Diet Health Books

Its written for the layman to understand. I enjoy his common-sense approach to eating the alkaline vs. acidic diet. Offers more info, and supplements to aid the health-concerned reader.

This book is a great reference for those needing to understand the nature of acid/alkaline in the body. The writing is clear and well considered and the case for alkalinity is compelling while never hysterical. The information is presented in a very accessible way and case histories add a valuable experiential dimension. I've recommended the book to many friends, healthy and unwell, I'm totally pleased to have found this book....a true gem.

It seems that every Editorial Review of Alternative Medicine always end with the statement 'it's wise to check with your doctor before starting off in search of miracles'. Isnt it a fact that most people have lost faith with their doctors who really dont know anything much about the human body and are only the 'gatekeepers' for referrals to their colleague consultants in hospitals. Ask a doctor what is the cause of each disease and he will answer you with a blank expression and a prescription for a pharmaceutical drug with a long list of side effects. Press him further about the drug interactions with the organs of the body and he will come out with a view that overall its well tolerated by the organs endorsed by the pharmaceutical companies. Doctors in the UK have about 5 minutes consultation for very patient. Thats enough to take your mandatory Blood pressure and to scribble some prescription. The problem is that most patients treat doctors as the source of all medical knowledge which they are not. The respect them too much. They are just body mechanics in my view and there can be various competency levels as well incompetency levels of such mechanics. So, if you want to get medically fit then you have to start treating yourself with a healthy diet and exercise. What Dr.Young says is not gospel truth but goes a long way in my view to encourage you on the road to a healthy lifestyle. Ask my local doctor and all he will do is prescribe dangerous drugs.

Beware any book with "Miracle" in the title. Dr. Young claims that Louis Pasteur and the past 120 years of science are invalid. He seems to want to re-invigorate the "Spontaneous Generation of Life" debate that was put to rest with Pasteur's generation. He claims to have seem the DNA of microbes present within humans change to that of another microbe within the matter of seconds. His entire system of health is based on this one idea: that microforms change from benign to hostile organisms in our body based on whether our system is predominately acidic or basic - our Ph balance. If acid, look out, because even our red blood cells can change into dangerous microbes. Almost any human ailment can be traced to this one source - from headaches to cancer - according to the author. I am skeptical of this idea. What I have found useful in this book are the tables that give the relative values of protein and other nutrients in our diets. Perhaps this material can be found elsewhere? Dr. Young is advocating a vegetarian diet. I do not think his underlying justification is useful. It is difficult to judge what is useful and what is not, when the underling principle being advocated on every page seems so implausible.

I have tried to do a Raw Food Diet for about 3 months but it was a little too extreme for me to maintain on a regular basis because of society, friends and family.
When I transitioned off a fast, I started thinking I needed more proteins (eggs/chicken) I fell of the wagon and did a 180 back to overeating and lots of animal meats/fats and started smoking again!

This book has help get me back in that mindset again.
I dont think I can live as a vegetarian... however this book provides valuable information for modifying your diet even if you dont want to give up meats.
For example, he discusses food combinations and suggests that eating meat with starch is bad. Since I've started doing this i noted much better digestion almost immediately. I only eat veggies with meat if I have chicken/beef, but only once in a while can i have a starch with meat but only on rare occasions.

Dr. Young also suggests getting away from the typical American Breakfast of eggs/bacon and encourages veggies or soup for breakfast. I started doing this and have grown more accustomed to this. I havve sprouted protein tortillas with avocado and olive tapenade with spring greens and cucumber for breakfast. Its very delicious with a cup of black tea in the morning. Its a nice change from oatmeal, butter & sugar in the morning or fatty bagels and eggs or panakes that are too heavy on the stomach after fasting over sleep. The idea is to consume more water-based and alkaline based foods to balance out your Ph Levels.... ie) More Veggies!

