Popular Nutritional Practices

Publishers Weekly - Publisher's Weekly

Yetiv has produced a valuable reference for both health professionals and laymen interested in evaluating pop diets, health plans featured on the bestseller lists and ``alternative'' therapies such as homeopathy and herbal medicine. The author is strictly conservative about nutritional efficacyit takes controlled, double-blind studies to convince himand thus much of the book strikes a cautionary note. Indeed, after explaining scientific method and frequently citing medical research, his arguments become convincing. Among his targets: laetrile, starch-blockers, many fad diets and health-store remedies. Some are harmless, he writes, but some are deadly. For self-prescribers, this last note should make what is otherwise a dry read compelling. (May)