Dietary-Supplements Books

David Winston and Merrily Kuhn have written an excellent clinical manual on the use of herbs and supplements, in a convenient pocket format- no mean feat for a 540 page book! The book is a significant upgrade from the first edition with 16 new monographs and extensive updating of references and new research. 115 herbs and 14 nutritional supplements are presented in monographs which are both more detailed and more clinically informed than information found on web programs commonly available to doctors, herbalists or other medical personnel. Unlike most such books, the authors have many decades of experience using the herbs in clinical practice and thorough research backgrounds.

The monographs cover accurate identification, parts used, constituents and their actions, other known actions, nutritional ingredients, traditional uses, current uses and research, available forms, dosages and administration guidelines, pharmacokinetics, toxicity, side effects, contraindications, long term safety, use in pregnancy or lactation, drug/herb interactions and rationale (if known), special notes or uses and an extensive bibliography for each herb.

There are also a number of useful tables including herbs contraindicated in pregnancy, differentiated from those which require professional guidance; stimulant laxatives contraindicated in pregnancy (although the chart is also useful for those who wish to avoid laxative dependence), and herbs contraindicated during lactation. The table on conditions and possible therapies can be a useful reminder, although it cannot substitute for professional training in the use of herbal medicines.

One should not look to this book as a guide to the use of vitamin supplements- only 14 common supplements are listed. That is not the aim of this book. However despite its small size and lack of photographs, it is perhaps the best herbal materia medica currently available on western herbs.

We are only telling you of the excellent results we obtained after using a suggested treatment from this book. I have been using this book since the first edtion was published. The book was suggested reading by an amish man that was introduced to me at a country auction. I told the gentleman that my doctor's had tried everything over 4 plus years to lower my blood LDL cholesterol levels, lower my blood total cholesterol levels, and to raise my good blood cholesterol levels in the way of diet, exercise, and prescriptions. We are restricted in exercising by injuries received from an automobile accident. My cholesterol levels went from 600 to 210 in just under 3 months per my medical doctor, after using only 800 mcg of a mineral that this book suggested to take for high cholesterol. My medical doctor was shocked at the results of only just under 3 months of using this mineral had lowered my blood LDL cholesterol levels, lowered my blood total cholesterol levels, and raised my good blood cholesterol levels from 0 to within normal levels. We told my medical doctor that I wanted to stopping all prescriptions for cholesterol for 2 weeks before I started the 800 mcg daily doseage of the mineral suggesteed by the book. We found out later the amish gentleman was a self taught medical doctor. He is limited by state law to only doctor within their faith in the amish community. I did run into the amish gentleman again at another auction. We told him how much I enjoyed reading and using the suggested treatments in the book that he told me to read.

I have used that Priscription for Nutritional Healing for several years now and it has saved me many trips to the Doctor by showing me how to take care of my self and my family.
I am mother of 8 children--and 10 grandchildren and so this year I ordered this book for them for Christmas. I wanted them to have a good reference book of their own as they raise their families!!!
I call this book My health bible!!!

Absolutely Great Book for anyone! Even if you never buy an herb, this is a great book to have on hand to reference in the middle of the night when you're wondering about some problem you or a loved one are experiencing. It gives great recommendations of diet, herbs, vitamins, what not to do or eat, etc. It helps you help yourself be more healthy & conscious of what will benefit you naturally...not saying "don't go to your MD"... just "take responsibility for your own health & here is a guidebook."

This is a very large book with great information. I like how it is laid out and for each issue (in Part Two of the book) the author separates some supplements you may want to take into groups in order of their importance/effectiveness. There is also a lot of information in the first part of the book.

Because this is such a comprehensive book, I don't think the author is able to be a specialist in each of the areas discussed, which can cause a problem. In specific, I was looking at the lupus section and the author recommends taking alfalfa herbs. Alfalfa is a big no-no for lupus patients in all forms (this is addressed in a wonderful book written specifically about lupus called "The Lupus Book - 4th Edition by Daniel Wallace). Under "recommendations", the author does recommend avoid eating alfalfa sprouts, but still recommends it as an herb. Any form of alfalfa is potentially harmful and may cause serious flares in a lupus patient. This is just an example of how the author can give some misleading advice.

