5/02/2006 04:12:00 PM|||Jodie Chase|||

I am a pretty good student of nutrition and health, which may explain why I opened the book ``You Are What You Eat: The Plan That Will Change Your Life'' (Plume, $16) by Dr. Gillian McKeith the instant it arrived.

On the cover of the book is a healthy head of butter lettuce -- a staple food in my house. Inside are lots of facts I already know, and even more I had never encountered before. I did not know, for example, that cracks behind the ears can be solved by eating pumpkin and sesame seeds. Or that red, scaly skin on hands may be due to food sensitivities -- and may be solved by downing a little extra zinc, and vitamins C and E. The book does pitch a detox diet plan and other eating plans that I don't exactly agree with, but I love the way it delivers information, in a nonpreachy, cause-and-effect sort of way. The front of the book is basically an encyclopedia of ailments, including possible causes and fixes, all by dietary choices, of course.

While the book may never replace my medical book, it is definitely a great secondary source for anything that ails, from stomach upset to funny shaped fingernails. The book even addresses random things like excessive yawning and sighing, acne, even dandruff. One page suggests examining your tongue and diagnosing problems by what it looks like.

All this personal science is not only interesting and useful, it's also inspiring. After just 10 minutes of thumbing through this book, I want to try harder, to say no to the wrong foods (at least more often).

Among the things I take issue with and intend to fully ignore are McKeith's advice to avoid eating spicy foods or hot foods, and to eat a substantial breakfast. I'll eat something, but it's not going to be anything heavy. I'm just not in the mood to chew when I wake up, and no doctor is going to change that.
-- Jolene Thym

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