Discussion Board

My copy of The Starch Solution came yesterday and I began reading it immediately. While some of it is a repeat of the material in other books and past newsletters, there are some siginificant differences. For one thing, Dr. McDougall goes into more detail about the science behind his views about how starch is essential to the human diet. He also deals with some of his battles with the medical establishment and how they are influenced by dairy and meat lobbyists. Also he lays down the foundation of a starch-based way of eating and explaining the difference between what some of us on here call the "regular" program and the weight loss program. I have seen many people on this message board confused about the difference--some apparently thinking there is only one way to McDougall and that being the Maximum Weight Loss plan. The regular program is a low-fat, starch-based plant only way of eating. Maximum Weight Loss simply kicks the regular plan up a notch by restricting flours and higher fat plant foods for those who want to lose weight in a relatively short amount of time. But the main emphasis of the book is overall health and not limited just to weight loss. There are many tasty recipes in the back of the book included by his wife, Mary, just like in most of Dr. McDougall's other books. I think this is the most comprehensive of all Dr. McDougall's contributions to health literature for the general public and ties all his other books together into one volumn. I highly recommend it to everyone.

p.s. I also wanted to say that the only complaints I have about the book is that I wish the Star McDougaller stories had been at the end of each chapter instead of interspersed within the text. It sort of interupts the flow of reading. Also many of the recipes (which I love) are very large (for 6-8 people). That is great for large families or for company, but way too large for everyday for smaller families are couples. So I will have to do a lot of cutting down on the recipes. Other than those two things, I loved the book.

Sounds really good.

Aloha, patty

Recipes for large families sound great to me, the happy herbivore recipes are all for two people, and I have to x6 them to get enough to feed everyone dinner and extra for people bringing their lunches to school/work the next day!

Can't wait to get my copy.

Sounds great. Thanks for the review. Regarding the success stories: I think that is the modus operandi of Rodale Press' books. I've had a few of them and they like to intersperse success stories throughout their books. I actually like that. I love the success stories sprinkled throughout the book.

Today I'm receiving Dr. Neal Barnard's book on diabetes from Rodale Press...I'm sure the success stories will be thrown in throughout the book as well! I am reading all I can about low fat, plant based eating. Can't wait until May 8th when Dr. M's book should arrive from amazon.

Many of the recipes in all his books are for large families or entertaining. I could have used those back when all my kids were still at home. I do have a full house this month however with my daughter and her family staying with us, so I may try them (as is) before cutting them back for just my husband and myself. And for those who don't need to lose weight there are some great breakfast and dessert recipes.

I love Dr. Barnard's books and the recipes in them too. I make garbanzo bean waffles from a recipe in one of his books. I have his diabetes book and I don't even have diabetes. There are success stories in Reverse Diabetes Now, (without photos) but they do not interupt the rest of the text.

How did you get the book? Is it released now?

Board member "nomikins" posted about a week ago that she found this website from the publisher:

http://www.thestarchsolutionbook.com/th ... book/index

I ordered it from them. It's probably the most expensive option, but I couldn't wait another month. I love the book because it has the two programs both explained in one book.

GrammaJackie, I've done that too with Rodale books in the past, just to get an early copy!

Thanks for mentioning Neal Barnard's book on diabetes. I don't have diabetes either, but everyone in my family does, so I thought I'd order the book. And I like Dr. Barnards's unchanging stance on low fat eating all these years. There are actually two versions of his book, the one from a major publisher, which is on amazon, and the one I ordered from amazon which is the Rodale Press release. The only difference being that Rodale Press books put in more success stories than the main publishers do. Ha ha...told you I love those success stories! Unfortunately my earlier books from Rodale Press focused on low carb eating. Live and learn. I sold them all to a used book store. So I'm pleased to be starting my new collection of books based on healthy, plant based eating. If you can recommend some more books, I would so appreciate it.

First of all I want to say that I love reading the Star McDougaller stories in The Starch Solution. It's just that they were stuck in, in such a fashion it interrupted the reading and in one case it interrupted the 7 Day Meal Plan. That was Mike Teehan's story and I just love Mike, but the story was squeezed in between lunch and dinner on the 7 Day Plan. Sorta weird. As far as recommended books, well of course I recommend all of Dr. Mcdougall's books: The McDougall Program: 12 Days to Dynamic Health and Maximum Weight Loss, but also The McDougall Program for Women, The McDougall Program for a Healthy Heart and Dr. McDougall's Digestive Tune-Up (that book changed my life!). I also recommend his cookbooks: Dr. McDougall's New Cookbook and Dr. McDougall's Quick and Easy Cookbook. In addition I recommend pretty much all of Dr. Barnard's books, although in some of his earlier books he uses a few fake soy meat products. And of course there is Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease by Dr. Esselstyn and The China Study by T. Colin Campbell. But beyond those well known books, I recommend The Ultimate Uncheese Cookbook by Jo Stepaniak. Just don't use the recipes with oil or margarine. I also like Vegetarian Health Recipes by Patricia Bragg. Again make sure the recipes you use from the book comply with the McDougall Program. Another good cookbook is Cooking with Trader Joe's: Skinny Dish" by Jennifer K. Reilly.

GrammaJackie, I totally understand what you mean about the interruptions, and I appreciate your input. Thank you so much for the book recommendations. I am starting my new library of low-fat, plant-based books. I'm adding them to my list right now. Thank you!

GrammaJackie, since you like Dr. Barnard as much as I do, I thought I'd mention I was just reading on amazon he has a new book coming out. The title is: "Power Foods for the Brain: The Revolutionary Plan to Protect Your Memory and Improve Your Health. It was supposed to be released in February, but it wasn't. So here's one more to add to our collection! But I'm most excited about receiving Dr. M's book in May. The others are just "add-ons!"

I'll be interested to see if the Star McDougaller stories are also part of the Amazon version of the book, or just a Rodale special. Seems like an odd editing to put MikeT right in the middle of the 7 day plan. I've already preordered from Amazon so I guess I'll have to wait.

Kate

katydid, hopefully they'll be the same. An author who wrote a low carb book on metabolic syndrome for both Rodale Press and another publisher (The Metabolism Miracle), told me that the only difference in the books is that Rodale puts in more success stories (that was back when I was low carbing). But you know I'm thumbing through Neal Barnard's book from Rodale Press on diabetes, which I just received, and there aren't many success stories (scratching my head)...so maybe the info I got from that author was inaccurate. Maybe the low carb eating plan she invented muddled her brain (me bad)...!!!!!

I think it was a surprise to everyone that Rodale began selling the book before it's announced release date. But they are the publisher, so I guess they can do that to get a jump on their competition. I am pretty sure there is only one version of the book. Rodale is the publisher and has the rights to the book. I will say that I paid more then if I had waited so that is one good thing about waiting for it to be released to booksellers. On the other hand, Rodale gives you the option of paying for it in installments. I have read all of Dr. McDougall's books, but the only other ones I own are Maximum Weight loss and the two cookbooks. The Starch Solution will definitely be my "go to" book.
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