Even More Best Books to Read About Your Diet and Health, From A Nutritionist

My blog last week was about books I’m currently reading and would easily recommend to patients as well. But then I realized, I have way more! There is a wealth of knowledge out there that is based on science (not social media trends), and I often recommend certain books to patients based on the issue that they’re currently struggling with. So, instead of Googling your symptoms, here are a few titles I can suggest. However, while I think these books offer people so much insight into whats going on in their brains and bodies, I also think it’s crucial to talk to your doctor, therapist, or other medical professional to work on the challenges you’re facing.

Again, I have included Amazon links for reference but this is not a paid blog in anyway, nor do I get any sort of commission if you click the link. These are non-sponsored, honest recommendations and you can buy your books from wherever you prefer.

But if you’re looking to expand your own knowledge, here’s what I’d start with.

For chronic conditions:

PCOS Workbook by Angela Grassi

This thoughtful guide is super helpful to any patient who is struggling with PCOS, especially those who just got a diagnosis and aren’t sure what to do next. It covers everything from insulin resistance to stress management.

The Thyroid Diet Revolution by Mary Shomon

Yes, you’ll notice that the subtitle for this has “weight loss” in it, but it’s less about weight and more about thyroid health (which can affect your weight). If you are someone who deals with hypothyroidism, you’ll appreciate this book that covers some more up-to-date information on the condition and how it affects our bodies.

Mind Your Gut by Kate Scarlata 

IBS affects about 11% of the population, so you’re not alone if you’re experiencing symptoms. This book is about gut health, but not in the way that influencers talk about it (usually to push some sort of pseudo-scientific product or system). This book uses scientific studies that show promising results around healing your gut and managing IBS.

Period Repair by Lara Briden

So many people struggle with PMDD and painful periods, and this manual is super helpful. It’s also great for people who want to go of hormonal birth control as a way of managing their symptoms and red flags to look for when it comes to your period so you can confidently talk to your doctor about them.

For trauma-based care:

The Body Keeps Score by Bessel Van der Kolk

Trauma has a way of affecting everything we do, mentally and physically. This book has been featured a lot on book lists and it offers some enlightening information on how trauma from our past comes up in our present day.

What My Bones Know by Stephanie Foo

This is also in the same vein as “The Body Keeps Score” in that it delves into complex PTSD and how the author healed from challenging and traumatic situations from her past. 

For discovering our own human traits:

The Highly Sensitive Child by Elaine Aron
Aron also wrote another book, “The Highly Sensitive Person.” She’s also a real psychologist who has done research in this area and was the first to identify certain people as “highly sensitive.” It’s very insightful about how certain people experience and cope with the world, which can often be overwhelming.

Wintering by Katherine May

Speaking of overwhelming, the world is so difficult to experience, especially now with the never ending news cycle of shocking and atrocious events happening around the world. This book is amazing for those who never learned how to (or were never permitted to) rest their minds and bodies as a way to cope and heal during difficult times. She also wrote the book “Enchantment”.

Thoughtful "anti-diet" books on food culture, body image, etc.:

The Eating Instinct by Virginia Sole-Smith

Food is essential for life, but also feeling safe around food is essential for your body image and not feeling shame around eating. This book is so insightful about how we feed ourselves and even includes stories from the author herself about her and her family’s struggles around food.

Fat Talk by Virginia Sole-Smith

It probably comes as no surprise that how we feel about our bodies is often passed down from generation to generation. This book from the same author of “The Eating Instinct” has more of an angle around parenting and how we talk about “fatness” and “thinness” around our kids.

Unshrinking by Kate Mann

Our society is obsessed with being thin and it has a profound affect on how we feel about ourselves and others. Mann’s book is all about this learned fatphobia and how to fight against it, not only talking about her own experiences but also using research on how fatphobia harms all of us (and more importantly, what to do about it).

Secrets of Feeding a Healthy Family by Ellyn Satter

You might think that eating is inherent in all of us, but everyone also learns to eat from their parents. This book not only teaches families how to eat but also how to cook balanced meals (but not in a way that pushes a certain fad diet) so everyone feels nourished (not deprived).

If you’ve enjoyed any of these titles and want to talk about them (and perhaps get some nutrition therapy of your own), book an appointment with me.