Fortify Your Life: Your Guide to Vitamins, Minerals, and More

Physician Low Dog (Healthy at Home) focuses on foundational supplements (vitamins and minerals) as well as a handful of her favorite nutraceuticals (probiotics, melatonin, etc.) in this useful resource. Readers expecting a dry read will be pleasantly surprised; Low Dog interweaves historical nuggets (e.g. beriberi, caused by thiamine deficiency, was discovered by Chinese physicians more than 1,300 years ago) into pertinent information about the vitamins and minerals that keep the body running smoothly. The author observes that many Americans do not eat healthfully (she learned from her patients’ food journals that many rely on carbs, especially sugar, and caffeine); she notes that the nutritional value of produce has declined and the use of pesticides and presence of environmental toxins has risen, writing that “more than ever, our cells need protection from the damaging effects of environmental pollutants.” In addition, she writes, heavy use of medications can lead to nutritional deficiencies (as explained in an appendix). Through this comprehensive guide to nutrition and supplements, readers will gain an understanding of the crucial role of vitamins and minerals and precisely how, when, and why supplements are beneficial. (Feb.)