What's on my "clean eating" bookshelf?
As a self-proclaimed nutrition nerd, it's only fitting I share some of my favorite books on the topic. I'm a type of person that likes to know the "whys" behind nutrition and how food works in the body. But even if you are not as into the science, I still think it can benefit everyone to know more about their way of eating. Understanding why certain foods are better for us make is easier to stick to an eating philosophy. Being educated on the topic will help you make informed decisions regarding your health.
It seems that there is a new article everyday with contradicting nutritional information flooding our inboxes. What may be proclaimed as cancer promoting today can be praised for its nutritional benefits the next day. A popular example of this is the never-ending debate against red meat. For so long, we were led to believe that it caused cancer and needs to be avoided at all costs. But as of late, we are learning that the studies that those beliefs were found on were very confusing in themselves. Why is it that cancer and disease are on the rise if we are all avoiding the disastrous red meat? Are "heart healthy" grains really not what they are believed to be? With the rise of the paleo diet, we are learning that animal protein (from the right sources) is one of the most nutrient dense foods we can eat. This is not to say we can eat steak at every meal, but a balanced diet with properly raised meats has worked wonders for many people.
With all this confusion of proper nutrition, I think it is imperative we find out what works best for us as individuals. While I do follow the paleo diet, I use it as a framework rather than a set of rules. If I can tolerate rice or oatmeal, than I have no problem incorporating that into my diet. I made myself sick trying to follow a low carb diet and ignored the signs from my body that it wasn't working because I believed this was the only way to eat. But instead of rushing to find the next fad diet, I decided to dive deep into the science of how food should work in the body. I decided to embark on my own journey and drop any rules regarding how I need to eat. While I still believe a balanced paleo diet works best for a lot of people, I challenge you to be your own health detective. Here are my favorite resources to learn about food (make sure you click the title) to help you be confident in your individualized eating plan.
Practical Paleo: This has been called the "paleo bible" and for good reason. It contains everything from easy to follow recipes, how digestion works, and even personalized eating plans for different health conditions. This is a great choice for anyone first starting on a clean eating journey and the book I recommend most to friends. I find that it is beneficial to have a copy of this book for when anyone is curious about the way I eat and wants to learn more for themselves. While I love all the science and nutritional details, my favorite part is the recipe section. Most of them are very simple with limited ingredients but make incredibly flavorful dishes. Some of my favorites include the cumin spiced pork tenderloin, orange braised beef shanks, brussels sprouts with fennel, and baked beets. The amount of tips to stick to a whole foods lifestyle are endless in this book. Start building your "clean eating" bookshelf with a copy of this amazing resource.
Eat the Yolks: If you are looking for a fun and entertaining read about adopting a real food lifestyle then look no further than this resource. I have been a huge fan of the author, Liz Wolfe, who inserts wit and humor into her writing while providing her well-researched point of view. This book doesn't just outline what eating "real" food means, but also the importance of why it is so crucial for health. You will learn why conventional advice regarding food isn't our best resource when it comes to our wellbeing. Aside from food, this book also highlights the importance of lifestyle changes and stress management that we can incorporate daily. This book is a favorite of mine because it really gives a holistic view of how to achieve health and gave me the confidence to make smart food decisions. This book would also be a great gift to friends and family members who are curious about your way of eating or looking to improve upon their own health.
It Starts with Food: I've talked about my love of the Whole30 program in this post, and this book was my introduction to the program. Whole30 was my very first experience with the notion of eating clean so I needed a great resource to learn more. This book goes in detail about the program, but also why we should be avoiding irritating foods. My favorite part of this book is that it describes the psychology of eating and food cravings in particular. Just how strong cravings have on our habits and how we can utilize a program such as this one to combat them. While this program offers tons of amazing free resources online, this book is the all-encompassing place to learn the ins and outs. If you are looking to start a Whole30 or just curious about food, your body, and habits, than this book is for you.
The Perfect Health Diet: Although I don't believe that anyone should follow a strict diet and be pressured into dogmatic thinking about food, this book outlines an amazing way for anyone to eat. This style of eating is about health first and foremost, not about trying to drop weight quickly. The "perfect health diet" is all about balancing those important macro nutrients to ensure we are eating appropriately nutrient levels everyday. I like this approach because the author, Paul Jaminet, highlights the importance of healthy carbohydrates, unlike some other popular paleo resources. Including the right amount of carbs everyday was something that drastically improved my health, more so than just "clean eating." The book outlines what an ideal day of eating would look like but let's the reader be flexible in what types they choose. The book has the perfect balance of science and realistic advice to get anyone started on the right path. If anyone is looking to venture into eating better but feeling lost of what that means, this book is a great starting point!
Grab these books today to take control of your health and let me know what are your favorites!