The science behind this is true in many ways from my experience.
I once suffered from Acid Reflux. When I went Raw Vegan last year my allergies and depression faded, but since that is too extreme for me I can at least follow a Ph Program that can give me similar results and one of the big problems this is targeting for me is Bad Digestion.

So if youre afraid of being told to go all vegetarian but cant seem to do it, this book will at least open your mind up to making vegetables more as the main course rather than meat for optimizing the alkalinity of your body and improving digestion.

I havent even finished reading the book but..........
The bloating, indigestion, gas issues I've had are improving also with probiotics recommended by the author (i didnt buy his products, just had my own probiotic) and elimination isnt a problem any longer. I plan on getting the PH Strips to test my drinking water as well and my levels internally to see where I'm at.

I notice I eat less now and my cravings for sugar are slowly subsiding. I cant wait for the pounds to drop now.

Buy the book, take what you can and apply what feels right as long as youre health is improving.

I hope this book is updated as new information becomes available. The information, in easy-to-read format, empowers one to live gluten-free.

We all know how these "...For Dummies" books read: for the most part, you just read one or two chapters to get the gist of your interest and then you're done. Not the case with this book. Danna's sense of humor keeps you reading about things that you initially thought you'd have no interest in. For example, who'd-a thunk that wheat was relatively new in the diet of humans? I didn't expect to buy this book and get a history lesson, but having read every word of every chapter...I got a little history, a little science, a little anatomy, and a lot of humor.

My wife was only recently diagnosed with Celiac's. It was frightening to think about...for both of us. With a portable "cheat-sheet" of no-no ingredients, simple and tasty recipies, and tid-bits of trivia - this book has been invaluable to us and we HIGHLY recommend it's purchase!!

As someone who has been recently diagnosed with celiac disease, I found this book to be very helpful. It is easy to read, humorous, and very informative. I highly recommend this book.

With more health professionals recognizing celiac disease for the problem it is, this book was really helpful, in an easy format, in understanding what would help sufferers of celiac disease and what are possible substitutes, using gluten-free foods. Thankfully, more local grocery stores are supplying gluten-free, wheat-free foods so it's not terribly difficult to find relief!

Wonderfull! This is the best book out there, I bought many but this one was by far the best! My daughter was only 10 months old when diagnosed. Initially I thought, it wouold be pretty easy to avoid gluten, oh well it's not and I got a bit overwhelmed I still sometimes do! It's hidden in labels such as "natural flavoring" or "coloring" ect. , who knew Soysauce is highly glutenous and while Malt is very glutenous, Maltodextrin on the other hand is not! She wrote the book so easy to read, with lots of little laugh-teasers in it and so you can start in any chapter you want. She herself is a Celiac and has been through all the trials and errors we have been through and or are going through! She helped in every aspect of learning the glutenfree diet and how to live with this, including explaining the desease or diet to people and so on! There is nothing NOT covered!

There is only ONE thing in the book I do disagree totally and that is, that you could use one toaster for both breads, glutenous and non glutenous, you'd just have to carefully whipe the grits inside! Besides risking a new hair-do if you forget to unplugg the toaster first you could never just wipe the gluten off the griss it's that sticky! Since things get hot in there there is no way you can get all of the gluten out and since traces even make the Celiacs sick, my daughter inlcuded, I don't think this is save. I recommend to get a toaster with 4 slots.

I separated the toaster with a big black permanent marker, marked on top several times around the two to-be glutenfree slots including a fat middle-line, as well as the pushbutton and the front. In those four-sloters you can take out the crumble-drawers individually one for two at a time, it is perfectly save to use one toaster for both breads. You just have to pay attention that you do not put glutenous bread in to the glutenfree slots, I had never a problem with it and even though we use both sides everyday, my daughter never had a issue with cross-contamination ever and you don't have to have two toasters!

