The 120-Year Diet: How to Double Your Vital Years

To increase one's life span qualitatively as well as quantitatively, Walford ( Maximum Life Span, professor of pathology at UCLA School of Medicine, persuasively argues the merits of his solidly researched ""high/low'' diet (high in nutritive quality, low in calories) that he maintains will reduce one's ``setpoint'' weightthe body's natural weight when not dieting or overeatingwhen followed over a long-term (four to six years) period. The healthful recipes are mostly creative and appealing, but some dieters may be discouraged by unfamiliar (baked soybeans with kombu) or extensive ingredients (there are 23 in Eternal Youth chili), and unusual preparation methods (steak is wrapped in an oven cooking bag and cooked in a double boiler). But readers will appreciate the critical examination of current medical trends (antioxidants, vitamin supplements, exercise, bodybuilding), as well as an explanation of food-related causes of potentially fatal diseases (excessive salt and hypertension, fat and breast and prostate cancer, for example). BOMC alternate. (January 14)