Brent Agin - Superfoods For Dummies

Superfoods For Dummies

by Dr. Brent Agin and Shereen Jegtvig

Superfoods For Dummies

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Copyright 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Indianapolis, Indiana

Published simultaneously in Canada

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Library of Congress Control Number: 2009925033

ISBN: 978-0-470-44539-6

Manufactured in the United States of America

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About the Authors

Brent Agin, MD: Dr. Agin was born and raised in Michigan, where he developed an appreciation for athletics and exercise at a young age. In 1989, he went off to Michigan State University, competing for four years on the MSU soccer team and earning Academic All-Big Ten honors during his junior year. He decided to pursue a career in medicine and attended Michigan State University College of Human Medicine, graduating in 1999. He headed south to finish his medical career, completing residency training in Family Medicine at the University of South Florida in 2002.

Dr. Agins lifelong interest in sports expanded into the fields of health and nutrition. Once he entered into private practice, he implemented a practice model that allowed him to focus not only on medical care, but also on the use of diet and nutrition to improve health.

Dr. Agin co-authored the book Healthy Aging For Dummies (Wiley) while continuing to expand his diet and nutritional supplement line called Trim (www.trimlifestyle.com). He now practices wellness medicine and helps patients understand the powerful impact they have on their health and aging.

Shereen Jegtvig: Shereen Jegtvig began her first career as a chiropractor in 1990. She practiced in western Wisconsin, where she saw the effects of healthful (and not so healthful) diets on her patients every day. In order to offer the best care to her patients, she knew she needed to learn more about which foods could do the most to improve human health. Thus, her fascination with superfoods was born.

Armed with nutrition books (and eventually a new computer with dial-up Internet access), Shereen spent countless hours researching and learning about superfoods. The advent of broadband cable Internet access led her to more efficient online searches, a mild Internet addiction, and, most importantly, the opportunity to write about nutrition for the large Web site About.com in 2004.

Shereen enjoyed her newfound ability to reach a large audience that just couldnt be duplicated in a clinical setting, so she began her second career as a health and nutrition writer. She returned to college and earned a master of science degree in human nutrition with special interest in the effects of omega-3 fats on cognitive function. Today, at nutrition.about.com, she focuses on teaching readers why they need to eat superfoods as well as presenting helpful dietary tips and how-tos. Shereen knows that a pomegranate or a carton of blueberries wont help anyones health if they never leave the refrigerator.

Dedication

Brent dedicates this book to his parents and siblings who pushed him both in athletics and academics and provided the guidance to live healthy. A special thanks to his wife Cindy and their two daughters, Emma and Grace, who have supported the long hours dedicated to his overwhelming number of projects. He cant forget his office staff Ina, Kathy, and Zoe for their dedication and hard work. Thanks to Shereen Jegtvig, whose extensive knowledge in nutrition and excellent writing style made writing this book a pleasure.

Shereen dedicates this book to Jim Lehman, who loves her, motivates her, and puts up with her endless hours of Internet research and writing, and to her children Kendyl and John Reis, who fill her life with happiness and wonder (and a lot of dirty dishes). And special thanks to her parents, Virgil and Becky Jegtvig.

Acknowledgments

The authors thank the following people:

To our editor, Alissa Schwipps, for her patience and expertise. Special thanks to Tracy Boggier, whose courage we appreciate and whom we hope to work with again.

To our incredible agent, Barb Doyen, for her thoughtful ideas, guidance, and special creative zest.

To Meg Schneider for her assistance and for keeping our brains and ideas on track.