Practical guides: New books on health

Take a peek at some of these new books on health that have arrived in our collection!

For more new books on health and other topics, go to https://www.wcl.govt.nz/whatsnew/

The big book of the human body “The human body is truly an amazing thing. Capable of awe- inspiring feats of speed and agility, while being mind-blowing in complexity, our bodies are unmatched by any other species on Earth. In The Big Book of the Human Body, we explore our amazing anatomy in fine detail before delving into the intricacies of the complex processes, functions and systems that keep us going. For instance, did you know you really have 16 senses? We also explain the weirdest and most wonderful bodily phenomena, from blushing to hiccuping, cramps to jaundice. We will tour the human body from skull to metatarsal, using anatomical illustrations, amazing photography and authoritative explanations to teach you more. This book will help you understand the wonder that is the human body and in no time you will begin to see yourself in a whole new light!” (Catalogue)

The complete family guide to dementia : everything you need to know to help your parent and yourself / Harrison, Thomas F.“If you are facing the unique challenges of caring for a parent with dementia, you are not alone. What do you do when your loved one so plainly needs assistance, but is confused, angry, or resistant to your help? Where can you find the vital information you need, when you need it? Journalist Thomas Harrison and leading geriatric psychiatrist Brent Forester show that you don’t have to be a medical expert to be a good care provider in this authoritative guide. They explain the basics of dementia and offer effective strategies for coping with the medical, emotional, and financial toll.” (Adapted from Catalogue)

Coward : why we get anxious and what we can do about it / Clare, Tim“Tim Clare has suffered from anxiety and panic attacks for over a decade. At their worst, his attacks would see him curled on the floor, screaming to his wife for help. When they became more than he and his family could manage, Tim made a promise to himself – he would try everything he could to get better, every method and medicine. In Coward, Tim Clare explores all the possible treatments for anxiety, from SSRIs to hypnosis, running to extreme diets. He interviews experts and becomes a guinea pig, testing their methods on himself. At the end of a year of many ups and downs, Tim discovers what helps him (and what doesn’t), and what might help others. Most of all, he comes to rethink anxiety and encourages all of us to do the same.” (Catalogue)

Dad’s guide to pregnancy / Coulson, Justin“A practical, hands-on guide for all dads-to-be. Being a dad has changed so much since you were born that you’d be forgiven for feeling a bit lost! This useful guide is filled with all the info that fathers-to-be need, covering the logistical, physical and emotional aspects of your journey into parenthood. Find out how you can get involved and support your partner!” (Adapted from Catalogue)

Managing IBS / Das, Lisa“Irritable bowel syndrome is a complex and frustrating condition that is not yet fully understood but affects an astounding ten per cent of the global population. The troubling conundrum is that the most common IBS symptoms are also manifestations of several other gastrointestinal disorders, and IBS is also closely associated with many physical and mental health conditions. Unfortunately, IBS patients don’t often get the right advice or the support they need. In Managing IBS, Dr Lisa Das, UK-leading gastroenterologist and IBS specialist, offers practical, empowering and evidence-based advice on how to manage and treat the condition successfully” (Catalogue)

Move more at your desk : increase your energy at work & reduce back, shoulder & neck pain / Bradley, Kerrie-Anne“Outlines simple exercises to counter physical issues caused by sitting still for too long, with movements that can be done easily throughout the day to improve sitting posture, strength, and flexibility.” (Catalogue)

On agoraphobia / Caveney, Graham“If we’re talking agoraphobia, we’re talking books. I slip between their covers, lose myself in the turn of one page, re-discover myself on the next. Reading is a game of hide-and-seek. Narrative and neurosis, uneasy bedfellows sleeping top to toe. When Graham Caveney was in his early twenties he began to suffer from what was eventually diagnosed as agoraphobia. What followed were decades of managing his condition and learning to live within the narrow limits it imposed on his life: no motorways, no dual carriageways, no shopping centres, limited time outdoors.” ( Adapted from Catalogue)

