A Trusted Expert's Guide to What Works & What's Worthless for More Than 100 Conditions
Starred review from January 1, 2015
Americans spend a great deal of money on supplements, hoping that they will make them younger, healthier, and happier. Do they really work? There is little research to support the often exaggerated claims. Moyad, a physician at the University of Michigan Medical Center, has devoted his career to studying supplements. This book explains what supplements are, what they can and can't do, and when to use them. It also tells readers how to evaluate the information that is available about supplements.The bulk of the book discusses specific medical conditions, with recommendations for supplements based on evidence from research. The book identifies which supplements work, which ones are useless, and when lifestyle changes (such as diet and exercise) would be better. (In fact, Moyad and Lee take care to point out that lifestyle changes are usually the most important route to good health.) A 70-point Research Checklist, available in the appendix, is an excellent tool for evaluating any study or news story dealing with science, health, or medicine. This is an excellent book for all health collections, as the information is reliable and very accessible.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2015, American Library Association.)