The Optimum Nutrition Bible

Rating:
Summary: Excellent Book if You're Serious about your Health
Review: I recomend this book to everyone that is conscerned about their health. I was required to purchase this book for my N.D. program and it was one of the best, effective health books I have ever read. I have lost 20lbs. and have been able to go off of my blood pressure medicine. In addition when I wake up in the morning I am full of vitality and energy. I feel good instead of feeling sluggish and worn down throughout the day. Anyone can feel this good with diet and nutrition alteration and this is just the book to show you how to transform your life and physical well-being.

Rating:
Summary: Optimum Nutrition Bible!
Review: I was given this book as a christmas present by my Grandad last year and at the time I was to grasp certain aspects of my Nutrition Diploma. However after reading this bible I was able to gain a better understanding of vitamins and minerals and also the importance of a balanced diet. Patrick Holford has really excelled in writting this book and as proved by the by the title it certainly is a BIBLE.

Rating:
Summary: Optimum Nutrition Bible!
Review: I was given this book as a christmas present by my Grandad last year and at the time I was to grasp certain aspects of my Nutrition Diploma. However after reading this bible I was able to gain a better understanding of vitamins and minerals and also the importance of a balanced diet. Patrick Holford has really excelled in writting this book and as proved by the by the title it certainly is a BIBLE.

Rating:
Summary: Anti-meat tendencies require reader awareness
Review: Labeling meat a bad food, Patrick Holford is clearly anti-meat in "Optimal Nutrition Bible". That's fine. However, Holford's poor treatment of the protein controversy needs deeper examination and placed me on guard as I read "Optimal Nutrition Bible". For example, his deduction regarding how much protein a person needs is scantily, if hardly justified.

The author quotes a US Olympic trainer that says a person can gain 8 pounds maximum of muscle in a year (even that number is controversial, by the way). OK that's fine. So, Holford deduces that a person can only gain 0.3 ounces of muscle a day. He adds muscle is only 22% protein. Fine. So how does Holford conclude that one only needs an extra quarter of a teaspoon a day of protein (above the RDA, this is not clear in the section) to obtain maximum muscle growth? Protein is not only utilized by the muscles- it's used all over the body. Even some bacteria are comprised of protein.

Several factors influence the digestion of protein. As a nutritional author, Holford should have addressed the possible loss or conversion of protein into fat or a carbohydrate. This all depends on when you eat the protein and what you consume along with the protein. He trivializes muscle building when it is actually quite a complex subject.

Otherwise, I found Holford's work to be worthy of a Nutrition library because it briefly and clearly covers several concerns related to nutrition. Just crack open the Table of Contents, and you can read his book in bits and pieces as needed.

Holford's vitamin and mineral lists, which include symptoms of nutritional shortages, allows the reader to create a nutritional program suitable to her own needs. In the spirit of Noixia, this book offered me a chance to discover something about myself that I did not know. I'm sure you'll likewise have nutritional epiphanies while reading. Just make sure you do your own health research as well.


Rating:
Summary: FULL OF HEALTHY ADVICE
Review: Of course, many people would not regard this book as a 'Nutritional Bible', given its modest 342-paged volume. Still, a careful look at it reveals a lot.
This book left nothing to doubt with its expanded coverage on every aspect of human nutrition. Its information were abridged in most cases, but they are far-reaching enough. It did remind its (novice) audience that energy and nutritional requirements may vary depending on age, sex, and level of activity.
"The Optimum Nutrition Bible" used simple language to explain the manifestations of various nutritional disorders and deficiencies. It also described and classified nutrients in a way that any reader would follow.
This is not a classical text that should be reserved for medics: anybody can get along with its contents. In addition to sports personnel, I would advise patients with nutritional sensitivities: like diabetics, alcoholics, anorexia nervosa, etc., to pay closer attention to it. Its message is simple and clear; but above all, very useful.

