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This Is Your Brain on Food by Uma Naidoo, MD (video interview and review)

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brain on food

Dr. Uma Naidoo has a wonderful new book called This Is Your Brain on Food: An Indispensable Guide to the Surprising Foods that Fight Depression, Anxiety, PTSD, OCD, ADHD, and More (my Amazon link)

Her big bold message is this “Until we solve nutritional problems, no amount of medication and psychotherapy is going to be able to stem the tide of mental issues in our society.”  This is something I wholeheartedly agree with!

I had the wonderful opportunity to interview Dr. Naidoo and we talked about the benefits of fermented foods and social anxiety, vitamin D and anxiety, dietary sources of polyphenols for ADHD and much more:

51 women with type 2 diabetes and vitamin D deficiency were randomly allocated to receive one oral pearl of 50,000 IU vitamin D3 (26 women) or a placebo (25 women) fortnightly for 16 weeks

Anxiety score changes were significantly lower in vitamin D group than the controls

Dietary polyphenols… have antioxidant capacities as well as immunoregulatory effects and, therefore, appear appropriate in ADHD therapy.

  • Dr. Naidoo recommends these sources of polyphenols: berries and other fruit, vegetables, extra virgin olive oil.
  • I’m fascinated by the fact that polyphenols “act as a low-dose toxin that trains the body to mount an immune response in a process called hormesis” (there are many geeky gems like this in the book)
  • Dr. Naidoo shares the story of her 36 year old patient with severe anxiety. He was a binge eater and also had a history of alcohol abuse. Vitamin B1 (250mg) was every effective for him…“In animal studies, thiamine appears to reduce stress-like responses because it protects the hippocampus”
  • We talk about chamomile tea and how it helps with sleep. There are some cautions if you’re on a blood thinner prescription or going to have surgery. Pregnant women should also avoid it.
  • Dr. Naidoo shares a delicious Golden Milk recipe with tips on how to use turmeric (one her favorite spices and inspired by her grandmother’s cooking) with black pepper. You’ll find this in the recipes section.
  • Dr Naidoo also shares one of her favorite comfort foods – a yummy lentil soup recipe called dal in south Indian cuisines. It’s a great source of fiber, plant-based protein and is very affordable. And really healthy when cooked with vegetables and spices like mustard seeds, ginger, garlic and turmeric. She shares a tip to improve the flavors – making tadka (listen to the interview below, enjoy and be inspired!)

 

It’s a wonderful book that I highly recommend if:

  • you are new to nutritional psychiatry and the power of food
  • you are a seasoned foodie and want to geek out on mechanisms and the science
  • you want to learn about foods and nutrients (all science-based) specifically for depression, anxiety, PTSD, OCD, ADHD and insomnia
  • you are a practitioner and want to learn and share a wonderful book with your patients or clients

I read it cover to cover and picked up so many gems. I also loved reading about her memories of cooking with her Pinetown granny (Pinetown is just outside Durban where we both happened to grow up)!

We do have a few professional differences of opinion that I feel I should mention:

  • I am not in favor of canola oil and I’d switch out the recipes that call for canola oil with olive oil
  • I have a difficult time extrapolating high-fat diets in rat studies to concerns about saturated fat consumption in humans (given the nature of the rat chow in many of these studies)
  • I’m more concerned with portion-size of carbs than I am with portion-size of healthy fats (and typically recommend full-fat coconut milk, and chicken and turkey with skin-on)
  • I find grass-red meat to be beneficial for my clients with anxiety and mood issues
  • Many of my anxious clients cannot tolerate any caffeine and I consider 14 alcoholic drinks a week for men and 7 alcoholic drinks a week for women to be excessive
  • I prefer stove-top and oven cooking to using a microwave.

This is the official book blurb:

Did you know that blueberries can help you cope with the aftereffects of trauma? That salami can cause depression, or that boosting Vitamin D intake can help treat anxiety?

When it comes to diet, most people’s concerns involve weight loss, fitness, cardiac health, and longevity. But what we eat affects more than our bodies; it also affects our brains. And recent studies have shown that diet can have a profound impact on mental health conditions ranging from ADHD to depression, anxiety, sleep disorders, OCD, dementia and beyond.

A triple threat in the food space, Dr. Uma Naidoo is a board-certified psychiatrist, nutrition specialist, and professionally trained chef. In This Is Your Brain on Food, she draws on cutting-edge research to explain the many ways in which food contributes to our mental health, and shows how a sound diet can help treat and prevent a wide range of psychological and cognitive health issues.

Packed with fascinating science, actionable nutritional recommendations, and delicious, brain-healthy recipes, This Is Your Brain on Food is the go-to guide to optimizing your mental health with food.

Uma Naidoo, MD is board-certified psychiatrist (Harvard Medical School), professional chef (Cambridge School of Culinary Arts), and nutrition specialist (Cornell University). She is currently the Director of Nutritional and Lifestyle Psychiatry at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), where she consults on nutritional interventions for the psychiatrically and medically ill; Director of Nutritional Psychiatry at the Massachusetts General Hospital Academy; and has a private practice in Newton, MA. She also teaches at The Cambridge School of Culinary Arts.