On mental illness “This is a guide to coping with a wide variety of mental unwellness, from the very mild to the severe. It explains how and why we become mentally ill, how we can explain our experiences to friends and family, and how we can reframe our view of ourselves and our future in order to thrive. With a humane, encouraging tone, the book teaches us to dismantle stigmas around mental health, arguing that no one should suffer alone. By normalizing mental illness and seeking out shared experiences and supportive friendships, we feel less alone on our journeys. Written with kindness, knowledge and sympathy, and drawing upon the experience of The School of Life therapists, this book is an essential tool to help us on the way to our recovery” (Catalogue)

Prostrate cancer : the misunderstood male killer / Sharpe, Graham“1 in 8 UK males will be diagnosed with prostate cancer, more than 130 new cases are discovered each day and, on average, one man dies from the disease every 45 minutes. Despite these statistics, and the fact that there are getting on for half a million men living with, or in remission from, prostate cancer in the UK, the condition is rarely discussed publicly and most men ignore the warning signs. Graham Sharpe wants to help change that. Faced with a sudden and unexpected diagnosis, Graham managed – just – to overcome a desire to punch the medic charged with the task of telling him he had prostate cancer but who was keener to answer his mobile phone, and set about trying to catalogue what he went through en route to acquiring the condition and how he dealt with the grinding process of his treatment, despite having no idea of the ultimate outcome.” (Adapted from Catalogue)

The real food table : 100 easy and delicious mostly gluten-free, grain-free, and dairy-free recipes for every day / Beacom, Jessica“As busy moms, authors Jessica Beacom and Stacie Hassing know how challenging it can be to get dinner on the table on a busy weeknight, much less a meal that helps you feel better inside and out by accommodating food allergies, sensitivities and fighting inflammation. Enjoy healthy and delicious food every night of the week with these 100+ approachable comfort food recipes perfect for any budget or dietary restriction.” (Catalogue)

You can have a better period : a practical guide to calmer and less painful periods / Brothers, Le’Nise“You Can Have A Better Period is a straight-talking resource to help women understand their menstrual cycles and finally get answers to questions such as: “why am I so moody right before my period?,” “are periods supposed to be so painful?,” “why is my period so heavy?,” “is it normal to get headaches right before my period?” Le’Nise Brothers takes us through each phase of our cycle, including a clear programme of nutrition and lifestyle changes. The book explains which supplements work and the key stress management habits we can implement, to bring long-lasting and sustainable changes to our hormonal balance and menstrual health” (Catalogue)

August Health – Understanding And Taking Control Of Our Health

Beyond our genes, our lifestyle  is a major influence on our health. This month nutrition is a great contender in our health book selection:  from trying to understand our food impulses to controlling them and changing our diets for optimum health. We look at the healing power of food and how we can make better choices for ourselves. From eating superfoods to altering our mindset or adopting Ayurvedic principles for better sleep, more effective digestion, metabolism and improved moods, we learn that there is a lot we can do for ourselves, beyond conventional drugs, even when these are needed.

syndetics-lc Eating on the wild side – The missing link to optimum health
“Starting with the wild plants that were central to our original diet, investigative journalist Jo Robinson reveals the nutritional history of our fruits and vegetables, describing how 400 generations of farmers have unwittingly squandered a host of essential fiber, protein, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.” (Syndetics)

syndetics-lcCraving – Why we can’t seem to get enough
“Explains the phenomena of craving in real and accessible terms, explaining why we just can’t get enough. Gives tools and guidance to find satisfaction without giving in to our cravings. Explains how and why our brain drives behavior, how to change the part of our brain that fuels our cravings, and the warning signs that craving is evolving into addiction.” (Syndetics)

syndetics-lcI quit sugar
“Sarah Wilson was a self-confessed sugar addict, eating over 30 teaspoons of sugar every day. She’d developed mood disorders, a weight issue, sleep problems, and an overactive thyroid. She knew she had to make a change. In January 2011, she decided to quit sugar. What started as an experiment soon became a way of life, and she hasn’t looked back since. This book outlines the dangers of sugar, provides a step-by-step guide to kicking the habit, and provides 80 delicious sugar-free recipes, including baking and dessert recipes. Packed with great advice, fun tips, personal stories and gorgeous photography, this is a sensible, simple and accessible guide to losing weight and getting well.” (Syndetics)