So, although it is a great overall resource, I would highly recommend researching any specific problems/diseases you may be dealing with in addition to using the information in this book - just to be sure that you are getting the specialized information that the author may not be able to provide.

This is a very thick book with tons of information. I am really enjoying reading it and finding alternative healing to my family's health issues, from breast cancer to autism to allergies.

Lyle McWilliam does the world (certainly North America) a service with this book by discussing multi-vitamins and multi-minerals in detail, creating a clear and easy to understand grading system and then grading every product he can get his hands on.

His explanations of vitamins and how they work and the various studies and understanding of the aging process are excellent and well worth reading for anyone concerned about their health.

I do find that his discussion of Olivol, an extract from olives with a process patented by Usana Incorporated AND including it in his grading criteria does bias him towards the Usana line of products. I still think it is a quibble over the top two or three, which are all excellent products.

What would surprise most people is that the common ones found in grocery stores and drug stores are just not worth taking. It is also the case that most doctors don't have a clue about what constitutes good nutrition and they could benefit immensely from reading this book.

Other interesting information includes which vitamins can be taken to excess and which ones can't (fat soluble versus water soluble vitamins).

All in all an excellent book.

This book was exactly what i needed. If you are looking for a guide on supplemental vitamins, this book is it!

This is a great book for blindfolded fans of USANA. This book masquerades as research but is in fact a hollow marketing tool for USANA vitamins. The "research" is specious, the conclusions are not logically constructed and the case histories systematically point to miracle cures that are not corroborated. In addition, this so-called research is not referenced nor is it peer reviewed. I really thought this book was going to be good but it ended up a shameless marketing tool for USANA.

By the way, mega-dosing on powerful antioxidants probably isn't a good idea anyway. Stick with a plate of veggies and a slice of fish if you are concerned about your health.

This is the most complete and comprehensive review that I have ever studied. It is presented in a way that it is a valuable guide to the lay person (patient) and a really excellent guide to the physician. Physicians do not get this level of information on nutritional supplements in their academic studies. Every phusician - especially Family Practice Physicians - should have this information in his office for quick review. Few professionals have any idea of the action and reaction of these preparations nor do they have any idea of how to establish a dosage regime for a specfic patient's needs.

Having a doctorate in organic chemistry, I am very aware of the differences that can exist in supplements today and was quite pleased to see this comparative guide published. I am looking forward to the new edition. Lyle McWilliam has done a comprehensive and objective evaluation (he is not directly affiliated with Usana - contrary to the claims of some reviewers), making this a worthwhile tool for those trying to decide which supplements they should spend their money on.

If you are serious about bodybuilding and don't use steroids you need to read this book. It has all you need to know about getting results in the shortest time period. Excellent information about nutrition and supplements. I prefer the training advise of Body Sculpting for Men which incorporates supersets and periodization training techniques. I have plenty of muscle mass from 20+ years of lifting so the body sculpting techniques are more what I am looking for at this time. Would recommend to new trainees the routines that Dr Colker has in the book.

I really liked this book. Its got hardcore insider info on how to build lean mass. It focuses a great deal on what a Catablic vs Anabolic State is and why and how you should avoid catabolic and stay anabolic. Sometimes it goes too in depth but that is good and you can take it or leave it.I would have liked to see more illustrations though.

Dr Colker gives some valuable workout tips in this book. Well worth the price for that. I felt it was a little light on nutrition specifics, but that may be because he has covered that in detail in other writings.

This book is a must read for those wanting to get big. The workout and diet info is second to none. The author is a bit technical so if you are dumb you should start out with something simpler. Great analytical information on body types and how to design the most effecting program around your own type.
The author pushes for the natural body builder (which I highly applaud), and puts down steriod users, but he then praises pro-body builders who are juiced to the gills. Also his section on steriods is filled with false information. This would be a five star book if all the information was accurate.

dont make the same mistake i did!! this is the first edition - do NOT buy this one --> get the 2nd edition!!! its the same price but has alot of new material!!!

I think this is one of the best books I ever read / followed. The concepts are awesome, the results so far are amazing. I wish I would have found this sooner. It's the better than ANY supplement I ever tried. A 10$ used one is the best mony ever spent! This book change my line of thinking about nutrition forever.

