Reviews of books on nutrition and medicine
This section is dedicated to reviews of key books on nutrition, functional medicine, and orthomolecular approaches. It includes works by leading authors — from classic studies on vitamins to modern research on the role of the microbiome, inflammation, genetics, nutrition, and the keto diet. Each review conveys the main ideas of the book, its practical significance, and its contribution to understanding the relationship between nutrition, metabolism, and human health.
The book explains the "calcium paradox": with a deficiency of vitamin K2, calcium leaves the bones and settles in the vessels, increasing the risk of osteoporosis and atherosclerosis; the K2-dependent proteins osteocalcin and MGP play a crucial role in directing calcium to the bones and keeping it out of soft tissues. The author shows how the industrialization of food and the shift to grain-fed livestock have deprived the diet of key sources of K2 (butter, cheese, eggs, fatty meat), exacerbating a hidden but widespread deficiency. Numerous data demonstrate the effects of K2: reduced coronary risk and arterial calcification (through activated MGP), support for bone tissue (through osteocalcin), as well as contributions to metabolic health, brain, skin, veins, and more. At the same time, the author emphasizes the synergy of fat-soluble vitamins A, D, and K2 and the necessity to evaluate a "healthy diet" based on their provision, rather than just calcium or vitamin D.
The book claims that traditional norms for vitamin C consumption are underestimated, and the therapeutic effect is achieved only with individually tailored, significantly larger doses taken in divided amounts throughout the day. The authors explain the principle of "dynamic flow" and the practice of titration to bowel tolerance, indicating that the optimum often amounts to tens of grams per day during illness, while the minimum maintenance dose for stable plasma levels is 2-3 g/day in divided doses; the forms "natural vs synthetic" do not significantly differ, the key is the amount, frequency, and duration of intake. The book separates "nutritional" doses from "pharmacological," emphasizing that a gram or two "for a cold" is a myth and that in acute conditions, doses are increased significantly, based on tolerance and symptom dynamics. A separate emphasis is placed on the high safety profile of vitamins (including vitamin C) according to toxicological observations, which contrasts with the risks of many com
07.11.2025. Abram Hoffer "Vitamin B-3 and Schizophrenia: Discovery, Recovery, Controversy," 1998
The book is a manifesto of the orthomolecular approach to psychiatry. Hoffer systematizes the experience of using high doses of niacin (vitamin B3) in schizophrenia, based on decades of clinical observations, dosing schemes, and case series. The central idea is the "adrenochrome" hypothesis and the replenishment of NAD/NADH deficiency through niacin as a way to reduce the severity of psychotic symptoms. The author insists on long-term therapy under medical supervision and combining it with standard treatment. The book also shows the "flip side": criticism and debates surrounding megavitamin therapy, but concludes with the argument that with proper patient selection and monitoring, safety and response are possible, and therefore niacin deserves a place in a comprehensive strategy for assistance.
The investigative book explains how vital omega-3s were once a common part of people's diets, why industrial processing, the shift to omega-6 dominant vegetable oils, and grain feeding have displaced them from Western nutrition, and what consequences this has led to—from worsening cardiovascular and metabolic health to disruptions in brain and immune function. Alport traces the history of scientific discoveries about omega-3s, critiques the distortion of the omega-6:omega-3 balance, and offers practical steps: reducing sources of excessive omega-6 and reintroducing omega-3 through fish, seafood, and products from pasture-raised animals, as well as plant sources (as appropriate)—with the aim of restoring a physiological fatty acid profile in the diet.
05.11.2025. James E. Dowd, Diana Stafford "The Vitamin D Cure," 2008
The book explains why vitamin D deficiency has become widespread and how it is linked to a wide range of issues — from osteoporosis, muscle pain, and frequent colds to metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes, depression, and cardiovascular risks. The authors highlight the key reasons for the deficiency (latitude and seasonality of sunlight, indoor lifestyle, excess weight, age, dark skin, sunscreen), propose a simple correction strategy: measure 25(OH)D, aim for the optimal range (around 40–60 ng/ml), combine safe sun exposure with sensible supplements and a diet rich in magnesium, calcium, and omega-3, as well as adjust body weight and sleep patterns. The central idea: restoring vitamin D status is an inexpensive and powerful "lever" for preventing chronic diseases and improving well-being, which should be done consciously and under the control of 25(OH)D levels.