Dr. Naidoo speaks frequently at conferences at Harvard, for Goop audiences, the New York City Jewish Community Center (JCC), and Ivy Boston. She blogs for Harvard Health and Psychology Today and completed a unique video cooking series for the MGH Academy which teaches Nutritional Psychiatry using culinary techniques in the kitchen.

You can get your copy of This Is Your Brain on Food here (my Amazon link) and find additional information about Dr. Naidoo here and the book here.

Let us know what you think in the comments below and be sure to leave Dr. Naidoo a review once you read your copy!

Feel free to post your questions here too.

Food Fix by Dr. Mark Hyman – my review

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food fix by mark hyman

Dr. Mark Hyman has a brilliant new book called called Food Fix: How to Save Our Health, Our Economy, Our Communities, and Our Planet – One Bite at a Time and his big bold message is that: “We need to change the food system to change the world.”  It is an issue that is seriously overlooked and he wants to change this.

food fix

Watch this short video clip to hear it from Dr. Hyman himself.

food fix

Here are some of the key messages from Food Fix

  • If we don’t change the food system, we’re going to spend $95 trillion dollars on chronic disease – heart disease, obesity, type 2 diabetes, cancer, and dementia – over the next 35 years.
  • Big food spends a lot of money in Washington to keep us fat and sick.
  • The food industry preys on our most vulnerable citizens – children.

According to the American Psychological Association, children under the age of 8 don’t instinctively recognize the difference between TV Commercials and programs, which makes them particularly vulnerable.

  • Big Food buys partnerships with public schools.
  • Minorities are also targeted by the food industry.

Researchers at the University of Connecticut found that junk food companies spend the most on ads that target African Americans and Spanish speakers. Guess which products were most heavily advertised toward minorities—Gatorade, Pop Tarts, Twix Candy Bar, Cinnamon Toast Crunch Cereal, and Tyson Frozen Entrees

The worse the nutritional profile the more heavily the products were promoted through advertising.

Where are the broccoli ads?

These findings, the researchers noted, “highlight important disparities in the food and beverage industry’s heavy marketing of unhealthy foods to Hispanic and black youth, and the corresponding lack of promotion of healthier options.”

  • Bad food is making us anxious, depressed, and is messing with our brains. I’m thrilled that Dr. Hyman highlights how nutritional medicine is a key to mental health and psychiatry. Here are some snippets :

Studies show that adults with many types of mental health issues and children with ADHD have very low levels of antioxidants (which come from fruits and vegetables), such as the fifty-six-year-old man with lifelong crippling depression who improved by cleaning up his diet and taking a cocktail of B vitamins. I remember one man who presented with severe panic attacks every afternoon. Turned out he was eating a diet very high in sugar and starch and had wild swings in his blood sugar, which triggered the anxiety. When he cut out sugar and starch, his anxiety and panic attacks vanished. These stories are not anomalies. They are predictable results from applying nutritional medicine.

In recent years, major medical journals have clearly shown the link between nutrition and mental health. The Lancet Psychiatry, a top medical journal, maps out just how nutritional medicine is a key to mental health and psychiatry. Overall diet quality, high sugar loads, and rampant nutritional deficiencies (including omega‑3 fats, zinc, magnesium, vitamin D, and B vitamins) all drive mental illness. In other words, the culprit is once again the American and increasingly global industrial diet. We have discussed the costs of obesity and chronic disease, but most don’t connect mental illness to the costs of chronic disease. In fact, the cost of mental illness to the economic burden is far greater than the costs of heart disease, diabetes, and cancer.

Population studies have found that more fruits and vegetables and less french fries, fast food, and sugar are associated with a lower prevalence of mental illness, and that junk food creates moderate to severe psychological distress. The good news is that interventional studies have shown that treatment of mental illness with diet works well (especially since most medications for mental illness don’t work that well, despite being the second biggest category of drugs sold).

And here are a few of the many solutions proposed in the book:

  • Support regenerative agriculture and sustainable food.
  • Stop purchasing franken-foods:

Today 60% of our diet is ultra-processed food made from commodity crops—corn, soy, and wheat—that’s turned into various sizes, shapes, and colors from the raw materials—high fructose corn syrup, white flour, and refined soybean oil. When you vote with your dollars and your fork to stay away from these foods, you send a message to big food to stop subsidizing commodity crops and grow more fruits and vegetables!

  • End food waste:

Buy only what you need.  If food may go bad soon, make a soup or stew. Get a compost bucket for your kitchen.  Start a compost pile in your backyard, or buy an in-home composter.  Use it in your garden or donate it to someone who has a garden.

  • Be an activist and teach your family why food matters.
  • Address food deserts and food swamps in African American communities, and recognize that this is:

“food apartheid,” an embedded social and political form of discrimination.

Here is the official book blurb:

Help to transform the planet in crisis with this indispensable guide to healthy, ethical, and economically sustainable food from #1 New York Times bestselling author Mark Hyman, MD.

Food is our most powerful tool to reverse the global epidemic of chronic disease, heal the environment, reform politics, and revive economies. What we eat has tremendous implications not just for our waistlines, but also for the planet, society, and the global economy. What we do to our bodies, we do to the planet; and what we do to the planet, we do to our bodies. 

