Conditions and Diseases Books

I've purchased a number of gluten-free cookbooks since my husband was diagnosed with celiac disease a couple of years ago. This is the first one that has recipes that actually taste like the wheat-flour versions! I had given up on gluten-free baking, but somehow this book caught my eye, and am I ever glad. I just made the chocolate chip cookies for my husband and ate 5 of them myself even though I've pretty much given up sweets! I can't wait until he gets up and tries them! He craves good baked goods and these will be a definite hit. Thanks for the great recipes!

An interesting and detailed book. Be advised that one needs to plan ahead before experimenting with this chemistry. The author also advises of that!

I bought this book and several others to bake a treat for a family whose daughter has celiac disease and numerous food allergies - egg, soy, nuts, and citrus among others. I found a recipe for chocolate sandwich cookies, which was easily adaptable for the child's needs, using pure palm shortening instead of soy shortening, egg replacer for the eggs, and parchment paper instead of cooking spray. (Bonus: you can reuse each sheet of parchment paper once, since the cookies do not lose a lot of butter while baking.) The recipe was overall easy to prepare, and made oodles of little sandwich cookies, which were delicious enough to stand on their own merits. I tested the cookies on several unsuspecting people, and everyone raved about them. My husband ate about six before he could stop himself. So my friends' four-year-old daughter was able to have "Oreo" cookies for the first time in her life, thanks to this book. I didn't try any other recipes in this book, and I gave it to my friend so she could explore it further; but I imagine the other recipes will taste as delicious because the author appears to have put a great deal of thought and effort into creating recipes that recreate textures and flavors people love.

I've stopped using all my other baking recipes since I acquired this book. Its recipes and specific flour mixture create truly delicious baked goods, and few people would know they're GF.

This book is wonderful especially because it bakes GF with a minimum of ingredients. If you have done any GF baking you know it requires many ingredients and many egg whites. Most of these recipes use whole eggs and a brown rice flour mix (that you can buy already mixed at Authentic Foods) that is easy to have on hand. If you are new to GF baking, by all means start here.

At first when I tried his suggested program I didn't think anything was different/changing so I stopped the supplements (about two weeks into it at least.) Boy could I tell a difference then! Going the natural route prevented from having to see a professional and going on Ritalin or whatever else they medicate with now. I don't use the program full time anymore but when I feel my attention waxing and feel spacey I start up the vitamin B and whammo my head comes back and I can focus again. I thought this book fantastic and recommend it to anyone. He describes what happens in the body and why the deficiency causes ADHD/ADD issues. Even if you don't have the syndrome the information regarding health and how the body benefits from various vitamins is informative.

This book is extremely helpful for children with ADHD. It gives practical and fast working advice that is right on the money. It is a great place to start when looking for an alternative to drug therapy. I highly recommend this be the first book you read when you are learning about ADHD - it may be the only one you need. Thank you to Dr. Bob for all your research and clinical expertise that went into writing this book and for all the children you have saved!

When I first saw this book I thought... "18 days? Yeah, right." But I thought I didn't have anything to lose but a few dollars so I got it. We had tried all kinds of diets, vitamins, meds. Things would get better but not be entirely "back to normal".

I read through Dr. Bob's book, took notes, implemented some of the thoughts... I read the entry of one of the readers below that talked about the parasites and wondered if perhaps that was it for us too.

We had an appointment and saw a doctor. Parasites it was. Five days on a course of black walnut tincture and my daughter was a new child. She lost her diagnosis of ADHD the next doctor appointment we had. The teachers could not believe the difference. We are still in awe.

Thank you Dr. Bob. Without you and your book, my daughter would still be on Concerta. And the health of our family would never have been improved from your other recommendations.

For this and so much more, Dr. Bob:
THANK YOU !!!

PS We also HIGHLY recommend the daily devotional Dr. Bob has written. I don't have a friend who hasn't bought it after hearing some of the topics discussed in it - turning grey hair back, the hazards of peanut butter, better sleep, back pain solutions, bringing liver enzymes back to normal, migraines, and the list goes on and on with advice we had never ever heard before and my friends and I read A LOT of health books !!!

