HEALTH & WELLNESS

If you are interested in a plant based diet as a way to improve your health, this list is for you. Although far from complete, this list contains books (and DVD’s) that I own and highly recommend. Not sure where to start? Send me an email and I’d be happy to help:)

$2.99

Forks Over Knifes

Video – Documentry

What has happened to us? Despite the most advanced medical technology in the world, we are sicker than ever by nearly every measure. Two out of every three of us are overweight. Cases of diabetes are exploding, especially amongst our younger population. About half of us are taking at least one prescription drug. read more

Major medical operations have become routine, helping to drive health care costs to astronomical levels. Heart disease, cancer and stroke are the country’s three leading causes of death, even though billions are spent each year to “battle” these very conditions. Millions suffer from a host of other degenerative diseases. Could it be there’s a single solution to all of these problems? A solution so comprehensive but so utterly straightforward, that it’s mind-boggling that more of us haven’t taken it seriously? FORKS OVER KNIVES examines the profound claim that most, if not all, of the so-called “diseases of affluence” that afflict us can be controlled, or even reversed, by rejecting our present menu of animal-based and processed foods. The major storyline in the film traces the personal journeys of a pair of pioneering yet under-appreciated researchers, Dr. T. Colin Campbell and Dr. Caldwell Esselstyn.

$16.79

How Not to Die

Michael Greger, M.D.

The vast majority of premature deaths can be prevented through simple changes in diet and lifestyle. In How Not to Die, Dr. Michael Greger, the internationally-renowned nutrition expert, physician, and founder of NutritionFacts.org, read more

examines the fifteen top causes of premature death in America-heart disease, various cancers, diabetes, Parkinson’s, high blood pressure, and more-and explains how nutritional and lifestyle interventions can sometimes trump prescription pills and other pharmaceutical and surgical approaches, freeing us to live healthier lives. The simple truth is that most doctors are good at treating acute illnesses but bad at preventing chronic disease. This doesn’t have to be the case. By following Dr. Greger’s advice, all of it backed up by strong scientific evidence, you will learn which foods to eat and which lifestyle changes to make to live longer.

$15.70

Proteinaholic

Garth Davis, M.D.

An acclaimed surgeon specializing in weight loss delivers a paradigm-shifting examination of the diet and health industry’s focus on protein, explaining why it is detrimental to our health, and can prevent us from losing weight.read more

Whether you are seeing a doctor, nutritionist, or a trainer, all of them advise to eat more protein. Foods, drinks, and supplements are loaded with extra protein. Many people use protein for weight control, to gain or lose pounds, while others believe it gives them more energy and is essential for a longer, healthier life. Now, Dr. Garth Davis, an expert in weight loss asks, “Is all this protein making us healthier?”

$9.63

Prevent and Reverse
Heart Disease

Caldwell B. Esselstyn Jr., M.D.

The New York Times bestseller. Based on the groundbreaking results of his twenty-year nutritional study, Preventand Reverse Heart Disease by Dr. Caldwell Esselstyn illustrates that a plant-based, oil-free diet can not only preventread more

the progression of heart disease but can also reverse its effects. Dr. Esselstyn is an internationally known surgeon, researcher and former clinician at the Cleveland Clinic and a featured expert in the acclaimed documentary Forks Over Knives.Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease is the book behind Bill Clinton’s life-changing vegan diet. Within months of starting the program, all Dr. Esselstyn’s patients began to improve dramatically, and twenty years later, they remain free of symptoms.

$10.08

THE CHINA STUDY

T. Colin Campbell with Thomas M. Campbell

Even today, as trendy diets and a weight-loss frenzy sweep the nation, two-thirds of adults are still obese and children are being diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes, typically an “adult” disease, at an alarming rate. If we’re obsessed with being thinread more

more so than ever before, why are Americans stricken with heart disease as much as we were 30 years ago?

In The China Study, Dr. T. Colin Campbell details the connection between nutrition and heart disease, diabetes, and cancer. The report also examines the source of nutritional confusion produced by powerful lobbies, government entities, and opportunistic scientists. The New York Times has recognized the study as the “Grand Prix of epidemiology” and the “most comprehensive large study ever undertaken of the relationship between diet and the risk of developing disease.”

