Editor’s picks for books that are good for your body, mind and heart
Two months into the new year, many of us are trying to keep those resolutions to eat healthier and exercise more. It’s also imperative to include mental health in that round up. You’ll love this list of books that not only provide helpful tips to better your nutrition and overall physical appearance, they will get your brain working into a fascinating read about science and health.
Dirty Genes: A Breakthrough Program to Treat the Root Cause of Illness and Optimize Your Health (2018)
By Ben Lynch, N.D.
Sometimes, you really can blame your health on genetics. Dr. Ben Lynch suffered for years from unexplainable health issues until he discovered the root of his problems: “dirty” genes. He determined that genes can be “born dirty or merely act dirty,” in response to your diet, lifestyle or environment, leading to lifelong, sometimes life threatening health problems such as cardiovascular disease, autoimmune disorders, depression, obesity, cancer and diabetes. The book is based on Lynch’s own experience, helping thousands of clients to identify and optimize both types of dirty genes by cleaning them up with healthy eating, good sleep, stress relief and other natural means. A good book for those who have tried every method of weight loss and want a deeper understanding of their bodies.
Available for $15 on Amazon.
The Haywire Heart (2017)
By Christopher J. Case, Dr. John Mandrola and Lennard Zinn
The first book to examine heart conditions in athletes, the authors discuss how, in fact, too much exercise can kill you. A read for anyone who competes in endurance sports (cycling, triathlon, running races and cross-country skiing), The Haywire Heart presents the evidence that going too hard or too long can damage your heart forever. The book details what to look out for and how to protect your heart so you can enjoy your sport for years to come. From warning signs and symptoms to risks and recovery, all is detailed within this extensive research by leading cardiac electrophysiologist and masters athlete Dr. John Mandrola, who explains why many doctors misdiagnose heart conditions in athletes.
Available for $17 on Amazon.
The Plant-Based Solution: America’s Healthy Heart Doc’s Plan to Power Your Health (2017)
By Joel K. Kahn, M.D.
Want to incorporate more greens into your diet? Cleaning up your health from the inside out, cardiologist Dr. Joel Kahn shows how everyone can introduce a whole-foods, plant-based diet into their lives. Kahn has proof that heart disease, adult diabetes, obesity, osteoporosis and autoimmune disease have all been prevented or improved with a plant-based diet. With decades of experience, Kahn brings together a wealth of scientific research and in-depth case studies that share why plants might hold the key to better aging, simple tips to start your transition into veganism, inspirational stories, a 21-day meal plan with more than 60 delicious, easy recipes and much more. The perfect book to restart your body from the inside out.
Available for $16 on Amazon.
The Brave Athlete: Calm the F*ck Down and Rise to the Occasion (2017)
By Simon Marshall and Paterson Lesley
The name of this book alone is enough to solicit interest in the reader. The Brave Athlete from Dr. Simon Marshall and Lesley Paterson will help athletes take control of their brains so they can focus on training harder, running faster and getting more enjoyment out of their sport. Marshall, a sport psychology expert and Paterson, a three-time world champion triathlete and coach, make the perfect team. This book challenges the thoughts and feelings that swirl through athletes’ minds like “I don’t think I can,” “I don’t cope well with injury,” “I don’t like leaving my comfort zone,” and other negative, doubtful thoughts. A great read for those who need to toughen up.
Available for $17 on Amazon.
A Brain Wider Than the Sky: A Migraine Diary (2009)
By Andrew Levy
Even though it was published in 2009, as someone who suffers frequent and excessive migraines (about 20 times a month), I can’t wait to give this book a read. Migraines steal hours, weeks and moments from your life and if they go misdiagnosed, it’s a recipe for ultimate misery. When the author was struck with debilitating migraines that kept him bedridden, he made every attempt to track the onset pain and made changes to his lifestyle, he even conducted extensive research on how personalities throughout history like Alexander Pope, Elvis and Virginia Woolf dealt with their migraines. This book is a memoir that explores the true pain that migraine-sufferers experience.
Available for $14 on Amazon.