The Essential Guide to Vitamins and Minerals : Second Edition, Revised and Updated

Rating:
Summary: Exceptional guide to improving health with proper nutrition
Review: There's now extensive research on the benefits of vitamins and minerals beyond just avoiding diseases caused by nutritional deficiencies. This book is an excellent guide to understanding those benefits and avoiding supplements that either are not beneficial or may even be harmful at excessive levels.

The authors carefully describe the degree to which a claimed benefit for each of 40 some vitamins and minerals is substantiated, as well as risks of toxicity, and dietary sources. There descriptions are based on a balanced assessment of the available research.

The first part of the book is organized by vitamin or mineral, so you can see the collected information on, for example, Vitamin E, in one place. The second part of the book is organized by disease or condition (e.g., cancer, fatigue, etc.) and discusses all the relevant vitamins and minerals, as well as general nutrition issues related to the disease. This second part is very helpful if you're facing a particular problem.

The book includes an extensive set of references, as well as a good glossary and index. Some information has changed in the years since the 2nd edition was published, but it seems generally up-to-date. When the 3rd edition comes out, I'll definitely buy a copy.

-- Paul Conte