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The Maker's Diet

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Are you looking for a health plan that is biblically based and scientifically proven? The Maker's Diet is just that. Using a truly holistic approach to health, this groundbreaking book leads you on a journey that will change your life. Discover how Jordan Rubin's faith-based journey from near death to vital health led him to uncover the timeless principles of the world's healthiest people. By following The Maker's Diet, your health dreams can become a reality.

336 pages, Paperback

First published March 12, 2004

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Jordan S. Rubin

107 books44 followers

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5 stars
546 (33%)
4 stars
505 (30%)
3 stars
402 (24%)
2 stars
140 (8%)
1 star
54 (3%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 182 reviews
January 4, 2011
I could read the book up to a certain point. when he starts talking about how we should be eating 'dirt', ect he lost me. and that you should buy his supplements. Also, I question his strict adherence to the Old Testament. Leviticus chapter 11 lists the dietary restrictions God gave to the nation of Israel. The dietary laws included prohibitions against eating pork, shrimp, shellfish and many types of seafood, most insects, scavenger birds, and various other animals. The dietary rules were never intended to apply to anyone other than the Israelites. The purpose of the food laws was to make the Israelites distinct from all other nations. After this purpose had ended, Jesus declared all foods clean (Mark 7:19). (http://www.gotquestions.org/foods.html)

We, as Christians, do not live by Old Testament law any longer.
Profile Image for Julie.
23 reviews
April 26, 2008
I took a lot from the book and left a bit that didn't apply. As a result of reading it, I no longer eat pork or shell fish. He does a great job at helping the reader see the practical nature of some of the Old Testament guidelines for eating and food preperation. A good book to learn about natural living. I learned the importance of removing toxins from my environment as well as my food. His story is amazing but too chronic for me to relate to. Overall, it's a great book. Each chapter can stand on its own so you don't have to read it front to back to benefit from it.
Profile Image for Terri.
103 reviews1 follower
July 11, 2008
Wish I would have saved my money. It is basically a 297 page advertisement for Rubin's supplements with numerous testimonials from people cured of everything from migraines to slow growing fingernails.
Profile Image for Kenneth.
10 reviews
August 21, 2012
Some very good advice, but like all organic/living diets, difficult when living on a budget. Why are pesticides and preservatives so much cheaper than natural?
Profile Image for Laurie DelaCruz.
356 reviews9 followers
July 16, 2022
Lots of great info here. I look forward to incorporating it into our eating habits.
Profile Image for William Lawrence.
334 reviews
December 12, 2016
Rubin, who advertises himself as a doctor, when he is not actually a medical doctor from a credible medical school, promotes a philosophy that takes advantage of believers and twists theology for his own use. In Restoring your Digestive health he seems to contradict himself throughout (pork is bad, but cow is all right?). He bashes vegetarian diets and says they eventually fail a person, but ask Charlotte Gerson, who is 91 and has lived a vegetarian lifestyle for all of her life. Why hasn't it failed her yet? And Dean Ornish? And Caldwell and Rip Esselstyn? And John Robbins?

His manipulation of theology perpetuates an anthropomorphic assault on animals. It's funny because there is plenty of scientific evidence that we did not originally eat the way Rubin says we ate. And there is even some evidence that suggests Jesus himself was a vegetarian. Readers really need to do their research, real research, not just Google searches. Reverend Andrew Linzey and many others would completely disagree with Rubin's reckless theological claims:

Check out: http://www.amazon.com/Animal-Theology...

And: http://www.amazon.com/They-Shall-Not-...

Rubin is a businessman, and a successful one, but he is not a doctor. I wouldn't doubt that he is taking payoffs from the dairy and meat industry, but if you dig around you'll find that he is actually the dairy and meat industry, as he now owns a stake in several companies. In 2004 he was also ordered to pay a fine and to stop making medical claims on his products.

