by Stephanie Briggs

Created on: February 28, 2009

"Take Back Your Body" by Susan E. Mead, M.H. (Sage & Savvy Publishing, 2009; ISBN 978-0-9822234-0-6 Hardback; ISBN 978-0-6152495-8-2 Paperback)

Speaking as a nutritionist, I think "Take Back Your Body" is a fantastic book. It provides, as its subtitle says, "Time-tested Health Tips and Uncommon Sense" in 500- or fewer-word snippets that are easy reads and full of useful information. The author recommends keeping the book in the bathroom, since a snippet can be read in a fairly short time.

Although the author is an herbalist, much of the book is devoted to good health practices of proper eating, exercise, rest, and meditation. Following her nutritional advice would certainly improve the health and wellbeing of anyone currently consuming a typical American diet. She acknowledges the worth of supplements in some circumstances, but she is not a great promoter of supplements, preferring diet and lifestyle modification as a first line of defense/attack. She is a strong advocate for health food stores, however.

The chapter on her favorite herbs is full of information that goes beyond the commonly known uses. For instance, she points out that St. John's Wort, besides being useful for depression, is antiviral and mitigates the symptoms of such viral conditions as shingles and genital herpes. She is a big fan of nettle tea for most people, for providing minerals and helping regulate adrenal function -to the tune of a quart per day for a couple of months (and she tells you how to make it).

There are chapters dealing specifically with women's issue and men's issues, with advice on how to deal with PMS, pregnancy prevention, menopause, erectile dysfunction, prostate hypertrophy, prostate cancer, and high blood pressure. She advises blending the best of modern medicine and of food, exercise, and herbs -no need to look at the latter as "alternatives."

The suggestions in this book are sound and practical. They provide the reader a basis for taking action to improve and maintain their own health. After the initial read, it would be an excellent reference to have in your own library, whether you are a consumer looking after the health of yourself and your family or an advice-giving health professional.

Newly on the market, the book has some publishing issues: in the first third or so of the book, many of the numbers referring to the snippet that goes into greater detail about a subject are incorrect. This creates a little confusion. But, otherwise, it is comfortable reading, with good advice, seasoned with humor.

(And, at one place she includes a great quote from Eleanor Roosevelt: "What other people think of me is none of my business.")

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