12 Best Health Books of 2021 for a Healthy Living
I am a massive bookworm. I love devouring books it is my form of meditation in a way. It also allows me to keep updated with alternative perspectives and hypotheses of health as well as a variety of niches and subjects.
Healthcare is an evolving subject, which requires continuous learning and unlearning to master. The technological advancements, changes in disease patterns, and new discoveries in the treatment of diseases may make it difficult to stay informed about the ever-changing information you have access to as someone who wants to stay up-to-date with discussions and gain more wisdom. Below are 12 books which I thoroughly enjoyed while adding to my knowledge and can stimulate your mind on complex health matters.
If you would like to start reading more especially related to health then I highly recommend you sign up for my book club which takes place every 6 weeks. Join the Book club here.
The books are listed in no particular order. I have shared an amazon affiliated link which helps support me produce content like this.
Chasing the Sun: The New Science of Sunlight and How it Shapes Our Bodies and Minds by Linda Geddes
Chasing the Sun reminds readers of the association humans have with light and how the sun and sunlight impact our lives through mood and metabolism. The importance of circadian rhythm has come to light even more recently and this book beautifully explains the science behind how sunlight plays a key role in synchronizing our circadian rhythm to coordinate many functions of the human body.
An Epidemic of Absence: A New Way of Understanding Allergies and Autoimmune Diseases by Moises Velasquez-Manoff
A timeline with the hypothesis that humans are facing a collateral damage effect by separating themselves from the environment. The book also addresses the increased incidence of chronic autoimmune diseases due to the invention of “hygiene” practices. The book goes back to human evolution and how our immune system works when we train active or transient microbes by educating and turning on/off responses.
Power, Sex and Suicide: Mitochondria and the meaning of life by Nick Lane
Known as a very informative and comprehensive book diving deep into biology, Nick Lane has written a well-rounded summary of 3 key factors: the mitochondrion, where power (energy) induces sex (reproduction/growth), and commits suicide (death).
If you have a strong interest in cellular physiology and evolution, you will enjoy this book. Nick Lane also expands upon Power, Sex, and suicide in his book - The Vital Question - but with fewer details.
Fix Your Period: Six Weeks to Banish Bloating, Conquer Cramps, Manage Moodiness, and Ignite Lasting Hormone Balance by Nicole Jardim.
Monthly cycles with fluctuations in hormones have a downstream effect on reproduction but also directly affect the brain, detoxification, and sleep. Nicole’s book unravels research on female health and hormone balance while helping readers understand their body/the female body better and implement practical step-by-step actions to balance hormones.
The Immunity Code: The New Paradigm for Immune Centric Health and Radical Anti-Aging by Joel Green.
Joel Green brings a centered book about how the immune system, the gut, and obesity can be “hacked” or manipulated via various parameters which are popular in the biohacking world. He discusses metabolic issues centered in the gut and weight loss issues, offering an alternative viewpoint with a biohacking twist. Recently there has been raising awareness on the benefits of apple peels as a prebiotic for our gut bacteria and the author takes a different approach to the matter by focusing more on the “how, what, and when” these foods help the body rather than using them sparingly or randomly.
Sacred Cow: The Case for (Better) Meat: Why Well-Raised Meat Is Good for You and Good for the Planet by Diana Rodgers & Robb Wolf.
A great book that lays down a bold and proud - eat meat for the ecosystem and for human health. Diana is also a fellow nutritional therapist who uses a variety of graphics and scientific research to show that it's not the cow that is the problem but more nuanced with the following:
Carbon emissions. Water use versus rainfall. Land which is unfunctional apart from roaming animals. Amongst other key issues proposed to defend the food we've consumed for 100,000 years, the book reminds the reader of the importance of investing in your food for yourself and the environment.
Vitamin K2 and the Calcium Paradox: How a Little-Known Vitamin Could Save Your Life by Kate Rheaume-Bleue
A balloon popping book on the belief about taking calcium and vitamin D to help with osteoporosis and atherosclerosis. Are they/you making it worse? Maybe. Indulge into this book for take-homes focused on improving bone health. Kate unravels the inter-relationship between Vitamin K, Vitamin A, Vitamin D and calcium in detail.
The Invisible Rainbow: A History of Electricity and Life by Arthur Firstenberg.
How has nnEMF caused damage to biological life? The Invisible Rainbow will shift your awareness and knowledge. This is one of a few books which discusses nnEMF radiation elegantly and concisely. Arthur educates the reader (while providing incredibly well-researched information) by discussing the timeline of events surrounding electromagnetic radiation, from natural to man-made.
The Poor, Misunderstood Calorie by William Lagakos
If you’re a ‘calorie in calorie out’ (CICO) person, then you need this book. William demonstrates that the notion of calories outside the body behaves differently inside. He breaks down the complex subjects with macros, the timing of food, food types, and its modulating effects on body fat but also muscle mass which both impact the CICO model. He also discusses light, sleep, and the implications of any “weight loss or muscle gain” approach.
Breath: The New Science of a Lost Art by James Nestor
This heavily popularised breathing book took the health industry by storm, more than other leaders in the breathwork field such as Patrick Mckeown. Being a reporter, James has the skills and connections to channel the science, both modern and ancestrally, to demonstrate the importance and nuances of breathing as a lost skill and highlight how detrimental it is to health or disease.
Life on the Edge: The Coming of Age of Quantum Biology by Jim Al-Khalili and Johnjoe McFadden.
An eye-opening view of the universe with quantum physics influencing day-to-day life around us. A well-written and easy-to-follow book, explaining (in a weird and fascinating way) how life operates on the microscopic scale. Whilst quantum physics sounds like a scary name, they really do a great job in transforming complicated science into secondary school-level learning.
A Hunter-Gatherer's Guide to the 21st Century: Evolution and the Challenges of Modern Life by Bret Weinstein and Heather Heying
A storytelling book that provokes our ancestral heritage and our somewhat destructive and biological cost to our modern way of living.
The book brings in education, upbringing/parenting, sex, religion, diet, and medicine. The authors also share an additional chapter regarding C19 events, discussing that it's a modern issue with aviation and transportation which will result in outbreaks in the future getting potentially worse.
If you are keen to learn more about health, unsure what to read, or just want health and nutrition book inspiration. I highly recommend you sign up for my book club. All levels are welcome. To find out more and sign up, click here.
If you have any favourite books that you think I or others would enjoy then leave a comment below.