The book is very thorough! The authors poured over quality scientific studies to determine at how, when, why, and how much you should supplement with types of Protein, simple/complex Carbohydrates, Aminos, Vitamins, and minerals in the pre, during, and post workout periods.

High POINTS: The chapter summaries and key points are very nice to cement in what you have learned.

It is not your standard exercise/fitness/nutrition book stating "I did it this way, now I am selling my book." Nor is it a collection of pictures showing dudes stating "I gained 14.7 pounds in 12 mins, you can too by drinking snake oil."

Criticism: The book is redundant, continually restating the same points over and over again. Maybe it is to beat it into your head?

I am going to buy "Performance Zone" a follow up book that covers aerobic training as well.

Happy LIFTING!

I have read many books on body building, beginning with Arnold's and then nutrition related texts for support of what I am trying to achieve. This book has added what for me was a missing aspect in my attempts at success because with only two small changes in my methodology I have had good gains in only seven workouts.

To sum up the book: Drink a quickly digesting protein/carbohydrate drink within an hour of training. 40 grams protein, 60 to 80 grams carbs. Whey protein with Dextrose, Waxy Maize, etc.

All the rest is just the science which you really don't need to know about.

If you know less than nothing about nutrition, spending five minutes on Google will give you more useful information than reading this book. If you want to buy a book, this one would be at the very bottom of my list.

It's misleading and dishonest in the way it promotes itself.

It says the nutrient timing can be divided into 3 phases. It describes the first phase, it then goes on to describe the 2nd phase but forgets and carries on describing the first phase. As far as I can see all three phases are roughly the same.

So I propose a new "revolution" as the authors call it: Nutrient timing can be divided into one big phase and I'm going to call it "Life" and it's exactly the same as the Phase 1, 2 and 3 of this silly book. What I propose is you eat adequate carbs, protein and fat, before during and after working out. I'm going to call it a revolution and publish it in a book. I'm going to pad it out with schoolboy essays about the different nutrients to make it look like it's backed by science when it isn't.


I got this book half price and feel like I've been robbed, it's really that bad. Badly written, misleading, dishonest and just not worth even half the price.

GHB is under many circumstances THE SAFEST DRUG IN THE WORLD (WHEN USED PROPERLY). That definitely sucks that people get raped but when in a place where your drink is vulnerable to being contaminated you need to keep a careful eye on it if it is exposed or most definitely do not return to it after you have walked away. That is why experimenting with any substance is much more safe and fun in a good and known environment based on fully informed decisions with trusted people. It is much better to be in total control of the situation unlike at a BAR or a CLUB. I cannot believe the ignorance of some people who after a tragic experience, direct all of their anger over something that could have been prevented, towards a completely uninformed judgement. GHB SHOULD NEVER EVER BE COMBINED WITH ALCOHOL. WHEN USED BY ITSELF IT HAS MANY POSITIVE EFFECTS IF USED UNDER 3 SPECIFIC GUIDELINES.
1. You must know how much GHB you are taking.
2. You must know how much GHB you are capable of taking
3. Do NOT DRINK ALCOHOL.

Read links from this page for more info http://www.a1b2c3.com/drugs/ghb_04.htm


GHB does not do any damage to the body when used in a sane matter. It is completely metabolized into water and carbon dioxide leaving absolutely no toxic metabolites. In Conclusion, GHB, UNDER MANY CIRCUMSTANCES IS A SAFE DRUG TO USE FOR MANY PURPOSES. I could go on with more reasons but I wont. Like any psychoactive substance there are negative effects associated with them, mainly phsycological addiction in this case, but they do serve a purpose, believe it or not. I should not have had to write this in the first place, but it was for suredly necessary to set the record straight for all you ignorant folks out there who just had to read a little bit before opening your huge mouths.

The fear mongers are full of fear. Don't be afraid to take personal responsibility and don't be afraid to use your brain. One day GHB will be legal again when the world is run by loving people, who want to break down the barriers of fear, anger and hate. Cars, guns and Tylenol are more dangerous than GHB. The hateful corporates, zionists, and other religious fundalmentalists want to control your lives. It is that simple. Unconditional love is the answer, and GHB can certainly be a positive aid.

