Book Review: Slimming Meals That Heal by Julie Daniluk
Julie Daniluk’s Slimming Meals That Heals, the follow-up to her premier book Meals That Heal Inflammation, is an informative and well-researched book that tackles the issues of inflammation and its relationship to weight-loss and overall well-being.
In Chapter 1, titled ‘Why Diets Don’t Work’, Julie begins by giving 3 reasons why most diets fail. She further explains that the missing component to most weight-loss diets is in inflammation; or the chronic state of it. Categorizing the root causes of inflammation into 4: injury, infection, irritation and imbalance; Julie offers solutions through a change in eating habits, such as in her “live-it” food plan that she believes is optimal in supporting the immune system (found later in the book).
The subject of food allergies and intolerance is a popular concern in this day and age. Chapter 2 explores the difference between the two as well as the immune system and the processes of the innate and adaptive immune systems. Julie provides a thorough explanation of how these systems are activated differently in food allergy and intolerance situations, and how these triggers can sabotage weight-loss efforts. Taking a look at sensitivities and intolerance, such as celiac disease, lactose intolerance and toxic substances, Julie does a great job at distinguishing the differences of these sensitivities in a clear manner.
Up until this point, Slimming Meals That Heal has provided a good foundation to increase the understanding of the body’s processes in relation to allergens, intolerance and its affect on weight gain. Chapter 3 further explores how “…the root of chronic disease, weight gain, and obesity is often the result of hormonal imbalances.” Listing 8 main ‘culprits to hormonal disruption’, Julie describes the imbalances that are avoidable and treatable. The remainder of the chapter catalogs the many hormones that play a large role in the body’s inability to lose weight and how making healthy changes to your eating habits can heal the body.
Chapters 4 & 5 (The Nutrition of Weight Loss, and The Live-It Tool Kit) touch on the nutrition of weight-loss and introduces 25 superfoods for inflammation and weight reduction. Julie addresses the questions, “Are Carbs Making Me Fat?” and “Are Fats Making me Fat?”, while expanding on the concept of the glycemic index and proteins. Briefly, she broaches the subject of emotional eating, offering a toolkit of strategies to combat them. She doesn’t delve deeply into the subject matter, but does leave the reader with sound insights that can further be explored by finding materials on solutions, such as The Emotional Freedom Technique (tapping), hypnosis and journaling.
In Part 2 of SMTH, Julie introduces the 5-step Live-It Program. The program essentially models a whole food diet, in which you eat fresh, natural and non-preservative foods. The 5-step Live-It Program is outlines as follows:
- Setting Up For Success
- Eliminating Pain Triggers and Crushing Cravings
- Turbo-Charge Your Program with Superfoods
- Food Reintroduction
- The Live-It…Body, Mind and Spirit
The plan culminates into approximately 24 weeks of guidance with detailed charts that lead you through foods to eliminate, what to buy and what to test for inflammatory triggers.
Concluding the section on the SMTH Program, Julie outlines the SMTH food pyramid with a color coded reference charts detailing “what to do” and “hurting foods”. One of the most helpful resources in this chapter includes Julie’s ‘Healthy Swap List’, which tackles the most common inflammatory foods and offers alternatives, such as replacing butter with coconut oil and sugar for non-pasteurized honey.
The remainder of the book is dedicated to 120 recipes created specifically for the SMTH Program. These recipes offer a variety of juices, snacks, treats and meals; each with clear markers indicating its food category status (ie. Gluten free, raw, dairy free, etc.).
Julie Daniluk’s Slimming Meals That Heal has a great amount to offer in its clarity and research on inflammation and its affects on the body. Although it is clear that with conscious modifications to your diet and understanding of allergens and other food sensitivities, weight-loss is possible. I am, however, unsure if the title “Slimming Meals That Heal” is the best choice as the book does not necessarily address weight-loss specifically, but more of an in-depth look at how inflammation in the body is a cause for concern in regards to recognizing and treating food allergies and sensitivities. With that said, it is a good read and I would suggest it as a resource for making healthy, lasting changes to those with dietary concerns.
Slimming Meals That Heal: Lose Weight Without Dieting, Using Anti-inflammatory Superfoods
FTC Disclosure: I received this book for free from Hay House Publishing for this review. The opinion in this review is unbiased and reflects my honest judgment of the product.