4.28

3

Dec 23, 2014

Compared to other books, Keto Clarity is less scientific and perhaps more appropriate for someone who doesn't want to get into the nittry gritty biology of ketosis. I personally am more convinced by focusing on scientific analysis, and I found "The Art And Science of Low Carbohydrate Eating" much more convincing than this book. I've also been in ketosis for 8 months now, so I understand the nuances of each argument.

This book is written more like a very long blog post than a work of persuasive Compared to other books, Keto Clarity is less scientific and perhaps more appropriate for someone who doesn't want to get into the nittry gritty biology of ketosis. I personally am more convinced by focusing on scientific analysis, and I found "The Art And Science of Low Carbohydrate Eating" much more convincing than this book. I've also been in ketosis for 8 months now, so I understand the nuances of each argument.

This book is written more like a very long blog post than a work of persuasive non-fiction. The thoroughness of examination of each argument often sounds more anecdotal than scientific. There is also one chapter on ketosis talking about how ketosis could affect other diseases, from autism to Alzheimer's. I found this chapter to be over the top, implying that ketosis is a cure-all for every medical problem. The evidence we have for ketosis related to these diseases is still very weak, which I don't think was stressed enough in the book.

Based on what I've read so far, I would suggest this progression of literature to get into ketosis:
- Why We Get Fat
- The Big Fat Surprise
- The Art and Science of Low Carbohydrate Living
- The Art and Science of Low Carbohydrate Performance

Art & Science...Living is definitely the most important one of that list of my current nutritional reading. Keto clarity is pretty high level compared to the rest of this list. ...more

2

Jan 06, 2018

This is NOT a definitive guide, contrary to what the title claims. This is one of those books a person might read as part of gathering a wide ranging collection of info on a topic but the content should really be taken with healthy dose of critical thinking. I think there are a lot of little nuggets of information but there also a lot of stuff that makes me roll my eyes. (Really, eat a mouthful of butter with every bite?!?) I encourage anyone reading this book to spend some time looking at Jimmy This is NOT a definitive guide, contrary to what the title claims. This is one of those books a person might read as part of gathering a wide ranging collection of info on a topic but the content should really be taken with healthy dose of critical thinking. I think there are a lot of little nuggets of information but there also a lot of stuff that makes me roll my eyes. (Really, eat a mouthful of butter with every bite?!?) I encourage anyone reading this book to spend some time looking at Jimmy Moore’s website and following up on the buzz of controversy that seems to surround his name on the net. I am skeptical of a person who blogs and has so many ads and things for sell on their website that their message gets lost. I think he has very little credibility anymore based on what I read about him in addition to the behavior of some of his oddly cultish followers.

There are a lot of nutbars out there in the diet/health/nutrition/weight loss world.

I thought the ideas about low carbohydrate eating presented in Why We Get Fat: And What to Do About Itand The Art and Science of Low Carbohydrate Living were a lot more balanced. The idea is worthy of more research but the main chapters of this book here don't contribute much to the knowledge base in my opinion.

One thing to note, I did write down the URLs of the many websites Moore got recipes from. Some are mainly recipes, some are people making a living selling diet help or info. I really enjoyed www.genaw.com/lowcarb/ because it was super simple and one woman's recipes from her low carb weight loss journey. ...more

5

Oct 17, 2016

This was very informative and was presented in an easy to understand fashion. I learned alot about the ketogenic diet and how our ancestors existed on ketones for periods of time when food was scarce and how the body can be fueled by either glucose from carbohydrates or ketones from fat. It was very interesting. I plan to get the previous book Cholesterol Clarity next.

5

Jul 30, 2014

First of all, I want to say that every time I hear or read Jimmy's story, and his speech to the Scientific Advisory board at the USDA Dietary Guidelines Committee, it has an emotional affect on me.

Now then, on with the review: One would expect, after reading his first book Cholesterol Clarity, that Jimmy Moore's follow up book Keto Clarity would have the same easy-to-understand approach to educating the reader and dispelling misconceptions about the subject matter. I am happy to report that it First of all, I want to say that every time I hear or read Jimmy's story, and his speech to the Scientific Advisory board at the USDA Dietary Guidelines Committee, it has an emotional affect on me.

Now then, on with the review: One would expect, after reading his first book Cholesterol Clarity, that Jimmy Moore's follow up book Keto Clarity would have the same easy-to-understand approach to educating the reader and dispelling misconceptions about the subject matter. I am happy to report that it in fact does.

