health Books

"I read this book when I first was deciding on what procedure to do and it was a tremendous help. It helped me to understand the different reconstruction methods in a clear concise way."

The Breast Reconstruction Guidebook is simply the best guide available covering the entire process of Mastectomy and Breast Reconstruction.
Well done Kathy Steligo.

This book was incredibly helpful to me. At a time when I was extremely anxious and being bombarded with lots of complicated information, this book provided me with exactly what I needed in an easy to understand way. The author has firsthand knowledge of the topic, which I think makes a real difference. The book has lots of photos, diagrams and information on resources. If you're in the unfortunate situation of needing to consider breast reconstruction, this book tells you everything you need to know.

This is the definitive guide for breast reconstruction. It covers every type of reconstruction, is fair and balanced and VERY readable. It takes a complex subject and really makes it easy to understand. When you are facing such an emotional decision and hard surgery - it helps tremendously to have information to help guide your decision making. This book is it. Highly recommended before you consult with your first surgeon.

I bought The Breast Reconstruction Guidebook several weeks ago and it has been an incredible resource! Due to a genetic mutation (BRCA2), I'm preparing for bilateral prophylactic mastectomies. The Breast Reconstruction Guidebook clearly explains mastectomy and reconstruction procedures, questions to ask my potential surgeons, how to prepare for surgery, and what to expect during my recovery. Kathy Steligo's book has helped me sort out my options at a very scary time, and for that I am truly grateful!!

This book has changed my life ... much for the better. After reading the solid scientific studies relating to nutrition as it relates to disease, we changed our eating habits in concert with the author's recommendations. The result: 10 lb. loss of weight, cholesterol drop to 150, blood pressure down 20 points and PSA stabilized.

The book presents well documented, well written, well illustrated material and is an easy and interesting read. I have recommended it to many of my friends and family who have followed the same advice to their benefit.

THE CHINA STUDY is a powerful, compelling, controversial blockbuster which dispels many modern myths.

Drs. Campbell and Campbell expose the truth, gleaned from decades of research on nutrition and cancer. They draw heavily on results form the largest human study ever attempted; a group of 835,000 people living in various provinces in China. They de-mystify and expose the correlation between animal proteins and the incidence of cancer in humans.

It may come as a shock to learn that dairy products and meats of all kinds (including fish) can dramatically increase the likelihood of getting cancers and heart disease. The balanced diet from the "four food groups" proffered by the AMA may be a recipe for disaster. Consumption of all animal proteins can lead to a much greater likelihood of getting ill from cancer.

What then, plants? Perhaps. Proteins obtained from plants appear to be the answer and, in some cases, can actually reverse some of the ill effects of an animal-rich diet. Who knew the American breakfast of meat, eggs, milk, butter and other animal-based foods could be killing you?

I also recommend "Eat to Live" by Fuhrman who draws from the China Study in his eating handbook to live healthier and lose weight.

I must thank Amazon for their understanding and support. I made a mistake of ordering two Audio CD'S instead of a book.
Therefore, Amazon has agreed to refund me for the wrong purchase of the two Audio CD and now I am placing the order for the book.
Thank you for your support.

David

The author gives compelling evidence on the correlation between nutrition and human illnesses. In addition, he understands that the scientific community in the western society doesn't embrace the idea of his study. Although, 40 years of his research is published with real data that one can decipher it's volatility.

Author Colin Campbell concludes that the answer to cardiovascular disease, cancer, obesity, etc... is known and within our control.

I was well aware of how the formula industry is destructive to breastfeeding.

I am familiar with how pharmaceutical companies have their own interests in mind when it comes to research and your health isn't their priority.

I have noticed that in every chapter in my medical books suggests more fiber, less fats, more produce, etc... but without emphasis, just a "little" suggestion.

I've have noticed that nearly anything that comes labeled with Busch, Kraft, School Box Tops should not be eaten.

I was not aware of how powerful these food industries (and meat and dairy corporations) are over nutritional research. Meat and dairy industry are to good nutrition what the formula industry is to breastfeeding: undermining, financially self-motivated and selfish.

He grew up on a cattle farm certain that beef and dairy does a body good.