Good luck, being gluten-sensitive or Celiac sucks, but once you got the hang of the diet (which in average takes about a year until you know ALL the traps and tricks and what not)- it's a lifestyle and becomes easy. I'm on my way there, but still have a bit to go! In either case, I'm the proud parent of a little celiac!

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The Biggest Loser Calorie Counter book has been very helpful to me. I'm not always dieting but do like to know how many calories I am taking in. This book has every calorie for all kinds of foods plus lots more.
Debbie Catlett

Several things make this "guide" unsatisfactory.

First, they use such a small type that it is impossible for anyone over 40 to read it without glasses.

Next there are the "creative categories"...I kind of expect milk products to be under "dairy"...not under "beverages".

Then there is the inconsistency of their measurements of a serving size. For cottage cheese, the chart ranges from 4 oz to 1/4 cup to 1/2 cup...now we get to "do the math".

Their "Dining Out" consists of all the Fast Food restaurants on the planet...with only PF Chang as a restaurant that I might find helpful.

Do yourself a favor...buy a different book.

It it hard to find foods in. I would rather have one that is alphabetized rather than catagorized

The first 27 pages of this book consist of "tips" for losing weight. This includes things such as:

-the Biggest Loser diet in a nutshell
-how to keep a food journal
-how to read labels
-a section where the Biggest Losers from the show share their favorite foods in various categories such as "their top 20 low cal foods", "their top 20 evening snacks", or "their top 20 low cal desserts."

Then comes the part you likely got the book for: the calorie counter. HOWEVER, this is not simply a book that gives you ONLY the amount of calories in a food item, no, The Biggest Loser Calorie Counter: The Quick and Easy Guide to Thousands of Foods from Grocery Stores and Popular Restaurants--As Seen on NBC's Hit Show! also gives you the amount of protein, carbs, fiber, sugar, fat, saturated fat, and sodium (which is really good for those with heart or blood pressure issues) in a food item. Know too that in this particular calorie counter, food items are arranged in alphabetical order by "groups" such as "beverages" "desserts" or "pasta".

The book ends with a "dining out" section, which is where you can find info on foods in your favorite restaurants- well, maybe not ALL your favorite restaurants, but a lot of them. Also need to mention that the book can fit in an average-sized purse so you can take it along when eating out (if you're a guy, you'll just have to tote it around).

A very well-organized and handy book that should help many dieters on their quest for a healthier body, I give it 5 stars easy. Overweight people suffering from plantar fasciitis might also be interested in The 5-Minute Plantar Fasciitis Solution.

This product does not even begin to compare to the Calorie King guide. I purchased the Calorie King calorie guide a few months ago on Amazon. My husband decided to start counting calories and asked me to order him a calorie guide. I was excited when I found The Biggest Loser Calorie guide. We are big fans of The Biggest Loser television show. We were both very dissapointed. First of all, it is very plain(black & white). It had very limited info on restaurant foods. Only healthy items like chicken or fish were listed. When I go on a diet I like to have more of a selection than chicken or fish. Calorie King is a much better guide for about the same price. The resturant section has most of the major chains & their menu items on it. The book is colorful and has helpful information on dieting. I am ordering another Calorie King for my husband. Don't waste your money on this!

i found this book quite good, it gives great lists of all the different food categories. still found that alot of the food listed was american, canadian or australian though.

Update your info about Hypoglycemia food choices and a safe, easy way to lose weight with this book - easy to use and understand.

This was an interesting book but the downside was the products you would find at a grocery store were Canadian products. Products in the USA do not have a GI listing.

A pretty good resource... has a lot of name brand foods that I never heard of or we don't have here in good ole Mississippi.

I was disappointed with this book. Most of the name brand products they had on their list are only available in Canada. This was of very little use to me since I live in California.

The Ornish diet is great for many, but I wonder would it work for Eskimos?

