Foods That Harm, Foods That Heal: An A - Z Guide to Safe and Healthy Eating [Hardcover]

Editors of Reader's Digest (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 6, 1997

An authoritative guide to the links between food and health covers such topics as the impact of diet on common ailments; how to cook foods to maximize nutritional value; and tips on reading food labels. $350,000 ad/promo.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

In a blizzard of conflicting nutritional claims and information, here is a book that gets down to basics, debunks many myths, and gives the reader a useful and comprehensive look at food, nutrition, and health. Based on sound science and the research of more than 300 nutritional experts worldwide, it is well organized and indexed, and will be a refreshingly clear reference for anyone who wants to know about nutrition and health (know anyone who doesn't?). One of the best books I've seen on the subject.

From Booklist

Alphabetical listings in this clearly written resource span general categories of illnesses, food groups, additives, and normal life passages, such as aging. Other entries refer to specific medical conditions or individual dietary elements--from acne and alcohol to zucchini and zwieback. Each medical entry recommends helpful foods, followed by those that should be avoided. The format allows easy access to information, with entries offering straightforward advice, explanations, and answers to pertinent questions. Case studies illustrate examples of positive changes in eating habits or lifestyle that can lead to improved health. Alice Joyce

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 400 pages
• Publisher: Readers Digest; 1 edition (January 6, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0895779129
• ISBN-13: 978-0895779120
• Product Dimensions: 10.2 x 7.9 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #200,601 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

28 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars If you own only one food & health book - this is the one!, October 24, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: Foods That Harm, Foods That Heal: An A - Z Guide to Safe and Healthy Eating (Hardcover)

After three years of doctor visits, with no relief, for severe leg & foot cramps, this book solved my problem. Caffeine can decrease the circulation to muscles. Simple, yes. After suffering from near debilitating cramping for years, giving up caffine was a minor inconvience, but one that I might never have known about without Foods That Harm, Foods That Heal. This book has page after page of simple, common sense cures, aids, and ideas that can save you many hours of discomfort, add years of healthy, productive living to your life, and bring the zing back to your step. It covers a broad spectrum of topics, from Acne to Zwieback, from "Pregnancy" to "Aging and Diet", in a format that makes finding your topic easy. Each item is discussed in easy to understand language. Each food is discussed, and has a list of "Benefits" and "Drawbacks" along with vitamin and mineral content. All in all, it is an excellent investment in your future health and well being.

34 of 36 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A nutritionist all it's own, June 22, 2001

By 

Athena (Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Foods That Harm, Foods That Heal: An A - Z Guide to Safe and Healthy Eating (Hardcover)

Never have I seen a book on nutrition so helpful and packed with information. This is wonderful for a person who wants to be aware of what they are eating and how it'll affect their health.

It is all in alphabetical order, with foods and conditions such as eating disorders, cancer, acne and more. Each food article contains "Benefits" and "Drawbacks". The common diseases and conditions have "Take plenty off...", "Cut down on...", and "Avoid..." with their articles. Each article shows the basis of the food and the disease. Throughout the whole book there are sections between the A-Z directory of all sorts of common foods/nutrients/conditions such as "Organic and Health Foods"; "Minerals" & "Stress". To finish off, there is a glossary and a "Helpful Organizations" list.

This book is worth more in information value then it's price value. It is like a nutrionist in your house. It is great for cooks and general people are concerned/interested for various things. It is jam packed and it is worth a good look.

24 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great reference book!!, January 16, 2003

By 

Molly - See all my reviews

This review is from: Foods That Harm, Foods That Heal: An A - Z Guide to Safe and Healthy Eating (Hardcover)

This book, as it will tell you, is not intended to be a replacement for your doctor, and doesn't promise to cure anything. If it did, I wouldn't like it nearly as much.
It is obvious that different people need different diets, and that there is a very direct relation in diet and health. It is also true that what is good for one person is not the right thing for another. This book recommends sensible diets to aid whatever ails you or your loved ones. It is great for when you have company over and are going to serve something, because you can go, okay, my guest has high blood pressure, I know I should avoid salt...but what can I fix? Or my guest is a diabetic, so I should avoid sugars, what if the guest is hypoglcemic? No more worrying, just look it up. Also a good guide for preparing something for your family gatherings (i.e. my family has a history of cancer, what can I prepare for everyone that will help us?)
Besides what to eat for specific disorders or diseases, it breaks down all different kinds of foods telling you what the good and bad things each one and this information is very well organized, making it easy to skim through for quick reading if your interest is in a praticular food or what to eat if you suffer from a praticular disease.