As far as people who had success with his diet, there are bits of advice that are generic and going to help (most of which he took from other authors and their books). The bigger issue is that disorders like Chrohn's often go into remission on their own. I know several people who had it, continue to eat terrible while the disease still hasn't returned in 5, 10, or more years. If they had taken the products, they too would have been believers.

For a much more credible program see: http://www.amazon.com/The-Gerson-Ther...
679 reviews
August 12, 2011
Has some good principles, but mixes it with utter hogwash and tries to falsely spiritualize the whole thing. Yes, eating whole foods is good. Yes, we often overprocess our food, and going back to a more natural, local diet will be better for our bodies. But does cutting out pork, catfish, and crab really change one's health all that much? Is coconut oil really the secret to long life? Did failure to chew his food enough really give Rubin Crohn's disease?

Besides the technical difficulties, I really disliked how he tried to use the Bible to spiritually justify his diet. Sorry, but the Bible doesn't tell you that you shouldn't eat hydrogenated oils any more than it tells you that you shouldn't drive a car or shave your face with a multi-blade razor. It doesn't say a thing about "whole food nutrition supplements", "hydrotherapy", reducing environmental toxins, or the kind of "advanced hygiene" that Rubin promotes. Some of the Bible's instructions on diet probably really were a good idea health-wise for Hebrews living 2,000-3,000 years ago. But it was never meant to tell us how to take care of our bodies physically in perpetuity (otherwise, why would Jesus and Peter have made it so clear that it's okay to eat absolutely anything?) Rubin obviously knows this, since the vast majority of the advice in the book has little to do with the Bible, but the fact that he tried to give the impression that his diet is the "Maker's Diet" and comes straight from the Bible was bothersome.

If you want to do more research, there are also the issues that his degrees are from very suspect unaccredited universities, his health products had to get cease and desist warnings from the FDA concerning their unsubstantiated claims, and the fact that he heavily promotes the specialized "whole food" powders that are only sold by the company he owns. But I've said enough for one review.
Profile Image for Doris.
23 reviews5 followers
November 4, 2007
It's been awhile since I read this book. I remember learning a great deal at the time I read this. For one, I never thought of shellfish as being all that bad, but after reading this, I reduced my shellfish intake.

There was a lot of "do nots" in the book, if I can recall correctly. That does not appeal too much to me. Some of the recipes were very good, but took more time than I would've liked.

What happened to Jordan and the amazing transformation was very much that. I loved the focus on God.
Profile Image for Anne (In Search of Wonder).
658 reviews64 followers
March 31, 2009
Some things in this book I find a tad extreme, but I love the basic principle, which is that God created our bodies and He created food to nourish them. When we step outside His plan by eating foods He never intended, we reap the consequences in our health and our emotions.

This book made me very aware of the effect food has on my health and my ability to function. Since reading it, I've become much more particular about the foods I ingest and I attempt to eat foods as close as possible to the way God originally created them.
Profile Image for Kristina.
160 reviews11 followers
August 12, 2012
If you are a Christian with digestive disorders, read this book. If you are an atheist/agnostic with digestive disorders, read Breaking the Vicious Cycle by Elaine Gottschall.
Profile Image for Tracey.
124 reviews16 followers
September 20, 2008
One major thing I didn't like about this book was that it claimed that it would show what the science was behind the diet that God prescribed to the Israelites in the Bible. I kept reading through all his babble waiting for the science part to come and it didn't. He also makes it one of the basic tenets of the diet to follow his "Clenzology" cleansing routine which involves cleaning under your fingernails and your eyes, ears, nose, and mouth--now where is that written in the Bible? It seems to just be a push to sell the cleansing products manufactured by his company.

He also gives a lot of ink to his claim that taking megavitamins is bad for you, only to go on to make one of the basic requirements of the diet a "living multivitamin/mineral with homeostatic nutrients, 2-3 caplets, see page 283" ... what a surprise, on page 283 he suggests "Living Multi Optimal Formula" manufactured by his company, Garden of Life, which cost $67 for a one-month supply.