In Keto Clarity Jimmy isn't afraid to tackle the hard criticisms of a ketogenic diet head on and do it with the same friendly, fun, and dynamic attitude that he is famous for in his podcasts. This book answers every single question you could possibly have about ketosis and is very easy to read. It comes with my high recommendation - especially for those struggling with obesity and who are looking for another, potentially far more successful, alternative from the mainstream advice and treatment. ...more

3

Aug 05, 2014

Great concept. I wish they focused more on the practical aspects of implementing this lifestyle and diet. Both the podcast and this book focus on "here's all the bad things the medical community and other experts say about this diet, and here are studies that prove them wrong." Ok - we get that. We don't need to go into the weeds repeatedly on that point, we just need to know how to successfully implement this diet/lifestyle.

4

Mar 24, 2017

I’m not your mom. I’m not a doctor. I’m just somebody who went to the doctor and found I was back at my peak weight and it made me mad. I’d been working out and dieting without “too much” cheating. I’m built like just about everyone in my grandmother’s family and at an age where I don’t burn off calories just by watching TV like I did in my 20s.

I made an appointment with a trainer to talk about diet and showed him a food diary. He pointed out some problems and offered two suggestions, either I’m not your mom. I’m not a doctor. I’m just somebody who went to the doctor and found I was back at my peak weight and it made me mad. I’d been working out and dieting without “too much” cheating. I’m built like just about everyone in my grandmother’s family and at an age where I don’t burn off calories just by watching TV like I did in my 20s.

I made an appointment with a trainer to talk about diet and showed him a food diary. He pointed out some problems and offered two suggestions, either Paleo or Ketogenic. I knew a little bit about Paleo but the little I knew about Keto was mostly a remnant of Atkins, which worked for me in my 40s. Because Amazon can read all your cookies this book popped up on my “you might be interested in” list and I picked up a copy. I began applying some of the principals and, once I was brave enough to face the scales again, had lost 10 pounds since the doctor appointment and lost another 5 on a weigh-in a week later. Whether this will continue is anyone’s guess but this was a convincing book in several ways.

While it carries a doctor’s imprimatur most of the writing is done by Jimmy Moore, who has a podcast with several hundred episodes all about Ketogenics.

The concept actually surprised me. Unlike “protein” diets (which still require quite a bit of greens if you do them right) this diet really turns the nutritional pyramid upside down. It’s generally designed so that 75% of calories come from fats. And we’re not talking those sissy omega-3 fats either. Saturated fats are king. Coconut oil, something I hadn’t heard of called MCT oil (medium chain triglycerides), butter. Most of this reads like a cardiologist’s nightmare, especially when you hear Moore talk about “fat bombs” to increase ketosis, such as a slice of cheddar cheese wrapped around butter. Another 20% of calories from proteins. You could do this diet fairly easy as a lacto-ovo vegetarian. I think you’d struggle as a vegan. The remaining 5% comes from carbohydrates, normally 50 grams or less per day.

If you check the diet on Wikipedia (which medical students often use for study, I’ve learned) you find that the diet was first developed in the 1920s to help children with epilepsy, and that it worked fairly well. The basic idea is that carbohydrates are used by the body to create glucose which causes insulin levels to jump all over and is stored as fat when the body has more than it needs. When the body is robbed of carbohydrates, like our ancestors experienced every winter, the liver transforms fats into ketones, which are used efficiently by the brain and other organs and are a good source of energy. Ask an Inuit, living winters on whale and seal blubber while rarely experiencing heart disease or cancer. Your liver is as happy to drain your own fat stores as it is to use whatever you ate recently. Since the chubby side of my family all hailed from either Sweden or Norway I figure that I’m genetically pre-primed for the diet of someone who doesn’t see green or sunshine for half the year or more. Add the exercise instincts of a compulsive reader and it’s a wonder I could pass through my own front door before now.

Jimmy Moore offers his own experience as someone who had reached 400 pounds when he began using the plan. He also has the passion of a convert, which many diets like this seem to engender. I was at a church lenten soup dinner next to a lady in her 80s tonight. She’s diabetic and says her granddaughter nags her endlessly about Ketogenics. I don’t normally tell people what I eat, other than avoiding starches and sweets, because I don’t want to come across as a fanatic. According to Moore this eating plan can prevent Alzheimer’s, cancer, general inflammation, depression, and a dozen other ailments that seem to have become more common. Some contentions made sense to me, others seemed to need a little more science.