Dr. Bob in his book is another one of those writers about ADHD who believes (sincerely) that supplements, food, good parenting, and so on is the correct answer for treatment of all types of ADHD/ADD. While certainly, the above would help almost any type of disorder, he never bothers to mention at ANY time when his idea did not work, (ie the vitamins failed to solve the child's problems)--so am I believe it is 100% successful?!! Amazing. My question for Dr. Bob is if pharmaceuticals do not work, then why can I name so many success stories from people who DO USE them. Oh, by the way, they do not work all the time. He is a convincing, good writer, he is just totally wrong. Also, he forgets that we now are seeing adults in their 40s still having the symptoms of ADD, who by the way had them first diagnosed in the 1-3rd grades. I would recommend his book, because it is well written and organized. And, all children do NOT need to take medications to modify their behavior. I do think our society at time has gone overboard with that notion. But his book is not the cure all with his omega oils and patented products he so often wants you to use. He has some very good ideas, and I took this into account. He says sugar impairs you immune system, which is abosolutely false, and has some other non sense he tries to pass on with questionable science to back it up. To me it appears as another one of those who believes you should avoid ALL medications at ALL costs no matter what. Also, how many cases a day does he "treat" for ADHD, and how does he deal with adults who have had it for so long. Does he, while flexing soft tissue as a chiropractor, take time out to express his feeling while giving a massage? ADHD/ADD is a long complex condition-- that foods and vitamins cannot "fix" so easily as this half life of 18 days he speaks about. It often involves moral and personal issues at home, that by avoiding sugar is just not going to cover. guyairey

My 3 year old son had been out of control for a long time. He had many symptoms of ODD. He had a short fuse and got angry easily. He always whined and wouldn't sleep through the night. Both my husband and I were at a breaking point, but knew we did NOT want to go the medication route. I always thought our family ate pretty healthy; we would limited our kids sugar/snack intake and we weren't a milk drinking family so I didn't think that my son's 'attitude' symptoms were food/mineral deficiant related. Boy, were we wrong!
While reading Dr. Bob's book I compared my son's 'symptoms' to those in the book. Dr. Bob's book has been a lifesaver! We noticed a difference in only 5 days!
We started w/ the nigtly salmon oil, added flax, changed to soy and rice milk and we are beginning to add vitamins and whole food minerals. We even started the program for all 3 my children.
This book has added a bright future for our children and has given my husband and I the peace in knowing we are actually getting to the root of the problam instead of just medicating the problem. Thanks Dr. Bob.

I'm writing this as the mother of an adopted Ethiopian child- I bought this book after a random search and it has been the most valuable book of our whole adoption journey. It's loaded with helpful background info on the AIDS & Orphan crises in Ethiopia, history of Ethiopia, insight into the cultural perceptions of adoption (especially by affluent, white Westerners!) and the very moving perspectives of the orphans themselves, and their Ethiopian caretakers. The heroine of this story is very real, and her character development was deep and insightful. I laid the book down several times to have a good laugh (or cry!) but could hardly keep from turning the pages. Whether you are adopting yourself, supporting someone who is, or just interested in learning more about Ethiopia and this heroine's story, I know you will come away inspired.

Author Melissa Fay Greene, who is the adoptive mother of two Ethiopian children, relates the story of Haregewoin Teferra, an Ethiopian mother who becomes the foster mother for a multitude of AIDS orphans during the height of the pandemic. Greene truthfully tells the tale without painting Teferra as a "modern day Mother Teresa," but rather as a very real and human woman who is asked by clerics to take in one abandoned orphan after another. A grieving mother whose adult daughter died from AIDS, Teferra discovers that helping the children provides her with a means of overcoming her grief. The individual stories of these "lost children" who arrive on Teferra's doorstep are riveting, as is Greene's account of the assimilation of her adoptive children into her family. Accompanying photos show children shortly after they arrived in very bad shape at Treferra's compound and then later with adoptive American families.
Greene spares no one as she rails against the pharmaceutical companies that withheld AIDS medications from third-world countries at the height of the pandemic, causing the loss of a whole generation of parents. Despite having no drugs to help the children, hit-or-miss medical care, and scarce food for all, Teferra does her best to feed, clothe, house, and educate the orphans put in her care. Although one might think that this book is a "downer," it is a very uplifting page-turner that relates the indominable spirit of one Ethiopian woman and her many foster children.