In Food Fix, Mark Hyman explains how our food and agriculture policies are corrupted by money and lobbies that drive our biggest global crises: the spread of obesity and food-related chronic disease, climate change, poverty, violence, educational achievement gaps, and more.

Pairing the latest developments in nutritional and environmental science with an unflinching look at the dark realities of the global food system and the policies that make it possible, Food Fix is a hard-hitting manifesto that will change the way you think about – and eat – food forever, and will provide solutions for citizens, businesses, and policy makers to create a healthier world, society, and planet.

I love that Dr. Hyman says he is left with a sense of hope and possibility after writing this book … “understanding the problems and challenges we face sets the foundations for the solutions.”

Wise words indeed! This book is much-needed, brilliant, eye-opening and shocking at times, but hopeful and solution-based.

You can get your copy of Food Fix here (my Amazon link) and find additional information and resources on the official book site here.

Brain Wash by Dr. David Perlmutter and Dr. Austin Perlmutter

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brain wash

If you tuned in to my interview with Dr. David Pelmutter on the Anxiety Summit 5: Gut-Brain Axis you may recall us talking about his new book Brain Wash: Detox Your Mind for Clearer Thinking, Deeper Relationships, and Lasting Happiness (written with his son Dr. Austin Perlmutter).

He shared this in our summit interview: “I think technology can be either our most wonderful servant or a really disastrous master. It’s all in how we mindfully use technology.”

I have the pleasure of sharing another interview where we take a deeper dive into this topic and he shares additional information about this new book, which was just published.

This book builds from a simple premise: “Our brain’s performance is being gravely manipulated, resulting in behaviors that leave us more lonely, anxious, depressed, distrustful, illness-prone, and overweight than ever before. At the same time, we feel disconnected from ourselves, from others, and from the world at large.

Dr Perlmutter shares wonderful insights from the book:

  • Disconnection syndrome (and loneliness) and how our decision-making abilities have been compromised
  • Hi-tech hijack and some alarming stats on internet addiction: it’s around 6 percent and translates to more than a quarter of a billion people. Keep in mind internet addiction is “any online-related compulsive behavior that interferes with normal living and causes severe stress on family, friends, loved ones, and the ability to be productive at work”
  • Structural changes that are seen in the brain when we are addicted
  • How we can set boundaries and his tool called T.I.M.E. “When approaching your use of technology, especially when it comes to digital media and communication, you need make sure your activities are making good use of T.I.M.E. (Time restricted, Intentional, Mindful and Enriching)

One of my favorite parts of the book is the chapter on nature:“Spending time in nature is one of the easiest things you can do to stay healthy and happy —you just need to step outside.”

He shares how: “Americans spend a remarkable 87 percent of their days indoors and another 6 percent in their cars” and we go into the health benefits of forest bathing and indoor plants. As he mentions, we know we feel good when we’re in nature, but they wanted to gather all the research supporting just what the health benefits are. I loved geeking over all the studies!

I can’t be anywhere indoors unless I can see outside and I just love this study: “View Through a Window May Influence Recovery from Surgery.”

We didn’t have time to go into other equally valuable chapters in the book on food, sleep, exercise, and quiet time but they are foundational especially if you are just starting your healing journey. If you’ve been following my work for awhile these chapters are a great reminder for us.

There is also a 10-day brain wash plan, together with a meal plan and recipes to guide you through the process.

Dr. Perlmutter shared his personal favorite recipe – the Jicama Slaw (with all those prebiotics for a good microbiome and reducing inflammation). He gave me permission to share the Cauliflower Pancakes recipe with you. Enjoy!

Cauliflower Pancakes

Serves 4, Time required: About 25 minutes

Although these pancakes make a terrific breakfast or brunch dish, they are also a wonderful side dish for grilled meats, poultry, and/or fish. The turmeric adds great color as well as a slightly tannic yet sweet flavor.

1 pound organic cauliflower florets, including stems
1 small organic white onion, peeled and grated
1 teaspoon grated organic garlic
1/2 teaspoon organic ground turmeric
3 large eggs from pasture-raised chickens, at room temperature, lightly beaten
Fine sea salt and freshly ground organic black pepper to taste
1/3 cup organic ghee from grass-fed animals
1/2 cup chopped organic scallion greens
1 cup full-fat organic sour cream from grass-fed cows (optional)

Preheat the oven to 200°F. Place a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper in the oven.

Using a handheld box grater, grate the cauliflower through the medium holes. Transfer the grated cauliflower in a large mixing bowl.

Add the onion, garlic, and turmeric and toss to blend.

Add the eggs and season with sea salt and pepper, stirring to combine completely. Set aside for 10 minutes to allow the flavors to blossom.

Heat the ghee in a large frying pan over medium heat. Spoon in enough of the cauliflower mixture to make a flat cake about 3 inches in diameter. Continue making cakes without crowding the pan.

Using the back of a metal spatula, flatten the cakes slightly, but allow them to get no larger than 4 inches in diameter.

Fry for about 5 minutes, or until the bottom is golden brown and the pancakes have firmed enough to turn easily. Lower the heat if they are browning too quickly.

Using the spatula – a fish spatula is a great tool for this – carefully turn the pancakes and fry for an additional 4 minutes, or until cooked through and golden brown. If you flip them too quickly, they will fall apart.

