Francisca (Michelbach-le-bas, Alsace, France) on 07/04/2010

I bought this book with a lot of expectations as I want to know more about the balance between Omega 3 and Omega 6 as it seems quite important for one's wellbeing but I was quite disappointed. I won't say that it hasn't some interesting facts but in the whole I found it quite boring and giving advice I don't think is wise, like telling you that saturated fats are bad, he also advises Canola oil but according to what I have been reading this oil seems not to be healthy at all, as well as corn, safflower and soybean oil.

He is also very much on lowering cholesterol and bad and good cholesterol while all cholesterol seems to be very important for the human body. He does mention that in normal amounts cholesterol is important but what are normal amounts? Isn't what is considered normal nowadays set by the Pharmaceutical Industry in order to make money?

As far as whether fish oils are good for the health or not I don't know, some experts say that they are very important, others say that you shouldn't even touch them.... all very confusing. He also let's himself be guided by the Food Guide Pyramid which doesn't seem the best thing as far as nutrition goes. But well, this book is from 2001, that is maybe the problem!

Shopping for wild fish is indeed a great advice but here in Europe we can't buy many kinds of wild fish anymore. No salmon for example, only farmed.

He also advises soy products which we now know can harm at least those who rely heavily on them, especially unfermented soy products.

I also found it funny that although the author knew of cases treated successfully with EFA's he seems only to accept the evidence of that after being tested scientifically. In my opinion you can't test everything scientifically so in cases you know that there is no harm and other people had good results why not try and add your positive or negative experience to the existing ones? You can't always be waiting for millions to be available, many years of studies and many people? Anyway, it seems that at least in 2001 the jury was not yet out on whether EFA's are good for the health or not and what they could treat so most of the studies he talks about have no practical value!

I have a lot more question marks regarding this book but let me just say that I will look for some other way to get the information I need and I won't buy a health book which is 9 years old again!