He also claims that you can greatly benefit from eating soil and dedicates several pages to this. I expected him to push the product "Primal Defense" (essentially capsules containing soil) made by his company Garden of Life. He doesn't. I don't know why he has to make you read all about eating dirt if he isn't even going to tell you to eat it.

The reason I gave this book two stars instead of one is that there are a few valuable insights especially in Chapter 8 "Return to the Maker's Diet" where he talks about the benefits of eating the live enzymes in raw vegetables and how goat's milk yogurt and cheese is a better choice than cow's milk products and why sprouted grains are more digestible. I have also been helped especially by his recommendation of fermented vegetables which have been cultured with lactobaccilli instead of vinegar--because it adds both beneficial probiotics and enzymes to your diet.

If you want a diet backed by science, then Elaine Gotschall's "Breaking the Vicious Cycle" (on the Specific Carbohydrate Diet) is much better in this regard. However my personal experience is that the SCD Diet alone (which I followed for six months before this) is not enough to get better but the addition of the live foods in "Maker's Diet" has given me promising results so far.
Profile Image for Elnora Fortson.
12 reviews3 followers
July 5, 2008
I learned that when we use Biblical wisdom, we can change our eating habits. By eating foods that are nutritionally nourishing, we will feel and look better. People perish from because of lacking knowledge; Dr. Rubin's book tells readers how to make food choices that will add to one's life. Getting off of the junk food and fast food merry-go-round and getting onto healthy, good tasting food will be of great benefit physically. Tasty menus and shopping sources are bonuses plus they help
enhance the healing process. Keep this book beside your bed, take it with you to the beach, read it on the subway. Then do someone else a favor and recommend that they add it to their list of "must reads".
Profile Image for Wendi Lee.
Author 2 books82 followers
November 15, 2021
I think this book is an interesting read, but not the authority that it claims to be. Yes to removing toxins and eating clean. Yes to less preservatives and cutting out processed foods. Trying to sell products is where it fell apart for me.
Profile Image for Athena.
494 reviews
July 9, 2020
Informative. Not too preachy for a book with a religious premise.
Profile Image for Melsene G.
876 reviews5 followers
August 16, 2017
This is a fascinating story of a young man who was deathly ill and finds his way to healing by going back to eating biblical foods. The first half of the book delves into the science of food and our digestive system, the gut, and other basics that are key to understanding nutrition.

The Maker's Diet is similar to some other eating plans that have been around and the author describes a bunch of those. In a nutshell, this way of eating is a combo of paleo, and whole foods. The author's top foods are fish, barley and wheat, cultured dairy (goat milk), olive oil, small fruit, soups & stocks, butter, coconut oil, raw honey, pomegranates, wild animal foods, seeds-soaked and sprouted, fermented veggies, organ meats, fermented beverages, & green veggies. He lists top herbs and essential oils from ages long ago. This is a little different from all the other nutrition books. And there is a focus on "The Maker" and plenty of bible quotes.

There is a 40 day plan that you can follow, along with recipes. If you've tried other diet plans and have had little or no success, this might be a new option for you. After reading a slew of nutrition books, I am already eating this way, about 80%, so I am not ready to attempt the plan right now, but that could change.
Profile Image for pianogal.
3,055 reviews53 followers
June 26, 2015
This book did not end up being what I wanted it to be. It felt like a commercial for his products throughout the whole thing. I just wanted something to tell me how to eat healthy, God-approved food. But this was a very strict, no cow's milk, no pork (that means you bacon) diet that included all kinds of supplements and powders. I get the God part of it, but I get really nervous about the powders. That stuff's not natural, so I'm not sure how it fits in here.

If this is something you want to try, I hope it helps you to the best of its ability. For balance I would have also liked to hear from folks who tried it, but it didn't work for them. I know that messes up the commercial aspect, but it might have made it more appealing to me.