As each one is cooked, place it on the cookie sheet in the oven and continue making cakes until all the batter has been used.

When ready to serve, place the pancakes on a platter, sprinkle with sea salt and scallion greens, and serve with sour cream on the side if desired.

Here is the official blurb for the book:

Dr. David Perlmutter, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Grain Brain, and Dr. Austin Perlmutter, his son, explore how modern culture threatens to rewire our brains and damage our health, offering a practical plan for healing.

Contemporary life provides us with infinite opportunities, along with endless temptations. We can eat whatever we want, whenever we want. We can immerse ourselves in the vast, enticing world of digital media. We can buy goods and services for rapid delivery with our fingertips or voice commands. But living in this 24/7 hyper-reality poses serious risks to our physical and mental states, our connections to others, and even to the world at large.

Brain Wash builds from a simple premise: Our brains are being gravely manipulated, resulting in behaviors that leave us more lonely, anxious, depressed, distrustful, illness-prone, and overweight than ever before.

Based on the latest science, the book identifies the mental hijacking that undermines each and every one of us, and presents the tools necessary to think more clearly, make better decisions, strengthen bonds with others, and develop healthier habits. Featuring a 10-day bootcamp program, including a meal plan and 40 delicious original recipes, Brain Wash is the key to cultivating a more purposeful and fulfilling life.

You can get your copy from Amazon here (my Amazon link).  More information here

Do share what insights you’ve gained from this interview and review (and other gems once you’ve read the book).

I’d also love to hear your favorite way to enjoy nature. For me, some of my many favorites are a hike or mountain bike ride, a day at the beach catching waves and wriggling my toes in the sand, and visiting new places with lovely natural scenery.

Recommended gut-brain books as holiday gifts for you or a loved one

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gut brain books

With one of the post Anxiety Summit: Gut-Brain objectives of sharing additional reading resources and with the holidays right around the corner this is perfect timing for my holiday book blog and all books gut-brain related. Read on below for book excerpts from these books, some of which have just published, some are older and a few have yet to be published.

  • Digestive Wellness: Strengthen the Immune System and Prevent Disease Through Healthy Digestion, 5th Edition By Elizabeth Lipski (publication date Nov 22, 2019). The first edition was published in 1995 and this 5th edition (which I hear involved a great deal of revision) makes it current. I have yet to read this one but I know Liz and the previous editions and this is a firm favorite for overall digestive health.
  • The 4-Phase Histamine Reset Plan: Getting to the Root of Migraines, Eczema, Vertigo, Allergies and More by Dr. Becky Campbell (publication date Dec 10, 2019). I have read this one and it’s excellent! It’s the only book that I am aware of that goes into so much depth on the topic of histamine intolerance.
  • The Microbiome and the Brain, edited by David Perlmutter MD (publication date Dec 12, 2019). As Dr. Perlmutter shared in our Anxiety Summit interview, “it’s not just for clinicians, it’s also for researchers.” I can’t wait for my copy to arrive and will share more when it does.
  • Brain Wash: Detox Your Mind for Clearer Thinking, Deeper Relationships, and Lasting Happiness by David Perlmutter MD and Austin Perlmutter MD (publication date Jan 14, 2020). Dr. Perlmutter shared this in our summit interview: “I think technology can be either our most wonderful servant or a really disastrous master. It’s all in how we mindfully use technology.” I can’t wait for my copy to arrive and will share more when it does.
  • Healthy Gut, Healthy You by Dr. Michael Ruscio (publication date February 15, 2018). Misty Williams raved about this book in our interview and although I have yet to read it, I have attended one of Dr. Ruscio’s SIBO trainings, so I’m including it here too.
  • Food: What the Heck Should I Cook?: More than 100 Delicious Recipes–Pegan, Vegan, Paleo, Gluten-free, Dairy-free, and More – For Lifelong Health by Dr. Mark Hyman MD (publication date October 22, 2019). I reviewed this book a few months ago and am always a big fan of Dr. Hyman’s work so am including this one too.
  • The Mediterranean Method: Your Complete Plan to Harness the Power of the Healthiest Diet on the Planet — Lose Weight, Prevent Heart Disease, and More! by Steven Masley M.D. (publication date December 31, 2019). We all like to be inspired by new recipes and I love that Dr. Masley is a heart doctor, nutritionist and chef so I’m including this one even though I have yet to get a copy.
  • Hanger Management: Master Your Hunger and Improve Your Mood, Mind, and Relationships by Susan Albers PsyD (publication date December 24, 2019). Susan is a good friend and is well-recognized for her work on mindful eating, so I’m including this one too in order to round out this selection of books.
  • The Antianxiety Food Solution: How the Foods You Eat Can Help You Calm Your Anxious Mind, Improve Your Mood, and End Cravings by Trudy Scott (publication date June 2, 2011). I’m including my book too. If you don’t yet have a copy I encourage you to get a copy as a great foundation to the work I do. If you already have a copy I know you can see the value in gifting a copy to a loved one or sharing with your practitioner – so this is a reminder for you.

Here are more details on each of the above books….

Digestive Wellness: Strengthen the Immune System and Prevent Disease Through Healthy Digestion, 5th Edition By Elizabeth Lipski  (publication date Nov 22, 2019)

digestive wellness

Optimize your overall health through digestive wellness!