syndetics-lcMind over medicine – Scientific proof that you can heal yourself
“Clinical trials show that up to 80 percent of patients given a placebo heal themselves with the power of the mind alone. But how? There is documented evidence that beliefs, thoughts, and feelings can cure the body. And this book not only reveals the data from mainstream medical journals; it tells you step-by-step how you can implement this knowledge to make your body ripe for spontaneous remission or disease prevention. For years, pioneers in the medical community have been extolling the virtues of the mind’s power to heal the body. Yet their insights into the connection between our physiological states and our thoughts, beliefs, and emotions have long been dismissed by modern medicine as New-Age quackery and pseudoscience. Until now, few have made a definitive, scientifically-documented case that the mind indeed has the power to prevent illness and even cure the body. Intrigued but skeptical that the mind could heal the body, Western-trained physician Lissa Rankin, M.D. pored over hundreds of objectively evaluated, peer-reviewed studies from medical journals to find proof not just that thoughts and feelings originating in the mind can heal the body, but also that there are clear physiological mechanisms explaining how this happens.”(Syndetics)

syndetics-lcHealing Gourmet Eat to Fight Cancer
“Can something as delicious as minestrone really help fight cancer? Believe it or not, Healing Gourmet will show you how. With this complete nutrition guide, you’ll learn how to reduce your risk and supplement traditional cancer tretments with all-natural meal plans and healing foods available at your local supermarket. You’ll find healthy ways to cope with the side effects of chemical, surgical and radiation treatments. You’ll also discover a whole arsenal of essential nutrients hidden in everyday foods, herbs and spices.” (Book cover)

syndetics-lcThe Book of Ayurveda
“This fully illustrated guide, makes the ancient Indian system of health and vitality easy to understand. Ayurveda interprests your constitution type as a combination of three fundamental energies. Vata, Pitta and Kapha. This unique imprint affects your eating and sleeping habits, digestion, metabolism and moods, as well as your predisposition to particular health conditions. If your lifestyle is out of balance with your constitution, you willbe prone to illness until the energy is adjusted. Includes illustrated charts and questionnaires to identify your Ayurvedic type, lifestyle and exercise for vitality and health, plus food charts to explain how to balance your diet the Ayurvedic way.”  (Book cover)

syndetics-lcRecovering from Multiple Sclerosis
“A diagnosis of multiple sclerosis conjures up images of wheelchairs and a shortened life, but in fact it’s possible to regain mobility and make a recovery. These deeply moving life stories of twelve people from around the world offer real hope to people with MS everywhere. These determined women and men have been able to halt the progression of the disease and recover mobility by making significant lifestyle changes including diet, sunshine, meditation, exercise, and for some, using drug therapy. Based on extended interviews, these stories offer an insight into the different journeys to recovery. They also highlight the challenges faced by people with different types of MS and at different stages in the progression of the disease.” (Syndetics)

syndetics-lcThe contented pregnancy
“Gina Ford’s parenting advice is valued by thousands of mums. Her practical guidance and sensitivity to mothers’ needs allows parents to keep their sleep and sanity during their babies’ first weeks and beyond. Now, in this guide to pregnancy and birth, Gina Ford extends her advice to caring for yourself and your baby before birth. Covering not only all of the essential medical and health advice for pregnancy, it also contains unique information on how to prepare your life, your home and yourself for becoming a parent.”(Syndetics)

syndetics-lcHow to handle your hormones
“This is Ginni Mansberg’s second book relating to women’s health. This new book covers what almost every patient asks her about – feeling hormonal and what can be done to improve those feelings. Ginni explains first what a hormone is and then goes on to discuss the types of hormones women have, with clear and simple explanations on how they work and why they don’t need to control our lives. While hormones, and the effects that they have on our lives, feature heavily in this book Ginni also explains menopause, its symptoms and relative issues. “(Syndetics)