As the new year begins, we've all got a variety of resolutions and goals in mind to achieve. About 45 percent of Americans make new years resolutions (lose weight, staying fit and healthy) and only 8 percent are successful in achieving the resolution. As a dietitian, I'm always looking for resources to help understand ways to achieve a healthier lifestyle. Even though my credentials speak for themselves, it doesn't mean that I cannot continue to learn.
Here are four reads I feel that are worth the read:
Always Hungry -- Written by an endocrinologist, Dr. David Ludwig explains why the word "diet" doesn't always work. There have been plenty of times where I've eaten meals and been surprised that I'm hungry so soon after and then forcing me to re-evaluate what I've eaten. In this book, you will learn fat cells play a key role in determining how much weight you gain or lose essentially explaining that low-fat diets work against you. The book contains excellent advice, real-life testimonials, meal prep worksheets, recipes and a complete phase-by-phase eating chart.
The Hunter/Farmer Solution -- Understanding your metabolism is a hard task but in this book, Dr. Mark Liponis helps us identify what kind of metabolism pattern our bodies are going through. While the most recent guidelines have been to eat less or even focus on smaller, frequent meals (I've advised this to many clients), Dr. Liponis' research has gathered more evidence on individualization of diets specifically the low-carb and low-fat diets. This is because some people have the metabolism of a Hunter, while others have the metabolism of a Farmer. You'll soon realize why some of your dietary habits may have worked against you.
Diastasis Recti, The Whole Body Solution -- As I embarked on my first pregnancy, I was super charged in staying fit and strong throughout. I remember meeting someone who mentioned that I shouldn't do crunches with concern of Diastasis Recti and then I realized (at that time), I have no idea what that is nor had I been educated on prenatal exercise modifications. Author and biomechanist, Katy Bowman, highlights the cause of Diastasis Recti (not specific to pregnancy), explains that it isn't just a problem with your abs. Katy outlines exercise solutions as well as postural solutions ("Nutritious Movement") that will help correct the way you sleep, sit and stand. You'll be surprised! Women's health issues are very important with limited resources so I'm excited Katy's book is now available to all.
Medical Medium (Secrets Behind Chronic and Mystery Illness and How to Finally Heal) -- This book is an interesting read. The author is not a physician but rather a medium. His strength is to read people's health conditions and advise on how to recover their health. Many people often get struck with a pain, an ache, a condition whose origin seems unknown and it takes months if not years to figure out the underlying cause. While this book doesn't provide exact guidance or a step-by-step process, it does suggest relationships between specific dietary intake and diseases that we're not as familiar with at present.
Check out these reads and let us know your thoughts!