Seven years ago a doctor told my husband he had prostrate cancer and should have his prostrate removed. My husband went to a second doctor for a second opinion. The second doctor wanted to use radioactive pellets to stop the cancer. My husband decided to follow the diet Doctor Ornish had a group of prostrate cancer patients using. After following the diet and a "watchful waiting" process for seven years, my husband's health is even better than when he started the program. I think "The Spectrum" can help almost anyone who reads and follows it. Both my husband and I follow it.

I only gave the book 4 stars for two reasons:
-1. The structure of the book is not user friendly. I believe that for the first chapter of the book, Ornish should provide a "Reader's Digest" version of the book. Then for the readers who want more detail he could reference later chapters.
-2. I felt that Ornish presented his diet as THE solution. I wonder if there are places and people in the world for whom low fat diets are not possible or perhaps not even healthy, such as in Eskimo villages before Europeans took over. Would such people have developed the genes to not only live on a high fat diet, but the need to have a high fat diet? I wonder if there has been much research on the differences between the nutrition needs of different ethnic and racial groups?

I loved this book by Dean Ornish. I have read a lot of health articles and books, but I always look for fresh perspectives or new information to stay motivated. This book had a well-rounded, sensical approach to eating and living. The information was convincing because it was based in legitimate scientific research as opposed to mostly anecdotal evidence, which is often what health guidebooks offer. This one is a book I could refer back to again and again for guidance and inspiration.

If you want to live long and maintain optimum health, this is the book. Dr. Dean Ornish tells it like it is. There are no miracle cures, just common sense solid scientific based facts.

With the increased emphasis on preventive health care this book is written to help us become more aware of how we must take care of our own bodies as health care costs rise. In addition to informative advise on taking control of our choices it provided nutritional advise and many receipes to achieve improved health. A must read for the health conscious.

The book is great. Ornish does ramble from time to time -- at times I forget what the original point was. In general, however, I think this is a great book. He backs all his points with research data (sometimes multiple data). He explains nutrition, exercise, meditation, etc., as being part of a larger spectrum. He does not tell us where we should be on the spectrum, but merely points out the most likely outccomes for different levels on the spectrum and leaves it to the reader to make their own decisions.

My biggest problem with the Kindle version is that the tables are so tiny that they are basically illegible. One of these tables is one which shows where different foods are on the spectrum -- I would really like to be able to see it, as that is what the whole book is about. In really good light, if I squint, I can make out most of it (I have perfect vision), but it is not comfortable. The other thing to know about the Kindle version is that he keeps talking about the guided meditation CD that comes with the print version of the book -- it is not included (obviously) with the Kindle version and I'd kinda like to try it out. I am overall happy with my Kindle version -- everything else is well-formatted and easy to read, but am considering supplementing it with the print version for the two reasons just mentioned.

For those two reasons, I give this 4 instead of 5 stars.

As always, the South Beach cookbook set NEVER lets me down. I found this book full of great menu options for a variety of events. Also, they can be easily adjusted to your personal flavor desires....JUST GET IT!!!!

We've used it a few times in the 3 weeks we've had it. Good low carb recipes.

Great recipes abound in this book like all south beach recipes. I look forward to the next book!

If you follow a low-carb lifestyle and ever entertain or celebrate holidays then this book is a must-have.

I have several low-carb cookbooks but this one is different. Whatever other low-carb cookbooks you have, you need this one too. So many of us end up putting our diets on hold during the holidays or family get-togethers. Enter: The South Beach Diet Parties and Holidays Cookbook to the rescue.

This book gives recipes that are suited and delicious enough to become part of your holiday celebrations. The recipes cover events such as a Super Bowl Bash and Baby Showers to holidays from New Years to Christmas.

The opening page for each party or holiday gives you a menu list and also a party game plan that helps you organize and plan ahead. Nutrition at a glance facts and make ahead instructions are given at the end of each recipe.

The book's pages are high quality pages with color photographs. I always appreciate color photos of food when they are included in a cookbook. The book has 21 menus with 150 recipes that will have you saying "It's time to celebrate with some good food". Best of all, it's food that's good for you too.

