Nutrition Almanac. Fifth edition. (Book Reviews).

Dunne LJ, McGraw-Hill, New York, 2002, 291 pages, $44.95, ISBN 0-07-137338-1

This large compendium would be better titled 'Nutrition and Alternative Therapies Almanac, as its leaning towards the more alternative in food, supplements and therapies is fairly obvious.

Section I gives the basics of nutrition covering the macronutrients (protein, fat, carbohydrates) and all the micronutrients and water, like any standard textbook. There is the expected US influence with differences in milling and fortification noticeable. Section II describes the various therapies from reflexology to herbal therapy.

Section III is the most interesting section and takes up one-third of the pages. It lists 60 'health problems' from acne to vaginitis and details the therapies on offer to treat each. Each 'condition' starts with a brief but generally accurate overview of the problem and goes on to describe a long list of nutrients (meaning supplements) that can be taken, followed by a list of foods considered beneficial in the treatment, juices, herbal supplements, homeopathic remedies, Chinese medicine, Ayurvedic, body work (massage, qigong, acupressure etc.), mind-body therapy (meditation, yoga, biofeedback, etc.) and chiropractic.

For example, for the treatment of diabetes, the author suggests intakes for chromium, co-enzyme Q10, vitamin C, flavonoids, vitamins E, B6, B12, biotin, B2, D, as well as magnesium, zinc, inositol, alpha-lipoic acid, carnitine and evening primrose oil. The foods recommended are a long list of 37 foods including barley, legumes, lean meats, avocado, fresh vegetables, cabbage, bitter melon, dandelion greens, fenugreek seeds and cinnamon, cloves, tumeric, bay leaves (spices that 'stimulate the production of insulin'). No quantities are given nor are there any meal plans or meal suggestions, which dietitians will find unacceptable. Any individual reading this book would still need more guidance on how to formulate an eating plan for themselves.

Section IV gives an alternative listing of foods by pharmacological activity, rich sources of nutrients and glycaemic index. For example, nine foods are highlighted for their 'analgesic activity' including chilli, coffee, garlic, liquorice, onion and peppermint.

Section V offers RDIs and tables of food composition (per serve only) which are taken from the US Department of Agriculture Nutrition Database for Standard Reference 1999 for protein, fat, carbohydrate, ten vitamins, ten minerals, fats by type and 18 amino acids in an attractive well laid out format.

Overall the basic nutrition information is sound and dietitians will agree with most of it. Like most alternative books, it is anti-meat and has a bias to 'whole foods' such as beans, whole grains and vegetables.

But it is hard to judge who will use this book. Educated consumers will appreciate its easy-to-use food composition tables and remedies for various aliments. And in the absence of Australian tables for the public, this book will certainly fill a gap despite the US database.

Dietitians will find its food advice too limited. Those in private practice who often field questions about complementary therapies could well use it as a quick check on what supplements and herbs are usually suggested but there are better entry-level guides written by Australian authors.

Alternative health practitioners may well be a market (and the book has sold well overseas with the front cover indicating 'over 3 million copies sold'). Again while it's a broad overview, they probably would need more clinical data. At least, they would be reading nutrition information which is fairly accurate and up to date.