Fit for Life Review
Review At A Glance
Fit for Life is a best-selling book by Harvey and Marilyn Diamond, first published in 1985 but still popular today (it has sold 11 million copies worldwide & been translated into 32 languages). Fit for Life isn't really a diet, in the authors' view; it's rather a program for eating the right foods in the right combinations - a program which makes dieting obsolete.
How Does It Work?
The Diamonds claim body functions have a daily cycle: noon to 8pm - appropriation (eating and digestion); 8pm to 4am - assimilation (absorption and use); 4 a.m. to noon - elimination (of body wastes and food debris). Based on this premise, the book gives detailed explanation and discussion of a healthy eating lifestyle based on natural body cycles, along with a generous collection of recipes.
Who Is It Good For?
This approach is good for a wide variety of people, both men and women and health-conscious eaters of all ages. However, many of its claims are unproven and it does not offer the flexibility, up-to-date research and support found in programs offered e.g. at .
Keys: Tenets
- High-water content foods
- Proper food combining
- Body cycles
- Correct consumption
Pros
- Elaborate references to medical and nutritional literature
- Takes on the medical profession & food industry
- Many people have had success following the tenets of this book
- Encreases energy levels & improves mental states
- Possibly first book to focus on lifestyle in the context of dieting
- Cautions against drinking alcohol
Cons
- Nutritionally unproven claims
- Has made enemies in the scientific community
- Evening meals can be too restrictive
- No brick & mortor setting or online community
- No fitness components
Further Thoughts
One customer says: "Combine this with a good raw vegan cookbook and you will be on the path to health." A northern European reader comments: "To always start the day with large quantities of melon, canteloupe, strawberries, etc. is not a realistic option for people in many parts of the world."
