Author: Frank J. Ferrin, MD
Publisher: Outskirts Press
ISBN: 978-1-4327-9477-4

Like the famous saying about having moderation in all things, author Frank J. Ferrin MD states in his short book, Deconstructing the Food Pyramid – Balance and Moderation in Food Consumption, “It’s not just about food, it is the quantity and quality of food that is important.

This ninety-four page, paperback book has a cartoon drawing of a skinny chef chiseling away a food pyramid on the front jacket. The back jacket has a paragraph about the book and author along with his photograph. Inside there are eleven chapters, a page and a quarter of thirty one-liner “pearls of wisdom” and tables of carb contents in fruits and vegetables with no index. Most of the charts included are grainy, poorly copied or done in too small a font so hard to decipher. Words are bolded or underlined for emphasis and there are some spacing issues. The book is targeted to anyone who wants to balance and moderate their food intake.

With over sixty-five percent of the population being overweight, author Ferrin affirms that to lose weight, one must learn self-control by appreciating portion sizes, to actually taste foods consumed and to regard the healthier foods by examining their nutritional values. He considers that every single recipe can be deconstructed and rebuilt with better food choices yet only breaks down options for a sandwich and lists some fat alternatives.

Chapters in his book discuss obesity, foods we eat and assessing if they are carbohydrates, fats or proteins, how the hypothalamus is in control, the HCG weight loss program, diet myths, how hormones affect weight and toxins that control metabolism.
 
With the main theme being moderation and balance, the book touts calories do matter, but are not created equal. The chapter on assessing food values is confusing as the diabetes chart shows the percentage breakdown of daily calories but the chapter includes different numbers spread throughout several pages. The way written, one may conclude total carbohydrates (including vegetables and fruits) should be forty-to fifty percent, fats (not mentioned by word on the chart) should be at twenty to twenty-five percent and there is no mention of protein percentage except on the chart. The chapter on the HCG Weight Loss System tends to be unclear when it switches wording to HCG weight-management program.

Besides explaining BMI, hormones and Omegas, the author has several lists of what to do, not to do, avoid, maintain, etcetera such as keeping the body moving, getting a good night’s sleep, drinking plenty of water and eating fiber. Due to the shortness of the book, topics are very general and simplistic as most are common knowledge that if one exercises, eats healthy meals and in correct portion sizes, weight will be lost.

Dr. Ferrin may do a good job deconstructing the food pyramid but there is a lack of reconstructing it using simple organization. With many thoughts, ideas and using every day common sense, the main point really does come down to it is not always about the food but it always about the balance.

Follow Here To Purchase Deconstructing the Food Pyramid: Balance and Moderation in Food Consumption

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