Robert C. Atkins, M.D., is the founder and medical director of the Atkins Center for Complementary Medicine; more than 60,000 patients have been treated there. Dr. Atkins continues to see patients daily at the Atkins Center. He lives with his wife, Veronica, in New York City.

Robert C. Atkins, M.D., was the founder and medical director of the Atkins Center for Complementary Medicine. A 1951 graduate of the University of Michigan, he received his medical degree from Cornell University Medical School in 1955, and went on to specialize in cardiology. He was a practicing physician for over thirty years and is the author of several books. As a leader in the areas of natural medicine and nutritional pharmacology, he had built an international reputation. He was the recipient of the World Organization of Alternative Medicine's Recognition of Achievement Award and was the National Health Federation's Man of the Year. His many media appearances, where he had discussed diet and health, included "Larry King Live," "Oprah," "CBS This Morning," and "CNBC," among others. Many magazine and newspaper articles have featured his work, and he also had a nationally syndicated radio show. Dr. Atkins was the editor of his own national monthly newsletter, "Dr. Atkins' Health Revelations." He died in April 2003.

INTRODUCTION: The Cat's Out of the Bag

PART I

NUTRIENTS VS. DRUGS

CHAPTER 1 The Treatment of Choice

The Gratifications of Nutritional Medicine

Case Histories Provide Scientific Data

Treatment of Choice Defined

Enablers vs. Blockers: Complementary Therapy

A Brief History of Nutrition

Beyond Deficiency

CHAPTER 2 When Our Nutrition Fails Us

Diet-Related Disorders

Food Falls Short

The Refining Predicament

Sugar: The Antinutrient

Other Assaults

The Vita-Nutrient Naysayers

The Countermovement Becomes a Revolution

My Own Transformation

The Vita-Nutrient Information Explosion

PART II

THE VITA-NUTRIENTS

CHAPTER 3 Vitamins

Vitamin A: Infection fighter, skin protector

Carotenoids: Cancer and heart protectors, antioxidant

B Complex: The energy team

Vitamin B₁: Brain energizer

Vitamin B₂: Antioxidant, energizer, and team player

Vitamin B₃: Restores sanity, controls cholesterol, repairs joints, controls diabetes

