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Foods That Harm, Foods That Heal: An A-Z Guide to Safe and Healthy Eating
Book by Alasdair Mcwhirter Liz Clasen
400 pages, Hardcover
First published January 26, 1996
121 people are currently reading
957 people want to read
About the author
Joe Schwarcz
52 books109 followersDr. Joe Schwarcz holds a PhD in chemistry and is host of the radio program The Dr. Joe Show, directo of McGill University's Office for Science & Society and the author of fourteen bestselling books. Well known for his informative and entertaining lectures, Dr. Schwarcz has received numerous awards for teaching and deciphering science for the public.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 62 reviews
March 26, 2008
I like this book because it annotates the drawbacks of what are commonly known as healthy foods and herbs, eg garlic. I take garlic raw as an antiviral remedy but didn't know that it could induce migraines. It was helpful to find this out as I had taken it in quite large quantities for tonsillitis and ended up with a severe migraine. I like the illustrations in this book too.
July 11, 2019
Quite a comprehensive compilation. One point I observed is that this is mostly based on the British diet, and is biased towards a high carbohydrate, low fat diet, which might not beneficial for a typical Indian vegetarian/vegan diet where protein might be insufficient, and excess carbohydrates(rice is a staple food) contribute to obesity.
May 1, 2021
Incredibly interesting book! Would love to own a hard copy to refer back to frequently.
June 14, 2018
Love the idea of using food as medicine.
June 26, 2025
Lots of helpful information, but some of it contradicts itself
March 27, 2019
WOW! What a wonderful book :)
I recommend that EVERYBODY reads it in order to learn about food and nutrition, plus how our bodies actually deal with what we put into our mouths and hence our systems!
I was already quite well read on this subject but this book has taught me LOADS. I do love to learn from a book. I have enjoyed every single page :)
It has also encouraged me to buy and cook a few new ingredients - today I cooked Butternut Squash for the first time (I had eaten it out before). It will now be bought and cooked more often.
And Banana Ice-cream ... who would have thought it was soooo quick, easy and yummy (not to mention healthy!) Peel a banana and slice it; freeze it over night. Next day (or whenever) put the frozen pieces into a bowl and use your electric hand whisk to make a smooth ice-cream out of it. Final step.... eat and enjoy :) No additives and very little calories plue NUTRITIOUS :)
BRILLIANT BOOK!
I recommend that EVERYBODY reads it in order to learn about food and nutrition, plus how our bodies actually deal with what we put into our mouths and hence our systems!
I was already quite well read on this subject but this book has taught me LOADS. I do love to learn from a book. I have enjoyed every single page :)
It has also encouraged me to buy and cook a few new ingredients - today I cooked Butternut Squash for the first time (I had eaten it out before). It will now be bought and cooked more often.
And Banana Ice-cream ... who would have thought it was soooo quick, easy and yummy (not to mention healthy!) Peel a banana and slice it; freeze it over night. Next day (or whenever) put the frozen pieces into a bowl and use your electric hand whisk to make a smooth ice-cream out of it. Final step.... eat and enjoy :) No additives and very little calories plue NUTRITIOUS :)
BRILLIANT BOOK!
August 30, 2011
This book is a must have for every health concious person. Not only it enlists the benefits and drawbaks of common fruits, vegetables and other eatables including cheese and chocolates, it also advices what to eat and what to avoid on various diseases. The book covers the complete nutritional details of food items.
This is not a one time read but can be used as a reference everytime when you need to be sure about some diet. Well researched and a thorough guide for safe and healthy eating.
This is not a one time read but can be used as a reference everytime when you need to be sure about some diet. Well researched and a thorough guide for safe and healthy eating.
August 23, 2012
This book is very informative and easy to read.
Going in alphabetical order, the book looks both at foods (listing what is good about them and what is bad), and various diseases and health disorders (and what foods are recommended and what should be avoided). It may not have the most up-to-date research. Nevertheless, as a resource on nutrition and health for the layperson, it is quite useful, and for the avid reader, it can be quite an interesting read for sure.
Going in alphabetical order, the book looks both at foods (listing what is good about them and what is bad), and various diseases and health disorders (and what foods are recommended and what should be avoided). It may not have the most up-to-date research. Nevertheless, as a resource on nutrition and health for the layperson, it is quite useful, and for the avid reader, it can be quite an interesting read for sure.
December 14, 2015
'Foods that Harm Foods that Heal', help made me aware of what I consume. Before I eat anything I always think is this beneficial or am I risking my health.
April 25, 2020
3.5
I’m not sure how factual this book is, but I’ll keep referring back to it as I’m sure that won’t hurt!
I’m not sure how factual this book is, but I’ll keep referring back to it as I’m sure that won’t hurt!
