The Feel Good Diet
by Cheryle Hart, M.D. and Mary Kay Grossman, RD
Published by McGraw Hill
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Reviewed by Rachael Dimond
Subtitled: The Weight-Loss Plan That Boosts Serotonin, Improves Your Mood, and Keeps the Pounds off for Good
The Feel Good Diet is a weight-loss program created by Cheryle Hart, M.D. and Mary Kay Grossman, RD. The reason most people quit the diet programs they are on is because their serotonin levels are drastically decreased from cutting out all the carbs in their diet. Without an even level of serotonin and dopamine, the dieter is left feeling depressed and loses interest in the diet. Serotonin is what controls your mood, appetite, sleep, and cravings.
In this book the reader is told how they can replace depleted serotonin so they can feel good and lose weight. The first part of the book is technical medical talk about serotonin, hormones, thyroid, insulin, cortisol, etc. It is interesting to read through but might be a little too technical for some readers who only want to know about the diet and how to lose weight.
The second part of the book has meal plans for the diet and explains the diet in more detail. Also there are numerous recipes in the back of the book to mix high insulin foods with low insulin foods to regulate your insulin level. The recipes sound good, but might make the average dieter wonder if they are really going to help them lose weight by eating Fried Potatoes, French Bread with Dipping Oil, or making things to dip into chocolate.
The Feel Good Diet book was an interesting book to read but I'm not sure if this is the kind of diet I would want to do. One of the main aspects of the diet is drinking apple cider vinegar mixed into water, before every meal. I was hoping for more of a diet plan instead of a list of specific foods to eat. The small section dealing with exercising was helpful.
Mostly, this book deals with how serotonin affects you and your weight. I know a lot more about serotonin now than I ever did before, but I really didn't learn much about how to lose weight. Overall the book is well written and interesting, but may be the perfect diet for only a select few people.
Armchair Interviews says: Decide if this kind of diet is right for you.