Melissa Faye Green is an excellent writer. She is a true artist painting a vivid picture of scenes, and weaving historical, political and social aspects of the deadly HIV/AIDS epidemic. This is an incredibly powerful book. It is not easy to read due to the difficult emotional toll it can take on one, but I felt morally obligated to read it, so that I wasn't just shutting out the devastating misery suffered by so many millions. She portrays the human face of this awful disease with poignancy. It is an inspiring and human story of one woman's efforts to alleviate her own and others suffering. God bless Melissa for opening our eyes.

This was a wonderful book! Having myself been to Addis Ababa recently (July 07) with my daughter to pick up her adopted Ethiopian baby boy (4 months old), you can just imagine how this story of one woman's love for so many orphans resonated with me. The book is a quick read -- something interesting in every chapter. The author intertwined Haregewoin's up and down story with bits of Ethiopian history and the unwinding spread and theories of HIV-AIDs plus added her own experience with H. and the adoption her own Ethiopian children -- which made the reader come away with a true cultural experience. H. is truly a "Mother Theresa" figure and an inspiration to all women. Thank you, Melissa, for introducing us to her. I really enjoyed having the photos of many of the children and their adoptive families to relate to. I will be sure that my daughter reads this book and I have suggested it to my book club in Boulder, CO which will read it in the fall. -- Gayle Weiss

I like what the story is about, however the book has so much detail it is hard to get through the first chapters.

In August of this year, I started a strict diet and followed 8 out of the 10 recommendations mentioned in this book. This month (october) I had my cholesterol level checked. I was delighted to see that my total cholesterol dropped by 50 points! In addition, my triglycerides went down to an acceptable level as well. I plan to continue following the recommendations in this book and add the two that I had not been able to do (adding soy to my diet and plant sterols) in order to bring my LDL (bad cholesterol) down a little bit more. My doctor didn't think I could bring down my cholesterol this much without a drug, but I was determined to prove him wrong. I am so thankful to this author and her wonderful, easy to follow steps. It has saved my life.

I have long known we are fearfully and wonderfully made but now understand how true it is when reading this book and seeing how much goes into affecting our cholesterol. This book was informative and interesting.

From: www.BasilAndSpice.com

Book Review: Cholesterol Down by Dr. Janet Brill

Cholesterol Down is for the 105 million Americans who have high cholesterol. The author, Dr. Janet Brill, a registered and licensed dietitian/nutritionist, exercise physiologist, and certified wellness coach has spent years counseling patients on cardiovascular disease prevention, researching, and writing on the subject of cholesterol. Her work has been published in the International Journal of Obesity and the International Journal of Sport Nutrition.

Cholesterol Down provides readers with the information they need regarding cholesterol -- what it is and how it works both for and against the body. It is significantly endorsed by Dr. Jennifer H. Mieres, the National Spokesperson for the American Heart Association. She states, "The simple, consistent, and inexpensive lifestyle therapy outlined in her {Dr. Janet Brill's} Cholesterol Down Plan could be the most important investment you make in your future health." Dr. Brill explains LDL, the bad portion of cholesterol, and offers an effective combination therapy of foods, scientifically based, that are as effective as statins. Besides lowering LDL, the following ten-step program also offers further health benefits.

First, eat 1 cup of oatmeal every day. The U.S. Department of Agriculture recommends three whole-grain servings daily. This is linked to reduced risk of heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, obesity, some cancers, lower blood pressure, and improved bowel movement. Oatmeal lowers LDL, may raise HDL--the good portion of cholesterol, and studies show that the more consumed, the greater the benefit.

Second, eat a handful of almonds daily, approximately 30. In addition to warding off heart disease, they also are particularly preventive toward colon cancer, and help with weight loss. The FDA, American Heart Association, and the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute all recommend eating almonds to lower heart disease risk, possibly by 50%.

