now!...more info
• MUST-READ for anyone trying to lose lbs/better their health
  This book is truly a must-read. I have been on and off low carb diets over the last 2 years, only to start over the correct way and actually see and feel results. But, this book is not just for low-carbers. I recommend it to anyone on any diet or non-diet. It suggests a NEW improved, and PROVEN food pyramid, rather than the one that was literally shoved down our throats for the last decade or so. The book does read a little text-booky at times, but I don't see that as a flaw. One will gain an understaning of the different types of fats, cholesterols, and why eating a potato is just as bad as pouring sugar in your mouth with a shovel. The book also goes into calories, food portions, and the glycemic index. The book explains that the best way to lose weight is limiting calories, but choosing foods with good fat and a low glycemic index count (which is what works for me). I really think that approach will help 75% of people if not more. It doesn't matter if you are on Atkins or Weight Watchers, YOU NEED THIS BOOK!...more info
• Must Read for Everyone!
  I recommend this book to anyone who is interested in the effects of nutrition on health. Unlike many health or nutrition books, this one offers the actual science behind its recommendations. It is not a fad diet, not a quick fix, but a way to eat for life while reducing risk of disease. I have personally bought five copies of this book to share with friends and family. ...more info
• THE starting place for diet and nutrition information.
  A lot has been said about this book by reviewers who came before me, so I'll keep it brief. Whether you are interested in dieting to lose weight or just want to be better informed about nutrition, this is THE BOOK to purchase. It is THE starting place. Willett uses the whole of the literature and research to meld the most up-to-date, most science-based diet planning and information available. Further, his diet is moldable to most people, without offering the usual "too-good-to-be-true" or "no pain, no gain" advice. This is the real stuff, where all so-called diet and nutrition books should start, but, as we all know, don't.
  
  I also recommend checking out the Harvard Health sites and newsletters as a follow-up to reading this book. There you will find sound advice, without having to wrangle with the emotional highs and lows that arrive with the press' overbearing reporting of each single new study. The whole of research literature is always considered by Harvard Health -- as it is in Willett's book -- not just the hyperbole surrounding the latest single study, as it often is in the press and in many other "nutrition books." ...more info
• An Eye-opener !
  This is one book I would recommend to anyone who aspire to eat better and not just loose weight. The author does not in any way prescribes a specific diet, but rather gives advice on which foods to embrace and which foods to minimize based on scientific reasoning and nutritional content. This way you have the choice of making either drastic changes to your diet or easy ones, as per your own discretion.
  
  Would have given this book five stars, had it touched more upon the everyday processed food we eat/drink and elaborated on their nutritional content....more info
• Solid nutritional information
  This book provides solid, researched nutritional information from a reliable source. The newest fad of carb counting is obviously attractive to many people, but I think often it is misunderstood in an overall nutritional context (just as the "low-fat" fad of the 90's was). This is not a fad diet book it is more a handbook to healthy eating based on the most current research. I highly recommend it as the basis to understanding nutrition and helping formulate a nutritious diet which is a way of life, not a passing fad. ...more info
• Eat, Drink, and Be Healthy
  This book does a wonderful job of taking the scientific information available regarding nutrition and puts it a format the lay public can easily understand. Very professional. ...more info
• stroke of geniou
  I recently suffered a TIA, which is a stroke with no brain damage and this book was recommended by a relative. Parts were a bit dry but so much made perfect sense. I am now a dietary health nut and owe it to this book and my fear of having a disabling stoke or heart attack....more info
• Healthy eating
  Great book. We received it as a gift from our son and daughter-in-law.
  
  "Eat, Drink, and Be Healthy : The Harvard Medical School Guide to Healthy Eating" is not a diet book but a scientific look by a Harvard researcher at dietary choices and how they affect us....more info
• Best guide to healthy eating
  Willett's book isn't a fad diet book, but explains food and what it does for your body. I thought this book was very informative. It set some diet myths straight. There was a good overview of the food groups, the pros and cons of each, and what diseases or illnesses they helped or hurt. I thought the vitamin section was very good and surprisingly brief for that sort of thing. ...more info
• Exactly what I was looking for
  This book is exactly what I was looking for: scientific information related to nutrition and health. It is clear, easy to read, and provides practical ideas for implementation. I have already changed my diet and feel great. I've even lost weight without trying. I really appreciate a book that takes all the research that has been done and boils it down into a readable text. This book has done that better than I expected. ...more info
• Science of dietary choices
  This is not a diet book but a scientific look by a Harvard researcher at dietary choices and how they affect us....more info
• Scientifically-based, Sound Advice
  Dr. Willet's whole approach and style to nutrition is sensible and should be emulated by others who sincerely want to give the public knowledgable advice.
  
