Inflammation Nation: The First Clinically Proven Eating Plan to End Our Nation's Secret Epidemic

I just finished this book. It was a light and interesting read. I gave it five stars because I believe that despite how the material was delivered -- it is an extremely important subject that is, overall, quite esoteric. Thus, for his field one can't criticize too harshly. The book itself I felt like it could, as other reviewers have said, had a little more emphasis on an actual plan. Instead of giving a plan he demonstrated it with *ideas* for meals. I really wanted some more specific nutritional content instead of an overall "index." But hey, maybe I'm just a little bit of a science geek at heart. (Give me real numbers, not made up units!) Though, clearly, this book was intended for the common man -- for the nation -- not for a scientist at heart. One thing that surprised me is how little supplementation of omega 3 EPA he recommended. Perhaps this was because he expected us to be getting it from the better meals we would be eating? Some studies on depression/bipolar, among other things recommend supplementing as much as 2 GRAMS of EPA per day, many of which have impressive outcomes! (Can this amount be achieved simply by eating "right?" Perhaps this high ammount is therapeautic) But the important things that were introduced to me in this book that despite all of my reading of scientific studies, and prowling around on the net for information on inflammatory disease, I had never run across comes from the insightful review of the effects of arachidonic acid -- an insidious omega 6 fatty acid in our diet responsible for much of our immune problems as a nation, and the effects of an important supplement I'd entirely neglected to ever look into: borage oil. Over all, this book had great information in it that even an otherwise well-informed guy like me could use! For all of it's shortcomings it offers something that's great, and I think, could stop a LOT of misery in this world! If I have any criticism, it is that it felt geared a little too much towards the average joe! But this isn't a bad thing... it just serves a bigger purpose and that is helping the common man, instead of being simply of academic appeal. Highly recommended.

This book presents a new and unique approach to dietary management of inflammatory diseases like arthritis and atsma. Dr. Chilton is a professor of internal medicine at Wake Forest U. He cites six clinical studies and six peer-reviewed publications which support his approach. In the text he doesn't get into the details of these studies because the book isn't for doctors, it's for people who want to improve their health. One of the papers is reprinted in an appendix. He says that you should start to feel the results of the diet in a couple of weeks. Here's the basis of the program: It's known that the body uses an omega-6 fatty acid called AA to make some of the messengers which cause inflammation. Reducing the amount of AA in our bodies has been shown to reduce inflammation. AA enters our blood streams in two ways. We eat AA directly in animal products such as meat and fish. Our bodies also make AA from other omega-6 fatty acids which we get from plant based foods. The conventional advice has been to limit ALL omega-6 fats, to get a balanced ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acids. Chilton says that only AA in the diet is a problem. Our bodies do convert other omega-6 fatty acids to AA, but very slowly. He shows you what meat and fish you can eat without getting a large dose of AA in the bargain. In addition, he recommends taking a suplement of GLA, which impedes the conversion of AA into messengers which cause inflammation, and getting a certain amout of omega-3 EPA as well. (from either fish or supplements) The doses of GLA and EPA depend on whether you're already sick, or just trying to avoid getting that way. Finally, he recommends avoiding carbs like white bread and sugar, which have a high glycemic index. That's becasue they raise insulin levels in the blood, which is another factor in inflammation. This is a great book. It isn't the easiest book to understand. You may have to study it, rather than just reading it through once.

I rated this book at 5 stars becase the provocative scientific theory presented could be make this a pivotal book in our understanding of inflammation. That said, I was disappointed by the section where Dr. Chilton presented his actual plan of action. A number of recent books suggest that the US is suffering an inflammation epidemic resulting in increased levels of such diverse diseases as asthma, heart disease, and arthritis. The chemical messengers that stimulate inflammation are leukotrienes and prostaglandins, both of which are formed from Arachidonic Acid (AA). Humans and other animals synthesize AA from Omega 6 fatty acids in their diet. Most of the books I've read on Inflammation instruct us to control inflammation by restricting Omega 6 fatty acids in our diet and increasing our consumption of foods rich in Omega 3 EFAs. Inflammation Nation suggests a different approach. In Inflammation Nation, Dr. Chilton states that human beings are inefficient at converting Omega 6 EFAs into AA. He suggests that the real problem is that we have too much preformed AA in our diet. Rather than focusing on restricting Omega 6 and increasing Omega 3, Dr. Chilton says we should limit the amount of preformed AA in our diet. Paradoxically, this means that we should start avoiding turkey and farmed salmon, two of the foods most often associated with a healthy diet. So I am left to wonder if Dr. Chilton is a visionary with an important new insight or if he is wrong and the mainstream is correct to disagree with him. If Dr. Chilton is correct, this is a very important book, but if he is wrong, he could be steering us away from foods that belong at the center of a healthy diet. Either way, this book contains a fascinating argument that is well-worth reading. My problem with the book is that after presenting a provocative argument for limiting AAs in our diet, Dr. Chilton includes "Inflammation Index" scores for fewer than 200 foods--and much of what he lists are foods like organ meats, bologna, and pork sausage that aren't exactly on anyone's A list of healthy food choices. I am left hungry for a more complete listing of what I should seek out and what I should avoid.

THIS BOOOK IS EXCELLENT IN EXPLAINING THE PROCESS OF INFLAMMATION THAT TAKES PLACE IN OUR BODIES.IT EXPLAINS "THE WHYS" AND NOT JUST THE "HOW TO'S".I HAVE BEEN ON THE CHILTON DIET FOR ONE YEAR AND 6 MONTHS; FIRST 6 MONTHS I HAD A 20%INCREASE IN MY PULMONARY FUNCTION TEST AND A YEAR LATER ANOTHER 6% INCREASE.THIS BOOK IS FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE SERIOUS AND COMMITTED TO IMPROVE THEIR HEALTH. FOR THE FIRST TIME I'VE UNDERSTOOD THE ASTHMA COMPONENT OF MY DISEASE. I WAS USING 2 LITERS OF O2 FOR 4 MONTHS.THIS DIET & EXERCISE WORKS!I'M NO LONGER ON O2.

Inflammation Nation is very well written and easy to understand. I have been on the plan for a couple of weeks now and I already notice a big difference in my arthritis. I have felt better than I have in years. I have read other books on inflammation, but this one is the best by far. Dr. Floyd Chilton is very knowledgable, I am very impressed with this book and would recommend it to anyone with inflammatory diseases.