Third, eat at least 2 tablespoons of ground flaxseed daily. Flaxseed has been shown to be preventative toward breast, colon, and prostate cancers, and is known to lower LDL cholesterol and aid in brain functioning.


Fourth, consume 3 grams of psyllium husk daily, gradually increasing to 10 grams. For the average consumer that means Metamucil. Dr. Brill states that psyllium husk, the active ingredient in Metamucil is "the most powerful LDL-lowering viscous soluble fiber in existence....For every 10 grams of total dietary fiber intake per day, risk of heart attack dropped by an estimated 14% and risk of dying from the disease by 27%." Metamucil also promotes digestion, moving toxins out of the body quickly.

Fifth, eat ½ cup of beans, peas, or lentils daily. Legumes help reduce blood pressure, provide minerals and vitamins, phytochemicals, and antioxidants. Beans help fight obesity, diabetes, constipation, hemorrhoids, and various cancers--lung, colon, breast, esophagus, and stomach.

Sixth, eat an apple every day. Pectin, the soluble fiber within the apple lowers LDL cholesterol. Apples also help maintain a steady blood sugar level, aid in weight loss, provide nutrients, antioxidants, and tannins helpful with preventing urinary tract infections. The fruit is known to promote healthy lung function as well.

Seventh, consume 2-3 grams of phytosterols per day at two separate meals. This chapter is titled, "Step 7: Eat Margarine with Phytosterols." During the last twenty years we've been moving away from margarines. But recently, new healthier versions -- those without hydrogenated oils and now containing phytosterols, have arrived in the supermarket. The National Cholesterol Education Program asks Americans to eat 2-3 grams of phytosterols daily, to aid in cholesterol reduction by 6-15 percent. Phytosterols are also a protection against colon, breast, and prostate cancers. I highly recommend this chapter is thoroughly read by consumers to raise awareness of how their purchases affect their bodies. A small decision such as which type of margarine to use can yield significant results.

Eighth, eat 20-25 grams of soy protein every day -- also recommended by the U.S. government. This Dr. Brill says, does not include soy oil nor soy sauce. Soy consumption reduces risk of heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, and various cancers. It promotes kidney function in diabetics, prevents osteoporosis, eases menopause symptoms, and possibly prevents male balding.

Ninth, eat a clove of fresh garlic and one Kyolic One Per Day Cardiovascular aged garlic extract supplement daily. Modern research reveals garlic's effectiveness against cholesterol. Garlic is also the food of history used for bacterial, viral, parasitic, and fungal infections. Its phytochemicals work naturally against stomach, colon and larynx cancers. Further research shows positive results with garlic's use in possibly treating leukemia.

The last step of the Cholesterol Down Plan is to walk for 30 minutes every day. The American Heart Association regards the lack of physical activity as the biggest risk factor for heart disease. Exercise prevents diabetes, increases length of life, lowers LDL cholesterol, reduces risk of breast and colon cancers, prevents loss of muscle mass, reduces risk of senility, and will save you money when compared with those who are sedentary.

Dr. Brill provides a fresh approach to cholesterol reduction in her simple ten-step plan, freeing patients of undesirable prescription drug side effects. The book includes a daily checklist, a progress chart, meal plans, and recipes. Cholesterol Down: 10 Simple Steps to Lower Your Cholesterol in 4 Weeks -- Without Prescription Drugs should be read by every person with high LDL cholesterol, or who is at risk of heart disease. An affordable paperback and a best-seller, it receives 5 Stars.

Cholesterol Down is a great book for people who want to lower there cholesterol without the risks of prescription drug side effects . The science behind high cholesterol is explained in detail and the ten steps to lower your cholesterol are easy to follow. Many great recipe suggestions are provided. Best of all is the fact that Dr. Janet Brill's program really works! Thank you Dr. Janet

Cholesterol Down: Ten Simple Steps to Lower Your Cholesterol in Four Weeks--Without Prescription Drugs

All I can tell you is that this Cholesterol Down eating and exercise plan works! When I decided to get this book, I had already tried to take two different prescription cholesterol medications, but I could not tolerate the side effects. Well, the side effects with this plan turned out to be my total cholesterol going from 234 to 166, triglycerides going from 133 to 89, LDL (bad cholesterol) going from 167 to 69, and HDL (good cholesterol) went from 56 to 80. At the same time, totally unexpected, my diabetes A1c test was PERFECT (5.8) for the first time since I was diagnosed 4 years ago.

