Marilu Henner's Diet

There is nothing wrong with organic dairy foods, in fact they are good sources of protein and calcium - in moderation. And they don't contain hormones or antibiotics or chemicals either!

Marilu Henner does offer a plan/diet that many would find tough to follow. I have no qualms about no caffeine (licked it years ago), but I still have problems with the so-called "natural sugars" she suggests.

Your body metabolizes maple syrup, barley malt, and honey as sugars, too.

By the way, thanks for mentioning my post on my SUGAR SHOCK! Blog about Rachel McAdams and her maple-syrup drinking habit -- I couldn't find a way to post a comment about that.

Connie
www.sugarshockblog.com

Hey.. I agree with a lot of that stuff, eat fruit, cut down on processed sugars, cut down on caffeine etc, BUT... red meat?!

I, personally, am anaemic - so much to the extent that I had to get iron injections - and knowing now that lots of teenage girls don't get enough iron, I think that to advocate cutting down on red meat is really dangerous. Anaemia can actually kill you, or at the very least ruin your quality of life!

I know you can get iron from other foods, but still, I would say that having steak or something twice a week would be a good thing, rather than a bad one.

For womens' iron needs, I wonder how frequently one needs to eat, say, lean steak, to meet them? Heme iron is the easiest absorbed by the blood from what I've read. My wife donates platelets for the Red Cross and she's been turned away a few times because of low iron. A single steak a week before (no other red meat) put her in the range acceptable for donation.

Does anyone have any actual statistics or facts as related to this?

I also don't see the point of natural vs. refined sugars except to the extent that a lot of foods with processed sugar have other unhealthy things in them (trans-fats in pastries, for example), or else they lack fiber or other things which flatten the blood sugar curve. I'm sure it's better to eat a peach than drink heavily sweetened peach-flavored ice-tea, but if we're talking about putting a spoonful of sweetener into something, I have yet to see any evidence that there's a difference between fructose or sucrose (for example) in terms of health.

As for caffeine, I have a hard time believeing low to moderate caffeine consumption is problematic. I've seen people who drink 7 or 8 cups of coffee a day, and even played racketball with one (I was but a fleshy smear on the court by the end), and that can't be good. However, a few cups of tea or a cup or two of coffee a day is a pleasure I see no reason to give up unless it gives you headaches or something.

I think there are a lot of people who just think that anything that has physical effects must be bad. That's fair enough I suppose, but I'd like to see some actual science. Most of it in relation to moderate caffeine consumption is somewhat conflicted.

I do admit to taking a fair amount of pleasure in these studies that show that chocolate (isoflavones), moderate alcohol consumption, and moderate coffee consumption (massive antioxidants) are helpful.

Those studies must be annoying to the more ascetic among us. Kind of like the void right now about Splenda, because there's this whole group of people just waiting, perched and salivating, for a reason to hate it, since it's a chemical.

I imagine that the lack of reallly negative studies about Splenda has been highly dissatisfying for the humorless over at CSPI. I love those guys.

Marilu Henner whose real name is Mary Pudlowski claims to be a health advocate based on her quote "19 years of experimenting, a thousand mistakes, over 400 books, at least 200 bad diets... and a partridge in a pear tree, I have found what I believe are the best answers this planet has to offer about living a healthy, happy, and balanced life."

I'm a chemistry professor and a science and health editor and writer with a particular interest in exposing pseudoscience, health quackery and science fraud. Concerning items related to chemistry such as nutrition, which is simply biochemistry, I'm someone that the public can trust to tell it like it is and not one to give personal opinion, anecdotal evidence or testimonials. When I read or hear nonsensical nutrition advice, for example, I need to set the record straight. Ms. Henner is a fountain of misinformation concerning health whether it is via her TV show or her bestselling books. Telling people that facial wrinkles are associated with internal problems such as liver and kidney disease as she described on her Shape up your Life television show is not only preposterous it is dangerous. Or for people to quote "use natural sugars - fruit, maple syrup, raw honey, blackstrap molasses and other natural sweeteners." I assume her suggestion for eating "natural sugars" is as opposed to eating "refined sugars" such as table sugar? Obviously, Ms. Henner knows nothing of the chemical structures of sugars nor does she have even a simple understanding of the composition of sugars in the foods she recommends (sugars such as glucose, fructose, sucrose and so on…). Fortunately, not everyone reading her recommendations or listening to her comments has as limited an understanding of nutrition as she does. What knowledge did she gain from the 400 or so books she claims to have read? For those of you reading my comments, please take my advice: spend some time learning a few simple principles in biochemistry so that you can avoid falling victim to Ms. Henner's faulty health-related advice. In Good Health, Professor Don Mueller aka "Doctor Bones."

