Organic Librarian: Book Reviews by Catherine CJ Wong

Title: Politically Incorrect Nutrition: Finding Reality in the Mire of Food Industry Propaganda Author: Michael Barbee ISBN: 1890612340

It seems like so much of the information we internalize is gathered from news snippets and commercials. We hear things like: eggs are bad; drink lots of milk and green tea. The problem is that we are not sure why these things are true. How many of us hear the snippet and then spend the time reading all the opposing scientific papers to determine why the statement was made so we can make informed decisions about making a change in our diet? Michael Barbee has done the research for us in his book Politically Incorrect Nutrition: Finding Reality in the Mire of Food Industry Propaganda.

The book covers a variety of nutritional topics and challenges conventional thinking citing historical sources as to why we believe certain things. For example, the conventional thinking on eating eggs is that we shouldn't eat too many as they are high in fat and cholesterol or that we should throw out the yolk and only eat the white. The author takes us through the history of why eggs were originally found to be unhealthy-a study conducted on dried egg yolk powder, not whole, fresh, organic, free-range chicken eggs. Since 1945 egg consumption has dropped by almost 50%, yet there has not been a subsequent drop in heart disease. The author says that eggs are nutrient dense and that "eggs have the best nutrient package of any food we can eat." He ties in the politics of cholesterol paranoia by making the connection with greedy corporate America. The emphasis placed on cholesterol being bad is misguided and has led the drug companies to earn mega-bucks by selling cholesterol lowering drugs (statins) to unsuspecting citizens.

Assumptions made about eggs are just one topic covered in this book. There are also chapters on green tea, soy, cholesterol, conjugated linoleic acid, fluoridation, aspartame, osteoporosis, bovine growth hormone, plastics and microwaves, vitamin C, food irradiation, and vegetarianism. The book concludes with a chapter on whether or not there is indeed a perfect "best diet" for everybody.

If you are like me, you are constantly questioning conventional thinking. Politically Incorrect Nutrition questions our conventional thinking on foods. But don't take my word for it, read the book and find out!

Title: Fed Up! Genetic Engineering, Industrial Agriculture and Sustainable Alternatives Available at: http://www.wholesomegoodness.org

Fed Up provides viewers with a good introduction to the hazards of genetically modified foods. It is organized in a series of questions such as what is the green revolution? What is genetic engineering? What is genetic pollution? Why is there still hunger in the world? Interviews with experts such as Vandana Shiva, environmental activists and organic farmers really make this a nice video. The video is 60 minutes long so it could be easily shown in a class period with discussion to follow.

Title: Journey Into Motherhood: Inspirational Stories of Natural Birth ISBN: 0974785326Authors: Sheri L. Menelli and various contributors

We want everything to be easy nowadays and there is a pill for every ailment in the book. Many women know right from the beginning that they want the epidural while others take the wait and see method and still others very carefully plan a natural birth from the start. I had a hospital birth taking the wait and see method. I decided to go about my business the day I was in labor even attending a baby shower and waiting until I had watched both Keeping Up Appearances and As Time Goes By on BritCom. I thought if I waited long enough to get to the hospital it would be too late to have the epidural thereby making my decision that way. Since I was not informed enough to hire a doula or take a hypnobirthing class, once I got to the hospital I was faced with the epidural decision. At that point it seemed like a pretty good idea, but it was too late! I had a beautiful birth without the drugs. I did it! However, I did it blindly knowing nothing about birth and how much more wonderful it could have been if I would have taken the time to really learn about natural birthing.

Sheri Menelli has compiled a wonderful collection of natural birth stories in her book Journey Into Motherhood: Inspirational Stories of Natural Birth. Each story is written by a mother in her own voice and concludes with A Mother's Guidance and Additional Thoughts sections giving additional tips and advice to help you arm yourself with the support and guidance you need to have a natural birth. Many of the stories are so touching they made me cry, but the practical tips and experiences of those that have gone before are priceless. Having a natural birth is not for everyone, but the fact that we hardly ever hear an inspiring natural birth story fills the whole process with fear for many first time mothers. If we can just trade that fear for education and preparedness, I believe many more women would opt for a more natural birth experience. Menelli has provided women with a book that is both educational and inspirational. By reading these stories while preparing for birth, mothers can feel empowered by their decisions and know that others have gone before them and had a beautiful, natural birth.

