The Complete Guide to Health and Nutrition [Paperback]

Here's a random section from the book:

"Summary

All of the proteins we ate are made up of twenty-three amino acids. These, in turn, are chainlike molecules containing the elements carbon, hydrogen, and nitrogen. There are eight essential amino acids that our bodies require every day, in the right proportions, in order to keep every cell in our bodies functioning properly. These eight (and their proportional relationships) are: (section removed for brevity)

Egg Whites contain all these amino acids in just about these ratios. The complete protein foods -- meat, poultry, fish, eggs, dairy products, and soybeans in the form of tofu or bean curd -- contain all eight. Incomplete proteins have some of them, in less perfect proportions. But if you combine two or more complementary protein foods, you are competing the protein...."

He goes on to describe the function of protein, how much protein is necessary, how to know if you're getting enough, etc. This thick (511 pages, plus endnotes and index) book covers a broad range in a good depth. Just flipping through it you'll learn a lot. I find that I get sucked in and read whole chapters where I had only been looking up one fact. In other words, it's fascinating, and very readable.

I admit (and personally like) that this book is baised somewhat towards a wholistic, vegetarian lifestyle. He also speaks (for a page or two) against high protein diets, which were also a fad during the late 70's when this book was written. "All the fat she is eating, along with the meat, is causing her body to produce compounds called ketones. At low levels ketones are relatively harmless. But eating too little carbohydrates is causing some toxicity effects. She's pleased to note that she's not particularly hungry -- in fact, she feels somewhat nauseous on this diet. This is one effect of those ketones. There are at least forty known cases - as of 1977 - of people on high-protein, low-carbohydrate diets (mostly using liquid protein) dying. The diet can contribute to a host of medical problems."

But even if you are a heavy meat eater and love the Atkins diet, there are plenty of just-plain-facts in this book that you should know about if you're interested in your health. "Meats are among the food that supply complete protein... and they also supply other nutrients such as iron and B vitamins, in which many vegetables are deficient. They contain fats we use for energy, heat insulation, and a variety of matabolic functions. Many of our organs, including our nerves, can make good use of this fat (although unsaturated fats from vegetables or fish sources would be preferable)." From here though, he goes on to talk about chemicals in the meat, antibiotics, nitrates.

In breif, this is an excellent, factual book on nutrition. It's biased somewhat towards a wholistic diet that consists of organic fruits, grains, vegetables, fewer processed foods, and meats.

To balance this review (most of the quotes are from the first chapter), I'll leave you with some quotes from other sections of the book.

"Summary

Vitamin A is more than just another vitamin. It is a nutritional weapon against cell atrophy and infection. In addition, it is a gaurdian of your eyesight, hearing, and the health of your skin. In short, it is a powerful healer and protector. Used with other nutrients -- especially zinc and vitamin E -- in a balanced diet, sufficient vitamin A can be your best bet for an abundance of "A"-one health.

(from later on the same page)

Actually, there is no such thing as simple "vitamin B." What the term donotes is a whole family of vitamins that together form the vitamin B complex. There's B1, B2, B3, B5, B6 (all of which have other names, as we'l see later), b12, biotin, pantothenic acid, choline, folic acid, inositol, and PABA. This family is a harmonious crew who work together as building blocks that make beaing and beautiful good health for you.

Chemically speaking, the vitamin B complex is a gorup of water-soluble vitamins found in nutritional yeast, seed germs, eggs, liver, meat and vegetables. etc."

I think the book is good reading since the author discusses a lot of pitfalls we all tend to get into with our eating habits, i.e. our intake of saccharin as a diet food. Anyone who's interested in their health and their loved one's health should be sure to read this book and take note of what the author's trying to tell us...to be more aware of what we put into our mouths.