March 14, 2022
Was gifted this book recently from a lady who wandered through a thrift store.
Overall, a very informative read and happy to have it on my shelves. Only down side is this is one of the older editions, so newer editions have more up to date information regarding ailments.
I'll be referring to this book often in the future.
Overall, a very informative read and happy to have it on my shelves. Only down side is this is one of the older editions, so newer editions have more up to date information regarding ailments.
I'll be referring to this book often in the future.
June 23, 2017
I've had this book for almost 20 years and I still refer to it anytime I want to know about nutrition or the way food affects us. Perfectly written and so helpful.
July 10, 2018
Full of all sorts of information about foods as well as conditions and what can help or hinder them
July 12, 2019
Still my go to book from way back.
November 27, 2021
Fascinating book filled with healthy eating tips.
Read
February 28, 2022Interesting. In the end, moderation in all natural foods is key to getting the most nutrition and benefits from food.
July 28, 2022
When I started reading it, I couldn’t stop. It’s full of useful info. I love it!
December 2, 2023
Read half of it … seems fair since only half of the information in here is legitimate.
October 16, 2024
They destroyed their credibility when they claimed that fluoride is a good mineral for humans. Don’t waste your time on this book.
November 14, 2024
Lots of helpful information. Good reference.
February 28, 2025
How can I get this great book to my library
October 5, 2020
Turns out ive read this three times now ... one of my FAVORITE BOOKS ,... i have the most up to the minute version and think it's fantastic full of a treasure of knowlege for the whol family !
March 21, 2013
Read my full blog posting here: http://mimi-cyberlibrarian.blogspot.c...
My daughter's mother-in-law is an herbalist and nutritionist. She knows all there is to know about herbal and nutritional healing. If you have something physical bothering you, you just call her and she tells you what to do.
Not everyone can have Janice around to tell you what to do and what to eat. The next best thing is Reader's Digest Book's Foods that Harm; Foods that Heal: What to Eat to Beat Disease. It is a handy-dandy guide --very easy to follow with lots of good advice. This is a revised and updated version of a book that has been around for a long time. It is very colorful, very complete, and extremely useful as a family guide.
I did not read this book cover-to-cover. There is no need of that, although I think that a purist like Janice would find it fascinating. The best thing about Foods that Harm; Foods that Heal is I can just pick a topic that I am concerned about and I can find lots of good advice about what to do or eat. Yesterday we used it because my husband asked me what the nutritional difference was between head lettuce, which he prefers, to romaine, which I prefer. I got out Foods that Harm; Foods that Heal and read to him that romaine has five times as much beta-carotene and vitamin C as head lettuce. End of one family argument. The book contains an excellent guide to food-drug interactions; useful tips for cooking foods that you don't generally eat; and what foods to stay away from if you suffer from common ailments. Additionally, it is full of fun facts. For instance, did you know that most commercial chocolate has less caffeine than a cup of decaffeinated coffee?
I think that most households that are concerned about the food that they eat will appreciate having a copy of Foods that Harm; Foods that Heal among their kitchen cookbooks. I received my copy from the publicist.
My daughter's mother-in-law is an herbalist and nutritionist. She knows all there is to know about herbal and nutritional healing. If you have something physical bothering you, you just call her and she tells you what to do.
Not everyone can have Janice around to tell you what to do and what to eat. The next best thing is Reader's Digest Book's Foods that Harm; Foods that Heal: What to Eat to Beat Disease. It is a handy-dandy guide --very easy to follow with lots of good advice. This is a revised and updated version of a book that has been around for a long time. It is very colorful, very complete, and extremely useful as a family guide.
I did not read this book cover-to-cover. There is no need of that, although I think that a purist like Janice would find it fascinating. The best thing about Foods that Harm; Foods that Heal is I can just pick a topic that I am concerned about and I can find lots of good advice about what to do or eat. Yesterday we used it because my husband asked me what the nutritional difference was between head lettuce, which he prefers, to romaine, which I prefer. I got out Foods that Harm; Foods that Heal and read to him that romaine has five times as much beta-carotene and vitamin C as head lettuce. End of one family argument. The book contains an excellent guide to food-drug interactions; useful tips for cooking foods that you don't generally eat; and what foods to stay away from if you suffer from common ailments. Additionally, it is full of fun facts. For instance, did you know that most commercial chocolate has less caffeine than a cup of decaffeinated coffee?
I think that most households that are concerned about the food that they eat will appreciate having a copy of Foods that Harm; Foods that Heal among their kitchen cookbooks. I received my copy from the publicist.