Title: Brain Trust : The Hidden Connection Between Mad Cow and Misdiagnosed Alzheimer's Disease ISBN: 0743499352 Author: Colm A. Kelleher

Brain Trust has all the makings of a good horror novel. There are many deaths, cover-ups and even cannibalism. The only problem is that it was NOT a work of fiction by Stephen King. It is the horror story of how Mad Cow disease came to be discovered. This terrifying tale begins with researchers in Papua New Guinea studying the Fore people and the illness they were succumbing to called Kuru. The story unfolds over five decades and reveals the scary details of the spreading disease and the stark reality of how unsafe our food supply is. I distinctly remember the first time I heard about prions and it scared me terribly with good reason. Prions are not a virus or bacteria, but a protein with an odd shape that can apparently multiply and are zoonotic (passed between species).

This book covers the history of how the various forms of prion disease (scrapie in sheep, chronic wasting disease in wildlife like deer, bovine spongiform encephalopathy in cows, and Creuztfeldt-Jakob disease in humans) came to be known. Included are the stories of the researchers, what is known to this point, and how it is spread including the details of the outbreak in England. We would be wise to heed to warnings of this book, in light of the recent confirmed case of mad cow in the U.S. The author also makes the link between misdiagnosed Alzheimer's disease and Creuztfeldt-Jakob disease. This book beautifully written and reads like a thrilling mystery, but is much more scary because it is real. I commend Dr. Kelleher for his research on this topic and providing citizens with this overview. This is a must read for anyone concerned about the politics and safety of food.

Title: Feeding the Whole Family: Whole Foods Recipes for Babies, Young Children & Their Parents ISBN: 0966034619 Author: Cynthia Lair

This book gives the basics of how to feed a baby natural foods you cook yourself. It includes sections on when and how to start solids, safety tips for homemade baby foods, foods not to feed babies, and healthy eating for the older child. Included are many healthy recipes. The recipes include variations for babies and older children. Nutritional analysis for all the recipes as well as a glossary and index are included.

Title: The Newman’s Own Organics Guide to a Good Life: Simple Measures That Benefit You and the Place You Live. ISBN: 0-8129-6733-X Authors: Nell Newman with Joseph D’Agnese

Nell Newman has certainly lived a different life than most of us with actors Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward as her parents, but her book The Newman’s Own Organics Guide to a Good Life: Simple Measures That Benefit You and the Place You Live is decidedly down to earth and readable. Ms. Newman has a degree in human ecology from the College of the Atlantic and she founded Newman’s Own Organics. Her book, written with Joseph D’Agnese, provides a good introduction to living a more environmentally friendly life. It covers the basics of eating, transportation, energy and water issues, investing, cleaning, shopping, gardening and pet care.

Each chapter is sprinkled with stories of organic farmers, environmentalists, or eco-friendly companies and how they are making a difference in the world. There are tips to help a person choose the most environmentally friendly way to do something. For example, in the chapter about pet care there is the story of a golden retriever with hip dysplasia who was helped immensely by a change in diet. Included are ways we can improve the diet of our pets by adding organic and fresh foods to our pet’s diet such as apples, pears, melon balls, carrots and even a recipe for an organic carrot juice.

Throughout the book the authors emphasize that buying products locally is best because it takes resources to move items across the country. Also emphasized is thinking more about where things come from and how they were produced. Companies that use organically grown materials and fair labor practices are emphasized. Included are many resources and web sites throughout as well as a bibliography and 25-page resource directory at the end with names, address, e-mails, and web sites of companies and organizations that correspond with the chapters of the book.

Title: Wheat-Free, Worry-Free: The Art of Happy, Healthy Gluten-Free Living ISBN: 1561709913 Author: Danna Korn

This book provides readers with an excellent overview of how to live a gluten-free life. It covers the basics of digestion and why certain people need to go gluten-free, how to remove wheat and gluten from the diet, and the emotional issues involved with a diet change. Additionally, it covers how to deal with eating out, what you CAN eat, shopping, menu planning, travel tips, etc. It also deals with how to talk to friends, family and strangers about the diet. Recipes, index and a 26-page resource directory are included. The author is an expert on the subject and the founder of R.O.C.K. (Raising Our Celiac Kids), a support group for families with celiac disease.

Reprinted by permission from Organic Family Magazine. CJ Wong is the editor and publisher of Organic Family Magazine.