Book Review: Seduced by Salmon

Seduced By Salmon: Showing You 69 Ways With Salmon... After Pre-Heating Your Oven! by GiGi Ashworth
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Gigi has created an informative and inspirational book centered around salmon. After a brief introduction, there are three chapters. Chapter one provides information on the different types of salmon, their health benefits, and possible concerns. Chapter two dives into the different cuts, canned salmon, cooking methods, sources, tools, and pantry staples. Chapter three covers the basics of preparing salmon and creative recipes covering breakfast, appetizers, snacks, salads, entrees, and even one dessert recipe. All recipes are free of wheat, dairy, gluten, sugar, soy, fruit, and nuts.

This book is a must-have if you love salmon. And if you don’t think you like salmon, you need to try some of these delicious recipe creations.

This is more than a cookbook. I expected to be inspired by amazing recipes but didn’t expect to be educated on the types, cuts, health benefits, and more. The recipes are not complicated, and the light-heartedness tone is entertaining.

The author’s playful tone may not be for everyone, but don’t let it deter you from the quality of the book’s information and recipes.

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Book Review: The Galveston Diet

The Galveston Diet: The Doctor-Developed, Patient-Proven Plan to Burn Fat and Tame Your Hormonal Symptoms by Mary Claire Haver
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

The Galveston Diet was formulated based on the author’s success in navigating menopause and refined through her patients’ experiences and later an online community. The plan’s pillars include intermittent fasting, anti-inflammatory foods, and fuel refocused toward healthy fats. The target audience is middle-aged women nearing perimenopause and menopause.

The book has three parts: Part I: The Promise, Part II: The Actions, and Part III: The Plan. I would not recommend this book. Better-written and scientifically backed books exist on how to navigate menopause.

Basics of the plan
1. Intermittent fasting: 16 hours of fasting, followed by an 8-hour eating widow
2. Anti-inflammatory nutrition: limiting pro-inflammatory, increasing anti-inflammatory foods
3. Fuel refocus: 70% healthy fats, 20% lean proteins, 10% carbohydrates

The testimonials are interesting and inspiring. The plan is not overly restrictive. The author provides weekly guidelines, grocery lists, meal plans, recipes, and macros (no calorie breakdowns). Or, if you would like a less prescriptive approach, she provides a framework with examples you can use to create your own menu.

The nutrition information seems conflicting. She states that traditional keto diets are “extremely inflammatory” (p. 29) but then says, “In fact, the proof is overwhelmingly in favor of limiting carbohydrates, increasing good fats, and eating moderate amounts of protein” (p. 102). Isn’t that the traditional ketogenic diet?

For a low carbohydrate diet, which is also anti-inflammatory, she allows many items that go against this: some high-sugar fruits (e.g., bananas) and moderate alcohol consumption. She states, “Fruits are a natural way to calm a sweet tooth…” (p. 127). I don’t think this will help readers manage sugar cravings or keep their carbohydrates low.

There are more contradictions. For example, on page 111, she says to swap mashed potatoes for mashed cauliflower. But on page 127, potatoes are listed as an allowed starchy vegetable. Why swap?

Also, it would have been helpful to have citations within the text to review her recommendations alongside the clinical studies rather than at the back of the book.

Overall, it is too middle of the road—allowing a bit of everything—with little scientific rigor.

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