GHB is as addictive as the addictive patterns and behavior's as the individual using it. Our government latches on to any justification for Control and justifying it's existence, yes we all pay a price for stupid people and the biggest price is that those who are capable of using this drug responsibly are penalized by idiots. Also to address the Rape issue..

YOU CAN BE RAPED WITHOUT GHB, JUST SO YOU KNOW, IN CASE YOU COULDN'T FIGURE THAT OUT.

My perspective on the reviewers and the book. Can GHB be used in rape - yes. Does it cause people to rape other people - no. Can any CNS depressant be used for that purpose? Yes. Are they? Yes. Are they used much more frequently than GHB? Yes. Which is used most frequently for such egregious purposes? Alcohol. Is there anything novel about GHB in this capacity? No.

Here is my analogy, should we remove flashlights from the world because someone can hit people with them? No. Flashlights have their appropriate uses. Flashlights don't make people hit other people with flashlights.

Is the drug a miracle cure for everything? No. Is it a mood enhancer? That has never been established so the title is misleading. Does the drug have potential benefit for other conditions? Yes. Should those conditions be evaluated before others say it works for that condition? Yes. Just because it `worked' for someone doesn't mean that it could hurt someone else with the same condition. The drug has been shown to be very beneficial and safe for people with narcolepsy.

There is some decent review of the science history of GHB in this book but the conclusions are speculative. My conclusions, if you want to get "drunk" - go have some good tequila. If you want to sleep better, work on your sleep hygiene. If you want to rape someone, go to hell and stay there. If you have narcolepsy, GHB is an option for your symptoms.

What I can tell you is this. Not only is GHB a mood enhancer, it also helps others who have trouble sleeping get a full nights rest, due to it putting you into a deep REM stage of sleep, REM (Rapid Eye Movement - deepest stage of sleep, AKA a dream stage), but if you are also athletic, it causes the pituitary gland in the brain to secrete HGH (Human Growth Hormone), which has a variety of benefits, including but not limited to, a younger appearance, fat loss, and if you happen to have thinning hair, or hair loss, it will thicken it's growth.

However, because of mean spirited people in this world, they end up ruining it for everyone else. People, I happen to have sleeping problems, and now that GHB has been removed from health food stores (which, at one time you could purchase it under many different names, such as Blue Nitro, Renewtrient, Solar Water, etc.), I, along with others, now have to do without, and suffer, because this natural, organic, zero calorie substance is now considered a 'date rape drug'. I have been to a sleep specialist, and under current laws, GHB (now only marketed as Xyrem by Orphan Medical) is a Schedule III substance (only available with a prescription) is now only approved for people who happen to suffer from Cataplexy. People with Narcolepsy are only approved drugs such as Ambien, Lunesta, or stimulants such as Provigil, which I have tried all of the mentioned and they do nothing for me.

To all of the mean spirited people who decided to use this substance as a 'date rape drug', you should be ashamed of yourselves, but I know you are not. You don't care. That's obvious. As far as I am concerned, you should be given a life sentence for what you have done.

I was extremely impressed with this book. It is very easy reading. Like other reviews said, there are only a few pages to each items. The author, I believe, is a medical research journalist. Her premise for this book was weeding out what really helps vs. those "cures" with no real substantiation. For example,CQ10, she gives the name of studies names of MD's. Her research is NOT just annecdotal.
My mother has congestive heart failure and was not doing well. Her cardiologist gave me a pretty gloomy report about her condition and I thought her days were extremely limited. After reading the book, I spoke to her cardiologist about CQ10 -400 mgs. a day. He didn't believe in it but said if I wanted to waste my money, go right ahead. Well, about two months later, he called to tell me her heart was a lot better. Hhhmmm? Yes, she was on his prescription meds but that treats symptoms. The book mentioned other countries, gave the name of a heart specialist in CT. In other countries, I remember Israel as one, CQ10 is standard treatment. The author, Carper, even gave the name of a cardiologist in CT who had wonderful results with CQ10.
To me, this book was not the usual hype. It has the documentation I needed.
Another example, St. John's Wart for depression. In Germany herbs are studied and every doctor and pharmacist is trained. There has been extensive research. Germany certainly is not 3rd world slouch in medicine. They prescribe St. John's Wart over Prozac. It's just as effective without the side effects.
Before you use any supplement, if you're smart;you go online and do some homework but in this book, Carper has given you the places to turn to back it up and has recommended the best of the herbal, vitamin cures.
Doctors are not trained in this area. My mother's cardiologist was honest and admitted it.
I was so pleased with Miracle Cures that I'm ordering her food book.
Hope this helps.