I can say now that eating the plan seems strange and, sometimes, messily greasy. I’ve picked up a few recipe books as well. I’ll review those and keep updates going of my progress as I go along. ...more

5

Mar 05, 2016

I told you I eat my neighbors. I really do. Especially their fat juicy livers. Which is good for you, fat and liver. Many of you have been asking me how I have all this energy to write and somehow don't grow a fat ass from sitting on it all day. Well. THIS IS IT. Read this book. It will give you all my secrets. (And it will make you look your best and feel your best too.)

5

Sep 20, 2014

Jimmy Moore is either in the vanguard of a major movement in personal health and longevity, or ......! This work, along with 'Cholesterol Clarity' redefine what a healthy diet consists of, and re-imagine the origins and causes of disease placing them within a metabolic framework. He is condensing the work of many writers, doctors and scientists of the last decade.

Your body runs on glucose or ketones. You derive them from sugars (carbs) or fat. The premise of this book is that it is ketones that Jimmy Moore is either in the vanguard of a major movement in personal health and longevity, or ......! This work, along with 'Cholesterol Clarity' redefine what a healthy diet consists of, and re-imagine the origins and causes of disease placing them within a metabolic framework. He is condensing the work of many writers, doctors and scientists of the last decade.

Your body runs on glucose or ketones. You derive them from sugars (carbs) or fat. The premise of this book is that it is ketones that are the optimal energy source, thus it is fats that should make up 75% of your diet. This should convey a wide range of health benefits not the least of which is prevention of cancer, the reduction in body inflammation (and thus heart disease), and the warding off of neurological disorders including Alzheimers and possibly Parkinson's disease.

Moore advises that you monitor you ketone level via blood tests and/or breath test to see if you are in a state of ketosis, which is where the body is burning the ketone for fuel. Then you adjust your macronutrient level to stay in the zone.

The book attempts to counter the mountain of existing medical orthodoxy, with new hypothesis and the science that does (or will soon) back them up. The book tries to reverse the long held notion of fat being bad for you.

Jimmy makes a lot of sense to me. I personally went low-carb on Jan 1, 2012, and have experienced many health benefits as well as 20% weight loss. I am sitting here hoping that there are no long term issues that will ruin my senior years!

This is a must read, along with his other book, if you are seeking a new paradigm for you personal health.

...more

5

Dec 21, 2016

Extensive And Understandable

This is a good reference to almost any topic about keto diet, especially for those newbies or is interested on this lifestyle/way of eating. I agree with some of the health benefits discussed because I myself is experiencing them even if I am just on my Day 22 of keto (improved focus and sleep, carb/sugar craving is gone, lesser toothache, lesser appetite, weight loss from 88kg to 85kg or 6.6pounds loss on Day 4 which most likely just water weight, etc.). There are Extensive And Understandable

This is a good reference to almost any topic about keto diet, especially for those newbies or is interested on this lifestyle/way of eating. I agree with some of the health benefits discussed because I myself is experiencing them even if I am just on my Day 22 of keto (improved focus and sleep, carb/sugar craving is gone, lesser toothache, lesser appetite, weight loss from 88kg to 85kg or 6.6pounds loss on Day 4 which most likely just water weight, etc.). There are more areas on keto diet that were tackled in this book that are really nice to know.

Just one point as I do not know how to cook, and I am from the Philippines. I think the recipes presented in one of the chapters look challenging and/or I need to look into specialty stores for the ingredients. I may be wrong as I said I am no cook. That is why the food I am eating so far are very simple to prepare, usually needing only 1-3 ingredients, and that is with help if cooking is required.

Maybe I have to look for other books or blogs about very easy (lazy) keto recipes for culinary-challenged individuals. ...more

2

Nov 06, 2017

There is good information here, but the author's attitude is poor. For example, in the QA section he answers a question in which a hypothetical reader asks if low carb diets can worsen thyroid problems his answer is no. This answer could be fine if it was backed with studies, however none were provided.
I have heard several sources say the opposite so its hard to take his answer seriously when it seems more smug then inquisitive/open. This general "keto is awesome, do not question the keto" There is good information here, but the author's attitude is poor. For example, in the QA section he answers a question in which a hypothetical reader asks if low carb diets can worsen thyroid problems his answer is no. This answer could be fine if it was backed with studies, however none were provided.
I have heard several sources say the opposite so its hard to take his answer seriously when it seems more smug then inquisitive/open. This general "keto is awesome, do not question the keto" feeling pervades the book. ...more

4

Jan 03, 2019

I breezed through this book. Very helpful. I can understand others complaints that the author tends to bounce around from topic to topic. But the main takeaway from this book for me was that after reading it, I was not afraid to reintroduce fat into my diet. So for me, this book has been extremely helpful.

