Dr. Joe Schwarcz writes early in, "Better Not Burn Your Toast: The Science of Food and Health," how absolute certainty in science is rare as it is constnatly evolving. Health advice he notes in this book, full of fun mini-chapters, could shift. That said, some things we can be pretty sure of include that cutting back on sugar is a good idea, exercise helps our health, autism is not caused by vaccines, smoking is bad, crystals can't magically heal us, we are unable to bend spoons with our mind, and homeopathic remedies are as effective as a placebo. That mix of serious-and-funny facts makes up much of, "Better Not Burn Your Toast," as it goes in-depth on everything from controversies about preservatives to memory supplements, red dyes, the potentail and issues of weight-loss shots, to how effective chicken noodle soup is at helping us feel better from a cold, and much more. Oh, and yes, it covers pretty early why burning food isn't the best idea (carcinogens) but the hype about smoking food as dangerous might be overstating risks.
Dr. Schwarcz presents all the information he covers in a very straightforward manner that makes it easy for those of us who don't have a medical degree to follow along and understand--when I was studying for my MPH back in the day, and read various medical journals, I often found my eyes glazed over, and that thankfully does not happen here. He writes with a bit of whimsy and humor that helps even the driest and most serious subjects have a fun vibe to learn about. This latest book of his is published by ECW Press, and it just officially released today. I'd encourage you to request a copy at your local bookshop or library, as it is a stellar read!
5 out of 5 Stars.
Note:
An advance copy was provided by ECW Press for the purposes of review.
No comments:
Post a Comment