The Lyons Lifestyle: The Seven Hardest (and Easiest) Steps to a Healthy Body by M. Frank Lyons II, M.D., published by WestBow Press, is a comprehensive book on how to change our lifestyles for better health.
My Review:
Everything in this book confirms what I’ve been diligently working for with my family. We strive to eat healthy and live without medication. I read and research and learn about the best methods. I have worried about the discrepancy that the American government and organizations teach about diet and health for many years. Living in Europe the past three years has been a delightful break from the poor quality foodstuffs of America.
Almost everyone I know has a medical problem and I’ve often wondered why. Most don’t have any desire to change their lifestyle. They don’t realize that their poor health is a direct result of the poor foods and combinations they eat. They’d rather have a quick fix of pills and it’s a vicious cycle. I even question doctors if they have anything to say about thyroid disorders and other issues that seem to prevalent in our society but were not so common in previous generations. They are bland and say they don’t know.
Supplements and prescription medicines are not the answer. All these bloggers recommend their MLM dietary products and essential oils as a miracle for any ailment. But it often makes problems worse.
Some of the articles and books I’ve read have very conflicting information.
If it ain’t broke…
There’s no reason to take pills if you eat right. The American diet is a lie.
Multivitamins are not necessary.
The body usually cannot absorb so many vitamins and minerals and many contradict each other and cancel out or they aren’t in the right form. Overdosing on some vitamins can cause problems. Others are just eliminated as body waste. They’re mostly just a waste of money.
Supplements are not usually necessary.
Playing with hormones should be left to the professionals.
Excess DHEA can cause acne.
A recommended supplement for women has all sorts of herbs and minerals, enzymes and oils. My periods got heavier after I experimented with it. There’s no way of knowing if I had a reaction to one or all of them.
My thyroid is fine. I don’t have any history of thyroid problems in my family. We eat pretty healthy. I’ve read that I should eat Brazil nuts every day and take a thyroid supplement to stave off metabolism slowdown. It just causes severe stomach cramps if nothing is wrong!
I stopped taking all the supplements and my period is lighter, my acne cleared up, and I feel fine.
Probiotics are not for everyone.
So many bloggers and authors are huge into gut health. They spout special diets, cleanses, and probiotics consumption. They say the gut is connected to mental health and everything stems from the gut bacteria. But there aren’t really any definitive studies about this.
But I think my gut is pretty ok.
Probiotics (probably) made me break out in severe acne that would not go away with anything topical or dietary. And now my digestion is back to being regular.
What I do for my health:
I’ve been lazy and much too sedentary this past year. I’m only maybe 15 pounds overweight, but it’s very obvious on my small frame. It’s all settled on my middle, butt, and thighs – so I look pregnant. To slim down, I’m walking and getting outside more and watching my sugar intake.
We take cod liver oil. We eat a pretty balanced diet. We’re researching different grains that are healthier options than traditional American wheat.
This is a great book to learn about why we have health problems when we think we’re doing everything right.
Book Summary:
We have seen an explosive deterioration of America’s health in the past 50 years. 70 million people suffer from metabolic syndrome, 700,000 individuals die annually from heart disease, untold numbers are affected by cancers. We have seen an epidemic of esophageal reflux, fatty liver disease, gout, kidney failure, autoimmune disorders, inflammatory diseases and vitamin D deficiency. Why? One of the primary reasons for our failing health is our nutrition. We have been following guidelines that are deeply flawed and now nearly all of us is affected by one or several of these maladies. This book enlightens you about those flaws and the remedies for you to correct them. True health care reform starts with your own nutritional health and this book guides you through the steps needed to improve your nutritional health and perhaps even reverse some disease processes presently affecting you.
About the Author:
M. Frank Lyons II, M.D., a practicing gastroenterologist in Tacoma, Washington, has been a clinical researcher, writer, and teacher for over a quarter of a century. A Fellow of the American College of Gastroenterology and the American College of Physicians, he has answered many clinical questions through his scientific investigations. His medical research has included hepatitis C, esophageal diseases, Helicobacter pylori infections, and intestinal cancer prevention. He has received several teaching, research and clinical awards, and has authored chapters of textbooks, scientific papers and abstracts.
Dr. Lyons obtained his B.S. and M.S. degrees in microbiology from the University of Idaho. He then received his Doctorate in Medicine from the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences in Bethesda, Maryland. He completed his Internal Medicine residency at Madigan Army Medical Center in Tacoma, Washington and Gastroenterology at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, DC. He is board certified in Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology.
His desire to teach his patients about their medical conditions led to the research and writing of two recent books: 42 Days to a New Life—a book that describes the importance of a balanced fat diet and the elimination of trans fats to prevent numerous diseases; and Fructose Exposed—the book that explores and clarifies the misunderstanding surrounding fructose, high fructose corn syrup and the metabolic disaster that occurs in our body from chronic, excess fructose consumption.
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