Systematically he describes his life on the farm and his strong beliefs about the "benefits of protein."

In his academic research he expected to find that meat and dairy protein would prevent cancer in Asian children. He found the exact opposite, "Animal proteins, all of them, are dangerous to our health: leads to heart disease and cancer." As he continued to do research, all his studies confirmed the nutritional benefits of plants and the hazards of animal protein. He describes how big corporations are covering up these facts in the name of profits. Research and spending continues on to find cures and supplements, however nothing replaces good nutrition.

He has been a vegan (no meat, no fish, no eggs, no cheese) for like 15 years after giving up all that fresh milk and beef from his own cattle. It makes me think about my nutrition and the impact on my long term health.

It makes sense to me that the antioxidants and enzymes in plants would suppress cancer growth, prevent arteriosclerosis (an inflammatory condition), improve sugar regulation, fat metabolism (cholesterol and obesity), improve blood pressure and much more. Fortunately, his research also shows how some of the damage can be reversed.

Before you drink that milk, I recommend this read.

This book is a great book on the history of prions. Max easily illustrates how prions are connected to other important diseases such as alzheimers and diabetes. He flawlessly goes from past to present, connecting the two times with the venetian family who has a defective prion gene. It is really amazing that prions don't affect more people. It is also a wake up call for the beef industry in America.

This is a fascinating medical 'thriller', only it's real! it was nearly impossible to stop listening to it and i think anyone who likes medical thrillers or anything related to the medical field, would love this.
The book focuses on prions and their role in disease, especially 'mad cow disease'.

This is a very scary book. The Family that Couldn't Sleep by D. T. Maxd was a very thought provoking study of some of the neurodegenerative diseases that have eluded our understanding. Most of those that the author mentions are truly horrific to the individual who suffers them and to their families. I started my nursing practice on a neurology ward where I encountered many of the maladies the author describes. What was particularly disturbing to me was that years later many of these insidious diseases are as little understood as they were when I first encountered them. The sufferer of ALS, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis--often referred to as "Lou Gehrig's Disease" after the baseball player who died from it--still finds medical science unable to offer much more than they did when it was first described. Huntington's Disease still devastates families that carry the genetic misprint. While the treatment of myasthenia gravis has progressed to some degree, that of Alzheimer's disease (the old organic brain syndrome or pre-senile dementia) and Creutzfeld-Jacab Disease (formerly referred to as Jacob-Creutzfeld's) are still in their infancy. The similarity between the latter disorder and Kuru has been known for years, but understanding and treatment elude us. According to the author, even the prion concept has its detractors. If nothing else the author was certainly able to capture the devastation that such disorders cause their sufferers and their families. In my early practice I met a man who came in with mild neurological symptoms; he received a diagnosis of Huntington's, and within months he became a changed person because of the unrelenting course of his disease. He ultimately ended up in a nursing home, more or less "insane." Worse yet was the fact that both of his children had a 50-50 chance of having the disorder or of passing the disposition on to their own children. The heartbreak of his wife in witnessing his decline and than recognizing the symptoms anew in her son was awful.

By bringing these disorders and the agonies of the sufferers to public attention Max may well spur more intensive research into these many disorders. And it's about time.

This book does a lot to clear up the story of prions, what they are, what they do, how their threat is real. The Italian family who gives the story its title is but one instance of prions affecting human and animal life. The research is impeccable, and particularly interesting is the process by which medical and veterinary sciences came together to begin unraveling the prion mystery. Because, to be accurate, documentation on how livestock has been affected by prion disease had been, until recently, far more complete and detailed than human prion disease.

The author tells the story unemotionally, which is good, but the reading is far from arid or too technical. The human factor -- how scientists competed for the credit, sometimes damaging other professionals' reputations and careers -- makes it even more interesting. All this makes "The Family That Couldn't Sleep" a fundamental work for anyone who wants to understand these proteins better, and also for people curious about the inner workings of scientific research.

You may find yourself staying up all night to finish this fascinating book. Just be glad you don't share the wrong genes with the family of the title.