I went on the South Beach Diet in November 2005. In one year I went from weighing 280 lbs to weighing 215! My cholesterol went from 221 to 141,and my blood pressure went from 150/100 to 117/77 (with NO drugs). Also I lost 6 inches around my waist. It went from 42 inches to 36.As of May 2008, I currently weigh 212 (at 5' 11') and am trying to work my way to 195 now.I own all of the books and am one of the biggest advocates of the diet. I would recommend this book to anyone!

My God. This book is so dry! I'm sure he is correct in what he writes, but I actually received information on his gospel from The Diet Doctor on FitTV when he was a guest.
If you are going to read his book, have a PDR and some espresso available.

Maybe this book has been helpful for some people, but not for me. He oversimplifies and says that the Zone diet (40% carbs, 30% protein and 30% fat) will basically cure every disease. I was not impressed.

The 1st of many Dr. Barry Sears'excellent books on secret to health and optimal physical performance - a must read for everyone who is serious about getting well and to perform at the highest level thru what we eat!

This is probably the simplest way to eat. It makes sense, and it works. I have already lost about 6lbs in 2 weeks time. The meals are easy to fix and the ingredients are simple. Once you are in the "zone" you will never go back.

Like many of you, I found myself wondering what the differences were between the various diet programs. What I discovered is that all of the major diet books are well written and share many similarities. None of them offered an "silver bullet" to weight loss - it primarily comes down to keeping your calories burned greater than your calories eaten. There are theories presented about glycemic index, good vs. bad carbs, etc., but at the end of the day it's about calories and exercise.

In this review, I've tried to offer brief summaries of each diet book/program in hopes that it might help you pick out the one that would work best for you. Don't pay too much attention to the number of stars, as it's my own subjective rating based on effectiveness, ease of use, and ability to stick with the diet. Instead, try to discern which diet might fit your lifestyle better.

The Abs Diet, ****
This book is written by David Zinczenko, the editor of Men's Health Magazine. The diet likes the number 6 - promising "6 pack abs in 6 weeks," by eating 6 meals a day. Each meal is built around the "power 12" foods. There is a strong emphasis on whey supplements. The fitness program was easy to follow but perhaps too strenuous for beginners and seemed better suited to men. Strong points are excellent nutritional content and strong exercise. Weak points are questionable claims about rapid weight loss and "6 pack" abs, and mediocre meal plans. Average recommended daily calories are 1,890, with 7 fruits and vegetable servings.

The South Beach Diet ****
The SB Diet is a slightly more permissive version of the Atkins low-carb diet. It is based on the premise that eating low-glycemic foods (foods that don't raise blood sugar) decreases cravings for sugar and refined carbs. Like many of the diets, there are two phases. In the first phase, fruits, sugar, and grains are banned outright. Phase 2 allows some fruit, high-fiber grains, and dark chocolate. The simplicity of the diet might appeal to many busy dieters. However the emphasis on the glycemic index and insufficient exercise sections are a drawback. Recipes are easy to prepare, but some called for unusual ingredients (a clever cook could make substitutions). Average recommended daily calories are a mere 1,340, with 13 fruits and vegetable servings (mostly veggies).

The Sonoma Diet ****
The Sonoma Diet is an updated low-carb diet with a Mediterranean theme. Again, it is broken into two phases, called "waves." In "Wave 1," the dieter is banned from eating most sweet or refined foods. The much longer "Wave 2" permits fruits and wine. It has a unique method of calculating portions by filling sectors of small plates with specified food categories. The diet is healthy but complex. It is also very restrictive, which makes it more difficult to stay on. Also, the book doesn't offer enough on exercise. The recipes were tasty but elaborate to prepare. Average recommended daily calories are a mere 1,390, with 10 fruits and vegetable servings.