5

Feb 07, 2015

Deciding to eat this way has been a smart move. This book answered all my question and provided so much insight. This is a great book.

3

Dec 19, 2016

I've read a lot of books about diets, and some about this diet. This is by far the worst. Not that it says anything wrong, it's just that that tone it has is more publicity than information.

5

Mar 04, 2017

A must read for all T1 & T2 diabetics!

The ketogenic diet has vastly improved the quality of life for my husband and me. He is T2 and I am T1. He is back to his high school weight, and I have less of a fear for hypoglycaemic episodes, My depression and anxiety have gone away without drugs. Give this diet 30 days of your life. You won't regret it!

5

Nov 29, 2016

This seems to me to be an excellent diet but go slow as I feel sick. It may have nothing to do with the diet. I think this diet goes well with another book I just read about Alzheimers. Alzheimer's Disease: What If There Was a Cure?: The Story of Ketones They both recommend coconut oil.

5

Nov 07, 2014

If you're looking for a beginner friendly introduction to the world of eating Keto, this book is it.

The Standard American Diet(SAD) is shit. The food pyramid (before changing over to the slightly less insane Food Plate) is the reason 2/3rds of the country is overweight or obese. It's the reason we're plagued with disease and fatigue, and it's why health care costs are astronomical. The government recommends that the majority of our calories come from what is essentially poison (wheat & If you're looking for a beginner friendly introduction to the world of eating Keto, this book is it.

The Standard American Diet(SAD) is shit. The food pyramid (before changing over to the slightly less insane Food Plate) is the reason 2/3rds of the country is overweight or obese. It's the reason we're plagued with disease and fatigue, and it's why health care costs are astronomical. The government recommends that the majority of our calories come from what is essentially poison (wheat & gluten) while the entire medical establishment touts how bad saturated fat and cholesterol are for you (Hint: they're not: http://www.drperlmutter.com/brain-nee... )

Flip the food pyramid upside down (cue the Gluten Free Ebola episode of South Park...) and you get the ketogenic diet (60%+ of calories from fat, less than 50g of carbs per day), which allows the human body and brain to thrive.

Keto Clarity does a great job of introducing the reader to a counter-intuitive lifestyle (eat fat to lose weight and feel amazing?) by breaking down the history, benefits, and his own experience with the diet. Sprinkled throughout the book are blurbs from many of the professionals on the forefront of this 'high fat low carb' revolution.

You don't have to be fat to get something from this book. We all have varying levels of carbohydrate intolerance and insulin resistance, and its not always manifested by being fat. Many neurological diseases stem from a carbohydrate rich diet. If you're worried about Alzheimer's or cancer, there's emerging research discussed in this book showing that there's hope.

It's time to open your eyes and at the very least expose yourself to a different perspective from the one that the US government has been shoving down your throat for decades. Enjoy! ...more

3

Mar 29, 2017

I am a big advocate for a ketogenic lifestyle, and I regularly listen to Jimmy Moore's podcast. I've been following a ketogenic diet for nearly a year now, so I know most of what is included in this book, but it was not an enjoyable read for me. I felt that the writing was rather haphazard, with random quotes and personal anecdotes interspersed within scientific facts. The scientific information included is solid but it gets lost a bit in the delivery. Perhaps this was geared towards a reader I am a big advocate for a ketogenic lifestyle, and I regularly listen to Jimmy Moore's podcast. I've been following a ketogenic diet for nearly a year now, so I know most of what is included in this book, but it was not an enjoyable read for me. I felt that the writing was rather haphazard, with random quotes and personal anecdotes interspersed within scientific facts. The scientific information included is solid but it gets lost a bit in the delivery. Perhaps this was geared towards a reader unfamiliar with the diet who is looking for motivation and support. I will keep it around for reference but I won't be reading it cover to cover again. ...more

5

Jul 10, 2017

Everybody should read this book, because almous everybody in those days has some serrious health problems. It's not about weight loss only.... Diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, insuline resistance, even Alzheimer's diease, epilepsy, depresses and more can be cured! Even cancer can be beaten... just by diet! Try it....