This account of prion-based spongiform encephelopathic diseases covers a lot of ground: the Italian family of the title suffering from FFI (fatal familial insomnia), the mysterious epidemic of kuru among the Fore tribe of New Guinea, eventually linked to the practice of eating their dead ancestors' brains, the rare genetically transmitted Creuzfeldt-Jacob disease (CJD), various animal spongiform encephelopathies, from scrapie in sheep to mad cow disease to chronic wasting disease in deer. All of these diseases share a common feature - they are transmitted by an infectious agent of a kind thought until recently by scientists to be impossible, and the incubation time from infection to manifestation of disease symptoms is remarkably long. The culprits are *prions*, which are a type of rogue protein. The idea that a protein could act as an infectious agent flew completely in the face of scientific received wisdom to date when first introduced and the science underlying this class of degenerative brain diseases is both complex and controversial.

The author's exposition is clear, but ultimately I think he does not do complete justice to the material (which is really fascinating). It may be that his scope is too ambitious - with so much ground to cover, the exposition occasionally lapses into sketchiness. To be fair, there can be no single "right" level of detail that would suit all readers, and D.T. Max generally shows good judgement about what to include to keep the exposition intelligible while moving his story along.

That said, the material related to kuru, cannibalism among the Fore, and the linkage to scrapie, CJD, and mad cow disease has already been presented in the 1998 book by Richard Rhodes, "Deadly Feasts: Tracking The Secrets Of A Terrifying New Plague". I preferred the Rhodes account - his exposition of the science was clearer, and I thought he told a better, tighter story.

However, there's not that much to choose between the two, and Max's book does have the extra material about FFI, which is interesting in its own right. Max does make one misjudgement, in my opinion, which is to include an account of his own illness (he has been diagnosed with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease which, although it is a neurodegenerative muscular disorder, is neither prion-related nor an amyloid plaque disease). Inclusion of this essentially irrelevant material is a distraction, which just muddies the exposition.

One final criticism is that Max includes an unquestioning discussion of putative geographical "clusters" of CJD cases, based solely on their identification by patients' family members, whom he refers to as "Creutzfeldt Jakobins" (a hideous, tin-ear coinage, which he seems to think is clever). These so-called clusters are almost certainly spurious, based on an incorrect application of the relevant probability models and Max's failure to identify the error detracts from his objectivity as a science writer and contributes to a presentation of disease spread scenarios which are unduly alarmist. The discussion of possible treatment options in the final chapter also struck me as weak, an over-interpretation of what are essentially just anecdotal data. One sees this kind of over-interpretation all the time in the popular press, but I would have expected better from a science writer as experienced as D.T. Max.

However, these are minor criticisms of this well-written account of a fascinating subject.

This book is one of the best. It is packed with excellent and helpful info about the Thyroid and other glands as well. It helped me figure out why my doctors cannot seem to diagnose or treat my problems effectively. It is not easy reading, requires quiet concentration. Could have been more simply organized, but the valuable and potentially life-saving information within is well worth the effort. Have your highlighter and page markers ready!

I have seen well over a dozen books on thyroid. Too many contain mostly regurgitated conventional beliefs, a few were written mainly to sell the author's own nutrition products. Most insist thyroid medical tests are reliable. (How do they know this, anyway?)

This one is different. The author is a hypothyroid specialist and provides much evidence that over 50% of the US (and no doubt UK) population has low thyroid problems - whether your own doctor's much-touted tests show it or not.

This is the book that really helped me understand my low thyroid problems and I have also learned how to see the signs in others (from pix and explanations in the book of things like the arm pinch test and swollen necks). The only negative for me is that it did not really agree with the warning in one other excellent thyroid book about adrenal exhaustion preventing recovery (that other book is "Your Thyroid and How to Keep It Healthy: The Great Thyroid Scandal and How to Survive It" by Barry Durrant-Peatfield and there is only one page in it about having to build up the adrenals first - easy to overlook, as I almost did). Be warned: if you have had low thyroid for several years (in my case over a decade before I finally self-diagnosed and thus was able to take the first steps towards recovery) then you will almost certainly have adrenal exhaustion.