Ultra-Metabolism ***
The Ultra-Metabolism Diet is designed around the assertion that people get fat because their body's systems become toxic, inflamed, and imbalanced. Again, this is a two phase diet. Phase 1 is an initial "detox" period. The longer Phase 2 is a "rebalancing" period. Overall, the dieter must eliminate white rice, refined grains, most red meats, and caffeinated beverages. The theory of your body requiring detoxification goes beyond any scientific evidence and rings a bit of late night television "miracle detox bowel-cleansing pills." The diet is fairly restrictive and complicated. The exercise section was brief but practical. Average recommended daily calories are 1,660, with 12 fruits and vegetable servings.

Volumetrics, ****
The Volumetrics Diet is based on Penn State research. It aims to maximize the amount of food you can eat for a given caloric intake. This is done primarily by eating reduced-fat products, adding in lots of vegetables, and using low-fat cooking techniques. It encourages eating a first course of broth-based soup or low-calorie salad (not heavily laden with dressing, cheese or bacon) to take the edge off your appetite. Recent clinical studies have shown this diet to be very effective. The recipes are appetizing but time consuming. Average recommended daily calories are 1,500, with 14 fruits and vegetable servings.

The Zone Diet, ****
The Zone Diet was designed to keep your blood sugar and hormones at optimal levels so that you can better fight obesity and diseases. It requires that each meal consist of 30% protein, 30% fat, and 40% carbs (based on calories). The diet allows many fruits, but almost no grains except oatmeal. The meals are simple to prepare and nutritionally balanced. But having to keep to the 30/30/40 balance is very tedious and requires lots of preplanning. Recent studies showed that the overall weight loss was below average. Average recommended daily calories are 1,660, with 17 fruits and vegetable servings.

Eat More, Weigh Less, ***
The Eat More, Weigh Less (Ornish) Diet is a low-fat vegetarian diet that bans all meat, fish, oils, alcohol, sugar, and white flour. Their clinical studies suggest that strictly following the diet can prevent or reverse some diseases. Ornish argues that it is easier to make drastic changes to diet rather than small ones. The diet offers the most food per calorie of any of the diets. It is actually lower in fat than current USDA guidelines recommend. Studies have shown good long term weight loss, but a relatively high drop-out rate. Average recommended daily calories are 1,520, with 17 fruits and vegetable servings.

Dr. Atkins New Diet Revolution, ***
The Atkins Diet is the grand daddy of them all. As with many of the other diets, it is divided into two phases. The first phase is a two week induction period that bans nearly all carbs. The second phase is only slightly less restrictive, but does slowly add more vegetables, fruit, and wine. Research has suggested that Atkins' dieters are less hungry than on many other diets. But the diet is difficult to adhere to and has a high drop-out rate. Long term weight loss has been shown to be average. The single most glaring concern with the Atkins diet is that the nutritional profile is far outside conventional dietary guidelines. (We've all known people eating handfuls of bacon, eggs, and cheese for breakfast, claiming they were on a diet). Average recommended daily calories are 1,520, with 6 fruits and vegetable servings.

Again, please don't worry too much about my ranking of the diet books - it's completely subjective. My suggestion is to simply find a program that seems to fit your lifestyle best.

Please be kind enough to indicate if reviews are helpful.

Written by Arthur Bradley, author of "Process of Elimination" - an intense thriller in which a martial artist, a greedy corporate attorney, and a sexy conspiracy theorist team up to stop a world-class sniper from killing presidential candidates.

I was suffering from a skin ailment for the past 2 years. After reading Eat Right 4 Your Type, I decided to start following the diet. My skin ailment went away!!! I am sold on the blood type diet. It really does work. I feel terrific, hooray!! This mini resource fits in my purse and I use it all the time. I tell people about my success and they want to know all about it. I use it when I shop, and when I go out to eat, to make sure I buy and eat things that won't be bad for my blood.

