Giant Book of Kitchen Counter Cures: 117 Foods That Fight Cancer, Diabetes, Heart Disease, Arthritis, Osteoporosis, Memory Loss, Bad Digestion and Hun

Nutrition writers Cicero and Pierre offer an encyclopedic look at 117 foods they say can help stave off cancer, diabetes, heart disease, arthritis and a dozen other health problems increasingly common in our fast-food nation. The authors arrange the foods alphabetically, mixing herbs, fruits, vegetables, meats, fish and dairy, and for each entry they provide a simple synopsis of health benefits, useful sidebars on selection and storage, and a suggested recipe. Foodies may be disappointed with the authors' reliance on frozen and prepared foods: the Ginger Butternut Soup recipe calls for frozen butternut squash puree, and the Stressful-Day Soy Stir-fry uses bottled teriyaki marinade. However, if time-strapped cooks don't mind some pre-made ingredients or the punchy prose (""Get Hooked on It,"" the authors say of fish; they also describe corn as""A Bite for Sore Eyes""), this volume presents a wealth of easily digestible knowledge for healthful eating.