The thyroid tablets did not work for me (and I ended up taking three times the normal "dose" for several months before this became clear) until I stopped them and took adrenal support tablets for several weeks before restarting thyroid on a smaller dose. I also continued the adrenal support tablets for several months. Finally, I am seeing clear improvements. There is even a spring in my step! I never really expected to experience that again...

The adrenal exhaustion involvement is a major problem because, even if you are able to get thyroid tablets, they may not work and you would then assume you don't have a low thyroid problem, that it must be something else. This happened to me at the start of my long illness and was one of the major reasons I did not try thyroid tablets again for over a decade - even though I very gradually gained over 100 pounds while eating very carefully indeed - it must be easier to realise a low thyroid involvement if you gain three stone in three months, as a friend of mine did. (Another one was that I have very thick head hair and every list of symptoms includes thinning hair - so please don't let this sort of thing put you off too.)

Also, if you are diabetic or TATT (tired all the time, even ME/CFS) or overweight (and can't lose it by dieting) or have high blood pressure or high cholesterol, etc, etc, then you MUST read this book. If you have chronic health problems (and who doesn't, these days!) the information in this book may save your life in the long run and relieve pain in the shorter term.

P.S. I also recommend the book "Iodine: Why You Need It, Why You Can't Live Without It" by Brownstein which I have since come across and found very helpful.

Finally a book that explans why hypothyroidism cannot be diagnosed solely by blood tests. Doctors in the 21st century should take note that their patients are running out of patience with their lack of answers to some vague epidemics such as "chronic fatigue syndrome," fibromyalgia," and "depression." I advise doctors that they need to "go back to the basics" of listenng to patients and being openminded.

Thank you, Dr. Starr, for you are a doctor who "gets it" and who makes complete sense!

If you are like me, never feeling "right" on your synthetic Thyroid hormone (mine was Synthroid) but your doctor insisting that your "levels are in the normal range" you MUST read this book. YOU ARE NOT CRAZY! Your blood tests can be normal, yet you are gaining weight, your hair is falling out by the handfuls and you are tired all the time. Get some help from an MD who will LISTEN to you and take you seriously instead of sounding like a broken record (your levels are in the normal range, your levels are in the normal range, blah blah blah). I told my doc if she didn't put me on the natural hormone I was leaving her. She did it against her better judgment and guess what? I feel a hundred times better and my levels are normal. Not that I put any credibility in those, but it makes her happy (I guess) even though she is still mad at me. I don't care. It's my health, not hers. This book can change your life if you are willing to stand up for your well-being. Buy this book, I can't recommend it enough.

I've read every book I could get my hands on about thyroid disorders.

This is the best one I've found. This MD has the answer to thyroid problems.

I also appreciate how he writes about the weird symptoms you can have that no one else has explained. Myxedema is one. If you are hypothyroid you probably have what looks like cellulite all over your body. It is a form of edema that will go away when your thyroid is better.

Insist on natural thyroid glandulars from your MD. Synthroid does not work!!!

For quite some time I've been fascinated by essential oils. While they can at times be quite expensive to collect a few high-quality essential oils can go a long way.

This book is divided up into three main sections. In the first section there is a brief history of essential oils and an interesting picture to show steam distillation. There is information on why lavender and neroli stimulate new cell growth and how rosemary encourages healthy hair growth.

The second section is very helpful with ideas on which essential oils to use for a wide variety of common complaints. While it is interesting to note that cardamom and black pepper are good for heartburn, a recipe would be useful. If you want a recipe I can recommend the one for a chai tea in Savoring the Spice Coast of India: Fresh Flavors from Kerala. I made it tonight using soymilk and a rooibos teabag.

Part three in this fascinating book includes information on 165 essential oils. While I've read many books on essential oils there were numerous oils I'd never heard of before. In this section there are a few oils you want to avoid like wormwood that can cause brain damage. You may recognize bergamot if you have ever made Earl Grey tea. Could lemonade be part of a cure for arthritis? This book gives all sorts of new information and also has a helpful glossary.

While this book is comprehensive I think it would have been better to organize the essential oils according to their common name instead of their Latin name. Fortunately there is a good index so you can find your favorite essential oils fast. In the index you can find the common name (frankincense) as well as the Latin or botanical term (Boswellia Carteri).

