cover image Doctor, What Should I Eat?: Nutrition Prescriptions: For Ailments in Which Diet Can Really Make a Difference

Doctor, What Should I Eat?: Nutrition Prescriptions: For Ailments in Which Diet Can Really Make a Difference

Isadore Rosenfeld. Random House Inc, $25 (0pp) ISBN 978-0-679-42818-3

Rosenfeld (The Best Treatment), a clinical professor of medicine at New York Hospital/Cornell Medical Center, calls on humor and a breezy style to help readers eliminate myth and fluff from the truth of what diet can and cannot do to alleviate symptoms or cure a variety of medical conditions. Rosenfeld emphasizes that diet can make a big difference for people battling various cancers, Parkinson's disease, heart disease, multiple sclerosis and chronic fatigue syndrome, even when ``cures'' may not be possible. He also describes the health-promoting and -preserving qualities of nutrients. Charts detail the fiber content of food, sources of vitamins and how to incorporate them into one's diet; the author also offers sample menus, including one designed to alleviate the discomforts of jet lag. Rosenfeld is quick to say that diet alone does not seem to influence some conditions, such as acne; he also informs us about dietary evidence that is rather new, sketchy or controversial. Unfortunately missing from this solid resource are chapter references and a list of resources readers could consult for additional information. (Jan.)