The Gold Coast Cure

The Gold Coast Cure, by Andrew and Ivy Larson, is based on the premise that various health problems can be alleviated with nutritional and exercise therapy.

Current medical thinking considers such treatment as "alternative", often preferring prescription medication. There is however, ample evidence that correct nutrition can reduce many symptoms without the side effects that are common with most prescription drugs.

Every time I receive a book, I must put aside all thoughts of "not another one". The volume of dietary advice in the market place is simply overwhelming - however each book tells a different story. This story is about the author's remission from the symptoms of Multiple Sclerosis (MS). Ivy Larson was diagnosed at age 22, and experienced a considerable number of debilitating symptoms. She and future husband Andrew began a journey that resulted in a tremendous recovery - based on dietary and exercise alone.

The Gold Coast Cure addresses the following "deadly habits":

• We eat too much trans fat, saturated fat, and processed vegetable oil.
• We eat too many processed, nutrient-poor carbohydrates.
• We don't get enough essential fat, fiber, and micro-nutrients.

It is essentially advocating a whole foods diet. Each of these points are dealt with in some detail, even including the specific brands of foods to look for, and how to shop for a whole-food diet.

Controversy

The author takes a stance on various foods. These issues (such as mercury levels in fish, the benefits of soy, the detrimental affects of too much protein) are controversial. There are arguments both for and against. Soy may not be the wonder health food that everyone believes. High(er) protein diets may only be detrimental to those with pre-existing kidney problems (there is a good debate on this here).

I was disappointed by the lack of discussion on known food allergens. The Gold Coast Cure includes allergies and asthma on its list of treatable health problems, and yet various foods on the menu are known allergens (soy, nuts, dairy, wheat, eggs, etc). For a person who has problems with a food group, such as a low grade intolerance to dairy, their health would possibly regress. This confirms my own belief - that nutrition is individualistic, and one persons answer may not necessarily be our answer.

An Excellent Exercise Section

Ivy Larson's profession - before being diagnosed with MS - was that of an exercise instructor. The book comes with a free 30 minute DVD, and the advice and exercise prescription is excellent. Very little equipment is required, and both cardio and strength training are addressed.

Recommendations

I congratulate and applaud Ivy Larson for pursuing an alternative method of self-healing. Hers is an amazing testimony of the benefits that a whole-foods diet can bring.

However our understanding of nutrition is constantly changing, and it is difficult to assert definitive prescriptive guidelines for such a large range of health problems.

I recommend this book to those that have experienced varying health problems (with or without being overfat), and who have little knowledge of the benefits of good nutrition and exercise. This is by no means a one-size-fits-all answer - but contains some sensible diet advice. However I believe this must be done in conjunction with a health practitioner who is well-versed in nutrition or "alternative" therapies.

Find out more:
Gold Coast Cure at Amazon
The author's website.

UPDATE January 2007: See review of the Gold Coast Cure's Fitter Firmer Faster program.

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