4 out of 4 stars
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HEALTH TIPS, MYTHS, AND TRICKS: A Physician’s Advice is a non-fiction book written by retired doctor, Morton E. Tavel, MD. In bitesize chunks, he helps the reader digest the most recent evidence based research in relation to the plethora of contradicting information mislead, hopeful and even health conscious US citizens wade through on a daily basis.
The 62 Chapters are titled to allow the reader to navigate their way to topics that are most relevant to them. As a vegan I went straight to chapters like, “Dietary Supplements: Some Good, Some Useless, and Some Dangerous” and “Should You Consider Buying and Consuming Organic Foods?” But there really is something for everyone and it’s not all bad news with, “Coffee and Health: Good, Bad, or Indifferent?” And “Chocolate: Is it really good for what ails you? Now It May Even Help the Brain Function”
I learnt something new or surprising in almost every chapter and if it wasn’t relevant to me, there was usually something I wanted a friend or family member to know, like the surprising symptoms of heartburn. I consider myself fairly healthy and well informed in matters of general wellbeing so it was reassuring to learn new things sandwiched in with common sense guidance around diet, sleep and exercise. One of the challenges for me now as a UK reader will be to follow up how much of what I read about the US regulation of food, drugs and supplements is the same in the EU.
My favourite thing about this book was that it was as though I had the undivided attention of a knowledgeable person willing to research and answer all the questions that cross my mind when reading the labels of two identical looking supplements, wondering if I should cut down on coffee or confused about the difference between monounsaturated and hydrogenated fats (I might and can go back to that chapter again!)
My least favourite element to this book was that the tone swung unexpectedly between serious science and cringe Dad jokes, “...eat your breakfast every morning, and it better be more than just a doughnut and coffee, or I’ll tell mother on you!” Perhaps this was an attempt to appeal to a wider audience but a few jokes won’t win over a majority audience still transfixed on advice from more accessible "doctors" on TV and radio.
I like reading and love science, therefore rate this book as 4 out of 4 stars. I haven’t stopped bringing it up in conversation, have started to question my own decisions regarding GM food, brown rice and detoxing and am already recommending it to people I know.
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Health Tips, Myths, and Tricks
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