Book Reviews: What a Health Coach Reads
Since starting my Nutritional Therapy Consultant course a few months ago, I've been doing a TON more reading on a variety of subjects. Several of the books are pretty high level textbooks, but three recently were very applicable and practical to my health and to my clients' lives as well. If you are in the market for a new health and wellness book or struggling with any of the specific issues outlined below, definitely pick up a copy of any of these books and start learning!
1. The Big Fat Surprise by Nina Teicholz
If you ever followed a low-fat diet at any point in your life, this book is for you! The Big Fat Surprise details how we got to the wrongful conclusions about dietary saturated fat, cholesterol, and heart disease. A lot of not-so-good science and manipulation happened in the 1960s and 70s to lead to the recommendations we hold so near and dear to our hearts. But if you think about it, these recommendations to eat less fat only have made the problem of heart disease and high cholesterol more prominent. The Big Fat Surprise lays out which fats you should eat and which to avoid, as well as why.
2. Why Stomach Acid is Good For You by Jonathan Wright and Lane Lenard
As I discussed in a recent blog post, stomach acid is critical for our digestion and assimilation of nutrients, as well as our mental health. It encompasses a huge majority of our health issues! However, due to stress, age, and a nutrient poor diet, we are suffering from lack of stomach acid, which is leading to heartburn, acid reflux, nutrient deficiencies, and more. When we don't have enough stomach acid, food sits in our stomach longer than it should, causing problems up and down in our digestive tract. Why Stomach Acid is Good For You explains the why about the importance of stomach acid, as well as lays out the steps to reverse the effects to help aid in a myriad of health problems.
3. Adrenal Fatigue: The 21st Century Stress Syndrome by James Wilson
For someone who has struggled with adrenal dysfunction for over 10 years now due to a history of an eating disorder, overtraining, and stress, Adrenal Fatigue: The 21st Century Stress Syndrome was one of the books I first purchased two years ago when I started on my journey towards deep healing. The name "adrenal fatigue" doesn't actually mean our adrenal glands are tired; it's related more to dysfunction of the HPA axis (hypothalamus, pituitary, adrenal axis). The HPA axis regulates our hormones and is greatly impacted by stress, environmental toxins, poor sleep, and a nutrient poor diet (among other factors). If you suffer from chronic stress, excessive weight gain (especially around your midsection), poor sleep, gut issues, mental health disorders, and crippling fatigue (like waking up tired after a long night of sleep), this book is a MUST read for you to help you discover the true root of your adrenal issues!
Of course, there are several other books I'm reading or have read and loved, but these three by far encompass the greatest spectrum of health concerns: what to eat and why, digestion, and stress. Most of our issues can be traced back to one of these broader categories. Taking the initiative to grab a copy, start learning, and implementing small changes in your life is the first step in the healing process!
xoxo Olivia
