Eat Well, Age Better

by Aileen Burford-Mason, Judy Stoffman, Ursula Martius Franklin (Foreword)

EAT WELL, AGE BETTER shows how you can recognize your nutritional shortfalls—deficits that will increase your risk of the degenerative diseases of age, including diabetes, osteoporosis, dementia, macular degeneration, heart disease, and stroke. Backed by the latest research, EAT WELL, AGE BETTER describes in straightforward language how to be your own nutritionist. By taking control of your diet now, and understanding how to optimize it with selected vitamins and other supplements, you can increase energy, strengthen your immune system, maintain a healthy brain, and embark upon your retirement years with vigour and vitality.

Genres: Nonfiction, Canada, Health

300 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2012

About the author

Aileen Burford-Mason, PhD, (b. 1943) is a biochemist, immunologist and cell biologist and a widely recognized expert in the field of vitamins and their appropriate use in health maintenance, healthy aging and the prevention and treatment of disease. Respected for her balanced and scientifically-based approach, Aileen is known for her ability to take the latest findings in diet and supplement research and translate them into practical evidence-based guidelines for both lay audiences and health professionals.

Aileen graduated from University College, Dublin, Ireland and received a PhD in immunology in the UK. She is formerly an Assistant Professor in the Department of Pathology Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, and Director of a Cancer Research Laboratory at the Toronto General Hospital. Her many research papers have been published in leading medical and scientific journals and cover such diverse medical and scientific areas as immunology, pathology, gastroenterology, cancer, AIDS, microbiology, and nutrition.

Aileen regularly gives talks to the public and to doctors and other health professionals at universities across Canada. She has a busy private practice where she specializes in personalized supplement and diet regimes. She teaches a popular continuing medical education course for medical doctors and other health care practitioners on the use of diet and nutritional supplements in clinical practice.

A go-to person for radio, TV and the print journalists, Aileen is in regular demand for media commentary on the latest research and controversies in the field of dietary supplements.

Reviews

[Julia · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book starts with a quote; "I know of nothing so potent in maintaining good health in laboratory animals as perfectly constituted food; I know of nothing so potent in producing ill-health as improperly constituted food. This too is the experience of stock breeders. Is man an exception to a rule so universally applicable to the higher animals?" Sir Robert McCarrison MD (1878-1960) pioneer in nutrition research.

The author also tells us to be aware of the role of nutrition. Food and the environment profoundly affect us. Our global technological society badly needs to recognize what we as human beings need from our food to sustain us in the here and now.

I've read numerous books and opinions on healthy diets and healthy life style habits and when I keep reading some of the same claims and proclamations, I tend to believe the theories. The contents of this book underscored a lot of things I had read before, and I also learned lots of new things.
Topics covered were issues with fatigue, hair/skin/nails, vision and hearing, sleep problems, constipation, depression/sadness/anxiety, weight gain & obesity, memory problems and a guide to supplements that encourage health and improvements to these aforementioned issues.

[Kristine Morris · Rating 5 out of 5]

I know what you are thinking.... Burford Mason is my nutritionist so of course I would rate her book a 5 star no matter what, and you wouldn't be wrong. I do think it truly deserves it. One of the reasons why I like working with Burford Mason is that she takes an orthomolecular approach to nutrition and she explains why you should be taking a basic complement of vitamins and minerals (whether you are healthy or not) and what exactly they do at a molecular level in your body. Not only is a a guide on supplements, it also a very healthy approach to eating. It is also written well and is very easy to read.

[Wendy Hearder-moan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was reading this book very assiduously and even taking notes until it dawned on me that it’s over 10 years old, so who knows how reliable the information is? Two things struck me however: 1. This seems to be an area where a little information may be a bad thing; and 2. It’s also one of those areas where the experts don’t agree on much. So how is a lay person supposed to know what’s best? On the plus side, it does have me thinking a bit more about what I’m eating and trying to get more protein into my diet as well as more fruit and veg.

[Char · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting read. Learned some interesting information about supplements. Glad I picked it up.

[Olga · Rating 1 out of 5]

Don't waste your time reading this book. Please see a qualified Naturopathic doctor. I tried everything that Aileen recommended in her book as well as in private sessions ($$$$) for sleep problems & nothing worked. She also didn't help me with menstrual problems & frequent colds. Despite her affiliations with the UT & research centres, this woman knows absolutely nothing when it comes to helping with real problems. She can only advise taking vitamins ( and some of her recommendations are not the best on the market!). Please do yourself a favour and make an appointment with a good Naturopathic Doctor. My ND fixed all my health-related problems within 3 months. It took Aileen 2 years to fix only one! And her privates sessions and the supplements she recommends are very costly.

[Jeff · Rating 5 out of 5]

Aileen Burford-Mason discusses diet and orthomolecular approaches to combat common health problems. She states that some common ailments can be due to vitamin and mineral deficiencies and thus, can potentially be alleviated through proper supplementation. Burford-Mason advises on what supplement to take, when to take it and what dosage for each of the health ailments she discusses. Her claims are backed up by scientific literature and through her own case studies. Her writing style is very precise and I found the book chapters to be neatly laid out. I have implemented some of the supplements she recommended into my daily regimen with positive results.

[Ruth Thompson · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a holistic nutritionist, I appreciate this book because it provides general nutrition advice as well as micronutrients to address conditions and ailments associated with aging. The author's ten rules for healthy eating offer readers an easy-to-follow template for aging with good health.

By including a section on stress, this book recognizes the importance of a holistic health approach. Written in 2012, the information and advice are even more relevant in 2022, as we endure yet another wave of a pandemic that afflicts more severely those whose health and nutritional status is poor.

[Farhana Faruq · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved reading this book!
It's jam packed with information, very thorough without getting all 'nerdy' on me.

There is SO much great information I picked up from this book, I highly recommend everyone read it.

....now I have to go purchase my own copy since this one belongs to the library.

[Jane Campbell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent reference for vitamin information.

[Andrew Hammond · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. Incredibly accessible information and thoroughly cited. This book is a much needed antidote to well intentioned but anecdotal advice.