The title of this book - 101 Optimal Life Foods - tells us two things. It clearly states that the foods recommended by scientific study are the optimal foods we should eat, but the title also tells us that these foods should be enjoyed and eaten so our lives are lived optimally. As Montel Williams says in the foreword, "I think Dave Grotto's principles of enjoying delicious food as a pathway to magnificent health are fantastic, and I live by them every day." We join Mr. Williams in celebrating good food and good health, with the energy and zest they provide so that our lives are pleasurable. This is a highly researched book, one that takes advantage of our progress in understanding the science of food, but one that does not burden the reader with complex terms and explanations. Grotto has done the work for the reader. Best of all, he is not telling you what you should not eat, but listing delicious foods for meals you can enjoy. And knowing you are eating right offers a pyschological boost as well.
Grotto delves into the things that ail us, telling the reader how foods assist us in all our body mechanics, giving recommendations for the right foodstuffs, and explanations of how those foods work within the body. His chapters bear noting:
-The Skin You're In: From teenage acne to aging and damaged skin
-Go With the Flow: cold feet and hands; leg cramps
-House of Pain - Migraine headaches: muscle pain; nerve pain
-It's all About Performance - 1) Mental Performance: Cognitive decline; depression; stress and anxiety; insomnia. 2) Physical Performance: Fatigue
- Sexual/Reproductive Performance: Erectile Dysfunction; Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia; infertility; female libido; menopause
Check Your Plumbing: Constipation/Diverticular Disease; Diarrhea' GERD; Halitosis (bad breath); gas; irritable bowel syndrome; urinary tract infections
-A Good Foundation: Osteoporosis and Osteopenia; arthritis; degenerative disc disease
-Eyes on the Future: Age-related Macular Degeneration and Cataracts
In each section, Grotto describes the physical dilemma and its causes, then lists the optimal food with nutrient highlights. He does so without excess verbiage, and for those interested in more scientific complex explanations, there is a bibliography that is extensive. He offers menu plans and suggested supplements.
Following these chapters, Grotto gives delicious recipes, most of which have been contributed by professionals in every walk of the food life - from nutritionists to chefs, from manufacturers of products, such as healthful soy, to produce growers, such as growers of the invaluable almond. The recipes are creative, but easy to follow. Grotto wants you to enjoy both cooking and eating.
101 Optimal Life Foods is a valuable book on every shelf. Eat well, enjoy your food, live with zeal.
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