Positive Health Online

This is a superb nutritional reference book which will be zooming straight onto my shelf, very much a worthy companion to the classic Nutritional Medicine by Dr Stephen Davies and Dr Alan Stewart (Pan Books, 1987).

Dr Atkins is of course very famous for his other book Dr Atkins New Diet Revolution, in which he espouses a higher fat/low carbohydrate regime to counter insulin resistance (see also review of X Factor Diet by Leslie Kenton).

This substantial book (500 pages), which covers the huge breadth of nutritional medicine, offers a huge resource both to the health professional and the lay person. In addition to having complete chapters with references describing each of the vitamins, minerals, amino acids and fatty acids, it also discusses in scientifically correct, yet readable language fat-based nutrition (medium-chain triglycerides, squalene, glycerol monolaurate, alkylglycerols and cetyl myristoleate), digestive aids (fibre, probiotics, fructo-oligosaccharides (FOS) and charcoal), nutrient-dense superfoods (barley and wheat grass, chlorella, spirulina and bee products), vita-nutrients (coenzyme Q10, lipoic acid, phosphatidyl serine, DMSO, calcium AEP (colamine phosphate), creatine, and many more), nutrients which build cartilage (shark cartilage, glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate and sea cucumber), as well as hormones and glandulars (DHEA, pregnenolone, melatonin and glandular extracts).

And, there is much, much more! Chapters about multipurpose herbs (Ginkgo biloba, ginseng, cat's claw, aloe vera, liquorice, garlic, ginger, turmeric), immune-enhancing herbs (medicinal mushrooms, Mistletoe, astragalus, Pau d'Arco), infection-fighting herbs (Echinacea, Goldenseal, Olive leaf, Tea Tree Oil), cardiovascular herbs (Hawthorn, bromelain, capsaicin), Metabolic herbs (milk thistle, fenugreek), herbs for Men (Saw Palmetto, Pygeum Africanum) and Women (Black Cohosh, Mexican Yam and Vitex), brain stimulants (St Johns's Wort, Ephedra, Gotu Kola), mental relaxants (Kava and Valerian) and single-purpose herbs (cranberry, feverfew and bilberry).

And the preceding merely comprises the first two parts of this book! Part III is the application of vita-nutrient therapy to an A to Z of the most common health conditions, including cardiovascular, blood pressure, diabetes, overweight and obesity, nervous system, digestive health (Candida, constipation and diverticulitis, ulcers and inflammatory bowel disease), fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue, allergies, pulmonary health (asthma, bronchitis), cancer, men's and women's health problems, arthritis, skin problems, autoimmune disease (scleroderma and multiple sclerosis) and vision problems.

Within each of these latter section there are detailed tables listing the most important supplements and those which are moderately important.

On reading and referring to this book, I discovered nutrients I hadn't heard of, such as calcium AEP (colamine phosphate), as well as their application to difficult disorders such as multiple sclerosis and type I diabetes. Dr Atkins brings a wealth of experience of practising Nutritional Medicine, a fairly rare sort of physician, particularly in the UK. There is a therefore a wealth of information, attitude, vision, references and guidelines and instructions. Be warned however; Dr Atkins is not fond of the medical establishment and recounts how he became a convert to nutritional medicine over a quarter of a century ago. A totally compelling read!