This book is dangerous! Couple this with Troudeau's scam and you have a society who will substitute the healing powers of herbs for the lab versions of drugs. Allopathic theory of "symptom-Cure" written in the context of alternative health could very well lead to death. Herbs are medicine, the original medicine, and to tout them as miracle "cures" which will invariably cause people, especially Americans, to rush for the "miracle," can be deadly. Noone should be on medicine or medicications for any length of time, and we certainly should be at a more advanced stage by now to recognize that ANY book that suggests miracle cures is written only for profit, not for the knowledge it imparts. Gangi's book, "Forget The Cures, Find The Cause," was written to combat Troudeau's scam. I believe her book should have superceded this one as well.

You have the choice to control your health by what you put in your mouth. This book is a benefit to your health as not all doctor's will tell you the truth. They want your business so will often tell a "half-truth". It's your body, TAKE CARE OF IT!

I will highly recommend this book to anyone looking for natural ways to control certain conditions that may be cuased mainly by lifestyle. Like cholesterol in some people, heart disease, etc... And if you can't affort a good naturopath, this book gives good advice... Because I know naturopath's can be very expensive, even in thou in my opinion they are worth the money, but not everyone has the cash...

My mother had her cholesterol at 210... After 3 months of taking Fish Oil, Garlic, Pro Fibe (A powder of fiber) and a greens drink, her cholesterol went down to 139!!! I know amazing... And she lost 10 pounds and felt better than ever. She takes her calcium liquid with magnesium and she loves it also.

With me my trigecerides and my heart were very high. My risk of heart attacks was extremely high. And after 3 months of taking Niacin (that's a B Vitamin), taking Fish Oils, and the greens drink, my triglecerides went down to like the 70's... And my risk for heart attacks went down 100%...

This book gives you a good starting point, if you will, for certain conditions.

I hope this review helped you and good luck!

Please don't have false expectations or waste you money on this book before you at least look it over in the local bookstore or library. This book is full of fairly elementary information on a wide variety of herbals. Containing one to three page entries on a wide variety of herbal remedies such as ginkgo, sol palmetto, the wonders of cinnamon and the like. Anecdotal tales that have been around for years nothing beyond what the average salesperson at your local health and nutrition store might tell you. This book's contents hardly qualify as, "new scientific discoveries." Easily as much or more information is available through your favorite search engine. If these things truly were miracle cures the information could not be suppressed, these herbs didn't land in Roswell, they have been around for hundreds of years. If these miracle cures worked beyond a psychologically uplifting level all of us would know far more people who had been cured by herbs than we do those who have had chemotherapy.

I think of supplements as an insurance policy.

The main reason that I take USANA is that the supplements are Bioavailable. Many vitamins do not dissolve quickly enough (20 minutes or less) to be used by the body. To test, place vitamins in a glass of water. If they don't dissolve within 20 minutes or so, they are likely not going to be absorbed by your body.

This book helped me to understand that not all vitamins are the same, and, that some of the most popular vitamins may not be fully absorbed. Things are often not as they seem.

http://www.purchaseusana.usana.com

I have been using vitamins and food supplements since 2003, and realized "deep down" that I was doing the right thing. However, I was looking for a body of well-researched evidence to back up my belief. This book gave me that.

It contains medical evidence (sometimes quite technical) of the critical importance of nutritional supplements in the overall well-being of a person's health. Dr. Strand discusses the basis of major diseases, and how vitamins can help.

I realized, too, that the money I have spent buying good-quality vitamins has been worth it, because not all vitamins are created equal. You get what you pay for.

I found this book most empowering and exciting with regard to taking control of my health.

This was estimated to be arriving on 31st July 2007 and it is still not arrived so it is very hard to rate a book purchased, paid for and not delivered!!!