The book is well written and easy to understand. She explains what cholesterol is in a way that a lay person can understand. She also explains the science behind choosing the foods she includes in the plan.

The second half of the book includes a daily planner for working these foods into your diet, numerous suggested menus and recipes. I really didn't use her recipes much, although they looked good. I worked the foods into my diet using menus I was already comfortable with. I was already exercising 30 minutes a day and eating a healthy diet, but did not know which foods were best for lowering cholesterol before I read the book.

If you're serious about getting that cholesterol down, this is the book for you.

This is a great source of information. My urologist finds Dr. Walsh a bit arrogant but there is no denying his contribution to successful surgery techniques in the removal of the prostate.
I did find a bias towards the researchers at Johns Hopkins as he seldom mentioned other work being done at other research centers.

This book was recommended by my urologist just after informing me that I had prostate cancer. It is an excellent guide for anyone wanting to learn about this particular kind of cancer and all of the major treatment options. I detected a slight bias toward radical prostatectomy (It's the gold standard) but all of the other treatments are covered to include their benefits, risks and success rates.

I was diagnosed with prostate cancer and immediately set about getting as much information as I could. I searched the web and ordered many books from Amazon to help me understand what I was up against and how best to structure the conversations and questions regarding my case with my urologist. This book is by Dr. Walsh, THE LEADING AUTHORITY on prostate cancer, at John's Hopkins hospital. He just updated the book, second edition in 2007. and it compares the robotic surgery to the open surgery as well as covering every topic in detail. Although written by a doctor it is easily accessible to a lay person as myself. AAA+++

If you have been diagnosed with prostate cancer, this book is a must have. It contains answers to practically all of your questions and is in an easy to understand format.

Book Review: Dr. Patrick Walsh's Guide to Surviving Prostate Cancer

From: www.BasilAndSpice.com

Patrick Walsh, M.D., author of Guide To Surviving Prostate Cancer and Distinguished Service Professor of Urology--The Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, is the world's foremost authority on prostate cancer. His book provides some striking news for men:

* More than 200,000 American men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer this year.
* 27,000 will die in the U.S. from it this year.
* Prostate cancer is the most common major cancer in men.
* Because prostate cancer is silent, generally without symptoms, early detection is the key.
* Men should begin being screened for prostate cancer at age 40.
* When prostate cancer is small, it is curable.
* More than 95% of men diagnosed with prostate cancer are alive ten years later.

Dr. Walsh evaluates the three major risk factors--age, race, and family history. Prostate cancer is the scourge of older men (age 60-79) with a risk rate of 1 in 7 developing the cancer. The cancer frequently takes time to grow, over the course of decades.

The highest risk of prostate cancer hits African American men. Why this is, is not completely understood, but may involve genetic susceptibility, diet, and lack of vitamin D. Their cancers are also more likely to be severe types and recur.

Risk of prostate cancer grows higher with familial links. In fact, the risk is 2.5 times higher if your father or brother had prostate cancer. Hereditary prostate cancer, (possible risk of 50%) is believed to occur when three first degree family members had it, the disease shows itself in three generations, or if two relatives developed the disease earlier (less than age 55).
The most important action to take is to get screened, beginning at age 40. The PSA test can provide a baseline for later years. Dr. Walsh adds that those between the ages of 50 and 64 who die of prostate cancer, could very well have been saved if the disease had been caught while in their forties.


In addition, Dr. Walsh includes a prevention chapter in his new second edition. He recommends men eat a minimum of five fruits and vegetables a day, especially focusing in on the cruciferous vegetables as cited from the Journal of the National Cancer Institute. Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, cabbage, and broccoli are examples of the type of vegetables which contain sulforaphane--an important anticancer ingredient which helps to increase potent enzymes in the body. In turn, the body is assisted in creating its own antioxidants to help ward off cancer.

This book is thorough and provides answers to practically every question about prostate cancer. I would recommend that EVERY man read it.

