Honor thy fodder: from the last supper to New York times bestseller, The Maker's Diet shows readers the light of eating clean

Muscle & Fitness, August, 2004 by Shawn Donnelly

BEFORE ATKINS, BEFORE THE Zone, there was God. That's the idea behind Jordan S. Rubin's The Maker's Diet: The 40-day health experience that will change your life forever, a 300-page diet book that calls for a return to the foods and consumption habits of biblical times.

Make no mistake, The Maker's Diet is religious. So if you aren't, the book may not be your cup of tea (in this case, unsweetened herbal tea). Writes Rubin, NMD, PhD: "God designed us; He knows how we operate best."

Still, the book isn't that religious. There's less pulpit-pounding than you might expect for a diet named after The Big Cheese. (Speaking of which, the author suggests those made from raw goat's milk.) The overarching message is actually quite nonparochial: that we should eat the same foods consumed by more primitive people--namely, hormone-free, grass-fed animals; organic fruits, vegetables and grains; and raw, unpasteurized milk products. If you're wondering about carbohydrates (and we know you are), Rubin says that although folks from that era ate loads of carbs, theirs were easier to digest, and we should generally avoid them.

What are God's best foods? As you might guess, fish tops the list, particularly ocean-caught varieties with scales and fins like salmon, halibut and (holy) mackerel. Fish are a rich source of omega-3 fatty acids, which Rubin can't say enough good things about. But, because of their toxins, all shellfish are a no-no. With the exception of pork, most meats are Maker's-approved. Beef, lamb, venison, chicken and duck are all fine, provided they're not chemically altered. Honey--as in the proverbial "land of milk and honey"--is one of the most powerfully healing foods at our disposal, says Rubin, and should be substituted for sugar whenever possible. The Maker's Diet also pushes cod liver oil, prescribing up to 1 tablespoon a day. Extra-virgin coconut oil is another emphasis, as is kefir.

Rubin's three-phase, 40-day experience isn't just about food. Each day calls for prayer in the morning and at night, inspirational music, light exercise, 2-3 vitamins with each meal and the absorption into the hands, feet and scalp of essential oils specifically mentioned in the Bible. (We confess, we've never seen this in a diet book before.) To cleanse your body, the program prescribes a partial-day fast once a week. There's even a hygiene system suggested to keep your eyes, fingernails, nose and mouth clean.

Full commitment to the Maker's regimen isn't cheap: A 40-day supply of supplements, cod liver oil and the cleansing kit retails for $130 (a handsome tithe, indeed). The book concludes with a thorough index of places to find the health products it recommends.

Maker's dieters might drop 8-12 pounds in the first few weeks, but the program isn't really about weight loss, it's about feeling good. Who would benefit most? Rubin himself used an early version to kick a near-fatal episode of the inflammatory bowel disease Crohn's, and the book offers impressive testimonials from Maker's Diet disciples who rebounded from various conditions. Others in less dire health straits found their energy levels were resurrected, so to speak. "I am convinced that every person's state of health can be greatly improved," the author testifies. "This 40-day journey will help return you to an optimal health level by restoring your immune system and creating healthy eating habits that will last a lifetime."

Will The Maker's Diet work for you? God only knows.