Please advise those responsible

Dr Strand begins his most enlightening book by telling us about his wife's debilitating condition, diagnosed as fibromyalgia. In a situation whereby they had nothing to lose, Mrs Strand took some vitamin supplements and her condition gradually but almost miraculously improved.

Virtually overnight, Dr Strand became a "converted doctor". It's certainly not very scientific for a doctor to make such conclusions based on anecdotal evidence, but Dr Strand goes on to identify and explain the root cause of many serious ailments from heart disease to cancer as "oxidative stress".

He describes our bodies as "rusting away" from metabolic activities that consume oxygen and release harmful free radicals. He provides a simple answer on how to win the battle from within - reduce oxidative stress by increasing the amount of antioxidants in the body.

Why is the significance of homocysteine in patients prone to heart attacks and strokes discovered so late? Why don't doctors recommend Coenzyme Q10 as a supplement to reduce the risk of heart attack? Why are vitamin B supplements ignored while cholesterol lowering drugs drugs are prescribed with such enthusiasm? Dr Strand goes into the politics and economics of medical research which may make him some enemies in the fraternity.

Whether it's cardiomyopathy, cancer prevention, arthritis or autoimmune disorders, Dr Strand's advice seems focussed on optimal doses (higher than RDA doses) of various vitamins, minerals, glutathione, alpha-lipoic acid and supplements like glucosamine sulphate and grape seed extract. Dr Strand provides lots of anecdotal evidence on how these supplements can work for a wide range of illnesses. It does look like vitamin C and E are good for almost every condition. His attacks on money-driven physicians get tiring after a while. I personally think that he didn't have to explain why most doctors don't want to recommend cheap supplements that reduce the number of indications for heart or orthopaedic surgery.

Do I believe in Dr Strand's theories? Well, as far as the need for optimal levels of vitamins, minerals and even herbal supplements is concerned, I agree. Whether remarkable recoveries recounted from the good doctor's practice are typical is something for which I have my reservations.

Nevertheless, it should be noted that the wellness industry is already booming even before Dr Strand wrote this book. Expensive vitamins, nutritional supplements and other healthcare and wellness products are all over the pharmacies and even supermarkets, often promoted by aggressive sales people with limited medical knowledge. I wouldn't say that these folks are more concerned about their potential customers' health than doctors who discourage their patients from spending so much on supplements that don't really work for their condition.

This book rolls back some of the falacious defensiveness of traditional medical thinking and shows the existing bias against nutritional medicine.

Dr Strand is blunt and forthright about his findings and is careful to give credit to the treatments that were effective, and to identify those that were not. He does not decry pharmaceuticals nor does he promise nutritionals as the end of all cures. Instead, he advocates the use of them in combination when possible. His writing does reveal a competition between pharmaceutically trained physicians and those who dispense and recommend nutritionals.

His case studies are excellent, and he retains a sense of reality and knowledgable insight afforded him by his traditional medical training that has now been tempered by his own experience.

If you want the truth on nutritional medicine, which is sorely lacking in our medical schools who are in some ways subsidized by big pharma, this will please you...and perhaps even make you more healthy.

Interesting, informative book - There's a lot of good information to digest and act on. If I can just get myself to follow the metabolic diet plan, I might actually enjoy my "golden years." My thanks to Dr. Natalie Kather for sending me a copy of the book. I bought one for each of my 3 kids.

This should be labeled the Metabolic plan for people over 35. It is very informative, however his whole book is based on taking DHEA but not if you are under 35....well I am 27, so I would like my money back! I can follow the things that we all know about in this book....exercise, eat LOTS of fruits and veggies, drink water, take your vitamins, get sleep, meditate, don't drink caffeine. Now you don't need to but this book I just summarized everything that it says,

The Metabolic Plan is the best that I've read in over 30 yrs interest in health, wellness and fitness. It is comprehensive and actually explains how the human physical system works from a big picture perspective. Most books on the subject tend to focus on one or more aspects rather than the total picture. An illulminating and extremely helpful resource - a must read for anyone over 35!!!

I really give it 3 1/2 stars, but that's not an option.