  Unlike most nutrition experts who base their claims on anecdotal evidence and unproven or worse, sloppy or pseudo-science, Dr. Willet establishes nutritional guidelines that are based on proven, long-term scientific studies.
  
  He shows that nutrition is not an exact science and that many studies contradict earlier ones(for example, because of its high cholesterol content people should not eat eggs because it would raise their cholesterol levels) or may not be conclusive(drinking coffee may or may not contribute to osteoporosis).
  
  The key, then, to maintaining life-long, healthy, eating habits is to focus on current, objective, scientific studies, and to learn to change and adapt these habits according to the continuous stream of new information that is being uncovered.
  
  It is not about mindlessly following a popular new trend or taking a so-called miracle antioxidant supplement or relying on the static, out-of-date USDA food pyramid.
  
  Keep up the good work Dr. Willet!...more info
• Good eating is not common sense
  I had always thought that what you should and shouldn't eat was simply common sense until I read this book. The best chapters are the ones about good carbs/bad carbs, and good fats/bad fats. Dr. Willett explains that highly processed carbs such as white bread, white rice, pasta, instant oatmeal, and potatoes cause sharp spikes and then sharp drops in blood sugar. The sharp drops trick the brain into thinking you need to eat, so it sends out hunger signals despite the fact that there is plenty of food in the system. This can lead to overeating. Over time it can also lead to diabetes. Willett also explains the concept of glycemic load. Foods with a low glycemic load raise and drop your blood sugar slowly, so you feel full for longer and have more energy. I have switched to eating whole grain breads, old fashioned oatmeal, Uncle Ben's converted rice, and bran cereals, all of which have low glycemic loads. I used to always feel fatigued (even though I'm in my early 30s). Now my energy level has improved dramatically.

  The author is opposed to low fat diets. Willett talks about a study in which participants who had diets high in unsaturated fats had significantly fewer heart attacks than participants on low fat diets. This is because unsaturated fats raise good cholesterol. I also found out how to recognize trans fats when I look through lists of ingredients. The author explains the importance of getting many different colors of fruits and vegetables per day. So, everyday I fry a medley of five or six different kinds of vegetables for dinner, and lunch the next day. This is easy to do if you buy frozen vegetables.

  My one complaint is that the book did not mention high fructose corn syrup. This is a sweetener that is in many breads, yogurts, crackers, juices, and breakfast cereals. It is man-made and the metabolic system has a difficult time processing it. HFCS actually slows your metabolism when you eat it, which is ridiculous considering that we eat food for energy. I was the same weight for about 5 years. Less than two months after cutting out HFCS, my weight went down 10lbs without any other changes in diet or exercise. I wish Dr. Willett had discussed this because it would have been extremely helpful information for his readers.

  Other than that, this is an excellent and life-changing book. I am following everything the book suggests (except drinking alcohol in moderation because I don't drink and never will) and I definitely feel better. Forget the Atkins Diet. Follow the simple instructions in this book and you will be both healthier and thinner....more info