May 25, 2019
I'm a person who's a bit of a cynic when it comes to the pharmaceutical industry. If you think about it, the money is made by making patients dependent on medicine. If a cure were to be found, the profit would stop right there. As a result, Big Pharma has no real interest in finding a cure for cancer, or any other disease that now requires extended treatment.
The idea that cures can be found in nature is one that's been demonized. It seems that if you were to make the claim that the right food can heal what ails you, you'll be dismissed as a bleary-eyed, tree-hugging hippie.
Luckily, the belief that the right food can heal what ails you has taken root (again, no pun intended) and some segments of society are waking up to the fact that Big Pharma only cares about keeping you sick enough to continue to buy what they're selling.
If you're interested in learning about the good and bad of what's found in Nature's Medicine Cabinet, this is a good place to start.
The idea that cures can be found in nature is one that's been demonized. It seems that if you were to make the claim that the right food can heal what ails you, you'll be dismissed as a bleary-eyed, tree-hugging hippie.
Luckily, the belief that the right food can heal what ails you has taken root (again, no pun intended) and some segments of society are waking up to the fact that Big Pharma only cares about keeping you sick enough to continue to buy what they're selling.
If you're interested in learning about the good and bad of what's found in Nature's Medicine Cabinet, this is a good place to start.
March 9, 2013
I was so impressed with how this book is laid out! It's easy to read, easy to understand, and easy to use as a reference at the drop of a spoon!
The first section deals with how foods affect our bodies, gives new information on food safety standards, and how food can help us to heal our bodies. The second section breaks down food and their benefits and their dangers alphabetically, with info on how each food affects our health, what harms it might hold, eating tips, buying tips and storing tips.
Section three is devoted to a variety of condition and ailments and how foods can help to heal these illnesses. From acne to strokes to macular degeneration, there is information on what foods help, what foods to avoid and ideas to discuss with the doctor.
This really is an all-in-one book that should be apart of everyone's cooking and medical library! I highly recommend it!
The first section deals with how foods affect our bodies, gives new information on food safety standards, and how food can help us to heal our bodies. The second section breaks down food and their benefits and their dangers alphabetically, with info on how each food affects our health, what harms it might hold, eating tips, buying tips and storing tips.
Section three is devoted to a variety of condition and ailments and how foods can help to heal these illnesses. From acne to strokes to macular degeneration, there is information on what foods help, what foods to avoid and ideas to discuss with the doctor.
This really is an all-in-one book that should be apart of everyone's cooking and medical library! I highly recommend it!
September 28, 2012
This is *the* book to learn how each and every food will effect your body: the pro's and con's included.
The A-Z of food is listed along with many health and nutrition topic's such as 'what to feed a baby who is at the weaning stage', that's just one from the top of my head. It is easy to read and is great for reference if you need to look something up quickly.
This book help's you to understand what you should be eating when you have a cold, low BP, anaemia etc etc. If your Dr mention's you are low in vitamin E this shows you that you need to eat more of X, Y and Z. Afterall, majority of illness and disease come from food: either you're eating the wrong kind or not enough of one.
Every family needs a book like this.
The A-Z of food is listed along with many health and nutrition topic's such as 'what to feed a baby who is at the weaning stage', that's just one from the top of my head. It is easy to read and is great for reference if you need to look something up quickly.
This book help's you to understand what you should be eating when you have a cold, low BP, anaemia etc etc. If your Dr mention's you are low in vitamin E this shows you that you need to eat more of X, Y and Z. Afterall, majority of illness and disease come from food: either you're eating the wrong kind or not enough of one.
Every family needs a book like this.
January 23, 2013
This is a nice resource book if you want to know of some of the advantages and disadvantages of certain foods. It is chock full of all kinds of fruits, veggies, meat, nuts, etc. It also has a section on certain diseases/illnesses/afflictions that tells you what foods might be most beneficial for you and what you should probably stay away from. My only suggestion to those who read this, is to remember that everyone's bodies are different. That just because a suggestion is made in this book, doesn't mean it will be right for you. But I am all about trying it til you get it right, and this book could be a start for people.
March 1, 2016
I learned soo much from this book! and that makes it good! One thing that I thought was important was there was no junk science..everything was from real studys and it was well researched.The book seemed unbiased when it came to controversies over certain ingredients and foods. Always a plus in my mind. I enjoyed learning about the different plant families (like a pear is a part of the rose family something I once did not know.) I was able to learn something every couple of pages. This was a great book.
September 4, 2013
An enjoyable flavor should not be the only reason for choosing the food we eat. When health is on the line, it is best to stock up on information about our food choice. This book is a valued reference material on the nutritional value and the harmful effects that food may have in an individual's various health conditions. Presented with images and graphics, I find it a helpful and necessary guide to meal planning.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 62 reviews