Healing with Whole Foods: Asian Traditions and Modern Nutrition [Paperback]

If everyone in this country follows the suggestions about food and health in this book, I believe, there will be much fewer health problems in America.

As an organic integration of Chinese healing practice and western nutrition, this book provides one of the most systematic and comprehensive discussions of the relationship between food and health. Basically, there are three aspects I find most helpful about this book. First, the large scope it covers: from raw food to cooked food, from herbs to animal product, from water to minerals, from food combination to the art of chewing...the book explores these topics in an unhurried, sensible, and lucid manner. The analysis on each of the major foods near the end of the book is useful for the reader to select meal ingredients that can best help improve his/her health. Second, I like the "middle path" approach the author takes, without going to extremes with either his theory or practice. For instance, the author himself practises vegetarianism, as shown by some parts of the book, but he also acknowleges the effectiveness of meat in treating certain deficiencies. Third, I like its flexibility in tuning into each reader's different individual need and condition. For instance, raw vegetables and fruits may help the person who has "heat" signs, but may be too cooling for the person who feels cold constantly, especially in the colder season. So each person can use this book to fit his/her individual needs.

Because of my interest in food, health, and nutrition, I have read widely in these fields. But more often than not, I encounter books that take a narrow-minded, absolute, almost fanatic approach that makes you wonder what they are really selling. Paul Pitchford's book, however, impresses me as honest, intelligent advices given by a trusted friend, who has a full grasp of the eastern (mostly Chinese) food healing art, and discusses it from the perspective of western nutrition.

I only wish my copy of this book were a hard-cover so it probably could better withstand my frequent consulting (for almost three years).

If I could give this book 10,000 stars I would. This book is absolutely incredible! Some points:

- This book is HUGE!! 750 pages full of information (I was surprised I didn't have to pay much more for it -- for the amount of info this books contains, I would have easily expected to pay at least twice what it costs!)
- Amazingly well-written!
- Takes no sides, gives you the facts in a clear, concise way
- Complete with theories of Chinese Medicine and descriptions of disease patterns and how to cure them
- Very up-to-date -- this book is not just about old remedies -- it discusses all the issues of the "modern westerner"
- Very well organized with an incredible index that you can use to find absolutely anything
- Lists more foods than you probably know of, as well as the characteristics and therapeutic uses of each
- Provides numerous recipes (though it's not meant to be a cookbook, I was surprised to find that it not only describes the foods, it tells you how to *use* them, how to *prepare* them, and even how to store them!)

If you are looking for a guide to foods that is modern and up-to-date, yet helds to the traditional premises, this is it!
This book made me think about what I've been eating and drinking (and I don't mean alcohol -- you'll find some eye-opening truths here about the water you drink, as well as what the meat, poultry, and eggs go through before they get to your fridge.)
This book made me become a vegan.
This book made me purify my water before I drink it.
This book made me a conscious citizen of the planet!
But don't worry -- there is NO preaching! If you are intent on eating meat -- fine! All the suggestions in this book provide for carnivores, vegetarians, vegans, and everyone in between! It simply tells you te facts and allows you to think for yourself.
Thank you, Paul Pitchford, for putting together such an incredible book -- it's an immense achievment!

A very valuable book, as it summarizes and mixes the Western calorie-counting, "5g of iron per serving" nutritional knowledge with a more broad-view traditional medicine (east and west) perspective. No system is perfect, of course. Pitchford makes good use of each one's strengths. There's even a little spirituality in the mix, but it isn't offensive, it's welcome. Healing needs a little spirit.

Paul Pitchford seems like a good doctor. He's very knowledgeable, and yet teaches a balanced natural approach to health like that of the of the great past physicians (ancient or modern, east or west). His view on global issues and how they relate to individual choices put the work of healing in proper perspective. Despite being a bit of a "melting pot", this book is, in a word, GROUNDBREAKING.

Later authors will surely build on Pitchford's work, hopefully addressing some of its shortcomings. The author's style is pretty "wordy", (I'm guilty of this too) I suppose this is necessary to describe such foreign concepts as "sheng" "deficiency" etc, but it makes for pretty dense reading. Also, the long lists of foods, syndromes etc could be better organized on the pages, maybe with more headers or pictures. Some of his advice, especially the "hot and cold" potency of foods can contradict other authors and systems. This is confusing and it does not inspire confidence in that particular method of prescribing healing foods.

But this is still an excellent book, good for those thirsty for a balanced approach in this age of extremes.

Here's few other glowing comments:

-If you want to learn to be a healthy Vegan or Vegetarian, this book could help you very much.

-Gives the uneducated reader excellent tools with which to make their own "nature cure".

-De-emphasizes highly refined supplements and extracted nutrients and emphasizes whole foods, herbs and algaes. Refreshing in a world where almost everyone is trying to sell you something.