This is a handy companion for the larger book. It is easy to use especially when doing the grocery shopping.

This book was very clear on what you should do to get started with a healthier you

The book is small and easy to toss in my purse when I go grocery shopping. It has the foods and condiments I need to follow this plan listed in convenient catagories.

I ordered this book because some of my co-workers are on this diet. So far, I have replaced several major food items the book suggested I stop eating with other foods. I actually have lost weight and have more energy. I will continue to do so with other foods.

I think this diet worth considering, especially by those with allergies as I have. I'm hoping for a long-term solution and am keeping an open mind that this will help.

I have really enjoyed using this journal. It has everything I could think of and more. I looked it up because I heard Reese Witherspoon used one, and wanted to see what it was about. If you have a hard time keeping track of what you eat and when you exercise, this will help a lot!

Excellent product. The book's organization is great and helps me to keep me focus on my targets and also review trends of my workouts.

Also the quality is very good

This is a great book it will help people who exersise every day stay organized and people who need a little help it will encourage youBodyMinder Workout and Exercise Journal (A Fitness Diary). It keeps you focused and everyday you will as if you accomplished your goals no matter how small. It has plenty of space for workout logging and calorie tracking not to mention notes. I loveit!

This book makes it easy to track your exercise program and food intake. When you write your food down you tend to watch your diet more closely. A record of your workouts help to switch it up a bit because you now know what you did yesterday or the previous day.

Tracking what you eat and and how you workout is crucial if you are trying to reach goals. I am trying to lose weight and get in much better shape. With this journal I can track every rep done, its intensity, and how much weight was used. I can track how much cardio and what machine was used as well as take notes. I love the notes part because I can comment on my workout and what caused it to be successful or not so successful that day. You can also list what time you worked out, the date, and who your workout partner was.

On the diet part I like that I can list what I had for every meal, and has a separate column for supplements. You ca also leave notes for yourself. I like to explain my diet for particular days, especially if it was poor and write down why.

I really recommend this product if you are trying to record your experience working out and your diet.

It is the best book on nutrition ever! Yes it is heavily biased towards TCM, but it is perfectly fine with me. I thoroughly enjoy reading this book. It has good information, research and insights.

With so so many books on food, diet and nutrition, if I was to recommend just one book, this would have to be it.

This book was recommended to me and has come in handy for reference. It's really like a bible for people who are open to eastern and western medicine but prefer to use food rather than pills to help the body do its thing well.

....A wise and valuable book for anyone who is serious about examining their eating habits. A great guide for those who want to improve their life and health conditions and embrace the Chinese philosophy of Yin and Yang.This book also includes flavorful and delicious recipe's, to get you started on your journey.

I purchased Healing With Whole Foods about two years ago because my friend who is an acupuncturist suggested it. The book describes how to health practitioner Paul Pitchford diagnoses and treats diseases in his patients. The book is definately a definitive at home alternative health encyclopedia.

For example, the book has a section which explains how to do a liver and gall bladder cleanse.

The book also explains Chinese medicine in great detail. It explains how the author has cured diseases and helped patients, for example it has a detailed section on Cancer. And this is what is important, this book explains how to heal certain diseases, not just treat the symptoms of disease. That being said, it probably will be difficult to actually cure your illness just from reading the book. It has sort of a reference nature to it, it has helpful information, but the application can be more difficult.

The author also is an open minded vegetarian. His dietary guidelines include soaking whole grains and legumes for enhanced digestion, which is important. He believes that it is okay to eat meat and seafood for special circumstances, but in general does not support it. If your looking to understand eastern medicine in a thorough yet comprehensible way, this book is for you. If your looking for an open minded perspective about health and disease, this book is for you. If you are looking for some help about alternative recommendations for treating illnesses, again this book is for you.

The drawback for me is that as much as I wanted to read the book, I just couldn't get into it. It has all the markings of a great book, but may not be right for everyone.
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