• One of the best!
  Since being diagnosed with diabetes 2 years ago, I've read LOTS of health/diet books. This one is the best I've encountered. Not really a "diet" book, It's a way of life. Thank you, Dr. Willett....more info
• Connects the dots of healthy eating habits.
  Eat, Drink and Be Healthy, by Dr. Walter Willet, has so many HOLY SH-T passages in it, you may find yourself examining government supported dietary guidelines with a much needed microscope. The suggested seven healthy changes represent a rational approach to prolonged health: Watch your weight, eat fewer bad fats and more good fats, eat fewer refined-grain carbohydrates and more whole-grain carbohydrates, choose healthier sources of protein, eat plenty of vegetables and fruit, BUT HOLD THE POTATOES, use alcohol in moderation, and take a multivitamin for insurance. If you do nothing more than read the introduction you'll have gone a long way to improving your health. For example, "Nutritionist and diet books alike often call the potato a perfect food....The venerable baked potato increases levels of blood sugar and insulin more quickly and to higher levels than an equal amount of calories from pure table sugar." SAY WHAT??? Additionally, the book succeeds in being one of those rare gems that's easy to read, informative and funny. While this next quote comes from Chapter 8, it's my personal favorite, "Imagine dumping seven to nine teaspoons of sugar onto a bowl of cereal. Too sweet to eat? That's how much sugar is in a twelve-ounce can of Coca-Cola, Pepsi, Orange Crush, or most other sugared soft drinks, and we drink the stuff by the gallon." Think of that the next time you see someone sipping on a Big Gulp! The evidence is all around us folks, our nations dietary habits have to change or we simply will not be around to compete with the rest of the world. Dr. Willett's, Eat, Drink and Be Healthy, qualifies as a must-read for anyone interested in long-term health and rational well-balanced dietary information. ...more info
• Wonderful Book
  Amazing insight on health, diet, & fitness. It really has been making me think & most definatly changed the way I eat & excercise. It does take effort though; the book won't do it for you. ...more info
• one reader's (and eater's) experience
  About a year ago, I decided to try Dr. Willett's sensible advice. I needed to lose weight, but I was especially concerned with improving my cardiovascular health, and Dr. Willett's credentials in that regard are excellent.
  
  At first, I was dismayed that the pounds were not melting away, as other diets promise (and other reviewers are right: this is NOT a diet book). But I was surprised to note that my mood improved; no more highs and lows from refined food. And I was getting to eat all kinds of delicious stuff, including (gasp!) lots and lots of whole-grain carbohydrates. Then, several weeks in, the weight started coming off--ultimately, over thirty pounds of it. Over the last year, my weight has also been more stable than ever in my adult life. When I depart from the Way of Willett (as I do often--fruitcake at Christmas, chocolates at Valentine's, Peeps at Easter, you get the idea), my weight does not spike as it would've in the past. The weight has very easily stayed off. Of course, my cardiovascular health has improved more than I could've hoped (LDL=59, HDL=53).
  
  Several reviewers have used the phrase "life-changing" to describe this book. That's a tall order, but in my case, it fits: although I am amazed to find myself writing it (I'm highly skeptical of books in this category), this book changed my life.
  
  November, 2007: More than four years later, my weight has dropped further and holds steady, despite my occasional (and highly enjoyable!) treats. This book remains my guide. Life-changing indeed....more info
• Compelling facts and analysis driven by concrete research
  I can only hope more people read this book than the masses driving toward the fad diets like South Beach, Atkins, etc. This book does something I haven't seen from a health/diet book. It actually takes the data that is avaliable and boils it down to recommendations that are actionable. It's a good read that most likely will change your eating habits. It did mine and I lost a few pounds in the process. ...more info
• Excellent & Comprehensive
  I find this book to be very comprehensive, informative, non-bias (in a sense that it offers factual scientific research data) and very well written. I would recommend this book to a person who wants to educate themself about better food choices and/or daily quantities, but who wouldn't quite know where to start....more info
• Excellent Resouce for Developing a Better Diet
  This is an excellent and comrehensive resource for anyone who wants to improve their health and diet. Dr. Willet explains the "why's" behind foods that should be eliminated from the diet and those that are helpful. This is explored in a way that is reader friendly and very informative. If you read this book you will understand and be inspired to live a healthier lifestyle.
  