The China Study is not a diet book. Dr. Campbell cuts through the haze of misinformation and delivers an insightful message to anyone living with cancer, diabetes, heart disease, obesity, and those concerned with the effects of aging.

$10.74

Whole

New York Times Bestseller

What happens when you eat an apple? The answer is vastly more complex than you imagine.
Every apple contains thousands of antioxidants whose names, beyond a few like vitamin C, are unfamiliar to us, and each of these powerfulread more

chemicals has the potential to play an important role in supporting our health. They impact thousands upon thousands of metabolic reactions inside the human body. But calculating the specific influence of each of these chemicals isn’t nearly sufficient to explain the effect of the apple as a whole. Because almost every chemical can affect every other chemical, there is an almost infinite number of possible biological consequences. And that’s just from an apple.
Nutritional science, long stuck in a reductionist mindset, is at the cusp of a revolution. The traditional “gold standard” of nutrition research has been to study one chemical at a time in an attempt to determine its particular impact on the human body. These sorts of studies are helpful to food companies trying to prove there is a chemical in milk or pre-packaged dinners that is “good” for us, but they provide little insight into the complexity of what actually happens in our bodies or how those chemicals contribute to our health.
In The China Study, T. Colin Campbell (alongside his son, Thomas M. Campbell) revolutionized the way we think about our food with the evidence that a whole food, plant-based diet is the healthiest way to eat. Now, in Whole, he explains the science behind that evidence, the ways our current scientific paradigm ignores the fascinating complexity of the human body, and why, if we have such overwhelming evidence that everything we think we know about nutrition is wrong, our eating habits haven’t changed.
Whole is an eye-opening, paradigm-changing journey through cutting-edge thinking on nutrition, a scientific tour de force with powerful implications for our health and for our world.

$17.36

The Campbell Plan

Thomas Campbell, MD

In 2005, T. Colin Campbell, PhD and Thomas Campbell, MD co-authored The China Study. In it, they detailed the groundbreaking research results showing that a whole-food, plant-based diet has the potential to preventread more

and reverse many chronic diseases. The China Study became a worldwide phenomenon, selling more than a million copies and inspiring countless readers to reinvigorate their health by making better food choices.

Now The Campbell Plan, by Thomas Campbell, MD, goes beyond the why and shows readers how to make the transition – and enjoy the journey – with practical guidance and a simple plan to make a whole-food, plant-based lifestyle easy and sustainable.

The Campbell Plan is full of cutting-edge nutritional research that fans of The China Study have come to expect. Dr. Campbell addresses the most contentious questions: Is soy healthy? Should we eat gluten? Do you need to eat organic? Should you eat fish? Is GMO dangerous? How should you feed your kids?

Just as importantly, readers will learn the behavioral principles to succeed in their journey, as well as what to stock in the kitchen, how to read labels and shop, and how to navigate social and eating out situations. There are over 55 delicious and easy recipes to sample from favorite recipe sources in a two-week menu plan.

Whether readers wish to lose weight, reverse disease, or just have the best health of their lives, The Campbell Plan will provide the step-by-step guidance to achieve their goals. This combination of practical tools, along with the research-based evidence of The China Study, will change people’s lives for generations to come

$10.63

Dr. Neal Barnard’s Program for Reversing Diabetes

Neal Barnard, MD

Until Dr. Barnard’s scientific breakthrough, most health professionals believed that once you developedread more

diabetes, you were stuck with it—and could anticipate one complication after another, from worsening eyesight and nerve symptoms to heart and kidney problems. But as this groundbreaking work reveals, this simply is not true. In a series of studies—the most recent funded by the National Institutes of Health—Dr. Barnard has shown that it is possible to repair insulin function and reverse type 2 diabetes. By following his scientifically proven, life-changing program, diabetics can control blood sugar three times more effectively than with the standard diet; and cut back on and in some cases eliminate medications while reducing the risk of diabetes complications. “The long overdue epic scientific breakthrough in diabetes is here…an obvious must-read for health professionals and for diabetic and potential diabetic patients.” —Caldwell B. Esselstyn, Jr., MD, preventive cardiology consultant, Cleveland Clinic “This is the approach to follow…the clinically proven way to get your blood sugar under control… and start living again.”—John McDougall, MD, founder and medical director of the McDougall program “Dr. Barnard’s book is no exaggeration…The signs and symptoms of diabetes can be reversed, and he’s got the evidence to prove it.”—Jennie Brand-Miller, PhD, author of The New Glucose Revolution