Vitamin B₆: The most essential B vitamin

Folic Acid: Our most significant deficiency

Vitamin B₁₂: The vitality shot

Choline and Lecithin: Nerve rebuilder

Inositol: Nature's sleeping pills

Pantethine/Pantothenic Acid: Better than cholesterol drugs

PABA: Energizer, stiffness fighter

Biotin: Diabetes benefactor

Vitamin C: The nutrient that does it all

Bioflavonoids: The first family of antioxidants

Vitamin D: Bone benefactor

Vitamin E: The chief executive antioxidant

Tocotrienols: The undiscovered antioxidants

Vitamin K: The key to bone health

CHAPTER 4 Minerals

Calcium: Bone builder

Magnesium: The heart's most important mineral

Potassium: Our most valuable electrolyte

Iron: The double-edged sword

Zinc: Immune booster, wound healer

Copper: Rheumatoid arthritis reliever

Manganese: The cell protector

Iodine: Thyroid fuel

Chromium: Blood sugar balancer

Vanadium: Diabetes therapy

Selenium: Anticancer antioxidant

Molybdenum: Detoxifier, purifier

Boron: Sex hormone and bone provider

Silicon: Skin, hair, and nails provider

Germanium: Oxygen deliverer

CHAPTER 5 Amino Acids

Arginine: Immune booster

Glutamine: Master protein builder, gut restorer

Lysine: Herpes fighter

Phenylalanine: Be happy, feel no pain

Tyrosine: Antidepressant

GABA: The perfect tranquilizer

Methionine: Antidepressant, liver helper

Glutathione, N-Acetyl Cysteine: Master antioxidants

Taurine: Edema, high blood pressure, seizure fighter

Valine, Leucine, Isoleucine: Muscle fuel

Histidine: Arthritis aid

Tryptophan: The best sleeping pill not on the market

Carnitine: The fat burner

Acetyl L-Carnitine: Brain energizer

CHAPTER 6 Fatty Acids

Essential Fats: Our greatest deficiency

The Omega-3s: The very good fats

DHA: Brain fat

Flaxseed Oil: The king of the vegetable oils

Gamma-Linolenic Acid: The good omega-6 fat

CHAPTER 7 Fat-Based Nutrition

Medium-Chain Triglycerides: Fats for energy and weight loss

Squalene: Oxygenator, cancer fighter

Glycerol Monolaurate: Antiviral therapy

Alkylglycerols: Inflammation, cancer fighter

Cetyl Myristoleate: The real arthritis cure

CHAPTER 8 Digestive Aids

Fiber: Roughage to live well

Beneficial Bacteria: Our gut's true protectors

Digestive Aids: Make our food available

FOS: The beneficial sugars

Charcoal: Poison absorber

CHAPTER 9 Nutrient-Dense Superfoods: All of Nature's Nutrients

Barley and Wheat Grass Juice: The essence of sprouting grains

Chlorella: The chlorophyll connection

Spirulina: The blue-green algae

Bee Products: Pollen, propolis, and royal jelly

CHAPTER 10 Vita-Nutrients with Unique Roles

Coenzyme Q₁₀: The vital nutrient

Lipoic Acid: Proven diabetic treatment

Phosphatidyl Serine: The smart nutrient

DMSO: The healing penetrant

Calcium AEP: The most underrated nutrient; autoimmune savior

Creatine: What muscles are made of

Octacosanol: Reliable brain fuel

Gamma-Oryzanol: The ulcer healer

DMG: Fatigue fighter, autism conqueror

Trimethylglycine: Methyl donor, homocysteine fighter

NADH: The cell energizer

CHAPTER 11 Cartilage-Building Nutrients

Shark and Bovine Cartilage: Arthritis therapy, cancer hope

Glucosamine: Osteoarthritis's best treatment

Chondroitin Sulfate: How joints get well

Sea Cucumber: Joint reliever

CHAPTER 12 Hormones and Glandulars

DHEA: The mother hormone

Pregnenolone: The grandmother hormone

Melatonin: The mystery of the pineal

Glandular Extracts: Can the organ do the job?

CHAPTER 13 Herbs

Multipurpose Herbs

Ginkgo Biloba

Ginseng

Cat's Claw

Aloe Vera

Licorice

Garlic

Ginger

Turmeric

Immune-Enhancing Herbs

Medicinal Mushrooms

Mistletoe

Astragalus

Pau d'Arco

Infection Fighters

Echinacea

Goldenseal

Olive Leaf

Oil of Oregano

Tea Tree Oil

Cardiovascular Herbs

Hawthorn

Coleus forskohlii

Bromelain

Capsaicin

Guggulipid

Cactus (Night-Blooming Cereus)

Metabolic Herbs

Milk Thistle

Fenugreek

Gymnema Sylvestre

Herbs for Men

Saw Palmetto (Serenoa repens)

Pygeum Africanum

Yohimbe

Herbs for Women

Black Cohosh

Mexican Yam (Dioscorea)

Vitex (Vitex agnus castus)

Brain Stimulants

St.-John's-Wort (Hypericum)

Ephedra (Ma Huang)

Gotu Kola

Mental Relaxants

Kava

Valerian

Single-Purpose Herbs

Cranberry

Feverfew

Bilberry

PART III

TARGETED VITA-NUTRIENT THERAPY

CHAPTER 14 Applying the Program

Treating Your Health Problems with Vita-Nutrients

The Natural vs. Synthetic Controversy

Targeting Your Nutrition

How to Use the Vita-Nutrient Treatments

CHAPTER 15 The Vita-Nutrient Solutions

Cardiovascular Conditions

Heart and Vascular Health

Angina Pectoris

Arrhythmia and Mitral Valve Prolapse

Cardiomyopathy and Congestive Heart Failure

Blood Lipid Elevations

High Cholesterol

High Triglycerides and Low HDL Cholesterol

High Lipoprotein(a)

Hypertension

Blood Sugar Imbalances: Diabetes and Hypoglycemia

Overweight and Obesity

Nervous System Disorders

Anxiety

Depression

Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

Headaches…