Coauthor of the bestselling Fit for Life, Diamond here advocates a lifelong diet composed of 50% raw (living) food and no more than 50% dead (cooked) food in order to lose weight and maintain maximum physical and mental health. He offers himself up as a personal example of someone who overcame his medical problems by adhering to this nutritional program. Exposed to Agent Orange during the Vietnam War, and 50 pounds overweight, Diamond is convinced that eating living food is what restored his heath. The details of this somewhat unusual way of eating are conveyed in an easy conversational style, and the author clearly explains (sometimes overexplains) how the digestive process works more efficiently when less cooked food is consumed. The program comes across as palatable rather than rigid, because Diamond repeatedly suggests it be followed in a relaxed flexible manner and that occasional deviations are to be expected. According to the author, only fresh fruit juices and fruit (the best possible food) should be eaten before noon. Lunch and dinner may consist of either a protein or a starch (but not both) with cooked vegetables and a hearty salad. He strongly argues against the consumption of dairy products (calcium is readily available through raw foods) because they are hard to digest. He is further convinced that young children should drink breast milk, not cow's milk or formula. (Dec.)