If you are looking for any additional information I can also recommend anything by Connie Higley: Reference Guide for Essential Oils Tenth Edition, October 2006. I have the 1999 edition but have been considering the new edition to add to my collection.

~The Rebecca Review, currently wearing Aura Cacia Love Potion Essential Oil .5 oz. I love all the Aura Cacia essential oils.

This is the one book I would not be without.
It is very informative and helpful.
I am a soapmaker and use the information re: the essential oils to make aromatheray and therapuetic, skin softening soaps.

The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Essential Oils is a wonderful book to add to a collection of knowledge of Aromatherapy. It contains very detailed properties of each essential oil - easy to understand and great for reference for all to read, learn and practice. If you can't find what you are looking for specifically for an essential oil, you will most definately find it in this book.

Gives uses for many plants and the essential oils but no complete details for making the remedies with the oils. Eg. how much of each oil to put into the natural remedies?

If I had to have only two books in my Aromatherapy Library, this would be one of them, along with The Complete Guide to Aromatherapy, by Salvatore Battaglia. I have been an Aromatherapist since 2003, I know - a relatively short time - but a productive time, and I could not have accomplished what I have without this book. It is a very complete list - if not the best list - of essential oils available in book form, with all their properties, chemical breakdown, methods of extraction, history, ancient uses for the plants and oils, modern uses, toxicity and as if this wasn't enough - the photos are marvolous and extremely helpful in identifying plants and the oil colour. Every plant gets a whole page and the format repeats and is so easy to follow. What makes this book stand out among its peers is the ease of use with an excellent index, glossary of terms, botanical index, botanical classification and references (just because a book has these thing doesn't mean they are always good or useful).
The most toxic of essential oils, which are hardly mention in other books , or, we are merely warned to stay away from for aromatherapy use, are also covered in Ms. Lawlwess' book, and I am glad for that because I want to know the "why" of everything. Why is it bad? After all - this is meant as a reference book, not a "how to". It is one of the most important books on essential oils and you are cheating yourself not to have a copy. I don't know if Ms. Julia Lawless is alive, and if she is, when she will come out with an updated version, but I sure hope so.

This book should be required reading for all women and all MD's who treat women, esp. OB/GYNs. It systematically and easily explains the role of hormones ("ovaries") in virtually all areas of women's mental and physical health. In light of the virtual "banning" of HRT for post-menopausal women (including young women who have a hysterectomy) it is a true "must read" for all!!! I learned so much, and have begun receiving various hormones in pellet form which has improved my life SO MUCH! No more hot flashes!!! A much more even temperment!! And I could go on and on. This book really opened my eyes in a way that even my MD (female, family practice) found surprising!!!

This book is an excellent, well organized combination of case studies and medical science. Dr. Vliet is Board Certified in Pain Medicine, Psychiatry and Neurology, and has performed research investigating behavioral effects of hormones.

Information in this book has helped Florida Detox treat migraines, insomnia, anxiety, depression, interstitial cystitis, hypothyroidism, chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia more effectively. Our opiate detox patients frequently arrive with estradiol, progesterone and testosterone deficiencies and almost all of our fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue patients are hypothyroid. Oral Bioidentical Progesterone has produced dramatic anxiety reductions in some of our patients, while bioidentical estradiol has produced dramatic decreases in insomnia and depression in others.

We have also been able to identify previously undiagnosed Polycystic Ovary Syndrome and agree with Dr. Vliet that PCOS is underdiagnosed. This book provides an excellent discussion of PCOS, enhanced with case histories.

It's My Ovaries, Stupid contains a profound discussion of the adverse impact of environmental contaminants, including insecticide, herbicide, poly chlorinated biphenyls, birth control pill residues and food additives. Vliet explains excess glutamate, used as a food additive, can damage the hypothalamus, which is unprotected by the blood-brain barrier. Glutamate can also decrease thyroid hormone and elevate cortisol levels, increasing obesity.

Vliet discusses published research revealing Finnish women with the highest Lindane pesticide levels in their breasts were ten times more likely to have breast cancer. A 1992 Connecticut study revealed women with breast cancer had 50 to 60 percent higher levels of PCB, DDT and DDE, in their breasts.

