[.ca] Optimum Nutrition Bible: The Book You Have to Read If ... (ISBN 0749925523)

From Amazon.com:
Do you want more energy, emotional balance, health, mental sharpness, resistance to disease, and a longer, productive life? You can achieve this by changing your eating habits to achieve the ideal balance of essential nutrients, asserts Patrick Holford, a leading British nutritional author and founder of the Institute for Optimum Nutrition in London. While it may sound simple, this isn't an easy task--Holford identifies 50 essential nutrients, and each person's need for each nutrient may be different--so you'll need a healthful diet plus supplementation. In its simplest terms, Holford recommends a diet that is 70 percent carbohydrates (whole grains, beans, vegetables, fruit, avoiding sugar and refined foods), 15 percent protein (mostly vegetable protein from beans, lentils, quinoa, soy, and legumes), and 15 percent fat (Omega-3 and Omega-6 oils), supplemented with a high-strength vitamin and mineral preparation and 1,000 mg of vitamin C a day. This book goes much deeper than these recommendations, with discussions of antioxidants, phytochemicals, heart health, immune boosters, hormonal balance, bone health, infection fighting, and much more. Questionnaires help you pinpoint your individual need for dietary change and supplementation. Holford also includes the nutrient needs and dietary advice for specific diseases. A valuable resource. --Joan Price

Truly THE BIBLE if you're interested on nutrition !:
This book is absolutely excellent. I have already read twice the portuguese version (A Biblia da Alimentacao, Editorial Presenca) and frequently use it as a daily reference. Mr. Patrick Holford ..., founder of the Institute for Optimum Nutrition ..., clearly explains, based on scientific evidence, the concept of Ideal Diet ..., which consist of an adequate intake of macro-nutrients (70% carbohydrates, 15% proteins and 15% lipids) and micro-nutrients (vitamins & minerals and other substances, from foods and supplements). Healthier macro-nutrients sources and combinations are explained and their nutritional advantages over others are referred. For example, it is justified that some combinations of vegetal proteins are better than the best conventional animal proteins sources (like 30gr of integral rice with lentils is as good as 30gr of eggs since both provide exactly the same amount of the 8 basic aminoacids our body needs to build cells and don't include any colesterol or saturated fat at all). His book refers that God conceived our body to work based on a specific fuel - mainly complex carbohydrates, like fresh fruit, vegetables, pulses and wholegrains, which should make up two thirds of what we eat, or around 70 per cent of our total calorie intake; these provide slower release of energy and thus more constant blood glucose levels - and that using large amounts of other fuels are the major causes of disease and even death in our modern society. Adopting this Ideal Diet should be enough to improve your health, immunity, cardiovascular system, digestion, hormonal equilibrium, physical performance, bones, skin, intelligence & memory, fight stress, cancer, infections, overweight & obesity, avoid diseases and improve your overall quality of life. It talks about vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, phytochemical substances, aminoacids, enzymes, anti-nutrients and so on, and justifies why food supplements should be taken regularly even if your diet is already perfect. I am now a regular consumer of a multi vitamin & mineral complex, vitamin C, magnesium and zinc for specific deficiencies, and also essential fat acids (Omega-3: salmon-EPA-DHA and shark oil and Omega 6-Onagra-GLA) . It also introduces the concept of SONA (suggested optimal nutrient allowances) - whose quantities, in some cases, are 10 times higher than Dept. of Health DDR's - and justifies that these provide much higher resistance to infections, better intellectual performance and reduced risks of cancer and heart diseases. Each chapter ends with practical suggestions, such as eat this and avoid that, in order to give you guidance on how to achieve the goals proposed on it. A test is also included for evaluating your specific vitamin & mineral needs, based on deficiencies on each one and also on your lifestyle, stress, exercise, immunity, pollution exposure and other environmental factors. In the end, suggestions for several conditions and illnesses are proposed ... This book dramatically improved my view on nutrition and opened my mind to a healthier lifestyle. Now I'm sure that the Ideal Diet - the one that promotes energy and health and prevents disease - is completely different from the prevailing Ocidental nutritional culture (or perhaps ignorance ?). Do read this book because it can change - or even save - your life and the life of your loved ones. The Ideal Diet will certainly extend your life expectancy as well as it's quality. Always remember: "you are what you eat" !

The optimum nutrition bible:
This man who presents himself as an authority on nutrition is extremely dangerous. Without any reservation, I consider him a quake. His "knowledge" is largely anecdotical and questionable as the least. Furthermore the man has a vested interest in advising supplementing with huge quantities of vitamins and minerals. He has his own brand. Growing up, I never took any vitamin or mineral supplements on a regular basis. On the odd occasions that I had any need for nutritional support, I went to my doctor for controlled supplementation of limited dosage. Don't buy this book! Rather look at "You are what you eat" by Kirsten Harvig and let food be your medicine. Listen to traditional wisdom. You've been warned. Keep away from this dangerous quake! If I could have gone any lower, I'd have given this book and author zero stars.

FULL OF HEALTHY ADVICE:
Of course, many people would not regard this book as a 'Nutritional Bible', given its modest 342-paged volume. Still, a careful look at it reveals a lot. This book left nothing to doubt with its expanded coverage on every aspect of human nutrition. Its information were abridged in most cases, but they are far-reaching enough. It did remind its (novice) audience that energy and nutritional requirements may vary depending on age, sex, and level of activity. "The Optimum Nutrition Bible" used simple language to explain the manifestations of various nutritional disorders and deficiencies. It also described and classified nutrients in a way that any reader would follow. This is not a classical text that should be reserved for medics: anybody can get along with its contents. In addition to sports personnel, I would advise patients with nutritional sensitivities: like diabetics, alcoholics, anorexia nervosa, etc., to pay closer attention to it. Its message is simple and clear; but above all, very useful.

Excellent Book if You're Serious about your Health:
I recomend this book to everyone that is conscerned about their health. I was required to purchase this book for my N.D. program and it was one of the best, effective health books I have ever read. I have lost 20lbs. and have been able to go off of my blood pressure medicine. In addition when I wake up in the morning I am full of vitality and energy. I feel good instead of feeling sluggish and worn down throughout the day. Anyone can feel this good with diet and nutrition alteration and this is just the book to show you how to transform your life and physical well-being.

Concrete Improvement:
I don't typically like self-help books, find them exploitative of our fears, but this one is unusual. Following the author's suggestions, I lost the morning puffiness under my eyes, improved my mental acuity, (no more tip-of-the-tougne syndrome)and lost weight. These are all concrete differences not subjuct to conjecture. What more could anyone ask?