5 Stars

Related-- http://www.basilandspice.com/sexual-matters/why-healtlhy-men-are-having-sex.html

Pictures are enticing, ingredients are not too exotic, and recipes are not too labor-intensive! Even my non-SCD-diet family enjoys my creations using this book as a base!

I would suggest any with any type of digestives issues to try out this cookbook and the many others Specific Carbohydrate Diet cookbooks available such as Every Day Grain Free Gourmet also sold on Amazon. This diet will make you feel better as well as giving your entire family as a whole a healthier lifestyle. And the best part is the recipes all taste so good that you don't feel like your on a "special diet". You do have to spend a good amount of time in the kitchen preparing meals from scratch but to me the end result is worth it. I personally have not felt this good living with Crohns disease in years! Finding the SCD diet has given my life the positive turn around I needed!

A new recruit to the delights of cooking, my interest in cookbooks is currently at it's peak. What I've wanted are light, simple meals with fresh, clean tastes and this book certainly delivers. I've found several interesting recipes in this book that satisfy my hunger(and my bias towards aesthetically pleasing, well designed books: after all it's well known that one eats with ones eyes first).
I'm fortunate that I don't need to be on the SCD diet(was recommended this book by a friend, who I invited to dinner and needs to be)but honestly, with food as good as this, the SCD-ers need want for nothing!
Thank you to the authors for giving us this book.

This cookbook is gorgeous and easy to follow. My wife and I use it to plan meals a few times a month. That neither of us has IBD really doesn't matter, since the specific carbohydrate diet is first and foremost about eating healthy, nutritious meals. I'm a mess in the kitchenif I can find a way to ruin a recipe, it most assuredly will happen. But everything in the book is so well thought out, and designed so cleanly, that even I manage to prepare something edible. Delicious even. Our toddler happens to be a big fan of the wild salmon over vegetables dish.

I've recommended this book to two friends who have family members with Crohn's disease. Both have called to thank me for putting them onto this fantastic resource.

The recipes are easy to follow and we like the fact that some of the staple ingredients are used throughout the book (almond flour and SCD yogurt) so when we purchase or prepare it, we know we will be able to use the item for another recipe. The huevos rancheros, crackers, Raman's Surprise Salad, Eggplant Parmesan Bake and many more dishes are delicious and easy to put together. We don't follow a SCD diet but the recipies in here are yummy and healthy for any diet. Our favorite part of the book is the stories. We don't usually cook with a cookbook but cooking with Raman's book and reading aloud the stories as we prepare a meal makes for a wonderful cooking experience and allows us to enjoy the food even more!

This is a very helpful book for persons with IBD/IBS. It is easy to read and understand and so far the recipies that I have tried are very good too. I would recommend this book as a good place to start in learning how to deal with IBS. It makes a lot of sense and has been helpful for me.

I purchased this book for my 83-year-old mother, recently diagnosed with Crohn's. While the recipes are practical and easy to use, the clear discussion of the symptoms and implications of the diesease, and the tips on how to talk to your doctor about your symptoms and how to improve nutrient absorption, etc. are very helpful. It includes a discussion about the various types of treatments with drugs, diet, and surgery with all of the pros and cons of each. Highly recommended for families of patient as well as for patient.

When my mother was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis, I found this book extremely helpful. Not only does the author have ulcerative colitis herself, but she shares her knowledge as a professional. Recipes, rationale for what to eat and what not to eat; recommendations for nutritional supplements and specific vitamins are found within the pages of this informative book. This is a wonderful resource for anyone who has been diagnosed with or is caring for someone with IBD. I refer to this book almost daily!

I've had ulcerative colitis for four years, and a few months ago I set my mind to getting myself off the medication while following proper diet. In the process, I purchased each book I found that dealt with IBD or healing through nutrition and gave their arguments a try. I found that there are many good books out there, but this is not one of them. Yes, it is simple and easy to follow, but is also lacking in so many things. First, the foods that the author recommends for healing include soy and wheat, which are problematic for many patients with IBD. Most people would recommend avoiding soy during an inflammation, period. More importantly, the author does not provide a holistic approach to healing the body as she only focuses her attention on diet. Dietary changes are very important, but so are other things that one can do to reduce stress and rest the body. I'd recommend David Klien's Self-healing Colitis and Crohn's, or even Breaking the Vicious Cycle which has it's own cult-like following.