There has been extensive misleading media coverage of estrogen replacement therapy, since most coverage failed to distinguish between bioidentical estrogens and Premarin or other conjugated estrogens.
Premarin is not identical to human estrogen. Premarin contains approximately 40 percent estrone, while human estrogens are about 3 percent estrone. Estrone is many times more carcinogenic, than estradiol. Premarin also contains equilin, which is many times more carcinogenic, than estradiol, which is the most active human estrogen. Horse estrogens, also called conjugated estrogens or Premarin, were used in the highly publicized Womens Health Initiative study of 27,000 postmenopausal women.

"To date, the majority of medical studies also do not show a significant increase in risk of breast cancer in women who use birth control pills or women who take postmenopausal estrogen therapy alone, unless women are also drinking alcohol on a regular daily basis and are using Premarin" E
Elizabeth Vliet, MD, in Screaming to be Heard-Hormone Connections Women Suspect and Doctors still Ignore, p 378

Vliet's discussion of postpartum depression needs to be more widely read and comprehended, since treatment with bioidentical estradiol could eliminate most postpartum depression. If the media would interview Dr. Vliet, instead of puzzled "experts," typically interviewed, after tragic postpartum depression murder/suicides, the public could be informed that post partum depression is treatable.

Vliet also discusses numerous causes of premature ovarian hormone decline, including Lymes Disease, Chlamydia, gonorrhea, hypothyroidism, hyper and hypo adrenalism.

Steven Sponaugle
Research Director, Florida Detox

The auther gives a very in-depth explanation of female hormones and their functions and how they can become unbalanced. She gives very specific and helpful advice about what hormones to check for certain symptoms, when to check them, what types of tests, what results mean, etc. It's clear she is on a mission to help women because there really is just a lack of study of female hormones in the medical community and it's obvious that many women can be helped with balanced hormone levels. I'm very glad I decided to get this book as I feel like I won't need to buy any others.

My mother just turned 50 and has been noticing some changes that she has atributed to hormones. My uncle, a doctor, recommended this book to help her understand what is going on.

Overall my mom really seems to like this book and i would recommend it to other pre-menopausal women.

I have yet to read the book, but I was reading over the reviews and I found it funny that a male was so ticked off that Dr. Vliet only spoke of female issues.
For one, you just appear ignorant for being upset about a disease that will never inflict a male (i.e. PCOS). Secondly men do not visit the doctors as regularily as females do and to try and discredit Dr. Vliet is nonsense!

Most males if they have an ailment will tough it out and figure it will correct itself. I've witnessed many men later on in life get so depressed about their health conditions b/c they were negligent of their own health.

So in conclusion to my rant you truly cannot have any say so over a matter that does not inflict your sex. Better inform yourself on your own health problems and do not think you know all. Men like you in the medical field is why women have to suffer as much as they do b/c they are so selfish, uneducated and narrow minded.

The truth be told everyone needs to keep a better check on their nutrional/mineral value on a daily basis so things do not become out of whack.

I'm a huge Jane Brody fan. Over the past 10 years, I've bought several copies of "Good Food" and "Good Food Gourmet." I've worn out a few of my own copies and have found it the perfect gift for those I care about. Because of Ms. Brody's dedication to healthy eating and use of diverse foods, I have kids that eat vegetables and people that are always asking for the recipe. If you are looking to learn how to cook, eat better, or feel better, I couldn't think of a better book to suggest. Today, I am ordering a copy of the Good Food Book for my sister-in-law for Christmas. She loved the sweet and sour cabbage rolls I made at a recent party.

Living is easy when you follow Jane Brody's advice to health eating. The recipes are easy to follow and have ingredients common to most kitchens. Some of the recipes are a bit bland but can easily be spiced up with a little help from a kitchen herb garden or spice rack.

I have used Jane Brody's book so much that the pages were yellow and torn. I was glad Amazon could supply me with a crisp, clean copy.
I put the old one in our high-rise book exchange area. It was gone the next day.

