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Summary: Book of the Future is here now
Review: A wise man once said that the doctor of the future will prescribe foods to eat in order to maintain optimal health. Well, the future is here now with Dr. Barnard's book. Extremely well-researched, it contains the latest findings on the relationship between pain, disease and what we eat.If you have back pain, headaches, endometriosis, cancer or any of the many disorders and diseases common today, read this book and you will probably get the relief you seek. Every doctor -- and every patient -- should have a copy of this fascinating, superb, life-saving book.
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Summary: Excellent, timely litany on whats wrong with a Western diet
Review: Dr. Barnard comes through again with an common sensical explanation of how the typical American diet is destroyning the lives of so many people. He notes with simple clarity that eating foods that humans have never eaten during their 3 million years of evolution results in illness and disability. By eliminating these foods like dairy products, animal flesh and certain other items, it becomes possible to restore our bodies to health and become free of chronic pain. I have prescribed a similar diet for my patients for many years, and like Dr. Barnard, the most frequent response I get, after often dramatic results, is "Why? Why didn't any doctor ever give me this information before?" I know why; its because too much money is being made by the pharmaceutical companies, the meat and dairy industries, and yes, the medical profession by keeping people dependent on their products. If you or someone you love suffers from arthritis, severe menstrual pain, migraines or any other chronic pain, you could do nothing better than to read this book and heed its advice. Jerry Vlasak, M.D., F.A.C.S.
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Summary: An extraordinary book
Review: Dr. Barnard is willing to stand up for the truth. When I followed the advice in the book, my migraines disappeared and my energy level shot up the roof. The book is incredible and should be read by people even if you aren't in pain. We all owe it to Dr. Barnard for unveiling the truth about food and how it effects us. BRAVO!
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Summary: A great book!
Review: Dr. Barnard's book helped me pinpoint what (coffee) is causing the pain in my hands. I've consulted many professionals, they just keep on suggesting that I take pills. After reading the book, I was able to follow the steps to pinpointing my allergy. As a clarinetist, it is vital that I keep playing and practicing. This book not only helped me saved money from getting physical therapy for my hands, but also brought back the joy of playing the clarinet. I recommend it for everyone who's on "pills" or have that nagging pain somewhere!
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Summary: Awesome Book, MUST Reading...Very well-documented
Review: Excellent book from a physician who has researched this topic thoroughly. Many of the studies here are so informative and crucial to our health, yet you may not find them in other places. Finally a medical authority brave enough to tell the truth and the whole truth with all the science and studies well-documented. More than just a way to treat disease, this book helps you to prevent it in the first place. The chapter about the early human diet is worth its weight in gold. Must read this book...it may save your life, a wise purchase.
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Summary: Both minor and serious pains can often be addressed by foods
Review: Foods can fight pain in many different ways, depending on the type of pain you have. If the problem is chest pain or back pain, the key issue is improving circulation. As Dr. Dean Ornish of the University of California at San Francisco reported in Lancet and JAMA, it is possible to actually reverse existing artery blockages and reopen arteries in 82% of research participants, using a 4-part program, including a vegetarian diet, no smoking, mild exercise, and stress management. Researchers are more partial to spaghetti, beans, and veggie chili than to chicken and fish, because even the leaner cuts of poultry, fish, or red meat are not low enough in fat or cholesterol to reopen arteries. Only the vegetarian choices have this power in clinical trials. Foods That Fight Pain shows you the recipes that make it simple. Given new evidence that common lower back pain actually begins with clogged lumbar arteries that choke off the supply of blood and oxygen to the back,! leading to disk degeneration --10% of Americans have at least one advanced blockage in a lumbar artery by age 20, and the average back pain sufferer has two to three closed-off arteries-- we find incredible promise in the use of an artery-opening program for back pain. For migraines, arthritis, fibromyalgia, irritable bowel syndrome, or Crohn's disease, we need a very different approach. About a dozen common foods have been shown to trigger pain, rather like an allergic reaction, while pain-safe foods act like bandages for the body. The trigger foods are common: dairy products, corn, eggs, citrus fruits, tomatoes, meats, nuts, and several others. Most people are not sensitive to them all. What we do is to take all the triggers out of the diet at the same time for 10 days to two weeks, and let the symptoms cool down. Then, we reintroduce the trigger foods one at a time, every two days, to see which ones trigger the pain. When you find one or two foods that are respo! nsible for your pain, it gives you control you have never h! ad before. In research studies, approximately 90% of children were cured of migraines simply by changing their diets,and similar findings have been adduced for adults. Certain foods are pain-safe, that is, they are like bandages for the body. These include rice, especially brown rice, cooked green vegetables, orange vegetables, such as sweet potatoes and carrots, yellow vegetables, such as summer squash, and noncitrus fruits. For menstrual pain, breast pain, and some forms of cancer pain, attention has shifted to using foods to balance hormones. In our research at Georgetown University Medical Center, we have found that approximately 2/3 of women report a substantial effect of diet changes that bring hormones into better balance. In some cases, longstanding pain virtually disappears. Some foods have special effects. The ordinary spice ginger has potential anti-inflammatory effects, similar to ibuprofen. Caffeine has analgesic effects, which is why it is added t! o many over-the-counter pain-killers. Sugar has the opposite effect, measurably increasing pain sensitivity. The herb feverfew is an effective migraine preventive. Vitamin B-6 can be used to treat carpal tunnel syndrome and other nerve pains. Jalapeno peppers contain a chemical called capsaicin that can be used to alleviate pain. These and many other pain-fighters are discussed in detail. Exercise stimulates the release of pain-fighting endorphins. A good long run, in fact, has an effect equivalent to 10 milligrams of morphine. Foods That Fight Pain covers each common pain in detail, and provides easy menus and meal plans for putting the recommendations to work. Here are the conditions covered in Foods That Fight Pain: Back pain Chest pain Migraines and other headaches Arthritis Fibromyalgia Irritable bowel syndrome Crohn's disease and other digestive problems Menstrual pain Breast pain Endometriosis Cancer pain Diabetic pains Sickle cel! l anemia Herpes sores Shingles Carpal tunnel syndrome! Kidney stones Urinary tract infections In addition, recommendations for exercise and stress reduction are included, along with plenty of recipes. Andrew Weil, M.D., wrote: "Dr. Neal Barnard is one of the most reponsible and authoritative voices in American medicine today." Dean Ornish, M.D., wrote: Dr. Neal Barnard is a brilliant visionary, one of the leading pioneers in educating the public about the healing power of diet and nutrition. In Foods That Fight Pain, he offers scientifically based rationales for nutritional therapies to help alleviate the everyday pains for which conventional medicine often has so little to offer. This may be one of the most practical and useful books you'll ever read. I highly recommend it." Benjamin Spock, M.D., wrote: "Neal Barnard's book separates the wheat from the chaff in nutritional literature."