  Erin I. Dunscomb CHHC, AADP
  
  ErinsOptimalWellness.com...more info
• top notch
  An evidence based, comprehensive nutrition plan for anyone looking to optimize their diet. It serves as a heart healthy, cancer preventing, wt controlling, all purpose guide to better lifestyle. I recommend it to family, friends and patients. - Thomas G. Smith MD...more info
• A solid guide to nutrition
  The claims in this book are all backed by solid evidence from years of research - the author frequently cites studies from Harvard and elsewhere. The advice in this book is broken down in a way that makes it easy to follow, and the book is full of practical tips on how to put the recommendations into practice. The only drawback is that it is not the most exciting read, but if you are looking for some solid nutritional advice, then I would strongly recommend this book....more info
• Connects the dots of healthy eating habits.
  Eat, Drink and Be Healthy, by Dr. Walter Willet, has so many HOLY SH-T passages in it, you may find yourself examining government supported dietary guidelines with a much needed microscope. The suggested seven healthy changes represent a rational approach to prolonged health: Watch your weight, eat fewer bad fats and more good fats, eat fewer refined-grain carbohydrates and more whole-grain carbohydrates, choose healthier sources of protein, eat plenty of vegetables and fruit, BUT HOLD THE POTATOES, use alcohol in moderation, and take a multivitamin for insurance. If you do nothing more than read the introduction you'll have gone a long way to improving your health. For example, "Nutritionist and diet books alike often call the potato a perfect food....The venerable baked potato increases levels of blood sugar and insulin more quickly and to higher levels than an equal amount of calories from pure table sugar." SAY WHAT??? Additionally, the book succeeds in being one of those rare gems that's easy to read, informative and funny. While this next quote comes from Chapter 8, it's my personal favorite, "Imagine dumping seven to nine teaspoons of sugar onto a bowl of cereal. Too sweet to eat? That's how much sugar is in a twelve-ounce can of Coca-Cola, Pepsi, Orange Crush, or most other sugared soft drinks, and we drink the stuff by the gallon." Think of that the next time you see someone sipping on a Big Gulp! The evidence is all around us folks, our nations dietary habits have to change or we simply will not be around to compete with the rest of the world. Dr. Willett's, Eat, Drink and Be Healthy, qualifies as a must-read for anyone interested in long-term health and rational well-balanced dietary information. ...more info
• It was what I expected
  The book was what I expected and the seller's description of condition was correct. There really isn't anything exciting I can write about a nutrition book...... :)...more info
• Turns the food pyramid upside down
  If you want to know what science says, this is the authoritative book. His most startling point: Rapid increases in blood sugar caused by eating refined carbohydrates and potatoes cause heart disease, diabetes, and obesity.
  In general, he recommends eating a lot of vegetables, beans, and fruit, plus some good fats and lean protein. Dairy products should be limited to one to two servings per day. Refined carbs and potatoes should be avoided. Exercise is important.
  The prescriptions are the same as the South Beach Diet, but he stops short of saying high blood sugar and the resulting high production of insulin definitely cause weight gain -- he says they may.
  If you are looking for a health book to give to a relative or friend, this is ideal. It's clearly written, easy to understand, and the recommendations are safe and easy to follow.
  
  P.S. Perhaps in a future book or study, Willett could explore the relationship between insulin and weight further. Maybe blood sugar levels, not calories, determine weight gain or loss. This would explain why the Chinese supposedly eat more calories than we do, yet weigh less (China Study). It would also explain why it's possible to eat a low-fat, low-calorie diet high in refined carbs and be obese, while another person could be slim while eating more calories but fewer refined carbs. (This is not to say you could overeat and remain slim, since overeating anything, including low-carb foods, also causes blood sugar levels to rise.)
  
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• Still the most sound nutrition/diet guide around
  Although this book has been around for a few years now, its information is still more practical, useful and relevant than any of the diet fad books that have come and gone in the interim.
  
  This is not a book that promises to help anyone lose weight or tone their abs. Instead, it's a no-nonsense guide to the food we eat, one that examines caloric intake, fats, etc., without laying on the platitudes found in many such guides. I think it's interesting that Willett discusses the importance of avoiding trans fats, an essential point that the rest of the nutrition world seems finally to have caught up with.
  
  To me, the discussion of the traditional "food pyramid" and its faults is one of the best things I've ever read in a nutrition guide. We're brought up pretty blindly about these recommendations, and I'm sure it's an eye-opener for many people to see how we may have been misled in some areas.
  
  If you're looking for sound and reasonable advice about your diet, this is easily the best book around. You might not drop 10 pounds in 2 weeks, but it can have a definite positive impact on long-term health. ...more info