As an international agricultural researcher and board member of the Herb Society of America, Palaniswamy (natural sciences and mathematics, Excelsior College, Albany, NY) is well aware of the increasing appeal of traditional diets for disease prevention/ treatment. Due to the popularity of alternative medicine and the growing Asian population in the U.S., Americans are seeking out antioxidants and the micronutrients known as phytochemicals from a widening array of foodstuffs. Organizing them by the latest USDA food pyramid categories, she describes Asian crops, e.g., Chinese cabbage, mango, mung beans, curry leaf, and oolong tea, for which there is scientific evidence of their health properties. Some global crop production statistics are cited. Annotation ©2008 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)