Health Recent Picks

February/March 2011

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All Black's don't cry : a story of hope / John Kirwan with Margie Thomson.
"John Kirwan was one of the most devastating wingers New Zealand, and world, rugby had ever seen. A prominent and revered figure at the dawn of the professional age of rugby, he seemed to live a charmed life. Nobody knew, though, that behind closed doors 'JK' was living a life of tormented fear. Afflicted with depression for many years - including those as a high-profile sportsman - Kirwan was able to survive by reaching out, seeking help from those closest to him. All Blacks Don't Cry is John Kirwan's story of hope, of working through the pain and living a full life - a poignant, inspirational and helpful example for anybody battling depression. 'I've been to hell and I'm back. If you're in that same place, then I understand what you're going through.' (Fishpond)

Living downstream : an ecologist's personal investigation of cancer and the environment / Sandra Steingraber.
With this eloquent and impassioned book, biologist and poet Sandra Steingraber shoulders the legacy of Rachel Carson, producing a work about people and land, cancer and the environment, that is as accessible and invaluable as Silent Spring--and potentially as historic. In her early twenties, Steingraber was afflicted with cancer, a disease that has afflicted other members of her adoptive family. Writing from the twin perspectives of a survivor and a concerned scientist, she traces the high incidence of cancer and the terrifying concentrations of environmental toxins in her native rural Illinois. She goes on to show similar correlation in other communities, such as Boston and Long Island, and throughout the United States, where cancer rates have risen alarmingly since mid-century. At once a deeply moving personal document and a groundbreaking work of scientific detection, Living Downstream will be a touchstone for generations, reminding us of the intimate connection between the health of our bodies and the integrity of our air, land, and water." (Inside flap)

Prevent and reverse heart disease : the revolutionary, scientifically proven, nutrition-based cure / Caldwell B. Esselstyn, Jr.
"Drawing from his twenty-year nutritional study-the most comprehensive study of its kind-Dr. Esselstyn convincingly argues that plant-based, oil-free nutrition can not only prevent and stop the progression of heart disease, but also reverse its effects. The proof is in the incredible results of the patients who have followed his groundbreaking program. The men and women in his original study came to him with advanced coronary disease. Within months of following a plant-based, oil-free diet, their angina symptoms eased, their cholesterol levels dropped significantly, and they experienced a marked improvement in blood flow to the heart. Twenty years later, they remain free of symptoms." (Book jacket)

The new Sjogren's syndrome handbook / editor, Daniel J. Wallace ; associate editors, Evelyn J. Bromet ... [et al.].
"Sjogren's syndrome is an autoimmune disease that commonly causes dryness of the eyes, mouth, and nose, and that can lead to complications including profound fatigue, depression, and lymphoma. While there is no cure for Sjogren's, much can be done to alleviate the suffering of patients. This extensively revised handbook offers everything you need to know to cope with this disease.The New Sjogren's Syndrome Handbook, Third Edition is a comprehensive and authoritative guide, produced by the Sjogren's Syndrome Foundation and its medical advisors and edited by physician Daniel J. Wallace, a leading authority on auto-immune disorders." (Syndetics summary)

The new evolution diet : what our paleolithic ancestors can teach us about weight loss, fitness, and aging / Arthur De Vany ; with an afterword by Nassim Nicholas Taleb.
"Astonishing as it may be, it's a fact that human DNA has evolved very little since our Paleolithic ancestors roamed the earth. But while our genes may be similar, the environment in which they express themselves has changed radically. Living in an age when activity was mandatory and food was scarce, our ancestors thrived. Early man did not suffer from heart disease, high blood pressure, or obesity. In fact, a good deal of what we describe as normal aging is more akin to disease than any natural aging process. Disease free and strikingly fit, 72-year-old Arthur De Vany grandfather of the Paleo lifestyle movement is living proof that it pays to live like a caveman. In The New Evolution Diet, De Vany offers you a roadmap back to better health. The plan is built on three principles: eat three meals a day made up of nonstarchy vegetables, fruits, and lean proteins skip meals occasionally to promote a low fasting blood insulin level - exercise less, not more, in shorter, high-intensity bursts. By cutting out modern foods including carbohydrates, dairy, and all processed foods anyone can lose weight, gain muscle, and enjoy a longer, better life" (Global Books In Print).

A headache in the pelvis : a new understanding and treatment for chronic pelvic pain syndromes / David Wise, Rodney U. Anderson.
"This book describes the Wise-Anderson Protocol, popularly known as the Stanford Protocol, a landmark treatment for men and women with pelvic pain and related symptoms developed by Rodney Anderson and David Wise at Stanford University in the Department of Urology. This book describes the Wise-Anderson Protocol treatment for: Prostatitis; Chronic pelvic pain; Levator Syndrome; Pelvic Floor Dysfunction; Interstitial Cystitis (IC); Urethral Syndrome; Urinary frequency and urgency; Pain/discomfort related to sexual activity; Pain/discomfort exacerbated by sitting; Pain/discomfort in the genitals and ano-rectal area." (Book jacket)

Get out of your mind & into your life : the new acceptance & commitment therapy / Steven C. Hayes with Spencer Smith.
"Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) is a new, scientifically based psychotherapy that takes a fresh look at why we suffer and even what it means to be mentally healthy. What if pain were a normal, unavoidable part of the human condition, but avoiding or trying to control painful experience were the cause of suffering and long-term problems that can devastate your quality of life? The ACT process hinges on this distinction between pain and suffering. As you work through this book, you'll learn to let go of your struggle against pain, assess your values, and then commit to acting in ways that further those values.ACT is not about fighting your pain; it's about developing a willingness to embrace every experience life has to offer. It's not about resisting your emotions; it's about feeling them completely and yet not turning your choices over to them. ACT offers you a path out of suffering by helping you choose to live your life based on what matters to you most. If you're struggling with anxiety, depression, or problem anger, this book can help-clinical trials suggest that ACT is very effective for a whole range of psychological problems. But this is more than a self-help book for a specific complaint-it is a revolutionary approach to living a richer and more rewarding life." (Book jacket)

The professional guinea pig : Big Pharma and the risky world of human subjects / Roberto Abadie.
"The Professional Guinea Pig documents the emergence of the professional research subject in Phase I clinical trials testing the safety of drugs in development. Until the mid-1970s Phase I trials were conducted on prisoners. After that practice was outlawed, the pharmaceutical industry needed a replacement population and began to aggressively recruit healthy, paid subjects, some of whom came to depend on the income, earning their living by continuously taking part in these trials...Arguing that financial incentives compromise the ethical imperative for informed consent to be freely given by clinical-trials subjects, Abadie confirms the need to reform policies regulating the participation of paid subjects in Phase I clinical trials." (Book jacket)

The key muscles of yoga : your guide to functional anatomy in yoga / Ray Long ; with illustrator, Chris Macivor.
"This book offers a scientific approach to understanding the practice of hatha yoga. Through four-color, three-dimensional illustrations of major muscles, tendons, and ligaments, Ray Long describes the practice and benefits of hatha yoga. Specific anatomical and physiological descriptions highlight the agonist, antagonist, and synergist muscles that come into play with each pose. Volume I of the series describes the key muscles of hatha yoga and how they are utilized. From beginners to experts, this book will become a constant companion." (Syndetics summary)

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