There were many things I thought were well-done in this book. Cherniske has a conversational writing tone, so it's a fun read. There's alot of useful health information on diet, lifestyle, medical tests, supplements, etc.

This book overall seems to be addressed only at people whose health is declining due to poor diet, exercise, age, lifestyle, lack of vitamins, etc. The biggest thing missing is that there is no mention of food intolerances/allergies, which are quite common and can contribute to mysteriously declining health! In a book that was meant to be a comprehensive guide to staying younger longer, I would expect to find a Chapter on this, or at least a page! But it isn't even mentioned in the Nutritional chapter. So you could follow Cherniske's plan but if you have an underlying health issue, you'll still feel unwell.

My advice - declining health even though you "eat well," exercise, and sleep plenty? Make sure you don't have food allergies/intolerances or some other type of chronic issue that won't go away with exercise and supplements.

I have met the author. He walks the talk. He is late fifties and his medical tests are that of a college student. He is vibrant, funny, and extremely intelligent. I have bought several copies of this book to give away. Aging doesn't have to be a mystery or a drag. It can slow down enough to enjoy and still be mentally, physically and spiritually fit.

The book was well worth its price. It is full of insights and helpful tips about what an average person can actually do to feel better and enjoy life more. I can't say that about most books in this category.

On the downside, there are quite a few conjectures and highly subjective opinions between the good nuggets of information. I think the author would have put out a more meaningful book by limiting himself to the plausible and sound topics and conclusions.

With that in mind, I'm holding on to this title and reread passages from time to time.

I thought I knew a little about nutrition before I purchased this book, however I was blown away with the amount of new material I discovered in this gem. I noticed my energy level and concentration ability increase like I never experienced before. Bravo to Jean Carper for the amount of important information that has changed my life for the better!

While there may be a lot of good information here, it is inseperably mixed with a lot of personal opinion and drum-beating. Instead of just compiling reports from qualified MDs, PhDs, etc., Carper regretfully goes one level further and INTERPRETS these studies for us. Unfortunately, she is not qualified to do that. Her background is not in medicine or health, she is just a writer. She wants to sell books, so she becomes super-positive with all her "analyses". Sorry, Ms Carper, your embellished opinions are not objective, are not scientific, are often flat WRONG, are not separated from the factual information, and thereby destroy what might have been an informative book. I suggest Holford's "Optimum Nutrition for the Mind", or Stoll's "Omega 3 Connection" for those interested in more science and less hype.

Let me cut to the chase, there are numerous supplements you can take to keep your mental facilities in top working order, but if you are looking for the ONE thing you can do that will provide the best overall results - take a multivitamin daily.

Ms. Carper has provided another fine study of the current research (circa 2000) related to the human brain and the effect of various supplements or lack thereof. If there is one complaint that I have about the book, it is that it is dated, continued research in the field would argue for an updated edition of the book.

The four sections of the book cover the workings of the brain, what to eat, what supplements to take and how to prevent vascular problems from affecting your brain. True to her usual form the author presents the research for each topic, broken up by nutrient or supplement, further broken down by details of the impact on the brain of a shortage and the research data to support claims that the nutrient or supplement may correct the problems, and how much to take for full effect.

The discussions are intriguing in that the author's conclusions require so little action on the reader's part to correct or prevent the stated neurological problems (topics range from depression to aggression to forgetfulness to age related problems like Alzheimer's).

One of the reasons I bought this book was because I was heading back to grad school (in my 40s), and I wasn't quite sure I was up to it. Having completed 13 semester credits in biological and chemical sciences over two 6 week summer sessions with a flawless 4.0 grade average, I can say that I feel at the top of my mental game and ready for admission to grad school. My current set of supplements include: a multivitamin with minerals, coenzyme Q10, Omega 3 fish oil, ginko biloba and grape seed extract.

Getting back to my initial statement, unless you have a perfect diet (be honest), you need a multivitamin with minerals to ensure that you are providing the basic nutrition for a healthy brain, once you are there you can look into the other supplements for further improvement. P-)

This is an excellent book. It is a "must have" item for anyone wanting to improve the functioning of their brain. I purchased one copy of his book for myself and another copy for my best friend. I feel certain that I made a vey wise choice in purchasing "The Miracle Brain"