At this point, I think I'll pass on this one.
Profile Image for Megan.
268 reviews6 followers
September 30, 2007
This one gets two stars simply because he provides some real information in here. My son was diagnosed with life threatening food allergies a few days after his second birthday. I honestly didn't know what to buy for several months. While this book panders to religious people, it gave me some food ideas that were previously beyond me. It also claims to clear up where anti-Semitic behavior started. As with most books in this self-help genre, you have to wade through a bunch of crap to take away a few pieces of important information. I wonder if he and Kevin Trudeau made a bet to see what could sell more diet books, religion or paranoia.
Profile Image for Linda Van Wert.
99 reviews10 followers
February 8, 2018
Are you looking for a health plan that is biblically based and scientifically proven? The Maker's Diet is just that. Using a truly holistic approach to health, this groundbreaking book leads you on a journey that will change your life.

The Maker's Diet will help you:
Boost your immune system
Attain and maintain your ideal weight
Have abundant energy
Improve your physical appearance
Improve digestion
Reduce stress

Discover how Jordan Rubin's faith-based journey from near death to vital health led him to uncover the timeless principles of the world's healthiest people. By following The Maker's Diet, your health dreams can become a reality.
Profile Image for Risa Woods.
13 reviews
March 1, 2018
Having been diagnosed with Crohns Disease in 1998, this was as if I was reading my own life, minute to minute, just transcribed from someone else! It was literally overwhelming- to the point of tears - as I read through the first pages, and then turned to my husband, finally, and said, oh my, I have to read you this, from the beginning...it's exactly what happended from not knowing and losing weight, passing out, all the symptoms up to even getting a J-pouch! Truly an amazing read, for anyone, whether ill or not, but it aslso helps show caregives what it takes from an individual to persevere & then continue the rest of their life.
Profile Image for Brooke.
101 reviews6 followers
July 27, 2017
Better as a book to refer to in certain situations than a book to casually read. The personal stories were interesting, but everything else was obviously pretty dry. I also wish the author would've clarified that he was only referring to the Old Testament. So many of the foods he said the Bible says not to eat were redeemed in the New Testament (pigs, for example). Otherwise, it was an interesting book taking a standpoint I've never heard before.
8 reviews1 follower
May 28, 2009
What a wack job, this book is so full of crap it should only be read for humor.
Profile Image for Heather.
54 reviews
May 13, 2015
Quoting the famous words of Mary from the movie Three Men & a Little Lady: "What a crock!"
Profile Image for Elizabeth.
287 reviews
March 25, 2018
Although I largely agree with the diet recommendations made in this book and Rubin says some good things, I would not recommend it to others because Rubin does not rightly divide the Word of truth.

1) He misunderstands the nature of the Old Covenant/Mosaic law and states that all of God's laws cannot be changed and are still applicable today. There is much confusion today about how the Old Testament laws apply today to believers, unbelievers, the government, ect., and this book will only add to the confusion.

2) Rubin's writing seems to attribute his healing to his eating the right foods/supplements, praying the right prayers, and having the right amount of faith. What hope is there for someone who follows all of Rubin's well-intentioned advice and yet fails to heal? He reminds me of Job's friends, failing to take into consideration God's sovereignty.

3) Another major issue with this faith-based book is that it fails to get at the heart of the matter. By all means, we should be good stewards of the bodies which God has graciously given us, but our heart motivation must extend beyond the promise of physical health; we must be seeking God's glory whether we eat or drink or whatever we do.

