Rating: 
Summary: Challem Does It Again!
Review: Another winner for author aka The Nutrition Reporter Jack Challem. He just has a way of taking a topic that seems too broad to comprehend and focusing on key elements and explaining how things work and what we need to know to take control of our lives. The Inflammation Syndrome is very real and Challem's book offers a vast array of nutrition tips that can make a difference in everyone's life. It's a must-read book for anyone interested in their own health and the health of their friends and family members.
Rating:
Summary: A Must Read For Anyone Who Wants Lifelong Health
Review: As physicians, we have always known that inflammation has played a role in multiple disease processes; however, what is especially surprising is that the message that is emerging from the literature is that inflammation plays an even larger role than anyone expected. From heart disease to asthma to arthritis, deranged inflammation and immune response appears to play pivotal roles in the disease process. Even more important, and Jack Challem so eloquently describes, by reducing this abnormal inflammatory cascade we can help fight and prevent many of these devastating illnesses. As a physician and writer, I strongly recommend this book as essential reading to anyone who wants take control of their health and lead a long, healthy, and active life free of disease. Jonathan M. Berkowitz, M.D.
Rating:
Summary: Innovative !
Review: By following Challems advice of proper diet and nutrients we all can benefit and reverse inflammation in our bodies. I found it easy to read and understand and quite simply realized how easy it is to put my body in a better state of health. Thank you Mr. Challem for writing such a thought provoking book, this is one I would purchase for anyone on my gift list.
Rating:
Summary: Now I get it!
Review: Ever read a book and wonder why no one has ever written this before? Jack Challem's coverage of medical research and the associated implications create a whole new way patients and physicians should be looking a serious diseases from diabetes to heart disease. He connects the dots and helps us all find answers to important questions about our health. His realistic approach to diet and lifestyle will have broad applications in preventive health care. After reading this book, my first reaction was --Now I get it!
Rating:
Summary: Extremely informative and persuasive
Review: Great information in this book. I bought it as one of several avenues to help alleviate my family's allergies. I got more than I bargained for. Highly recommend this book to everyone, not just those looking for relief from a specific ailment. This should be on everyone's reading list.
Rating:
Summary: Connecting the "-itis" dots
Review: I am the author of The Inflammation Syndrome. My intent in writing the book was to connect many of the usually unconnected dots in inflammatory diseases. For example, obesity has a strong inflammatory undercurrent (because fat cells produce inflammation-promoting chemicals), and obesity increases the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Both obesity and type 2 diabetes increase the risk of coronary heart disease, which over the past couple of years has been redefined in medicine as an inflammatory disorder of the blood vessels. Chronic low-grade inflammation is one of the common denominators in these three diseases. Similarly, both rheumatoid arthritis and inflammatory bowel disease increase the likelihood of developing heart disease. But the real question in all this is why inflammation now appears to be so common. The reason, I believe, is that most Americans (and Westerners) are eating far too many processed foods that, because of their composition, are pro-inflammatory. Essentially, the typical American diet (which is now being shipped around the world) primes us for inflammation. To restore a more normal balance -- and to boost production of the body's own anti-inflammatory substances -- I recommend in The Inflammation Syndrome a more wholesome diet that emphasizes fish and vegetables (and include recipes as well). In addition, I recommend a number of anti-inflammatory dietary supplements that can also help restore a more normal balance. I have found that this dietary approach and the supplements have helped me, my friends, and patients of the many physicians I know. The book provides specific recommendations for about 20 of the most common inflammatory disorders, including arthritis, asthma, allergies, asthma, heart disease, skin disorders, and many others. Health be with you!
Rating:
Summary: He's convinced me.
Review: I don't review books here very often, because I usually feel that other people have already said it better than I could, but as I read the reviews of this book, I got the feeling that the author called up everybody he knew and asked them to write a review for him here. But I'm not a friend of his, just a real person, so I thought I'd tell you what I think of his book. I was diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes about 2 weeks ago. I've known it was coming for many years because there's a lot of it in my family. So anyway, I immediately went to my local bookstore and started looking for books to inform me about diabetes, and as I was browsing, I ran across this book. I bought it and read it, and I believe what he says. Since I read his book I've been thinking, "If only I'd had his book 15 years ago, or ten years ago, or even one year ago." The book says that it can help prevent or reverse(among others):
heart disease - my brother is taking drugs for high cholesterol.
arthritis - I've got that. I had to start walking with crutches in the past year.
Diabetes - I've got that.
Allergies - everybody in my family has plenty of these, including food allergies of various types.
Crohn's disease - my other brother and niece have that.
Gastritis and ulcers - my mother, myself, and my son all have problems with this.
Inflammatory bowel syndrome - yep, I've got that too and so does my son.
Obesity - I weigh 365 pounds in spite of (??because of??) 30 years of dieting. And both my brothers are pretty big too. So it was interesting to find out that there is a single underlying cause to all these seemingly disparate problems. He explains (and backs up his explanations with plenty of scientific studies) that our modern diet is so extremely different from what our ancestors were eating even 100 years ago, that we are in effect poisoning ourselves. The answer is to eat differently - more like our ancestors ate. This means cutting out the doughnuts and the french fries. His diet plan probably isn't going to be easy in the long run. I've only been doing it for about a week, and I'm okay with it so far. But I know from experience that in a few weeks someone is going to offer me a brownie or a doughnut and I'm going to want it a lot. However, I really don't want to spend the rest of my life as physically miserable as I am right now, and I certainly don't want to go blind and lose my legs like some of my relatives have done, so I'm determined to follow his advice. Everything he says in his book makes sense to me. I've read plenty of reviews of diet books of one flavor or another where some person writes in and says "!!!This book has changed my life. I've been on it 3 days and I know this is the diet I'll be one for the rest of my life!!!" Well, I find that a little ridiculous. But I can say that once I got past the withdrawal symptoms from not eating sugar, I've felt much better. The last 2 days I've even been able to walk short distances without my crutch for the first time in 9 months. I'm going to give his plan the old college try! 8-) More than that, I'm sending copies of his book to both my brothers. If you've got health problems of the type described above or a family history of such problems, I think you should read this book.
Rating:
Summary: A very timely book for all
Review: I know that Jack Challem has thoroughly researched the material of this book. The role of inflammation in chronic disease appears to be creating another paradigm in medical care which practicing physicians are tumbling to. Well over a year ago, Mr. Challem could have had a "scoop" by having his book published a bit prematurely, in knowing that if physicians buy into the inflammation factor of disease and the public understands the theory, that this knowledge will then be put to practical use. But he chose to continue his research and refine his book. As with his past writings, it is very understandable as well as enjoyable reading. If taken to heart, it should truly affect people's health. Good stuff for physicians and patients alike.
Rating:
Summary: Inflammation book
Review: I love the premise of this book: the guy has got the right idea about the inflammation thing and I would like to read the book, but all these vapid positive reviews seem like they are written by the same person and basically say nothing...very annoying.
Rating:
Summary: Finally, inflammation is getting attention.
Review: Inflammation today is the hot topic in medical research--and for good reason. Chronic inflammation underlies many of our most serious health ailments. Jack Challem lays out the evidence for this in the lucid and accessible manner for which he is known. He then goes a step further and shows how individuals unwittingly contribute to the problem through everyday diet and other habits. Lastly, he gives concrete advice as to what is known about reducing inflammation. His suggested options are much more significant and a lot safer than the notion that you routinely should take a baby aspirin. Highly recommended.
| 