$7.86

Engine 2 Diet

Rip Esselstyn

ose weight, lower cholesterol, significantly reduce the risk of disease, and become physically fit–in just 4 weeks. Professional athlete-turned-firefighter Rip Esselstyn is usedread more

to responding to emergencies. So, when he learned that some of his fellow Engine 2 firefighters in Austin, TX, were in dire physical condition-several had dangerously high cholesterol levels (the highest was 344!)-he sprang into action and created a life-saving plan for the firehouse. By following Rip’s program, everyone lost weight (some more than 20 lbs.), lowered their cholesterol (Mr. 344’s dropped to 196), and improved their overall health. Now, Rip outlines his proven plan in this book. With Rip as your expert coach and motivator, you’ll transform your body and lifestyle in a month. His plant-powered eating plan is based on a diet of whole foods, including whole grains, fresh fruits, vegetables, legumes, nuts, and seeds. This invaluable guide features: **Dozens of easy, mouthwatering recipes-from pancakes to pizza, Tex-Mex favorites to knockout chocolate desserts-that will keep you looking forward to every bite **Pantry-stocking tips will take the panic out of inevitable cravings and on-the-fly meals **Guidelines on menu choices that will allow you to eat out, wherever and whenever you want **Rip’s simple, firefighter-inspired exercise program that will boost your metabolism and melt your fat away.

Medically approved, easy-to-follow, and amazingly effective, this diet is designed for anyone who wants to make heroic strides in his or her health, weight, and well-being-all without heroic effort.

“I’ve known Rip for more than 20 years. In that time, he’s been a great motivator for so many people. This terrific book will inspire all who read it to change their lives and optimize their health.” –Lance Armstrong, cancer survivor, seven-time Tour de France champion

“Want to be as strong as a Texas firefighter? Or as healthy as a professional triathlete? Then follow the wonderful advice of Rip Esselstyn, who is both. His book can save your life–whether you’re a man or a woman. Highly recommended!” -Dean Ornish, M.D., Founder and President, Preventive Medicine Research Institute, Clinical Professor of Medicine, U of California SF, author, Dr. Dean Ornish’s Program for Reversing Heart Disease

$10.38

My Beef with Meat

Rip Esselstyn

For the millions who are following a plant-based diet, as well as those meat-eaters who are considering it, MY BEEF WITH MEAT is the definitiveread more

guide to convincing all that it’s truly the best way to eat! New York Times Bestelling author of The Engine 2 Diet and nutrition lecturer Rip Esselstyn, is back and ready to arm readers with the knowledge they need to win any argument with those who doubt the health benefits of a plant-based diet–and convince curious carnivores to change their diets once and for all. Esselstyn reveals information on the foods that most people believe are healthy, yet that scientific research shows are not. Some foods, in fact, he deems so destructive they deserve a warning label. Want to prevent heart attacks, stroke, cancer and Alzheimer’s? Then learn the facts and gain the knowledge to convince those skeptics that they are misinformed about plant-base diets, for instance:

You don’t need meat and dairy to have strong bones or get enough protein

You get enough calcium and iron in plants

The myth of the Mediterranean diet

There is a serious problem with the Paleo diet

If you eat plants, you lose weight and feel great

MY BEEF WITH MEAT proves the Engine 2 way of eating can optimize health and ultimately save lives and includes more than 145 delicious recipes to help readers reach that goal.

$ 9.75

The End of Dieting

Joel Fuhrman M.D.

