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Poliquin’s Bookshelf: "Eat, Drink, and Be Gorgeous"
by Charles Poliquin
When I first saw this book’s neon-pink cover jacket with a woman floating in a giant champagne glass with a drink in her hand (not to mention the word gorgeous in big letters on the cover), I thought twice about exploring its contents. After all, we professional strength coaches have an image to maintain – and if someone caught me reading pink books with silly cartoons on the cover, well, let’s just say it might not make the best impression. But looks can be deceiving, and such is the case with Esther Blum’s new nutritional gem, Eat, Drink, and Be Gorgeous: A Nutritionist’s Guide to Living Well While Living It Up 
(Chronicle Books).
First, understand that this is not a basic nutrition book dictating the best foods to eat with low-calorie menus and tasty recipes. Eat, Drink, and Be Gorgeous is what could be considered a “nutritional companion” that addresses the special needs of women. It is especially written for those women interested in, as Blum says, “living well while living it up.” In other words, how to party without suffering the consequences associated with partying – and to look great while doing it!
Esther Blum is a registered dietitian and certified nutrition specialist who works for the N.V. Perricone M.D. Flagship Lifestyle Center in New York City. Blum is a media magnet who has been interviewed for such popular magazines as Fitness, Harper’s Bazaar, Health, InStyle, and Self. Beyond these credentials, the first thing that impressed me about Blum’s book is that she had some pretty impressive endorsements: Jonny Bowden, Dr. Nicholas Perricone and Dr. Robert Crayton – those are some heavy hitters who don’t give out endorsements lightly.
Next, I was impressed by the fact that Blum isn’t afraid to challenge her profession’s recommendations for healthy eating, as evidenced by the following comments: “Americans have long considered the Food Guide Pyramid the gold standard for nutritious eating. If that’s the case, why is obesity reaching epidemic proportions in North America?” And, “If I were to redo the pyramid, I’d put vegetables and fruits at the base, protein and legumes as the second tier, unprocessed grains as the third tier, healthy fats as the fourth tier, and processed carbs and sugars in the little triangle at the top.”
Keys to the Good Life
The only chapter that resembles anything like a typical diet book is Chapter 2, “Eating Gorgeous.” Here Blum talks about making better choices in regards to the macronutrients of protein, carbohydrates and fats. She also talks about how to keep a food log, but one that is organized a bit differently in that it includes tracking when you eat, how hungry you were when you ate, how well the meal satisfied your hunger, and the exact time of your meals. In this way, Blum says the food log will “…help you eat mindfully and make the connections among food, mood, and energy levels.” Now the fun begins – that is, all the stuff women want to know about being gorgeous.
Chapter 3, “Drinking Gorgeous,” discusses how to make, as nutritionist Keith Klein has said, “better bad choices” about drinking. For example, on page 57 is a list of the calorie counts of the popular alcohol drinks – such as beer, wine, champagne and mixed drinks. From Amstel Light Beer (95 calories) to a piña colada (342 calories) to an 8-ounce margarita (540 calories), the bottom-line totals will surprise you. The chapter provides some healthy alternatives to mixed drinks; and if things get out of control, Blum offers several practical remedies for the resultant hangover.
Chapter 4, “Gorgeous in Bed,” is about things that will make a woman more desirable in bed. From how to handle bad breath to the truth about aphrodisiacs to some frank talk about STDs, this chapter certainly makes this book unique and valuable.
Chapter 5, “Vitamin G: Gorgeous Supplements,” provides advice on what you’re ready to pursue after taking care of the basics of good eating. The idea of this chapter is to provide a cause-and-solution reference. The best supplements for allergies, cramps and 20 more ailments – it’s all here, with recommended dosages.
Chapter 6, “Gorgeous in Blue,” deals with natural remedies that can help women handle PMS, depression and even a bad breakup. For PMS, for example, the solutions include eating protein with every meal, reducing (or eliminating) processed foods and caffeine, and taking supplements such as milk thistle, calcium, magnesium, GLA and omega-3s. There is also a unique section called “Getting Comfortable with Comfort Foods,” which provides healthy alternatives to popular food escapes such ice cream, spaghetti, macaroni and cheese, and potato chips.
The seventh chapter is “Gorgeous Questions and Answers,” and you may want to read it first to get you excited about reading the entire book cover to cover. Granted, some of the questions are rather silly (such as which is better: plain or peanut M&Ms?), but most are serious and relevant, such as whether or not caffeine can cause heart palpitations. In addition, there are some useful bonus sections at the back of the book such as a glossary of supplements and additional resources to find more detailed information on specific topics.
In Eat, Drink, and Be Gorgeous – a book that a lot of nutritionists are wishing they had written – Esther Blum has set the standard for a healthy approach for women who want to enjoy the good life.
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