Refuel

October 21, 2013
Internist La Puma (ChefMD’s Big Book of Culinary Medicine), creator of the popular ChefMD video series, was the first physician to teach nutrition and cooking in a medical school. Here, he offers a program designed to meet the needs of male readers and their “unique metabolism, mindset and objectives.” La Puma asserts that most diet books are written for women, but notes that more men than women are overweight, they die on average five years earlier than women, and suffer from widespread “mid-waist crisis.” Testosterone, he notes, plays a crucial role in the regulation of visceral fat. However, poor eating habits, lack of exercise and sleep, and environmental toxins such as BPA and phthalates (endocrine disrupters) are causing deadly belly fat in men that is linked to diabetes, erectile dysfunction, heart disease, high cholesterol, colon cancer, and other problems. Readers can first take a quiz to estimate their testosterone level and then proceed to La Puma’s diet and exercise plan, which focuses on modified high-intensity interval training. Helpfully, La Puma includes a section on how to “man” the kitchen, with do’s and don’ts, equipment advice, and plenty of healthful recipes. The text itself is peppered with clever, pithy “man memos.” La Puma’s diet is practical and user-friendly. Agent: Stephen Hanselman, LevelFiveMedia.