The book explains chronic inflammation as a common mechanism of many diseases (cardiovascular, arthritis, diabetes, bowel diseases) and primarily links it to nutritional imbalances and nutrient deficiencies. The author offers a step-by-step anti-inflammatory plan: adjust the diet in favor of quality protein and non-starchy vegetables, reduce “hidden triggers” from processed foods, and use supplements with proven effects (ω-3 from fish oil, vitamin D, antioxidants, phytonutrients like curcumin, Pycnogenol, etc.). The updated edition emphasizes that inflammation is a key factor in atherogenesis and many chronic conditions, and that normalizing the diet and targeted nutritional support is a more causal approach than symptomatic suppression with NSAIDs. In summary: by managing nutrition and replenishing deficiencies, it is possible to significantly reduce systemic inflammation, alleviate symptoms, and improve prognosis across a wide range of diseases.
03.11.2025. Regev Elya, Dr. Aqsa Ghazanfar "The B12 Deficiency Survival Handbook," 2014
The book explains why vitamin B12 deficiency is one of the most underestimated and dangerous conditions for the brain and nervous system: it can easily be missed due to "normal" laboratory references, it masquerades as fatigue, depression, anemia, and neuropathy, and neurological damage can become irreversible. The authors analyze key causes (malabsorption, autoimmune processes, age, metformin and PPI use, veganism), criticize reliance solely on serum B12, and recommend confirming status through MMA/homocysteine/holo-TC. The practical part covers how to quickly and safely replenish the deficiency (oral high doses or injections of methyl-/hydroxocobalamin), how to monitor dynamics, and how not to confuse improvements with "masking" by folate. The main idea: timely screening and aggressive correction of B12 is a simple and low-risk way to prevent severe cognitive and neurological consequences.
02.11.2025. Thomas E. Levy "Primal Panacea," 2011
The book claims that high doses of vitamin C are a universal antimicrobial agent, a "primal panacea," capable of preventing and often reversing a multitude of acute and chronic conditions, acting as a powerful antioxidant, antidote, and protector of blood vessels and tissues. The author links human vulnerability to diseases with the loss of the ability to synthesize vitamin C and considers official consumption norms to be deliberately underestimated: in nature, animals produce orders of magnitude more, especially under stress, so humans require a significantly higher intake than the RDA (he suggests starting benchmarks of around 6 g/day for healthy adults and much more under toxic and infectious loads). He describes both oral and intravenous protocols (tens of grams IV if necessary), insisting on the high safety and low cost of therapy, and sharply criticizes the medical industry for ignoring the evidence. Levy's conclusion: "vitamin C is the Primal Panacea," which means optimizing its level...
The book is a manifesto of the orthomolecular approach to vitamin B3 (niacin) as an inexpensive and safe therapeutic tool for a wide range of conditions — from dyslipidemia and cardiovascular risks to anxiety, arthritis, and mental disorders. The authors emphasize niacin’s unique effects: it raises HDL and lowers triglycerides / VLDL, confirmed by clinical observation. The immediate-release (IR) form provides benefits comparable to the prescription extended-release (ER) type yet is much more affordable, while sustained-release (SR) forms tend to cause more hepatotoxicity. Therefore, divided doses of regular niacin with a controlled “flush reaction” (flushing / warmth) are preferred; this can be eased by taking the vitamin after meals and using it consistently. The central thesis is that many people may have a genetically determined “niacin dependency / deficiency” due to weak conversion of tryptophan into niacin, which requires doses far higher than the RDA, supported by cofactors (B1, B2, B6, C). ...
31.10.2025. Jack Challem, Feed Your Genes Right: Eat to Turn Off Disease-Causing Genes and Slow Down Aging (2005)
The book explains the principles of nutrigenomics in an accessible way: diet and lifestyle can “switch off” genes that increase the risk of chronic diseases and slow down aging by creating a favorable nutritional environment for DNA — more whole, nutrient-dense foods and fewer refined carbohydrates and sugars. The key mechanisms are methylation and DNA protection: B-vitamins (folate, B6, B12, along with choline and betaine) support DNA synthesis and repair and lower homocysteine levels, while excess sugar and certain cooking methods damage DNA and accelerate aging. The author offers practical conclusions: the diet should be based on fish, vegetables, and berries; antioxidants (vitamins E and C), selenium, and coenzyme Q10 protect DNA and regulate gene activity; limiting “empty” carbohydrates and maintaining moderate physical activity enhance these effects. Conclusion: genetic “predisposition” is not a sentence — through nutrition and supplementation one can reduce the risk of cardiovascular, neur...