I have a 20-year-old softbound copy of this cookbook that is in tatters, so I am very happy finally to find a fresh copy. I have made many of the recipes in this book and my family has a couple of all-time favorites, especially the pork with green beans and the vegetarian lasagne. While the basic recipes are wonderful, I frequently find them to be bland. My cookbook is filled with margin notes about what herbs and spices I have tried over the years to enhance the recipes. Nonetheless, this is a treasured part of my cookbook library.

The first part of the book is lots of info about nutrition and so on, very interesting and informative (like talking about how potatoes have gotten a bum rap, there really healthy, she mentions one guy who lived healthily for 300 days on nothing but potatoes (and a little margarin). The second part is a few hundred recipes, which are great - easy, delicious, pretty fast, a lot of them with ingredients we keep around the house. Some of our favorites - the chili recipes, the spaghetti pancakes, multigrain pancakes (good with soy flour and blueberries), etc. This (along with books from Moosewood, Tara Duggan, and the Quick Vegetarian Pleasures book) is one of primary cookbooks; we use it all the time. Highly recommended.

I bought this book in 2001 after hearing Crystal's story on Oprah. Oh how she inspired me. I too struggle with weight loss issues. My personal life has also had its challenges. Crystal is someone everyone can relate to. She is witty and funny and smart. She wrote about experiences that all overweight people can experience (shopping and being told we don't carry your size). She made me believe that I could do this. It's second only to my bible that i refer to for inspiration.

Thanks

Good for you Crystal for losing 167 pounds. I don't blame you for writing about it either, something this dramatic needs to be shared. What I really liked about this book was that it did not pressure the reader into losing weight. Diets these days are very stick: don't eat this, you must eat this, that and nothing else. Crystal shows us that you can lose weight your own way and it's up to you to set the pace.

I would like to give this book 3 1/2 stars but there aren't any 1/2's so I have written it. I really enjoyed her story and how she worked thru her struggles. It was a little unorganized but still enjoyable.

This book allows one to understand that the challenges of temptation for those struggling with weight loss is normal.

Some people kick themselves for backsliding on the diet trail. But this is verifivation that you still can continue and get over those mental humps.

This is chrystals everyday challenges that gets her through the storm. She begins to see that there is light at the end of the tunnel.

I admire her because she experimented and found a method that was good for her. She teaches that there is no "blueprint" available for everyone.

If this book taught me anything it was the power of jeeping a journal. It will help you see where the problem lies and how to get through; and it will enable you to identify what is causing you to stifle your plans. It may be mental, physical or spiritual.

I use this book strictly for motivation. It's nice to read the words of someone who has been there.

I'd like to see her now! I hope she has kept up the good work.

"The Me I Knew I Could Be" is Crystal Phillips' journey from 292 lb (size 26) to 138 lb (size 6). I believe Crystal's obesity and binge eating would probably fall into the worst case category so I couldn't identify with Crystal's struggles, but I was inspired by her committed plan to lose weight. Apparently, the 292 lb was a result of her continuous binge eating (4 steaks, entire peach cobbler, and much more in one setting) causes my emotional issues (anxiety induced by grandfather, death of her brother, volatile marriage, and insecurity) she refused to deal with. Instead of just waking up one morning stating "I'm going to lose weight", Crystal learns the real reason she binged and began to deal with it. She uses typical weight loss techniques that can be found in any book, but what sets this story apart is her true story (complete with journal entries) that describes how she worked through the emotional problems to stop the emotional eating. At times, Crystal discusses how she came to a crossroad had to make the decision on whether or not to emotionally eat - sometimes she did, most times she didn't. When she did emotionally eat, she didn't give up but got refocused. Never does she say she's cured of binge-eating but offers ways to prevent to urge, i.e., after a big family gathering give leftovers away or only buy the smallest portion of a snack item. Her story is very honest.

Included in this book: recipes, before-after photos from her workshop participants, several exercises, and much more. The one unique item I found is the contents for a Survival Kit - a bag packed with healthy food and water that prevented Crystal from stopping at fast food restaurants.

This book is based upon solid research of a natural substance that is nuturing every living thing. It is found in your own body.

One of the reviews here mentions the name "Bill Rich." Many of the statements about him are true, but he has nothing solid to do with MSM, other than he stumbled upon it and tries to sell it.