In The End of Dieting, Joel Fuhrman M.D., a board–certified family physician who specializes in preventing and reversing disease throughread more

nutritional and natural methods, and #1 New York Times bestselling author of Eat to Live, Super Immunity and The End of Diabetes, delivers a powerful paradigm-shifting book that shows us how and why we never need to diet again.

Fuhrman writes, “By reading this book, you will understand the key principles of the science of health, nutrition and weight loss. It will give you a simple and effective strategy to achieve—and maintain—an optimal weight without dieting for the rest of your life. This new approach will free you forever from a merry-go-round of diets and endless, tedious discussions about dieting strategies. This is the end of dieting.”

$23.21

Rethink Food: 100+doctors Can’t be Wrong

Shushana Castle

Featuring over 100 doctors, 8 renowned nutritionists, and 8 elite athletes from around the world, Rethink Food empowers you with a tastefully simple solution for a healthier, stronger,read more

and smarter you! The misinformation regarding our health is one of today’s greatest injustices. We have been led to believe that meat and dairy are the foundation of good health. This is a myth and the science can no longer be ignored. From the Ivy Leagues of Harvard, Princeton, Yale, and Cornell to the UK, India, Germany, Italy, Brazil, Mexico, and New Zealand, ReThink Food’s experts explain how we can reverse heart disease and diabetes, eliminate food allergens and autoimmune diseases, live pain- free from arthritis, prevent Alzheimer’s, even bring cancer into remission and much more by completely removing all animal products from our plates. In the history of disease we have never before faced such rampant levels of illnesses. We are turning to prescriptions for answers, but they do not address the root cause of diseases. The truth is our health is not completely dictated by our genes. Our meat and dairy diets are the primary cause of our alarming rise in chronic health problems and disease. Rethink Food’s doctors conclusively prove that we have the power to reverse and prevent today’s leading health problems simply by choosing a whole food plant-based diet! Plus as Rethink Food’s top professional athletes show, achieving peak performance and winning gold depends on being powered by plants. We were inspired to write ReThink Food after watching family and friends struggle with today’s most common diseases for years and then completely rid themselves of the debilitating symptoms and re-gain their health and vitality within months by fully adopting a whole foods plant-based diet. As these doctors attest, there is a powerful connection between disease and wellness that is strongly associated with our dietary choices. Changing what we eat has the power to change our lives. It all begins with the courage to rethink food. Join us!

$14.74

Food Over Medicine

Pamela A.. Popper, Phd, ND Glen Merzer

Nearly half of Americans take at least one prescription medicine, with almost a quarter taking three or more, as diseases such as diabetes, obesity, and dementia grow more prevalent than ever. The problem with medicatingread more

common ailments, such as high blood pressure or elevated cholesterol, is that drugs treat symptoms—and may even improve test results—without addressing the cause: diet.

Overmedicated, overfed, and malnourished, most Americans fail to realize the answer to lower disease rates doesn’t lie in more pills but in the foods we eat.

With so much misleading nutritional information regarded as common knowledge, from “everything in moderation” to “avoid carbs,” the average American is ill-equipped to recognize the deadly force of abundant, cheap, unhealthy food options that not only offer no nutritional benefits but actually bring on disease.

In Food Over Medicine, Pamela A. Popper, PhD, ND, and Glen Merzer invite the reader into a conversation about the dire state of American health—the result of poor nutrition choices stemming from food politics and medical misinformation. But, more important, they share the key to getting and staying healthy for life.

Backed by numerous scientific studies, Food Over Medicine details how dietary choices either build health or destroy it. Including recipes from Chef Del Sroufe, author of the bestselling Forks Over Knives—The Cookbook and Better Than Vegan, Food Over Medicine reveals the power and practice of optimal nutrition in an accessible way.