I've been following Marilu Henner's (real name, Marilu Henner, her father Americanized his name years before her birth, as have many people in this country) healthy lifestyle for years. As a cancer survivor I do not follow any advice or principles without researching them, and their origins, fully.

The reason I've chosen to follow this plan is because it is based on sound science. Yes, health problems show up on our skin, and yes people can react to dairy with digestion issues, skin conditions, and respiratory compromise.

This plan is not about dehydrated foods, or chemical sweeteners. It's about using food as nourishment and giving our bodies those nutrients on which they will thrive.

Through exhaustive research I've found the same advice as Ms. Henner's put forth by knowledgable health care professionals. Her books happen to put it together in a way that is easy for the average person to understand and implement.

I'm healthy and happy and have more energy at 49 than I had in my 20's.

I have not experienced problems with digestion, or adult acne since beginning this plan. Recurrent sore throats and sinus infections are no longer an issue. The afternoon energy slump that I thought was just a fact of life is now a distant memory.

This is about health, not weight loss. (Although I am easily able to maintain my size 4 figure, with no compromise to my health.)

This works, and it works by using the best that nature has to offer. Treat your body well and it will serve you in good stead.

I have followed Marilu's healthy lifestyle since 1999 and the only thing I have to say is, thank God I found her! I lost over 50 lbs, started eating more fruit/veggies (that has to be a good thing), my skin is clear and I feel wonderful. So whether Marilu's program is medically proven or not, I have my first hand proof and that's all I need. Thank you Marilu! You are wonderful.

I watched an interview with Marilu Henner where she talked extensively about healthy poop, and how it should float. I love how both her and Gillian Mc-whatishername, from the UK show "You are what you eat", are so obsessed with poop. It is amusing.

I am addicted to caffeine. I have a terrible diet. I visited Marilu's site because of this. I am seeking help. So wish me luck. I'm almost 60, and when I eat veggies and fruits, I get the worst indigestion, so I hope to try a health make-over at Marilu's site.

Like most diets, or "lifestyles"., exercise is the main ingredient. Most people, as long as they aren't a raging alcoholic or addict, would see the same results by just adding the exercise.

I am so tired of these celebrity nuts forcing their diet philosophies down our throats. What degrees in nutrition, kinesiology or biology do they have that make them experts. And why do people spend their money on this crap? You want answers, go to the gym. Talk to an experienced certified personal trainer and to a dietician/nurtrionist.

I am married to a certified personal trainer and I am a hardcore fitness enthusiast myself. At the gym, I see many unhealthy women. They often ask my husband why they are not losing weight or seeing any muscle gain. Simply, it's bad diet. YOU NEED TO EAT MEAT! Yes, meat is good. Low-fat milk and dairy is good for you. Unless you have intolerance to these foods, you should add these to your diet. I am all about protein and calcium, especially after a hard workout. I used to shy away from meat and milk during my 20s and I looked like an unhealthy twig figure. Now that I'm in my 30s and train harder, I eat lean meat and lots of dairy. I have great muscular strength. Not to mention all the great things going on inside my body, energy levels, etc.

I always say that any diet in extreme form is bad for you. Be smart. You have the common senseabout what's good and bad. If you can't figure it out, talk to a nutritionist. They customize meal plans for you. Excercise is good, but strength training with heavy weights is the best for your muscles and bones.

I was introduced to Marilu's book, Total Health Makeover, by a friend who has always eaten Marilu style most of her life. She is fortunate in that she is really in touch with her body and reacts severely to certain food combinations. I am looking forward to experiencing the same reactions when I make a bad food combining choices.

I began working out at a gym 3 times a week for 30 minutes in April and was pleased the trainer I work with reported that I had lost 6 inches in May. The scales were not weighing any less and my clothes were still quite snug since I refused to buy anything larger.

In June, the loss of inches prompted me to call my friend and learn more about the Total Health Makeover. Our little group has grown from 2 to 5 women. We meet every other week and just share ideas for good food combinations for meals. My friend measures each of us and we track our measurements.
Since I started trying to eat the food combinations that the THM suggests, I have lost 22 pounds and over 10.5 inches. I will be anxious next week to be measured again. I am down a total size and in some things I am down two sizes.

This plan is working for me and I am never hungry. I love the foods Marilu suggests in THM. I have reached my goal and continue to food combine. I do eat red meat occasionally and have had a dessert several times in restaurants which I am certain means I have had a touch of dairy. My husband, who does not follow the THM, has lost 12 pounds. For our family, the THM has inspired us to be more conscious of our food choices and will hopefully result in our daughter learning how to make the same choices. If you have tried everything else and not seen results, I encourage you to give the THM a shot. We feel great!