This book and Bill Rich should not be mentioned together (forgive me). Mr. Rich does not speak for MSM, anymore than a bad teleevangelist speaks for God.

Get the hardback edition of this book, it will change your life for the better!

I've been trying alot of things against my severe allergies since 1982.Tested in 1972 up-down my back.Nurse left for a min.I Turned Super-Red outside Burning up inside.Doc gave me a big shot of adrenaline.

In the 1990's those symtoms started to come back.On 5-11-2003 i went to Rainbow Grocery store.They sell alot of Herb type items there.I told the lady there i needed something really good for my allergies.She took me over to MSM quickly!

She also showed me the little handbook by Dr.Ley "MSM On our way back to Health With Sulfur".I started with 3 grams on 5-11-03 i now average 20 grams of MSM per day.It really helps w/allergies.
I'm 50 years old.When tested allergic to ALL Molds and Pollens.

Mold is hardest to Beat.MSM is helping against it too.

I've ordered 5 of The Miracle of MSM By Dr Jacob and Dr Lawrence.

Thank You amazon.com for the good prices on those Books!!!!!

MSM is wonderful for me. I have taken MSM for nearly 2 years now (off and on). I would quit taking it, just to see what would happen. It wouldn't take long before my pain and stiffness would return to my knees. I wouldn't want to go through life without MSM. I am able to go through life without pain in my knees when I take MSM on a regular schedule. I have had no problems taking MSM and I take 12,000 mg. a day. I use a powder MSM that I put in my water, which also encourages me to drink the water I need daily. I even use a MSM soap and lotion for my skin. It has helped my skin alot. I can't say enough good things about MSM. This is the first book I bought about MSM and would recommend it to anyone. I've also read many other papers and articles on MSM, plus I've read alot on the internet about MSM. In fact I've bought this book to give to other people. I am always telling the wonders of MSM to people. I wish you well and happy health.

This title by Drs. Jacob and Lawrence is by far the best word on MSM (along with product manufacturers dmso2.com etc).

I, also, prefer the hardback version of this book. It is out of print but I found that it is still available at the distributor (msmsupplement.com as mentioned by someone in another review).

I hope that there is a new, updated version of this book on the horizon, because I know that MSM is helping so many people with a variety of problems (e.g. Arthritis, Allergies, Energy, Joint and Muscle & Nerve Pain, Skin Conditions ...). I even give it to my dogs and cats now!

By the way, Dr. Lawrence (on of the authors) is the doctor of the famous actor James Coburn. Mr. Coburn now attributes his recovery from crippling arthritis pain to benefits derived from MSM.

This book is the best that you will get on MSM. It is written by the "father of MSM" (IMO), Dr. Stanley Jacob. Co-written by Dr. Ronald Lawrence, doctor of famous actor James Coburn...

Get the hardback edition - it costs less than the not-so-well-bound paperback. You will use this book as a reference for natural dosage, et cetera, so definately get the hardback.

This book has helped me very much. It is comforting to me that it is written by another mother-to know some one else is going through the same things I am. I work in a school, and I recommend it for all parents who have children with Asperger's.

This is the most awesome book for people living or working with someone with Aspergers. I have an adult son with AS,and if I had this wonderful resource when he was small, it would have been MORE than helpful. It is the most comprehensive book I have read on the subject, and I have read a good number.
It covers general info about Asperger Syndrome, what it looks like, how it is diagnosed, options and interventions, medication, special ed basics,and the child's emotional life, to name just a few.
It is well written and easy to read and understand.
I highly recommend this book for parents of children recently diagnosed with Aspergers! A wealth of good info!

This book is clear, insightful and informative. It also provides great support for parents. I love how it covers the whole child.

I checked this out at my local library and knew I needed a copy for my resource files. Excellent reference with lots of good information and insight as advertised. Resources available in book may be outdated, but it is worth having if you are interested in learning more about this condition. Shipping was quick and arrived in excellent condition as a new book at a great price.

The OASIS Guide to Asperger Syndrome: Completely Revised and Updated: Advice, Support, Insight, and Inspiration

A helpful guide to recognizing and dealing with this syndrome.