$22.01

Becoming Vegan

Brenda Davis and Vesanto Melina

Internationally acclaimed dietitians Brenda Davis and Vesanto Melina specifically designed this fully referenced, comprehensive edition to meet the needs of health professionals, academic librarians, and curriculum developers as well as lay readers with aread more

deep interest in nutrition.
The authors explore the health benefits of vegan diets compared to other dietary choices; explain protein and amino acid requirements at various stages of life; describe fats and essential fatty acids and their value in plant-based diets; investigate carbohydrate facts and fallacies; reveal the truth about wheat, gluten, and grains; pinpoint where to obtain calcium, iron, zinc and other minerals without animal products; clarify the importance of obtaining vitamin B12; and show how to attain optimal nutrition during pregnancy and lactation.
Nutritional guidelines are provided for infants, children, teens, and adults, including seniors; and a section is devoted on how to achieve and maintain healthy weights and exceptional fitness on a vegan diet. Numerous tables and graphs illustrate each section. A handy graphic of the vegan plate offers a daily plan for healthful eating. Equally beneficial are the sample menus designed for people of various caloric needs.
While much of the emphasis is on the health advantages that vegan diets offer, an opening chapter is devoted to the impact of animal agriculture on the environment, and the degree of inhumanity that has dominated the industry. Plant-based nutrition truly benefits the entire planet, and every bite makes a difference.

$13.82

Vegan for Her

Virginia Messina

Vegan for Her, a blueprint for optimal health and wellness at any age, will show you how to: lower your risk for breast cancer and heart disease; manage conditions like arthritis and migraines; diminish PMsread more

and cramps; build strong bones for life; enhance fertility; make an easy transition to a vegan diet; and incorporate principles of both fashion and compassion into your home and wardrobe.

$11.20

Vegan for Life

Jack Norris

Are you considering going vegan, but you’re not sure how to start? Are you already committed to an animal-free diet, but are unclear about how to get proper nutrients?read more

Vegan for Life is your comprehensive, go-to guide for optimal plant-based nutrition. Registered dietitians and long-time vegans Jack Norris and Virginia Messina debunk some of the most persistent myths about vegan nutrition and provide essential information about getting enough calcium and protein, finding the best supplements, and understanding the “real deal” about soy.
Covering everything from a six-step transition plan to meeting calorie and nutrient needs during pregnancy and breastfeeding, Vegan for Life is the guide for aspiring and veteran vegans alike, complete with an easy-to-use food chart, tasty substitutions, sample menus, and expansive resources.

$10.99

Thrive: The Vegan Nutrition Guide to Optimal Performance in Sports and Life

Brendan Brazier

“Thrive focuses on vegan foods that help fuel your way to uber athleticism.”read more

– CNN
“The Thrive Diet feeds your body all the nutrients it needs without empty calories and with minimal stress.”
– Chicago Tribune
“Mr. Brazier’s vegan principals have garnered a cult following.”
– Globe & Mailread more “…The Thrive Diet, a guide to vegan diets in sports…has become something of a bible…”
– The Wall Street Journal
“When I train and need to be at my very best physically and mentally, I turn to Brendan. I highly recommend his book Thrive”.
– Brian Roberts, 2B, Baltimore Orioles. 2-time MLB All Star.
Thrive is a long-term eating plan to help all athletes (professional or not) develop a lean body, sharp mind, and everlasting energy. As one of the few professional athletes on a plant-based diet, Brendan Brazier researched and developed this easy-to-follow program to enhance his performance as an elite endurance competitor.
Brazier clearly describes the benefits of nutrient-rich foods in their natural state versus processed foods, and how to choose nutritionally efficient, stress-busting whole foods for maximum energy and health. Featuring a 12-week meal plan, over 100 allergen-free recipes with raw food options–including recipes for energy gels, sport drinks, and recovery foods–and a complementary exercise plan, The Thrive Diet is “an authoritative guide to outstanding performance” (Neal D. Barnard, M.D., Physician’s Committee for Responsible Medicine).

$9.97

FINDING ULTRA

RICH ROLL

The inspiring story of Roll’s dramatic transformation from out-of-shape mid-lifer to endurance machine in a matter of mere months. An edge-of-the-seat look at a series of jaw-dropping athletic feats and a practical training manual for those seeking to attempt a similar transformation.

Disclaimer: We use Amazon affiliate links ONLY for products that I personally use and rely on. When you purchase something (anything!) through an Amazon affiliate link, I receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting WHAT the HECK do I eat NOW and helping me continue to bring great content to this site!