Interested in nutrition? These books are a great place to start.
There is so much information out there, and it can take a lot of work to know where to start and what to trust. If nutrition and functional medicine interest you, these are three great resources I love and keep returning to.
Gut by Julia Enders
We all know we need to look after our gut and that our microbiome is important, but how many of us actually understand the inner workings of our digestive system? The more functional gut testing I do in my clinic practice, the more I see a need to support the basic mechanisms of the gut for optimum digestion and absorption.
This book lays out the structure and functions of the gut in an approachable way with friendly illustrations to explain the complexities of the digestive system. It deep dives into the Bristol stool chart, explaining the different stool types and will have you looking at your poo in new ways.
If you have any interest in gut health, before you bounce around to different expensive methods and products online, understanding the basics of the digestive system can help you navigate what your unique body and gut require for optimal health.
The Optimum Nutrition Bible by Patrick Holford
My copy of this is full of sticky notes and highlighted paragraphs. While studying, this was often my first resource for looking something up to avoid falling into a Google hole. This reference book neatly summarises most health and nutrition questions you might have, including ‘What is an allergy?’ What is an antioxidant?’ It also includes an index of many diseases and ailments to look up as and when they might be relevant to you. I will always encourage people to seek multiple sources for their information; however, this is an excellent jumping-off point to start your research and prevent an internet spiral.
Food Fix by Dr Mark Hyman
Dr Hyman is a family doctor who is well-recognised in the field of functional medicine. I love his approach to food, nutrition and lifestyle. He has various books, but Food Fix helps to dive deeper into the food industry and simplifies food and eating for the reader. Although he looks through the lens of the US food system, his approach applies wherever you are. He also has a regular podcast, The Doctor’s Farmacy, where he dives into different topics with guest speakers. Most recently, I enjoyed his episode, which unpicked the Stanford twins study shown on Netflix, You Are What You Eat: A Twin Experiment. He helps break down myths and applies critical thinking to any topic, which is so important when taking health advice.
If you want to learn more about how nutrition can support you and your health, you can book a FREE 30-minute chat with me.