30.10.2025. Thomas E. Levy "Curing the Incurable: Vitamin C, Infectious Diseases, and Toxins," 2002
The book is a comprehensive apologia for high doses of vitamin C as an underrated tool for the therapy of infections and intoxications. Levy collects and systematizes a large body of clinical observations and research from Klenner to Pauling, asserting that properly selected "megadoses" (usually 4–20 g or more orally and, in severe conditions, 30–200 g intravenously) can significantly reduce symptoms and often lead to recovery, with vitamin C acting not only as an antiviral/antimicrobial co-factor but also as a powerful antitoxin, neutralizing poisons and bacterial toxins. The author critically evaluates "drug-centered" medicine, calling for the inclusion of vitamin C in standard protocols (including alongside antibiotics) and emphasizing clinical practicality over dogma. The conclusion of the book: with timely and adequate dosing, ascorbate is a safe, universal, and often decisive component of the therapy for acute and chronic infections and poisonings that should be more widely used in practice.
29.10.2025. Fereydoun Batmanghelidj "You Are Not Sick, You Are Thirsty," 2006
In the book, the author claims that many chronic symptoms — from asthma and allergies to pain and fatigue — are signals of chronic dehydration, rather than "standalone diseases." The key idea: histamine regulates water distribution and, in case of deficiency, triggers a "savings mode," which manifests, for example, as bronchospasm. Therefore, asthma is interpreted as a consequence of a lack of water and salt, rather than as an incurable disease. The author insists on regular water intake and moderate salt consumption (guideline — about ½ teaspoon for every 10 glasses of water) as a simple non-medical approach that can reduce symptoms and gradually decrease dependence on medications (without abruptly discontinuing them). The conclusion of the book: by recognizing "thirst signals" and maintaining hydration, a person can prevent and alleviate many conditions that medicine tends to treat symptomatically.
28.10.2025. Bert Ehgartner "The Collapse of Hygiene. How the War on Germs is Destroying Our Immunity," 2018
In the 20th and 21st centuries, "hygiene as sterilization" and medical activism (antibiotics "just in case," mass interventions, cesarean sections at a low threshold) have undermined our microbiome and thus natural immune regulation: civilization has "gone too far," turning beneficial principles of cleanliness into a threat to health, because humans are made up of microbes and live in symbiosis with them. The author's conclusion: we need a shift from total sterilization and "war on microbes" to a scientifically grounded balance — maintaining microbial diversity and cautious, targeted application of medical interventions; otherwise, we increase the burden of chronic diseases instead of preventing them.
27.10.2025. Catherine Shanahan "The Fat Burn Fix. How to Turn Your Body into a Fat-Burning Machine," 2016
The book introduces epigenetics and shows how food "turns on" and "turns off" genes, affecting appearance, health, and disease risk for us and our children; the author claims that information from food can modify markers in DNA and help "win the genetic lottery." Shanahan advocates for a return to traditional kitchen practices and formulates the "Four Pillars" of the human diet as a common foundation for healthy diets around the world. Central practical conclusions: minimize industrial vegetable oils (the author calls them "the perfect brain-destroying toxin") and sugar, as they distort hormonal signals, provoke inflammation and birth defects, and worsen metabolic and vascular health. Finally, the book explains in detail how nutrients, through epigenetic markers, manage gene expression (for example, vitamin D and calcium - bone formation), emphasizing the intergenerational responsibility of nutrition for beauty, cognitive functions, and longevity.
26.10.2025. David Perlmutter, Kristin Loberg "The Gut and the Brain: How Gut Bacteria Heal and Protect Your Brain," 2017
The book claims that the state of the gut microbiome directly affects brain health and diseases — from mood to neurodegenerative disorders, including Alzheimer's disease, autism, and multiple sclerosis; the key mechanism is chronic inflammation associated with gut permeability and the entry of LPS (lipopolysaccharide) into the bloodstream. The author shows how modern factors — from a diet high in sugar and gluten to antibiotics, NSAIDs, and environmental toxins — destroy the microbiome and how this reflects on the brain. The practical conclusion is that restoring the "internal ecology" can be achieved through six pillars: prebiotics, probiotics, fermented foods, low-carbohydrate diet, gluten elimination, and a focus on healthy fats.
25.10.2025. Martin Moder "Genetics for Breakfast. Scientific Life Hacks for Everyday Life," 2019
The book is a witty popular introduction to genetics and related fields, where "life hacks" and real science experiments turn into practical advice for everyday life. Moder explains how genes interact with the environment, why genetic determinism is a myth, and how critical thinking helps separate proven effects from marketing; he maintains a focus on verifiable facts and reproducible results rather than trendy promises. In the end, the author leads the reader to a simple idea: science can be used without a laboratory — it is enough to understand the basic mechanisms (inheritance, mutations, the influence of nutrition and environment) and rely on empirical data rather than myths.
