Books That Changed the Way I Look at Food
If you have ever struggled with your relationship with food, or you want to eat healthier, or you have an interest in longevity practices, then you’ve come to the right place! These are the books that have changed my life for the better.
The first book, titled In Defense of Food by Michael Pollan, is what really kick-started my journey to eating a mainly whole foods-based diet. The way Pollan explains his philosophy behind food is very digestible (pun intended), and it was honestly a very easy read. After I read his book, my trips to the grocery store looked a lot different. He’s not preaching about weightloss or any type of fad diet; if anything, he simplifies food. Personally, a lot of the food noise quieted after reading this book.
The second book, titled Brain Maker: The Power of Gut Microbes to Heal and Protect Your Brain for Life by David Perlmutter, MD, truly speaks to the ‘Food is Medicine’ mentality. Although this book is a bit more scientific, it’s a great book to pull out a highlighter and really take the time to understand what Dr. Perlmutter is explaining. He quotes countless studies talking about the power of food in preventing and treating neurodegenerative diseases such as dementia and Alzheimer’s, as well as his own personal accounts with patients he has treated. Overall, I think this book did a great job of emphasizing how important it is to take care of our gut health, fuel our bodies properly, and to remember all the amazing things that food does for our bodies.
Finally, the third book titled Herbal Medicine for Everyone by Michael McIntyre, is a super quick read that provides a great overview of herbal medicine. This book dives into the roots of herbal medicine, as well as some really great advice on how to get started, and introduce some of these practices into your own home. I like to take an integrative approach when it comes to Eastern and Western medicine. I try to avoid taking pharmaceuticals when I can, but when I do find myself taking them, I try to support my body in a holistic way. This is a great book to read if that mindset resonates with you.