Fewer antacids and less bloating aren’t the only benefits of good digestion. When your digestive system is healthy and balanced, you sleep better, have more energy, think more clearly, experience less pain, and combat disease more effectively.

Digestive Health shows how everything from migraines to skin disease to arthritis are connected to your digestive system. And now, this go-to guide has been updated with critical new research and developments, including late-breaking information on:

  • Probiotics and Prebiotics
  • Celiac Disease
  • The Gut-Brain Connection
  • Carbohydrates
  • Leaky Gut Syndrome
  • Auto-Immune Conditions
  • Kidney and Bone Health
  • Cancer Prevention
  • Alzheimer’s Disease

You’ll find practical solutions to numerous conditions and disorders, along with expert guidance on the newest advances in testing and diagnosis, nutrition, and natural therapies.

A perfect balance of science and practical advice, Digestive Health explains how your digestive system works and what to do when it doesn’t function properly.

It provides everything you need to take control of your overall health through close, careful attention to your digestive system.

You can get your copy from Amazon here (my Amazon link).

 

The 4-Phase Histamine Reset Plan: Getting to the Root of Migraines, Eczema, Vertigo, Allergies and More by Dr. Becky Campbell (publication date Dec 10, 2019)

histamine reset

Uncover the Root Cause of Your Health Issues and Heal Your Body for Life

Millions of people suffer from allergies, migraines, skin issues, sleep disturbances, digestive ailments or anxiety due to undiagnosed histamine intolerance.

Dr. Becky Campbell, who has years of experience in the field and who suffers from histamine intolerance herself, has created a revolutionary four-phase program to heal your body naturally. What makes her approach different―and more effective for lifelong results―is that it looks for root causes and offers a well-rounded, holistic treatment plan that addresses diet, environmental toxins, lifestyle and more.

To help you uncover why your body is not processing histamine correctly, Dr. Campbell explains the eight most common factors and how to address them. Then she gives you a plan that includes a low-histamine diet, liver care, gut support and direction on how to safely reintroduce the foods that were once making you sick. Along with her wealth of delicious recipes, she also includes information on supplements, ways to reduce stress and much more.

Invest in your health and use The 4-Phase Histamine Reset Plan to heal your body for good.

You can get your copy from Amazon here (my Amazon link).

 

The Microbiome and the Brain, edited by David Perlmutter MD (publication date Dec 12, 2019)

microbiome and brain

Brain related disorders are among the most challenging health issues of our time. The development of effective therapeutic and preventive strategies for these disorders relies on a comprehensive understanding of the underlying causative mechanisms. And, until recently, these mechanisms have remained somewhat elusive.

The newly discovered pivotal role of the intestinal microbiome in brain health, functionality, and resistance to disease is revolutionizing neuroscience. The Microbiome and the Brain, through the contributions of some of the most forward thinking researchers and clinicians in the field, comprehensively reveals the leading edge of our understanding of the fundamental role of gut microbes and their metabolites in a wide array of seemingly diverse brain issues including Alzheimer’s disease, autism, multiple sclerosis, and mood disorders. In addition, mechanisms defining these relationships are explored along with a presentation of the state-of-the-art as it relates to interpretation of relevant laboratory assessments. Finally, novel therapeutic opportunities, derived from this exciting science are presented.

Readers will learn:

  • The highly validated relationship between alterations of gut microbes and their metabolites, and risk for Alzheimer’s disease.
  • The important link between autism and intestinal dysbiosis.
  • Appropriate interpretation of available laboratory assessments of the intestinal microbiome.
  • The potential role of fecal microbial transplant in neurological diseases.
  • The influence of diet and other lifestyle choices on the microbiome as it relates to brain health and functionality.

More information here

 

Brain Wash: Detox Your Mind for Clearer Thinking, Deeper Relationships, and Lasting Happiness by David Perlmutter MD and Austin Perlmutter MD (publication date Jan 14, 2020)

brain wash

Dr. David Perlmutter, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Grain Brain, and Dr. Austin Perlmutter, his son, explore how modern culture threatens to rewire our brains and damage our health, offering a practical plan for healing.

Contemporary life provides us with infinite opportunities, along with endless temptations. We can eat whatever we want, whenever we want. We can immerse ourselves in the vast, enticing world of digital media. We can buy goods and services for rapid delivery with our fingertips or voice commands. But living in this 24/7 hyper-reality poses serious risks to our physical and mental states, our connections to others, and even to the world at large.

Brain Wash builds from a simple premise: Our brains are being gravely manipulated, resulting in behaviors that leave us more lonely, anxious, depressed, distrustful, illness-prone, and overweight than ever before.

Based on the latest science, the book identifies the mental hijacking that undermines each and every one of us, and presents the tools necessary to think more clearly, make better decisions, strengthen bonds with others, and develop healthier habits. Featuring a 10-day bootcamp program, including a meal plan and 40 delicious original recipes, Brain Wash is the key to cultivating a more purposeful and fulfilling life.

You can get your copy from Amazon here (my Amazon link).  More information and bonus pre-launch gifts are available here.

