You Are What You Eat Magazine

Reviewed by Dietitian, Juliette Kellow BSc RD

Fact File - Top Santé

Issue reviewed:	July 2005
Pages:	164, 19% Advertising
Circulation:	No figures available
Cover Price:	£2.60

Content

A lot of features on food and nutrition, plus recipes and a little fitness.

Overall view

This new magazine follows on from the popular Channel 4 TV series You Are What You Eat, featuring Dr Gillian McKeith. Just like the show, it starts with a diet makeover – in this case, a mother and daughter who want to lose weight – followed by Dr Gillian’s advice and then the reader’s verdict.

In Detail

It’s a tried and tested formula, with the case studies having dreadful diets and the usual ‘poo’ examination, but it’s becoming a bit repetitive – as usual, nuts, seeds, herbal teas, carrot juice, quinoa, millet, buckwheat and rye bread are all on the list of foods that should be eaten!

There are loads of features, which are extremely well researched and written. However, many seem to be ‘investigative’ style pieces and so have a tendency to be a bit negative and serious. For example, there are features on the truth about wheat, whether we should take supplements, allergies in children, why we should drink more water and the low-down on chocolate.

There are also several features that focus on food including strawberries, summer fruits and foods from the ocean (which includes algae and seaweed). There are excellent features on beating migraine and how to beat nail, hand and feet problems. The main upbeat feature is a seven day plan to become happier.

Fortunately, there are plenty of recipes, which ‘lighten’ the magazine, but these fail to provide any nutrition breakdown. This is a major oversight considering the entire magazine is about nutrition.

Overall, this magazine includes beautiful pictures, is extremely well written and includes factual features. But it is does feel as though it’s campaigning for people to start eating an extremely rigid healthy diet, that’s all about nourishing the body rather than also being enjoyable. Ultimately, it’s a bit worthy and lacks fun or light-heartedness. Nevertheless, the information is interesting, even if a little heavy going.

Who it will suit

This will suit people who already religiously check food labels for nutritional nasties, are keen to get as much information as possible about food issues and scares, and regularly shop – or wouldn’t mind shopping – at their local health food store.

Juliette's Verdict

A good read if you’re interested in food issues and like to read lengthy features that are packed with facts. 5/10