As for his diet, one can find Rubin's three phases pretty easily online, and the majority of his recipes are from Sally Fallon's Nourishing Traditions: The Cookbook That Challenges Politically Correct Nutrition and the Diet Dictocrats which would be a better investment. Rubin includes several foods (like eggs, dairy, and nightshades--tomatoes & peppers) in his initial phases that can be problematic for people with autoimmune disorders (like the Crohn's from which he healed). Personally, I'd be more inclined to start with the Paleo Autoimmune Protocol Diet and it's food reintroduction process which seems to have a more solid foundation in science and then transition to Fallon's traditional diet recommendations gradually. (Practical Paleo: A Customized Approach to Health and a Whole-Foods Lifestyle and A Simple Guide to the Paleo Autoimmune Protocol are great introductions to the former approach.)
Profile Image for Annediaz.
188 reviews1 follower
October 18, 2021
DNF. I made it 3/4 through before I decided I had more than given this a fair shot. Very, very disappointed in this book. I was very excited to learn about what the Bible has to say about foods and this book was an ad for his supplements, had untrue information and very, very little biblical support.

Not to mention it completely disregards extremely important New Testament information, to include:

“And he saith unto them, Are ye so without understanding also? Do ye not perceive, that whatsoever thing from without entereth into the man, it cannot defile him; because it entereth not into his heart, but into the belly, and goeth out into the draught, purging all meats?”
‭‭Mark‬ ‭7:18-19‬ ‭KJV‬‬

When Jesus declares ALL good as clean, including pork.

And also:

“Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭6:25‬ ‭KJV‬‬

As far as I’m concerned, I lost interest when I couldn’t find these verses.

And I was familiar with these verses prior to reading this book, so maybe this book never really was for me. I’ve read book after book on diet, as a topic that interests me, so once again, I was thrilled to find a book on diet that advertises its based on the Bible but was sorely disappointed. I don’t even eat pork. I’m not trying to justify living an unhealthy lifestyle—I’m mostly
Plant based myself. I was just super frustrated at the deceit and lack of information.
Profile Image for Hunter Carroll.
37 reviews2 followers
January 8, 2023
Truly only read 2 chapters due to the doctrine of this. Scripture time and time again in the New Testament tells us to eat anything as we please, so focusing solely on Levitical law and what it says isn’t how we are supposed to live our lives. It almost invalidates what Jesus came and did for us.
I am not denying for a second that we need to rid our lives of food that has been manufactured and man made rather than God given and that we need to limit our exposure to toxins. But living by the Old Testament when Jesus came and died so we don’t have to live by the Old Testament is not honoring Him by any means.
July 12, 2019
Gimmcky. I hope that Rubin is sincere in his professed motivation to guide readers toward greater health, and I am not knowledgeable or studied enough to either dispute or affirm the claims and information he presents... however, the apparent hyperbolic marketing choices and hackneyed health promises (sounds like any other diet fad) casts doubt. I would have liked more Biblical support for claims made about nutrition and hygiene, and found the linking of certain choices and habits to the Maker's "design/prescription" to be almost pompous in the absence of scriptural citations. I can't argue with the validity of the content, only criticizing the presentation.
Read
March 4, 2021
Utter nonsense and I'm slightly ashamed to think it took me a while to realize such was the case. In this book, you'll find statements like "Fluoridated toothpaste is bad because fluorine is poisonous" (everything/anything is poisonous in a sufficient dosage) or advising against receiving your annual flu shot.

The problem with Rubin is that he bases his ideas of literalistic dietary guidelines in the Bible (one example: don't eat pork) and then selectively presents evidence for that being good advice.

17 reviews
March 6, 2022
As with any book trying to tackle general health, there is no one size fits all, so really it's impossible to be 5 stars for everyone. However, I found many of the principles in this book very helpful, and overall I feel the advice will be excellent for those needing a health breakthrough, therefore I think it deserves 5 stars, as I think it will be hard to find a book better than this one that also incorporates Christian principles of health.
8 reviews
May 13, 2023
Excellent Book! The author was diagnosed with an incurable disease. After taking HSO’s and following the dietary guidelines in the Bible, he was healed and quickly recovered. He goes into the science of the dietary guidelines in the Bible and how we are just now realizing how accurate the ancient scriptures and nutrition advice from YHWH to the Israelites truly is. Worth buying and having as an on-hand nutrition resource for overall health and longevity.
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