A new book by Miriam Nelson, author of Strong Women Stay Young, Strong Women Stay Slim, and Strong Women, Strong Bones, is always cause for celebration. This time, the Tufts University researcher who taught strength training to women of all ages tackles nutrition--especially demystifying the science behind it. What foods improve health and prevent disease? What is the truth behind whether we should or shouldn't eat fat? Sugar? How do we choose among the 40,000 food items sold in the average supermarket? What about the tenets of bestselling diet books (which Nelson points out are usually by authors without nutrition credentials)? Government dietary guidelines? Nelson, with her able cowriter Judy Knipe, explains simply the truth about your dietary needs: water, whole grains, fruits and vegetables, calcium, protein. She lambastes the high-protein fad diet ("it does lead to short-term weight loss, but to the detriment of overall health") and sings the praises of soy. Clear, precise, practical suggestions for eating more nutritious foods will leave you knowing both why and how to eat better. Knipe's 61 innovative recipes include Cornish Hens with Wheatberry Stuffing, Fish and Corn Chowder, Puffed Cornmeal Pancake with Cranberries, and Barley Risotto with Shrimp and Edamame. --Joan Price


From Library Journal
Drawing on 18 years' research, the director of the Center for Physical Activity Programs and Policy at the School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University has written a very readable book. The main body of the work discusses each level of the Food Guide Pyramid grains; fruits and vegetables; milk and meat products; and fats, oils, and sugars as well as the importance of water. Sidebars offer additional information. A large number of recipes, tested by Nelson and coauthor Knipe, provide ways to increase the use and intake of some foods that most of us may be hesitant to try such things as edamame, wheatberries, and soy products. A good follow-up to Nelson's Strong Women Stay Young, Strong Women Stay Slim, and Strong Women, Strong Bones; highly recommended for consumer health collections. Mary J. Jarvis, West Texas A&M Univ., Canyon Nettles, Saundra Murray. Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.


Book Description
Dr. Miriam Nelson clears away the misconceptions and myths-often fueled by the proponents of diets that focus on weight loss-and explains how to make the right food decisions. She offers sound, scientifically based advice, and shows women how to finally find pleasure in eating-and eating well. Included are:

* Why high-protein, low-carbohydrate diets are ineffective and potentially dangerous * How to read and understand "Nutrition Facts" * The formula for determining how much protein is needed * Advice on whether to buy organic * What "fat-free" really means on a label * The latest information on genetically engineered foods * Advice on supplements * 50 recipes € and more

"Scientifically sound, full of nutritional strategies that are easy to follow, and clearly written...essential reading for every woman." (Irwin H. Rosenberg, M.D., Dean, School of Nutrition Science and Policy, Tufts University)


Book Info
(G.P. Putnam's Sons) Tufts Univ., Boston, MA. Consumer guide for women, explaining the latest research suggesting which types of foods are best for optimum nutrition. Explains how to integrate healthful eating into a busy lifestyle, and includes 50 recipes to get readers started.


About the Author
Miriam E. Nelson, Ph.D., is an associate professor of Nutrition and Director of the Center of Physical Fitness at the School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University. Her news-making research has been published in JAMA and The New England Journal of Medicine, and covered prominently in popular media including Oprah, Today, Time, Newsweek, and Parade.

Judy Knipe is the author of Sensational Soups and co-author of The Christmas Cookie Book.

FROM OUR EDITORS

The Barnes & Noble Review
Dr. Miriam Nelson's latest book is rife with startling statistics: More than one half of all American adults are overweight; 40 percent of women report that they rarely, or never, exercise vigorously; in the last 20 or so years, our country's consumption of sugar-laden, nutrient-poor snack foods has risen by 200 percent; women, on average, consume only 1.5 servings of fruit and 3.1 of vegetables per day (nowhere near the recommended daily allowance); the average supermarket carries more than 40,000 different foods (compare to the average 2,000 in the 1950s) and yet, of the 13,000 new food products introduced per year, most are detrimental to our health -- full of preservatives or refined carbohydrates. The list goes on.

But Dr. Nelson provides more than a sobering wake-up call about the state of women's nutrition -- she also provides a greatly needed framework for bringing our day-to-day dietary choices into the context of our overall health. Does your diet meet the nutritional requirements so few of us understand? Does your diet contribute to longevity or work against it? This book will help readers evaluate the choices they make on a daily basis -- in the supermarket or at restaurants, choosing whether or not to follow the latest fad diet, or opting for a more sedentary lifestyle -- and inspire them to make decisions that will ensure proper nutrition and long-lasting good health.

The book tackles the basics we should all be aware of, such as the Food Guide Pyramid (which Dr. Nelson stands behind, despite the current controversy), what amount of food constitutes a serving, and how to read and interpret food labels. Also addressed are prickly issues such as diets that stress only one kind of food for optimum weight loss (carbohydrate- or protein-exclusive diets, for instance) and the safety of genetically altered foods. Finally, the book includes recipes and indexes for conveniently referencing fiber content or vitamin and mineral guidelines.

Delivered with warmth and a realistic understanding of the challenges that face women as they strive to eat well, this authoritative work is an outstanding resource for an education in nutrition. (Karen Burns)

FROM THE PUBLISHER

Dr. Miriam Nelson clears away the misconceptions and myths--often fueled by the proponents of diets that focus on weight loss--and explains how to make the right food decisions. She offers sound, scientifically based advice, and shows women how to finally find pleasure in eating-and eating well. Included are:

* Why high-protein, low-carbohydrate diets are ineffective and potentially dangerous
* How to read and understand "Nutrition Facts"
* The formula for determining how much protein is needed
* Advice on whether to buy organic
* What "fat-free" really means on a label
* The latest information on genetically engineered foods
* Advice on supplements
* 50 recipes
* and more

Author Biography: Miriam E. Nelson, Ph.D., is an associate professor of Nutrition and Director of the Center of Physical Fitness at the School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University. Her news-making research has been published in JAMA and The New England Journal of Medicine, and covered prominently in popular media including Oprah, Today, Time, Newsweek, and Parade.

Judy Knipe is the author of Sensational Soups and co-author of The Christmas Cookie Book.

FROM THE CRITICS

Library Journal