Beginning a health & wellness journey is often confusing. You are diving head-first into an ocean of information. Some of it completely outdated, disproven, or just flat out fake.
There were so many books about so many different “diets” (vegan, low carb, carnivore, etc.). It’s hard to know what is most helpful for you and your goals.
To make life slightly more simple for you, this post lists the top 5 books for health & wellness newbs.
The reason these are our top recommendations:
- They aren’t promoting a specific “diet.” They don’t really focus on vegan vs keto vs paleo vs gluten free vs low carb vs Mediterranean diet vs low fat. They present the research & data we have on certain foods and urge you to listen to your body.
- They each tackle the “controversial” topics in the health/nutrition circle from slightly different perspectives. For example, there is still much constant debate over the health effects of dairy and read meat. These 5 books provide a well-rounded collection of opinions regarding these much-debated topics. It’s always important to gather a variety of opinions when the evidence & science can be contradictory.
- Most importantly, they argue WHY you should transform your diet. All of these books provide different, yet equally-important evidence of the health benefits of transforming your diet.
Eat to Beat Disease: The New Science of How Your Body Can Heal Itself
In his book Eat to Beat Disease, William Li takes us through the latest science of our body’s natural defense systems.
After proving that human beings are “hardwired for health,” he dives into the vast array of evidence supporting food as medicine. From aged garlic to pacific oysters, Li explains the best foods to bolster your body’s natural disease-fighting abilities.
This book is a must-read for everyone to discover the longevity and vitality waiting within a transformed diet!
The End of Craving: Recovering the Lost Wisdom of Eating Well
Rather than simply explaining the current information we have on food cravings, Mark Schatzker dives into the true root cause of cravings, rapid weight gain, and eating disorders which dates back 70+ years. The End of Craving is a great, quick read that will help prevent you from an unhealthy relationship or obsession with food!
Eat Dirt: Why Leaky Gut May Be the Root Cause of Your Health Problems
Eat Dirt provides a solid foundation to the importance of proper gut health. Dr. Josh Axe explains the vast array of both minor and chronic health issues that stem from a weak, leaky gut.
This explanation is followed by descriptions of the different types of poor gut health to help you determine your own. And don’t worry. He doesn’t just leave you there.
After determining your gut type, you will then read about the best and worst foods for your daily diet.
Considering gut health is truly the epicenter of your overall health, it is extremely important to understand the ways we can protect it. Eat Dirt provides you with a comprehensive guide to take control of your gut health, and in turn, your overall longevity.
Related: What is Leaky Gut? + How to Heal It
The Inflammation Spectrum: Find Your Food Triggers and Reset Your System
Reducing chronic, unhealthy inflammation is one of the first steps to healing holistically. After all, inflammation is at the root of most diseases. So what do we do about that?
How do you know what is inflammatory your body? How do you know what foods to avoid without going through a strenuous, time-consuming trial and error?
From legumes to nightshades, Dr. Cole uncovers a vast array of possible triggers to help you determine what could be hindering your healing & hurting you health.
Deep Nutrition: Why Your Genes Need Traditional Food
Out of the 5 books I’ve listed here, Deep Nutrition is the most in-depth analysis of the available science (hence the name). By diving into what Dr. Catherine Shanahan deems the “4 Pillars of the Human Diet,” she explains the most important foods to improve & protect your health & vitality.
It may take a while to get through this book. There is a lot of science and research covered in it, but just know it is extremely worthwhile! Deep Nutrition provides you with the simplest, science-backed approach to living well and protecting future generations.
Recipe Bonus:
Most of these books contain dozens of recipes in the back to provide you with the easiest start possible.
Transforming your diet can be intimidating, but these books, recipes, and meal plans provide you with the perfect start.
