The Four Corners Diet: The Healthy Low-Carb Way of Eating for a Lifetime

What do you get when you mix a biochemist, an internist, and a diabetes-focused medical writer to collaborate on a book about low-carb eating? Well, you would think it would be a winning synergy of talent for writing a solid low-carb book. Unfortunately, that's not exactly what happened with The Four Corners Diet.

It was a nice idea at the time to try to look at the scientific data about livin' la vida low-carb prior to 1996 (and there wasn't nearly as much evidence in the research world then like there is now), but much of the information included in this 2004 book release is already outdated by the advancements made in studies by researchers on subjects like the health benefits of consuming saturated fat, why fiber isn't as important as once thought, and much more over the past 5-6 years. Maybe an updated version of the book is in order to include this vital information.

Nevertheless, the "four corners" of this diet include low-carb eating, "heart-healthy" monounsaturated fat (I put that descriptive phrase in quotation marks because the veracity is in doubt), fiber, and pharmafoods (nutrient-dense foods with added benefits like yogurt, veggies, and fruits). I applaud the authors for attempting to make the idea of low-carb living more palatable for people who still seem to fear fat despite all the studies showing it is not as harmful to health as most people have been told. But replacing healthy saturated fats (like butter) with questionable monounsaturated fats (like canola oil) is not helpful to those people who need to replace the carbohydrates in their diet with their new fuel source-healthy and delicious saturated fats. Coconut oil, full-fat meats and cheeses, cream, and more are all an essential part of a healthy low-carb diet and omitting these from your low-carb lifestyle will set you up to stumble and fall.

I think the authors were on the right track with the promotion of foods with added health benefits because the probiotics and phytonutrients you consume in these foods are as essential to health as low-carb eating. Overall, the book is not bad, per se, but it certainly could use a sorely-needed update.

This diet is a realistic one for anyone not interested in Weight Watchers, who does not want to purchase special food from another nationally known diet company. Would buy this book again.

Not only have I lost weight on this diet, I also lowered my cholesteral. I originally took on this low carb lifestyle after my doctor hit me with the high cholesteral news about 5 years ago (which was long before the low carb craze of today). The original "go diet" was recommended at that time and I'm staying with the program with this book. Bottom line, simple reading, simple to implement into your life, simple to maintain. This diet works!

I have been on this diet since it was called the GO diet. Not only did I lose all the weight I desired without starving myself to death, I have also managed to keep it all off!! This diet is so simple it's a wonder everyone isn't on it. Easy changes to my eating habits has resulted in a permanent change in not only my weight but also my overall health. The sleepy feeling halfway through the day is no longer there. I do not need to sleep as many hours at night as I used to either. I love this diet!! It's given me more energy and at least a couple more hours a day of "awake" time. To me that is priceless. My 29 year old son went on it and his triglycerides were improved by it. He remains on it to this day as he too believes it is a life style change and not just a weightloss diet. I am wondering if the "reader from Alabama" even read this book or is perhaps confusing the Four Corners diet with another diet, because coffee is a "pharmafood" and is NOT discouraged on this diet. It is, in fact, specifically included in the diet. I should know because I drink at least 3 or 4 cups of coffee a day - a habit I've had for 20 plus years now. I love this diet and I love this book. I will remain on this diet for the rest of my life.

I have been on the Four Corners diet since August 2002. During that time I have lost 45 lbs. and have experienced no side effects of any sort. I have always battled with my weight and I have personally tried every diet on the market with no success. This book made me realize that I needed to completely change what I eat as well as my eating habits. This diet has changed my life and I have passed it on to friends, family, co-workers, basically anyone who asked me about my significant weight loss. After reading one of the customer reviews posted on Amazon, I was deeply troubled when someone questioned Drs. Goldberg and O'Mara's research and then shamelessly promoted a competing diet. I have known the O'Mara family personally for several years and I know first hand the extensive research and hard work Dr. O'Mara has put into this book. Her entire family follows this diet and her son, who started the diet the same time I did, has lost 85 lbs. and has kept it off to this day and also experienced a significant drop to his high blood pressure. I will continue to recommend this book to anyone who wants to lose weight in a healthy way.