I have found this the best resource thus far on IBD. My favorite part is that there are recipes to try not just suggestions of foods to eat. She also lists the vitamins that each meal contains. All the recipes are very simple- no more than 6-8 ingredients. These recipes are great and I have made almost all of them. I am having a lot of fun cooking and my family is eating very well. I also like how she lists foods that heal and foods that hurt. My son was diagnosed with UC 5 years ago and I have been looking for something like this. My prayers were finally answered.

The book never arrived at 3 weeks, so canceled the order and hope the charge is reversed on my card. Woody's books was nice about the problem and sent me a $5 check to aid in buying the book at a higher cost in a local book store.

This is a fantastic book for the newly-diagnosed breast cancer patient. It was given to my by my surgeon's office. It does a great job explaining things on a level that the average person can understand. It also has great diagrams, lists of questions to ask your medical team, glossary of terms, websites to check out and comments from breast cancer survivors and/or significant others of survivors. I highly recommend this book.

We give this book to surgeons in our area to distribute to women diagnosed with breast cancer. Before purchasing it, we had a group of 4 breast cancer survivors review and rate 3 separate books on breast cancer. This book "won" hands down, based on numerous criteria -- everything from its explanation of breast cancer treatments, to its index and glossary, to its discussion of life after cancer. It is clear and easy to read, provides comprehensive information on types of breast cancer and corresponding treatment alternatives, has wonderful graphics and photos, and provides interesting anecdotal stories of actual patients in its sidebar. Highly recommended!

I was introduced to this book at work and am now giving it to women newly diagnosed with breast cancer. I am on oncology certified nurse in the radiation oncology department of my cancer center. In January 2007 I also became our Breast Cancer Patient Navigator. I find this book gets excellent reviews from patients and their families alike. It is a great source of information, covering all the topics from diagnosis to living life 'after cancer'. I only wish I would have had this book when I was on my personal breast cancer journey! I highly recommend this book for someone newly diagnosed with breast cancer.

"Many experts believe that Herceptin represents the future direction of breast cancer drugs, because it targets a particular protein on the cancer cell, rather than attacking all cells at random. As research progresses, scientist hope to make all anti-cancer drugs as specific as possible." ~ pg. 97

Designed to compliment the book, the DVD provides an environment of understanding with explanations for all the procedures and various situations that will occur after a diagnosis. New treatments like Immunotherapy are discussed and there is an extensive resource section with additional CD options, including a CD-ROM program that is an interactive guide to treatment.

Helpful up-to-date information about why you may not need a mastectomy and only a lumpectomy is encouraging and gives hope. Radiation and Chemo is also discussed in detail. Throughout both the DVD and book, women tell their stories and that gives a sense of the range of experience. There are over 150 color photographs and graphics to illustrate important points.

A variety of questions are given in each section so you know what to ask your doctor. The stages of breast cancer are given so you know exactly what your doctor is talking about. The main sections include:

Facing Breast Cancer - Your feelings, support groups, healthcare teams and overview of treatment options.

Breast Cancer Basics - Types of Breast Cancer

Diagnosis and Staging - Tumor Testing, the Pathology Report, Additional Tests, How Stage is Determined

Surgery - Reconstruction, Lumpectomy and Mastectomy options, Lymph Nodes

Reconstruction - Choosing a Plastic Surgeon, External and Internal Options

Radiation Therapy - How treatment is given, Brachytherapy

Chemotherapy - Side Effects, Common Chemotherapy Drugs

Hormone Therapy - How Treatment is Given, Who should be Treated, Side Effects

Immunotherapy - Future Therapies and Herceptin

Clinical Trials - Participation Ideas and getting the newest treatments...

Life after Cancer - Emotional Recovery, Physical Recovery

The Guide for Your Partner is a special section your partner can read. If possible, watching the DVD together would be ideal because it explains all the basics in the book.