Rating:
Summary: Truly THE BIBLE if you're interested on nutrition !
Review: This book is absolutely excellent. I have already read twice the portuguese version (A Biblia da Alimentacao, Editorial Presenca) and frequently use it as a daily reference. Mr. Patrick Holford ..., founder of the Institute for Optimum Nutrition ..., clearly explains, based on scientific evidence, the concept of Ideal Diet ..., which consist of an adequate intake of macro-nutrients (70% carbohydrates, 15% proteins and 15% lipids) and micro-nutrients (vitamins & minerals and other substances, from foods and supplements). Healthier macro-nutrients sources and combinations are explained and their nutritional advantages over others are referred. For example, it is justified that some combinations of vegetal proteins are better than the best conventional animal proteins sources (like 30gr of integral rice with lentils is as good as 30gr of eggs since both provide exactly the same amount of the 8 basic aminoacids our body needs to build cells and don't include any colesterol or saturated fat at all). His book refers that God conceived our body to work based on a specific fuel - mainly complex carbohydrates, like fresh fruit, vegetables, pulses and wholegrains, which should make up two thirds of what we eat, or around 70 per cent of our total calorie intake; these provide slower release of energy and thus more constant blood glucose levels - and that using large amounts of other fuels are the major causes of disease and even death in our modern society. Adopting this Ideal Diet should be enough to improve your health, immunity, cardiovascular system, digestion, hormonal equilibrium, physical performance, bones, skin, intelligence & memory, fight stress, cancer, infections, overweight & obesity, avoid diseases and improve your overall quality of life. It talks about vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, phytochemical substances, aminoacids, enzymes, anti-nutrients and so on, and justifies why food supplements should be taken regularly even if your diet is already perfect. I am now a regular consumer of a multi vitamin & mineral complex, vitamin C, magnesium and zinc for specific deficiencies, and also essential fat acids (Omega-3: salmon-EPA-DHA and shark oil and Omega 6-Onagra-GLA) . It also introduces the concept of SONA (suggested optimal nutrient allowances) - whose quantities, in some cases, are 10 times higher than Dept. of Health DDR's - and justifies that these provide much higher resistance to infections, better intellectual performance and reduced risks of cancer and heart diseases. Each chapter ends with practical suggestions, such as eat this and avoid that, in order to give you guidance on how to achieve the goals proposed on it. A test is also included for evaluating your specific vitamin & mineral needs, based on deficiencies on each one and also on your lifestyle, stress, exercise, immunity, pollution exposure and other environmental factors. In the end, suggestions for several conditions and illnesses are proposed ... This book dramatically improved my view on nutrition and opened my mind to a healthier lifestyle. Now I'm sure that the Ideal Diet - the one that promotes energy and health and prevents disease - is completely different from the prevailing Ocidental nutritional culture (or perhaps ignorance ?). Do read this book because it can change - or even save - your life and the life of your loved ones. The Ideal Diet will certainly extend your life expectancy as well as it's quality. Always remember: "you are what you eat" !

Rating:
Summary: The optimum nutrition bible
Review: This man who presents himself as an authority on nutrition is extremely dangerous. Without any reservation, I consider him a quake. His "knowledge" is largely anecdotical and questionable as the least. Furthermore the man has a vested interest in advising supplementing with huge quantities of vitamins and minerals. He has his own brand. Growing up, I never took any vitamin or mineral supplements on a regular basis. On the odd occasions that I had any need for nutritional support, I went to my doctor for controlled supplementation of limited dosage.

Don't buy this book! Rather look at "You are what you eat" by Kirsten Harvig and let food be your medicine. Listen to traditional wisdom.

You've been warned. Keep away from this dangerous quake!

If I could have gone any lower, I'd have given this book and author zero stars.

Rating:
Summary: The optimum nutrition bible
Review: This man who presents himself as an authority on nutrition is extremely dangerous. Without any reservation, I consider him a quake. His "knowledge" is largely anecdotical and questionable as the least. Furthermore the man has a vested interest in advising supplementing with huge quantities of vitamins and minerals. He has his own brand. Growing up, I never took any vitamin or mineral supplements on a regular basis. On the odd occasions that I had any need for nutritional support, I went to my doctor for controlled supplementation of limited dosage.

Don't buy this book! Rather look at "You are what you eat" by Kirsten Harvig and let food be your medicine. Listen to traditional wisdom.

You've been warned. Keep away from this dangerous quake!

If I could have gone any lower, I'd have given this book and author zero stars.