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Summary: This wonderful book helped me feel better than ever!
Review: I first picked this fabulous book up because I had terrible migraines. I must admit I had almost given up hope of getting rid of them because drugs hadn't worked. But I tried Dr. Barnard's simple dietary recommendations and the headaches actually started to get less and less common and have now completely disappeared. I was astounded. Equally exciting, I feel healthier than I ever have before. As an avid cyclist and runner, I had thought I'd reached my peak shape, but I actually cut almost two minutes off my personal best time for a ten mile run...and long, hilly bike rides have never been easier. The ten pounds I've lost as a result of following Dr. Barnard's recommendations may have a lot to do with it, but I also just feel more energetic and have much less pain, even on hard runs and bike rides. When Foods That Fight Pain arrived in the mail, I first read the back of the dustcover and it had rave reviews by a veritable who's who in medicine: Dr. Benjamin Spock, Dr. Dean Ornish, Dr. Andrew Weil, Dr. Henry Heimlich, the editor of a major medical journal, and others. That, along with the 30 pages of extensive medical references sure make it clear that Dr. Barnard is on solid scientific ground. Every recommendation he makes is backed up in the medical literature. The book is very well written, and Dr. Barnard has a knack for explaining detailed medical concepts in a very clear and understandable manner. There's also a dose of humor thrown in here and there that makes it an easy, fun read. The recipes are great. They are easy to prepare and delicious. The Summer Vegetable Stew and Mexican Corn Salad are particularly yummy. As the family cook, I was concerned it may be tough to please everyone and learn how to follow the diet changes, but it was a snap. I learned a few new core recipes and have begun experimenting with ginger, fresh herbs, rice vinegar, and a host of other ingredients I've never really used. This makes meals much more interesting and tasty. I bought a copy of th! e book for my parents and recommended it to all my friends. I really can't speak highly enough about it. My father has been struggling with rheumatoid arthritis for years, so I highlighted Dr. Barnard's chapter "Cooling Your Joints" for him. In it, Dr. Barnard refers to studies in The Lancet, The Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine, and other medical literature that shows diet can trigger arthritis. My skeptical father was so sick of the constant pain that he decided to try out Dr. Barnard's "pain-safe" diet and was very pleasantly surprised. Within a matter of weeks, his pain lessened so much that he now hardly ever needs to take ibuprofin or other drugs. He tells me he hasn't felt this good in years. Another nice surprise, his cholesterol went from a dangerous 270 all the way down to 190. So now, not only is he virtually pain free, he also is not at risk for a heart attack like before. Finally, I recommend this book to anyone, even if they don't have chronic pain. It not only helps eliminate pain, it helps you look at food a whole new way...as a potent, safe, and fun medicine that can add years to your life and make those years a lot more enjoyable.
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Summary: Invaluable information
Review: I have suffered from carpal tunnel syndrome and read with great interest the information in this book relating to hormones and B-6. Since following Dr. Barnard's recommendations I have experienced a very significant reduction in pain to the point where I stated crocheting again, which I was fearing I would have to give up. Forget surgery, this book gives you nutritional strategies for getting better. Who would not change their diet to get their health back? Dr. Barnard shows you how, and I hope many people will discovery this book and get the same kind of benefits I have.
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Summary: Awesome Book, MUST Reading...Very well-documented
Review: I just wanted to post a quickie review of Foods that Fight Pain. One of my relatives recently read the book and has since found tremendous relief for her arthritis. She has suffered for many years, always wondering if food could be part of her problem. As often seems to be the case, her doctors discounted her suspicions, telling her that food could not be to blame. However, she got a copy of Dr. Barnard's book, followed the elimination diet in it, and discovered which her trigger foods are--dairy, coffee, and citrus. Since changing her eating habits, she's had substantially less pain and she credits the book with her turnaround. I think the book is a wonderful addition to the growing library of information about how foods affect our health. Top recommendations from this Amazon customer!
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Summary: No Relative Pain
Review: I just wanted to post a quickie review of Foods that Fight Pain. One of my relatives recently read the book and has since found tremendous relief for her arthritis. She has suffered for many years, always wondering if food could be part of her problem. As often seems to be the case, her doctors discounted her suspicions, telling her that food could not be to blame. However, she got a copy of Dr. Barnard's book, followed the elimination diet in it, and discovered which her trigger foods are--dairy, coffee, and citrus. Since changing her eating habits, she's had substantially less pain and she credits the book with her turnaround. I think the book is a wonderful addition to the growing library of information about how foods affect our health. Top recommendations from this Amazon customer!
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