The Alkaline Cure

March 3, 2014
First-time author Domenig takes a holistic approach to health and wellness in this exploration of how and why our bodies react to certain foods, both positively and negatively. The secret, he asserts—based on the teachings of Austrian scientist Franz Xaver Mayr and his 1921 book, The Fundamentals of the Diagnosis of Digestive Illnesses—is maintaining the proper acid-alkaline levels through diet, specifically in a 2:1 ratio, so that the digestive system functions at peak performance. Hit that perfect ratio and you’ll reap a plethora of anti-aging and beauty-boosting benefits: weight loss and decreased bloating; increased brain function and bone strength; and improved immunity, mood, and vitality. Domenig states his case across six beautifully photographed sections, explaining the science behind, and basic principles of, alkalizing. He details the positive impact alkalizing can have on your physical health and psyche, identifies acid and alkaline food groups, and offers tips on setting up an alkalized kitchen. In addition, he provides a detailed, straightforward two-week program for immersing yourself in the alkalizing method—complete with a chapter of recipes covering breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and including soups, salads, and spreads—the titled cure. Domenig, a doctor and the medical director of the Original F.X. Mayr & More Health Center, offers a user-friendly plan that can be easily embraced.

March 15, 2014

The premise of this book is that one will lose weight and become healthy by eating only foods that tip the metabolic balance toward the alkaline, rather than the acid. A high acid reading causes inflammation and cravings for more wrong foods. Sounds simple, but, according to Domenig, medical director of the F.X. Mayr & More Health Center in Austria, eating lemons enhances your alkalinity! The explanations given are vague and opaque. In any case, what do the recommended foods turn out to be? Our old friends, vegetables and fruits, with only small amounts of processed sugar or white flour. Essentially, this book suggests what every truly effective diet consists of: fresh, unprocessed foods, with little fat and no junk. And you can speed up the routine by exercising! This latest gimmick won't hurt you, and it will work if you follow it faithfully, but there's certainly nothing extraordinary about it. Even the endorsements at the beginning are secondhand. Singer Sporty Spice says that Posh Spice (Victoria Beckham) "swears by it." If it's so good, why didn't she provide her own sentence? VERDICT This title may be of interest to fad dieters, but it's an unnecessary purchase unless there's a lot of library marketing and client demand.--Susan B. Hagloch, formerly with Tuscarawas Cty. P.L., New Philadelphia, OH

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