 

Healthy Gut, Healthy You by Dr. Michael Ruscio (publication date February 15, 2018)

healthy gut healthy you

Are you experiencing depression, fatigue, thyroid imbalances, joint pain, insomnia, brain fog, inflammation or autoimmunity? Did you know your symptoms could be caused by a problem in your gut? Even if you don’t have gas, bloating, abdominal pain, diarrhea and/or constipation you could greatly benefit from improving your health at the core, your gut.

In Healthy Gut, Healthy You, clinician and researcher Dr. Michael Ruscio shows how modern lifestyle changes and the widespread use of antibiotics have made our guts more vulnerable than ever before.

The good news is that almost any ailment can be healed. The key is not just managing the symptoms but treating the root cause; the gut. Restoring this crucial part of your overall health improves the performance of your whole body from the inside out – and it’s easier than you think to get started.

You don’t have to follow crazy diets or spend a fortune to get healthy. Instead, read Healthy Gut, Healthy You to discover:

  • THE IMPORTANCE OF YOUR GUT
  • DIET FOR OPTIMUM GUT HEALTH
  • LIFESTYLE AND ENVIRONMENT FOR OPTIMUM GUT HEALTH
  • TOOLS FOR HEALING YOUR GUT
  • THE GREAT-IN-8 ACTION PLAN

A vibrant, healthy you begins with your gut! Start healing your body today with Healthy Gut, Healthy You!

You can get your copy from Amazon here  (my Amazon link)

 

Food: What the Heck Should I Cook?: More than 100 Delicious Recipes–Pegan, Vegan, Paleo, Gluten-free, Dairy-free, and More – For Lifelong Health by Dr. Mark Hyman MD (publication date October 22, 2019)

what the heck should i cook

The companion cookbook to Dr. Hyman’s New York Times bestselling Food: What the Heck Should I Eat?, featuring more than 100 delicious and nutritious recipes for weight loss and lifelong health.

Dr. Mark Hyman’s Food: What the Heck Should I Eat? revolutionized the way we view food, busting long-held nutritional myths that have sabotaged our health and kept us away from delicious foods that are actually good for us. Now, in this companion cookbook, Dr. Hyman shares more than 100 delicious recipes to help you create a balanced diet for weight loss, longevity, and optimum health. Food is medicine, and medicine never tasted or felt so good.

The recipes in Food: What the Heck Should I Cook? highlight the benefits of good fats, fresh veggies, nuts, legumes, and responsibly harvested ingredients of all kinds. Whether you follow a vegan, Paleo, Pegan, grain-free, or dairy-free diet, you’ll find dozens of mouthwatering dishes, including:

  • Mussels and Fennel in White Wine Broth
  • Golden Cauliflower Caesar Salad
  • Herbed Mini-Meatballs with Butternut Noodles
  • Lemon Berry Rose Cream Cake
  • and many more

With creative options and ideas for lifestyles and budgets of all kinds, Food: What the Heck Should I Cook? is a road map to a satisfying diet of real food that will keep you and your family fit, healthy, and happy for life.

You can get your copy from Amazon here (my Amazon link) and check out some sample recipes on my blog here.

 

The Mediterranean Method: Your Complete Plan to Harness the Power of the Healthiest Diet on the Planet — Lose Weight, Prevent Heart Disease, and More! by Steven Masley M.D. (publication date December 31, 2019)

mediterranean method

A fresh approach to the Mediterranean diet that focuses on low-glycemic foods that benefit the heart, brain, gut, and microbiome.

From southern Italy, Sardinia, and France to Spain, Greece, and Northern Africa the Mediterranean region is synonymous with sparkling azure waters and clear blue skies. It’s also home to most of the world’s longest-lived and vibrantly healthy people. Now we know why! Repeatedly ranked the #1 diet by U.S. News and World Report, the Mediterranean eating style–abundant seafood, vegetables, fruits, beans and nuts; lots of olive oil; a wide variety of herbs and spices; and even dark chocolate and red wine–has been scientifically proven to maintain a healthy gut and healthy weight, thereby reducing your risk for heart disease, dementia, memory loss, and many cancers in the process.

Taking this famously healthy and life-enhancing “prescription” one step further, Dr. Steven Masley–renowned physician, nutritionist, bestselling author, and trained chef–offers all the flavors and benefits of the Mediterranean diet, but with a “skinny” twist: he focuses on delicious ingredients with a low-glycemic load. Including 50 recipes for food everyone at the table will love–from hearty breakfasts, crowd-pleasing appetizers, soups, and sides, to family-style salads, memorable main meals, and irresistible desserts–The Mediterranean Method is a revolutionary program for losing weight and maintaining the amazing health you regain. Slim down and protect your heart, your brain, and your healthy longevity–all while you enjoy the amazing bounty, variety, and joy of Mediterranean cooking!

You can get your copy from Amazon here (my Amazon link)

 

Hanger Management: Master Your Hunger and Improve Your Mood, Mind, and Relationships by Susan Albers PsyD (publication date December 24, 2019)

hanger management

The complete program for mastering your “hanger,” from mindful-eating pioneer Dr. Susan Albers — with 45 tips to turn hanger into happiness.

It happens to all of us. One minute you’re happily going about your day, and a few seconds later you’re a snappy, illogical version of yourself. The culprit? Hanger.