4

Feb 20, 2018

Very good information presented in an easy to understand format. The traditional therapeutic keto macro ratios are often 80% fat, 5% carbs, 15% protein, but this was not really mentioned. Some people are extremely carb sensitive and will not succeed in entering ketosis on the daily 20g of carbs being constantly referred to.

It also concerns me that the author (judging from the neck-up only photos on his instagram) now seems to be currently considerably overweight once again.

Does the ketogenic Very good information presented in an easy to understand format. The traditional therapeutic keto macro ratios are often 80% fat, 5% carbs, 15% protein, but this was not really mentioned. Some people are extremely carb sensitive and will not succeed in entering ketosis on the daily 20g of carbs being constantly referred to.

It also concerns me that the author (judging from the neck-up only photos on his instagram) now seems to be currently considerably overweight once again.

Does the ketogenic lifestyle have long-term efficacy and sustainability? ...more

2

Dec 29, 2014

After reading it, this was a five star book. A nice overview of the theory supporting a ketogenic diet. The book has enough science to support the theory and is written in a way to make the science and theory easy to understand. It's also very motivating. I read the book and decided that this was the solution for me. I felt better since I removed refined starches from my diet several years ago, so it made sense that taking another step to reduce carbs would make me feel even better. It took me a After reading it, this was a five star book. A nice overview of the theory supporting a ketogenic diet. The book has enough science to support the theory and is written in a way to make the science and theory easy to understand. It's also very motivating. I read the book and decided that this was the solution for me. I felt better since I removed refined starches from my diet several years ago, so it made sense that taking another step to reduce carbs would make me feel even better. It took me a week or two to get the blood testing stuff, fat, and veggies. I was dedicated to eating fat, protein, and carbs only from non-starchy vegetables. I was prepared for feeling like garbage for 3 days.

After 3 WEEKS of ketosis, I still felt like garbage. I was sleeping for 10-12 hours a night and barely able to stay awake at work. I did little on weekends except prepare food for the upcoming week. I definitely didn't have the energy to do anything physical. I reread the section about what to do if things aren't quite working out and made sure I wasn't doing those things. At the 30-day mark, I gave up. And, for those of you who care about such things, zero pounds lost.

Maybe the problem was that the research and theory doesn't apply to women over 40. Regardless, the diet did not work for me.
...more

0

Aug 07, 2014

So many medical conditions can be improved by switching away from the Standard American Diet (aka SAD, or low fat, high carb) to a diet of low carb, moderate protein, high fat (aka ketogenic). We've been programmed by the Government and food manufacturers that fat is bad, when it's not. Sugar (and carbs) is the problem, not fat (diabetes was called sugar diabetes for a reason). If the standard diet isn't working, why not try the opposite? You have nothing to lose (other than your medical So many medical conditions can be improved by switching away from the Standard American Diet (aka SAD, or low fat, high carb) to a diet of low carb, moderate protein, high fat (aka ketogenic). We've been programmed by the Government and food manufacturers that fat is bad, when it's not. Sugar (and carbs) is the problem, not fat (diabetes was called sugar diabetes for a reason). If the standard diet isn't working, why not try the opposite? You have nothing to lose (other than your medical condition) and everything to gain. Ketogenic has been shown to help so many medical problems (diabetes, both type 1 and type 2, migraines, metabolic disease, heart disease, Alzheimer's, dementia, autism, epilepsy, just to name a few). ...more

3

May 20, 2019

This audiobook is full of information with plenty of citations to back up all the relevant facts. The author and narrator has a pleasant speaking voice, but the delivery with the frequent interruptions to read out the separate box texts made it harder to follow the main thread of the narration at times. If I were reading the book to myself I would skip over the box texts and the go back to read them.

1

Apr 03, 2018

The book is extremely 'salesy' and repetitive. Trying to go as far as condemning all other diets, using pseudo scientific examples, suggesting experimenting with oneself with measurement but without supervision) - far too pushy and almost risky suggestions to convince you to take up a keto diet. The author repeats 'eat low carb, low protein, high saturated fat diet' on almost every page in the book and has very limited additional content being the sales pitch.

4

Feb 20, 2017

I'm giving the keto lifestyle a try.

I have tried low carb before but this brings it to a whole new level. It is a very counter-intuitive diet for me, but I am going to give it a try.

2

Dec 29, 2015

Scraps from different meals do not make a good dinner. This is not the book you should turn to in pursuit of clarity. Stick to Art and Science of Low Carbohydrate by S. Phinney or Ketogenic Diet by L. McDonald instead.