Be a Survivor is an excellent resource because it gives you all the questions you need to ask and answers a number of pertinent questions any woman will be asking the moment she is diagnosed.

Vladimir Lange, MD is one of the most respected doctors in this field of study and this book came into being after his own wife was diagnosed with breast cancer.

~The Rebecca Review

I can also recommend "Reconstructing Natalie" by Laura Jensen Walker.

I have been so busy reading. Sorry I didn't rate sooner.

I was diagnosed with diabetes about 2 years ago. I have read a number of books on the subject. What I like about this book is that it talks about real food. The dessert recipes are made with real sugar. They are low sugar of course, but a number of the recipes can be fed to company. The book also confirmed something I had recently noticed. If I eat less fat, I can eat more carbohydrates with less effect on my blood sugar. I believe this book would be a great place to start for the newly diagnosed, but it is also a great review book that includes a lot of the newest ideas and theories. In addition, it has the basic understanding that food is good and good food is even better.

I add my recommendation to the earlier one that you can save yourself lots of time and money by just buying this book. I recommend the hard-back version as your copy will get lots of use around the kitchen.
The explanations of the blood sugar problem and corrective methods are logical, simple and complete. The book is very well written and makes pleasant reading.
With the exception of two or three ingredients which you may have to find in a health food store, all others can be found in any grocery store.
All of the recipes thus far tried are simple and delicious.
The meal plans and recipes work without a pervasive feeling of constant hunger, which can be a problem in many other diabetic meal plans.
Following a diagnosis of pre-diabetic blood sugar level, and fortunately buying this book on a dietician's recommendation, along with half a dozen others which I rarely use, I have lost twenty pounds in the first three weeks of owning and using the book, with more coming off daily, with minimal exercise. Exercise naturally accelerates the weight loss.
A useful supplement is "No-fuss Diabetes Recipes for 1 or 2" by Boucher et al, but "The Other Diabetes" can stand alone.
The well known and documented relationship between obesity and diabetes 2 can be quickly attacked using this book.
One of the delicious breakfast recipes, Peach Almond Smoothie, will banish hunger for at least half a day, and is widely variable by substituting other frozen fruits for the peaches.
The recipes present lots of variety to accomodate different tastes.

This is one of the most practical and informative books I've found. It is easy to understand and has useful menus and recipes for the busy life of most people with diabetes or pre diabetes. I do not believe you will be disappointed with this book. Give it a read, you'll be glad you did.

My father has type II diabetes. I bought this book for him, but ended up reading it myself. I am not diabetic, but am at risk of developing it. This book is an interesting read, and has a wondeful meal plan and recipes. I have decided to start eating the way she describes, The Mediterranean way, just because it's a healthy way to live. It's just a bonus for me that it also helps prevent and control "the other diabetes". Get this book....it's fantastic!

Jeremy Cowart is an incredible photographer. If you have a heart for Africa, you will absolutely love this book. It has a good balance of quotes and photographs.

I bought this book along with "Vanishing Africa" and I am pleased with its quality. I am happy I bought it, because I feel it brought me closer to Africa.

This book is amazing. It draws the reader into the lives of the African people! It stirred my heart to prayer and made me love them even more!

There are few words to describe Cowart's work and Jenna's commentary. If this book made it's way into every household in America, Africa would look like a completely different country, because we could not help but be moved to action.

The pictures are beautiful; some of them are only templates begging for words, but they convey the stuff that Africa is made off: the wood, the mud... The children's faces are smiling, always innocent and beautiful. The older people show resilience, dignity, and an expression that seems to say: 'It's done, I'm almost there'. The more enigmatic faces are of those in between, the young and middle ages; they are going through it. Most of these people dress clean clothes, specially the women. The book does a good job in that it makes the pictures alive, and their protagonists almost speak to us (although whatever they say depends on the listener).

One gets an idea of what Africa looks like. The landscapes under ominous skies, the muddy lanes, the water streams in front of the doors threatening with floods. I felt, however, that I wanted to know more about specifics in these people's lives. Their problems are mentioned as in headlines. I know it wasn't meant to be for this book but, still, I feel I would have liked to know even just a little more about those people in the pictures, from themselves, in their words.