Become an enlightened consumer

Townsend Letter for Doctors and Patients,  Oct, 2003  by Irene Alleger

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Food & Your Health Beatrice Trum Hunter, Food Editor Consumer's Research Magazine Basic Health Publications, Inc., 8200 Boulevard East, North Bergen, New Jersey 07047 USA; 800-575-8890 Paperback, 2003, $7.95 US/$9.50 CAN, 439 pp.

The food editor of Consumer's Research Magazine selected these special articles on food and diet which have been published over a number of years, to be combined into a single source for consumers. Many of the topics were way ahead of official notice, such as information on soy and E. coli, among ethers. Consumer's Research is a non-profit organization which began publishing in 1928, and has been in the forefront of the consumer movement. Their philosophy was spelled out in 1971: "The right choice of specific foods and types of foods, makes for millions of persons, the difference between health and vigor on the one hand, and a lack of energy and resistance to disease on the other."

Food & Your Health begins with an article titled "Diet and Health: Making Wise Food Choices," discussing Americans' poor eating habits.... "In America today, poor diets are typically too high in calories and fats, and too low in fruits and vegetables--problems associated with certain chronic diseases and obesity."

Another article discusses "Basic Foods and Beverages with (New and Improved' Uses." This article highlights the importance of drinking water along with a good discussion of Functional Drinks--those products that promise to boost energy, enhance memory, or other benefits--which are flooding the marketplace today.

"Fats and Oils: What You Should Know" zeros in on Olestra--that additive to potato chips that made the news a few years ago. A lot of research is cited--both for and against--and the politics of the FDA is spelled out in gory detail. Trans-fats and food labeling are discussed.

"Dispelling Some Popular Health Myths" takes on standard medical advice--and finds it wrong! Salt restriction, for instance, only impacts about 10% of the population; it may be detrimental to the rest of us. Some of the questions answered: "Can You Trust Cholesterol Tests?" and "Are Natural and Synthetic Vitamins Identical?" Included in this article--the downside of soy, citing extensive research.

"Avoiding Foodborne Illnesses" addresses the major changes in mass-produced foods and international distribution, as creating the potential for serious foodborne illnesses. An important and often overlooked factor in foodborne illnesses is the possible long-term effects from intestinal pathogens, such as joint disease, neuromuscular disorders, heart conditions, and even acute renal failure in the case of E. coli. This article is full of helpful information on bacterial soaps, how to safely preserve and prepare food at home, and the use of antibiotics in food animals.

Food & Your Health includes many more samples of the timely and well-researched articles on food found in Consumers' Research Magazine. It is an excellent resource for consumers as it does not advertise nor take contributions from the industry, and the research provided in each article is extensive. This is an unbiased, scientific examination of the many confusing elements today in foods and diet. A better bargain at $7.95 would be hard to find.

COPYRIGHT 2003 The Townsend Letter Group
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