24.10.2025. Joseph Mercola "The Cell on a Diet," 2017
The book explains that the core of health is mitochondria and offers "mitochondrial metabolic therapy" (MMT): a diet focused on quality fats, low digestible carbohydrates, and moderate protein, supplemented with fasting windows/food pauses. This regimen switches the body to burning fats and ketones, reduces oxidative stress and inflammation, increases insulin sensitivity, stabilizes weight and energy, supports brain function, and serves as a metabolic strategy for preventing chronic diseases (including cancer by reducing the "glucose feeding" of tumors according to Warburg). Mercola criticizes low-fat recommendations and industrial vegetable oils, advises monitoring iron, choosing whole foods (fish, eggs, avocado, olive oil, nuts, vegetables), tracking glucose and ketones, and using natural stimuli (movement, sun/light, cold, sauna, sleep). The author's conclusion: by protecting mitochondria through diet and lifestyle, one can slow down aging and significantly reduce the risk of modern...
23.10.2025. Joseph Mercola "The Discovery of the Century. The Keto Diet," 2017
The book explains why metabolic flexibility and "fat-based nutrition" are the keys to mitochondrial health, insulin resistance, and reducing the risk of chronic diseases. Mercola offers a strategy of cyclical ketosis: limiting sugars and refined carbohydrates, moderate protein, focusing on whole "good" fats (olive, coconut, avocado, butter/ghee from grass-fed milk), intermittent fasting, and "carb refeeds" to maintain hormonal balance. He emphasizes the role of nutrient density (greens, fermented foods, Omega-3, magnesium), the avoidance of industrial oils and ultra-processing, control of inflammation and oxidative stress, as well as "non-food" factors — sleep, light/circadian rhythms, movement, stress management, and environmental detox. The author's conclusion: a return to a metabolism where fats and ketones are the primary and clean source of energy can restore mitochondria, improve body composition and cognitive functions, and become the foundation for the prevention of most modern ailments.
The author claims that a diet high in carbohydrates and sugar exacerbates systemic inflammation, which damages the nervous system, while a diet focused on fats, intermittent fasting, quality sleep, and movement reduces inflammation and supports neurogenesis. He insists that even "healthy" carbohydrates can trigger a "biological storm," and whole grain bread has a high glycemic index, comparable to or exceeding that of several sweets. The practical part includes a four-week plan: a phased restructuring of nutrition (with the elimination of gluten/sugar), the addition of physical activity, normalization of sleep (through work with leptin/ghrelin), and the consolidation of new habits; the book concludes with a menu and recipes.
21.10.2025. David Perlmutter, Kristin Loberg "Food and the Brain in Practice," 2019
This is a step-by-step program for improving brain function, weight loss, and overall health. The author emphasizes an anti-inflammatory diet with limited carbohydrates and gluten, focusing on healthy fats as the metabolically preferred "fuel," as well as turmeric and other foods with anti-inflammatory properties. The program goes beyond diet: it includes sleep and physical activity regimes, intermittent breakfast skipping 1-2 times a week, mindful stress reduction, working with supplements, and supportive habits. Expected effects include reduced inflammation, improved weight, attention, mood, and metabolic indicators; the author provides a wide range of conditions where the approach may help (from ADHD and migraines to insulin resistance and gut issues).
20.10.2025. Peter Gøtzsche "Deadly Medicines and Organized Crime: How Big Pharma Corrupted Healthcare," 2013
Prescription drugs have become the third leading cause of death in the US and Europe, following cardiovascular diseases and cancer. The book demonstrates how the industry systematically distorts science, conceals harm, and promotes medications based on surrogate measures instead of real patient outcomes. Gøtzsche compares the practices of "big pharma" to organized crime, citing large-scale examples of fines and guilty pleas from major companies and concluding that the repeated violations have a criminal nature.
19.10.2025. Joseph Mercola, James DiNicolantonio "Keto Navigator," 2019
The main dietary imbalance of modernity is the excess of industrial vegetable oils (ω-6), associated with the rise of cardiovascular and other chronic diseases. For heart health, brain function, metabolic flexibility, and muscle mass, it is important to have low ω-6 intake, sufficient doses of ω-3, and to avoid "seed" oils that have not been traditional human food. The conclusion of the book: eliminate industrial oils from your diet, choose whole fats, optimize the ω-6/ω-3 balance, and use cyclical keto as a tool for long-term health and energy.
18.10.2025. Martin Blaser "Life After Antibiotics"
How excessive and thoughtless use of antibiotics destroys our microbiome and jeopardizes the health of future generations. Life-saving antibiotics for severe infections, when used frequently, kill not only harmful but also beneficial bacteria, disrupting the balance of the microbiota in the gut, skin, and respiratory tract. This leads to an increase in chronic diseases — obesity, asthma, allergies, diabetes, autoimmune disorders, and immune system problems. The main idea of the book is to restore respect for microbes and learn to use antibiotics carefully to preserve human health and prevent the "post-antibiotic era," in which even a simple infection can become fatal.