Carolyn L. Mein | Carolyn Mein
1 Only for enlightened people
I am so grateful that Carolyn Mein's book came into my life. It did take a while for me to figure out what I was, but the search was well worth it and FUN. I really admire and respect what she has done. I am a person who is very focused on health. I have read EVERYTHING and know lots.If you eat the way she recommends, you will be healthy for life. My digestive system is now in the best condition it has ever been in. Thank you Carolyn Mein for all the hard work you did. For those who "understand" and have a real desire for optimum health........you're amazing.
2 Look elsewhere.
Beyond the very vague and overlapping descriptions of the 25 types, there is little support or research evident in her claims. I can't speak either way on the credibility of her system, because there isn't enough support in the book about her research. She fails to explain the reasoning behind her types, as well as the reasoning for the diets she proposes for each. Nor is there anything said of her experience with clients or patients. Furthermore, the 25 types are based heavily on pictoral representations - which is not a fair way to assess one's body type alone. Regardless of our type, we can be in or out of balance, consequently effecting our weight, posture and general appearance.
If you're interested in the endocrine system or body typing I'd highly recommend the following:
- Body Code, Jay Cooper
- Body Type Diet, Elliot Abravanel
and of course,
- Food is Your Best Medicine, Henry Bieler
3 interesting but incomplete
i'm a western herbalist and student of chinese medicine. because of my background, i can surmise some of mein's basis for her conclusions, such as meridian pathways and their associated organs, endocrine hormonal influence, etc. i also think that she came up with the diets for each type via muscle-testing.
my primary interest in this book is as background material. as far as individualized diets, i recommend that people find what works for them, regardless of what they read in a book. mein's other pitfalls include not taking into account degenerative diseases, environmental stress, digestive disorders, etc. the biggest value in mein's suggestions is rotation of foods, as it is in most other diets-by-type.
we are all biochemically unique individuals and while typing ourselves may be fun, it's just one tool among many and not every tool is clinically useful in every situation.
4 Fun book but ?applicable
It was fun looking through the book, reading descriptions and trying to find my body type. And it has a value in increasing one's body acceptance after looking at page after page of different body constitutions. I could not determine my "type" exactly, and got it narrowed down to three possibilities (that is after following all steps and reading psychological profiles). Next I look at the dietary recommendations, thinking that I could maybe blend them....but they were quite different and did not provide rationale for the promation of healthy vs. food to avoid.
I would find it hard to make some of the seemingly bizarre diet choices when the author offers no explanation for the "bionutrition" , either by research or by client experience. "Eat Right for Your Blood Type" is so much easier and understandable, plus the author attempts to explain/support his recommendations.
5 Tens of Thousands??
First of all, I'd like to know who wrote that Dr. Mein has helped "tens of thousands" achieve their ideal body weight. Where is the evidence of this claim? It certainly isn't in the book--so on what information is this based? By writing such hype, you risk devaluing the content in this book!
I believe Dr. Mein has done a good job of correlating certain personality characteristics with marked physical attributes. Therein lies an important lesson for all of us: we need to develop greater tolerance and appreciation for these differences, especially when dealing with our children.
As regards diet, I don't know why Diet is mentioned at all in the title. The book is more about the nature of each body type than about diets. I found the diet section of the book to be a pedestrian grouping of menus, and difficult to read, perhaps because of its lack of creative organization or simplicity. Also, after following her dietary suggestions, I gained weight...so I'm not convinced they're particularly sound.
The 25 Body Type system itself is complex and hard to grasp compared to others out there, such as the Blood Type System. Maybe in trying to classify them by using organs as symbols, Dr. Mein was tempted to create too many body type definitions. A simpler system might be more beneficial in the long run. After all, Astrology, which seems overwhelming to so many people, only uses 12 categories.
6 Don't buy it!
This book is a big disappointment. The author explains the 25 different types but never gives any physiological reasons for the differences. Once you determine your type she refers you to a vague 4 - page section that lists the dietary requirements and restrictions for your type but once again, she never explains the reasons for the restrictions. There is also a very disturbing, detailed section for each type called "at your worst" which describes hideous personality traits that I found very offensive, inaccurate, and totally unrelated to the books subject. If your looking for a book that can help you achieve a healthy, proportionate body then read Body for Life by Bill Phillips. It's uplifting and the program works!
7 Disappointing
Walking through a bookstore, the book caught my eye and I bought it as an impulse item ($30 impulse?). I went through it and found my body type. My expectations were high because I really fit the type who never in 60 years of dieting (I am 73) found a diet that really worked. Her directions, instructions and list of foods to eat and avoid were vague and unhelpful. I guess it is a good idea whose time has not yet come nor found an adaequate author.
