Product Description

This groundbreaking book from the UK's leading spokesman on nutrition looks at why millions of people have cravings for substances such as coffee, sugar and alcohol, as well to drugs such as sleeping pills, antidepressants, marijuana and cocaine. It uncovers how the brain becomes addicted and how it can be 'unaddicted' through a combination of diet, supplements and lifestyle factors. The book is written in association with Dr David Miller, who has worked in the addiction field for 25 years and is an expert in relapse prevention. It looks at each of the most common substances that people become addicted to and offers specific advice on how to tackle that particular substance safely and effectively yourself. In-depth yet practical and accessible, HOW TO QUIT WITHOUT FEELING S**T, will allow you to understand why you feel the way you do, whether you have a depndency or have already given up but still feel lousy. The book provides a 12-week action plan for becoming addiction free - without suffering the deeply unpleasant symptoms of withdrawal that most addicts believe they must go through

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #141418 in Books
• Published on: 2008-09-25
• Original language: English
• Binding: Hardcover
• 512 pages

About the Author
Patrick Holford graduated in psychology before studying with Dr Abram Hoffer, who pioneered nutrition-based approaches to addiction. Patrick is Director of the Food for the Brain Foundation, whose Brain Bio Centre offers leading-edge treatment to those with mental health issues, including recovery from addiction.

Customer Reviews

Helpful for alleviating abstinence symptoms.
It is undoubtedly true that nutrition plays an important part in maintaining mental and emotional equilibrium.

This book sets out, in some detail, many of the biochemical factors which may influence the way we feel. It suggests foods and supplements which may be beneficial for generating a sense of well-being. It is a very informative book and gives a useful account of the association between the various neurotransmitters (serotonin, dopamine, norepinephrine etc.) and mood.

Some parts of the book are more suitable for specialists with some knowledge of biochemistry than they are for the general reader. Some of the suggested regimes of supplements seem rather complicated (and possibly expensive).

I would have found the book even more impressive if it had suggested more practical means of improving our ordinary diet to produce the desired effects.

Instead, we find the following types of advice "When you are feeling anxious...take GABA, tryptophan, 5-HTP or taurine.", "When you...feel apathetic, take tyrosine.", "When you are feeling hypersensitive...take DL-phenylalanine"..."To offset cravings, take glutamine or GABA". For those who "...are sicker and feel more hopeless than others..." it is suggested that "intravenous nutrient therapy" is appropriate.

It is usually desirable for people who suffer from addictive disorders to get away from the idea that the solutions to all of their problems are to be found in the contents of more pills, potions and syringes. Nevertheless, a great deal of work has clearly gone into the production of this book and the information which it contains looks extremely useful.

Unanswered questions
A number of questions occur to me in connection with this book. The Introduction consists mainly of a torrent of extravagant and unsubstantiated claims about the effectiveness of the 'nutritional' approach to addiction. Amongst all this puffery, however, is this interesting statement:

"Our How to Quit programme is safe...you can...use it alongside other programmes that you are following... It doesn't replace any other invaluable methods - such as counselling or Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) - it just makes quitting any substance...easier." (p.9)

We are not told whether the impressive-sounding 'success rate' claimed for this system is derived from samples of people who use this nutritional programme on its own - or who use it in conjunction with other methods. This is rather a crucial point.

Approach it with caution. It may not be quite what it seems.

big heavy and unreadable
the book is more than 500 pages long. for all i know the book may contain some gems of information or it may just be bogus science and hot air. by the time i got to brain chemistry with s-adenosyl methionone and tri-methyl glycine and homocysteine i gave up and chucked the book in the woodburner. at least it produced some useful hot air!