****** - Verified Buyer
4.5
This is the book to buy your friend who's having a baby, or your friend who's child has medical issues that can't seem to be resolved with their doctors. This is the book to buy yourself, even if you don't have children, but especially if you do.I found that most of the medical issues are focused on newborns to elementary age children but I was actualy able to learn a lot about my own adult health so it can be useful for any age.Dorfman covers constipation, acid reflux, picky eaters, sleep issues, delayed speech, low muscle tone, how to pick a probiotic, and a lot more. She gives specific recommendations on what dietary changes to make or supplements to add, from her years of clinical experience with her patients. Along with her straight-forward answers Dorfman includes just enough of the information as to why a particular supplement is useful, what it's main purpose in the human body is, and how it fits into the bigger picture of overall nutrition. She also includes several "case studies" of her patients, which makes the book more interesting (in my opinion) but if you just want to get straight to her recommendation it's easy to skim over them.I found the book well-organized, although the table of contents could contain more about the medical aliments, symptoms, and advice and less about the names of the children in the case studies (which means nothing to anyone looking for medical advice.)However the index is solid, as is the references.Any minor complaints I have about this book aren't even worth mentioning when compared to how valuable AND ACCURATE the information inside the book is.I wish Dorfman was able to provide more descriptive recommendations for dosing some of the vitamins and supplements, and ideally provide recommendations on which specific brand of supplements to buy, but I'm sure she intentionally avoided that to reduce her legality risk. You know how everyone and anyone nowadays has so many disclaimers to go along with their medical advice telling you obvious things such as "to call 911 if it's a medical emergency" and "ask your doctor before doing anything, including a diet or exercise change." It's amazing Dorfman put so many specific recommendations in her book at all, really, given the medical climate.But one thing really upset me when reading this book.Why don't doctors give nutrition information to patients? Why don't they know this stuff? Why hasn't anyone told me this before!! Why are so many children suffering with medical issues that are safely treatable AND OFTEN CURABLE with a simple vitamin or supplement?I'm afraid I already know the answer.Who is funding the scientific studies on nutrition and dietary changes? Currently, almost no one is.Pharmaceutical companies only fund studies on things they can can patent, and that's why most of the studies that are being done are on pharmaceuticals. Who is funding the studies on the possibly MUCH more effective dietary, exercise, and lifestyle changes that can be made to actual CURE the underlying medical issues rather than mask the symptoms?/end rantAnyway, get the book and do what it says. It's not just for children's ailments as it includes Gluten issues, acid reflux, and sleep issues, and much more.
