Review of Health Tips, Myths, and Tricks
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Nur Khairina MK
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Review of Health Tips, Myths, and Tricks
[Following is a volunteer review of "Health Tips, Myths, and Tricks" by Morton E Tavel, MD.]
Nowadays, we are flooded with information. It's becoming increasingly difficult to distinguish between true and false information, particularly when it comes to health. Health tips, myths, and tricks: A physician’s advice written by Morton E. Tavel is a good place to start for some reliable information. The book is divided into three sections; tips, myths, and tricks. The tips section contains information regarding health and wellness that may be implemented into one's daily life, such as how to lose weight effectively, the benefits of breakfast, and foods to avoid or consume more. The myths section debunks popular fallacies or pseudoscience that many people believe, such as the gluten-free diet, bottled water, and the effect of radiation on food. In the tricks section, the author made us aware of the “tricks” some corporations employ to persuade consumers to buy their products. The use of professional athletes to advertise health products, false media authorities, and chiropractic treatment are all discussed in this section. Most of the chapters can be read alone, although there are a few that overlap with other sections. You can skip around the chapters and focus on the ones that interest you.
The best thing about the book is that the author gives really practical advice on what you can do. For instance, if you want to lose weight, set a sensible target of losing 5% of your body weight in one to two months because the first few pounds are the hardest. Other than that, it's important to read food labels carefully if you want to limit your salt intake. You'll consume more salt if you eat more than the recommended serving size. In a supermarket, you can find “real” food by avoiding those showing a long list of ingredients, as this usually indicates that they have used a lot of food coloring or preservatives. The author makes every effort to present scientific knowledge in simple words. Although it can get too scientific at times and be difficult to follow, there is a helpful conclusion at the end of each chapter.
Despite the fact that the book uses research journals as a source, I note that some of the research is still ongoing. For example, the book mention that extracts of compounds found in cranberries can stop breast cancer cells from proliferating in a test tube; however, it is unknown whether this would work in women. Extra caution is required because ongoing research is being conducted only in the laboratory and not on humans.
A bit of a letdown, the examples offered for medications and food brands are all from the United States. For example, chapter seven provides us with a list of foods to avoid, it includes brands that are sold only in the US. The majority of the statistics are also geared toward studies conducted in the US. Perhaps because the book is aimed at American readers. That does not, however, interfere with the science behind it. Just a heads up if you're interested in reading the book but are from another country.
The content is excellent and informative, but the statistics and wall of text could deter readers. The presenting style may be improved by adding some diagrams or pie charts. Since this book is intended to educate the public, it should be more visually appealing to keep the audience interested. I give the book a 3 out of 4 stars rating because I believe it has room for improvement. There are also a few typos and missing commas throughout the book, as well as a lack of uniformity for sub-sections in some chapters.
This book is perfect for people who are truly interested to know the "true" science. The book can serve as a resource for proper information because people are sometimes prone to trust claims and theories because they don't know where to check for legit information. You can use it to educate yourself and those around you.
******
Health Tips, Myths, and Tricks
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Nowadays, we are flooded with information. It's becoming increasingly difficult to distinguish between true and false information, particularly when it comes to health. Health tips, myths, and tricks: A physician’s advice written by Morton E. Tavel is a good place to start for some reliable information. The book is divided into three sections; tips, myths, and tricks. The tips section contains information regarding health and wellness that may be implemented into one's daily life, such as how to lose weight effectively, the benefits of breakfast, and foods to avoid or consume more. The myths section debunks popular fallacies or pseudoscience that many people believe, such as the gluten-free diet, bottled water, and the effect of radiation on food. In the tricks section, the author made us aware of the “tricks” some corporations employ to persuade consumers to buy their products. The use of professional athletes to advertise health products, false media authorities, and chiropractic treatment are all discussed in this section. Most of the chapters can be read alone, although there are a few that overlap with other sections. You can skip around the chapters and focus on the ones that interest you.
The best thing about the book is that the author gives really practical advice on what you can do. For instance, if you want to lose weight, set a sensible target of losing 5% of your body weight in one to two months because the first few pounds are the hardest. Other than that, it's important to read food labels carefully if you want to limit your salt intake. You'll consume more salt if you eat more than the recommended serving size. In a supermarket, you can find “real” food by avoiding those showing a long list of ingredients, as this usually indicates that they have used a lot of food coloring or preservatives. The author makes every effort to present scientific knowledge in simple words. Although it can get too scientific at times and be difficult to follow, there is a helpful conclusion at the end of each chapter.
Despite the fact that the book uses research journals as a source, I note that some of the research is still ongoing. For example, the book mention that extracts of compounds found in cranberries can stop breast cancer cells from proliferating in a test tube; however, it is unknown whether this would work in women. Extra caution is required because ongoing research is being conducted only in the laboratory and not on humans.
A bit of a letdown, the examples offered for medications and food brands are all from the United States. For example, chapter seven provides us with a list of foods to avoid, it includes brands that are sold only in the US. The majority of the statistics are also geared toward studies conducted in the US. Perhaps because the book is aimed at American readers. That does not, however, interfere with the science behind it. Just a heads up if you're interested in reading the book but are from another country.
The content is excellent and informative, but the statistics and wall of text could deter readers. The presenting style may be improved by adding some diagrams or pie charts. Since this book is intended to educate the public, it should be more visually appealing to keep the audience interested. I give the book a 3 out of 4 stars rating because I believe it has room for improvement. There are also a few typos and missing commas throughout the book, as well as a lack of uniformity for sub-sections in some chapters.
This book is perfect for people who are truly interested to know the "true" science. The book can serve as a resource for proper information because people are sometimes prone to trust claims and theories because they don't know where to check for legit information. You can use it to educate yourself and those around you.
******
Health Tips, Myths, and Tricks
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Latest Review: Always Strive to Be a Better You by Pete Hall