We’re living busier lives than ever before, and when we forget to eat — or accidentally overeat — hunger can make us angry, unreasonable, and dull, with big impacts on our emotional and psychological well being. And hanger can become a cycle. When we get too hungry, we’re more likely to make food decisions we regret, which sets us up for another hanger crash later on.

The good news: when we make better decisions about food, we think more clearly, connect better in our relationships, and improve our performance. Hanger Management is the book that can help you break this cycle and create healthy habits that fuel and empower you.

In Hanger Management, New York Times bestselling author and clinical psychologist Susan Albers sheds light on the causes of hanger, and shares 45 of her best tips for managing it well. By learning to stay on top of your hunger cues, cultivating a better understanding of your appetite, and creating a better overall relationship with food, you’ll become happier — and healthier — for life.

You can get your copy from Amazon here (my Amazon link)

 

The Antianxiety Food Solution: How the Foods You Eat Can Help You Calm Your Anxious Mind, Improve Your Mood, and End Cravings by Trudy Scott (publication date June 2, 2011)

antianxiety food solution

It’s remarkable how much the foods we eat can impact our brain chemistry and emotions. What and when we eat can make the difference between feeling anxious and staying calm and in control. But most of us don’t realize how much our diets influence our moods, thoughts, and feelings until we make a change.

In The Antianxiety Food Solution, you’ll find four unique antianxiety diets designed to help you address nutritional deficiencies that may be at the root of your anxiety and enjoy the many foods that foster increased emotional balance. This helpful guide allows you to choose the best plan for you and incorporates effective anxiety-busting foods and nutrients. You’ll soon be on the path to freeing yourself from anxiety—and enjoying an improved overall mood, better sleep, fewer cravings, and optimal health—the natural way! The book also includes an easy-to-use index.

In The Antianxiety Food Solution, you’ll discover:

  • How to assess your diet for anxiety-causing and anxiety-calming foods and nutrients
  • Foods and nutrients that balance your brain chemistry
  • Which anxiety-triggering foods and drinks you may need to avoid
  • Easy lifestyle changes that reduce anxiety and increase happiness

You can get your copy from Amazon here (my Amazon link)

I’ve provided my Amazon links for your convenience but if you’re not in the USA, Book depository is a great place to purchase books and offers free shipping worldwide.

I hope I’ve given you some wonderful gift ideas! Happy shopping! And happy reading if you decide to gift yourself one or more of these wonderful books.

Let us know which books you are excited about getting for yourself or a loved one or friend, and which ones you already have and love.

Food: What the Heck Should I Cook by Dr. Mark Hyman

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Dr. Mark Hyman proudly shares this about his new recipe book – Food: What the Heck Should I Cook

This cookbook is a beautiful work of art—full color, lots of recipe pictures, and over 100 delicious and healthy pegan recipes. The book features tasty recipes with delicious whole food ingredients.

Everything in the cookbook meets my Pegan Diet guidelines, which means all the recipes are gluten-free, dairy-free, refined sugar-free, and nutrient-dense. Whether you or someone in your household is Paleo, vegetarian, vegan, keto, pescatarian—it’s got super satisfying meals you’ll all love and can enjoy together.

Plus, I talk about how to create a conscious kitchen – which includes how I choose the ingredients I cook with as well as the safest cooking tools.

And he shares more about why he wrote this new cookbook – a companion book to Food: What the Heck Should I Eat – in the book trailer video.

Here are few recipes from the book to get you inspired and cooking: Blushing Beet Soup, Feel-Good Pesto Steak Salad, Almond Chicken Skewers with Green Beans and Flourless Protein Power Bread.

blushing beet dip

pesto steak salad

almond chicken skewers

protein power break

Here are a few of the many other recipes: Superfood Smoothie Bowl, Green Shakshuka, Crispy Carrot Fries with Pesto, Coriander Salmon with Coconut-Tomato Salsa, Toasted Sage Butternut Pizza, Lemon-Berry Rose Cream Cake, and Chocolate-Almond Sandwich Cookies.

He calls this recipe book  “one of my most exciting personal projects to date, one that I hope will be something you can use to create better health while sharing great times with the people you love.”

Learn more about the book here

Buy your copy on Amazon here (my Amazon link).

I hope it inspires you to create delicious healthy real food meals to eat and enjoy with your loved ones! And let us know which recipes you decide to make.

Hashimoto’s Food Pharmacology, a new recipe book by Dr. Izabella Wentz

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The beautiful new recipe book Hashimoto’s Food Pharmacology: Nutrition Protocols and Healing Recipes to Take Charge of Your Thyroid Health (my Amazon link) by Thyroid Pharmacist, Dr. Izabella Wentz, just launched and I want to make sure you know about it and to also share some recipes with you.

I just got my copy and I’m excited to try out some of the yummy nutrient-dense and healing recipes. Flipping through it quickly I know already that I’ll be making the Morrocan Lamb Stew, the Truffled veggies and Cilantro-Lime Guacomole (it looks like a nice spin with some different flavors), the Liver Pate (this recipe has cinnamon!), the Zucchini Bread and the Mango Salsa (yuuummmm – I love mango and adore it in a spicy salsa). I’ll also make the Farinata bread (made with garbanzo beans) and Bacon and Chive Scalloped Potatoes for my family (I have SIBO and will enjoy them soon too I hope). I could go on and on…

Here is the Bacon and Chive Scalloped Potatoes recipe for you to try…

Dr. Izabella recently shared the AI Very Berry Pie recipe on Facebook and gave me permission to share it here too. She wrote that she created it when she was pregnant with their son (and why!) and more about the ingredients and nutrients:

I needed something yummy and nutrient dense! Initially the cookbook wasn’t going to have a dessert section but it ended up with 14 dessert recipes inspired by my sweet boy 😊 You can thank him and my pregnancy cravings.

The pie is filled with berries and the crust is gluten-free, dairy-free, egg-free and nut-free. This was a huge hit at all of our parties. I hope you enjoy it! AI Very Berry Pie has the texture of a crumbly shortcake and even browns like a traditional pie. The secret to the yummy texture is the palm shortening, which can be used in Paleo baking instead of butter, while the maple syrup allows for a nice light brown color. Cassava flour is a fantastic gluten-free substitute for this kind of baking. I chose a mix of berries to include in this pie because of their antioxidant status; however, you can replace the fruit in the filling with apples, cherries, plums, peaches, or any other type of fruit you like.

I do love the blurb that Dr. Izabella includes with each recipe with a bit of the backstory and all the nutrients and health benefits we’ll be getting. The recipe photos are superb too!

Here is the recipe for the AI Very Berry Pie

Ingredients
CRUST
3 cups cassava flour
1 teaspoon sea salt or pink Himalayan sea salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 tablespoon vanilla
½ cup maple syrup
1⅓ cup palm shortening

FILLING
5 cups mixed berries (halved strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, and raspberries)
¼ cup maple syrup (optional)

Directions

  1. Preheat the oven to 400°F.
  2. In a stand mixer, mix the cassava flour, salt, baking soda, and vanilla.
  3. Add the maple syrup and mix, until the texture becomes crumbly.
  4. Add the palm shortening, 1⁄3 cup at a time, until the crust reaches a pliable texture.
  5. Divide the dough in thirds; reserve two-thirds for the base, and one-third for the pie top.
  6. Roll out the dough with a rolling pin (used specifically for gf baking)
  7. Gently press 1/3 of the dough into the bottom of a 9-inch round pie pan to create the pie base and another third of the pie dough onto the sides of the pie pan.
  8. Toss the berries with maple syrup, if added sweetness is desired
  9. Roll out the remaining third of the crust and place on top
  10. Bake for 15-20 minutes until fruit is cooked through and crust Browned

Here is the official book blurb:

When I was in pharmacy school, I discovered that food has a profound impact on our healing and that what we put in our bodies will either heal us or make us sicker. In the same way that we use pharmaceuticals to impact our biology, we can use food as our medicine. I call this concept food pharmacology. Food is one of the most powerful tools in your healing journey.” – Dr. Izabella Wentz

More than 35 million Americans currently suffer from Hashimoto’s—the country’s fastest-growing autoimmune disease, which affects the thyroid gland and causes the body to attack its own cells. Many individuals with or without a formal diagnosis suffer daily symptoms, including chronic cough, acid reflux, irritable bowel syndrome, allergies, persistent pain, hair loss, brain fog, and forgetfulness.

Hashimoto’s Food Pharmacology (my Amazon link) combines Dr. Izabella Wentz’s revolutionary and proven approach to reversing thyroid symptoms with delicious, easy-to-use recipes that delight the taste buds while they heal the body. Inside you will discover:

  • 125 delicious and nutritious recipes for salads, smoothies, bone broths and crockpot and bibimbap-style meals, with thyroid-supporting nutrient details on every page
  • Over 100 stunning food and lifestyle photographs
  • Tips for revamping your kitchen and pantry
  • An FAQ for easy reference and quick answers
  • Easy-to-use, personalized meal plans and food rotation schedules to accommodate any diet

Successfully transforming the lives of thousands, Dr. Izabella Wentz makes it easier than ever before to live a life free from the suffering of autoimmune disease.

I recommend this book if you have hypothyroidism (an underactive thyroid), Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis or another autoimmune condition and want specific autoimmune-friendly recipes. Many of the recipes can be modified to low-FODMAP if you have SIBO (small intestinal bacterial overgrowth). If you do have oxalate issues you’ll need to adjust the recipes that use nut flours, greens like spinach, berries etc.

Even if you don’t have a thyroid or autoimmune condition it’s a lovely recipe book if you are looking for new nutrient-dense and healing recipes and some inspiration to get cooking!

Keep in mind, this book is way more than a recipe book. It’s also a nutrition guide with detailed information about how to improve your digestion and nutrient absorption; assessments and protocols; a discussion about the vegan/vegetarian diet and why a paleo-type diet with grass-fed red meat is beneficial if you have Hashimoto’s; why beets are good for you if you have the MTHFR gene mutation; crucial nutrients for thyroid function; when lab testing says you’re not gluten sensitive and much more.

You can purchase your copy of Hashimoto’s Food Pharmacology here (my Amazon link) or at your favorite bookstore.

Big congratulations to my brilliant friend Izabella Wentz!

If you have your copy already, what recipes are you most excited to try out? Or have you already tried some recipes? Do let us know.