Suggested Summer Reads

Cancer Hates Tea, by Marie Uspenski, Explores the connection between tea and its potential benefits in preventing and fighting cancer. The book delves into the science behind tea’s healing properties, providing valuable information and practical tips for incorporating tea into a healthy lifestyle. Uspenski recommends five cups of black, green, white, oolong, or pu-erh tea a day for maximum benefit. Each type of tea has different concentrations of plant chemicals that affect the taste and their relationship to health and cancer. She presents a variety of ways to combine flavors, price points, and style preferences to make tea accessible to the palate and pocketbook in every reader. Cancer Hates Tea serves as a comprehensive guide, promoting the healing power of this ancient beverage.

The Jungle Effect, by Dr. Daphne Miller, Looks at the relationship between various indigenous diets and the health of communities. Miller is a family practice physician who has an interest in sustainable farming and the connections between the health of the land and the health of the food that is grown in the soil. Through her international travels, Dr. Miller uncovers secrets behind the remarkable health and longevity of peoples eating in their culture’s indigenous way. She searches for answers to questions like these: “How does the diet of the people of Okinawa, Japan contribute to their long life span,” and “How does the local diet in Iceland help prevent seasonal affective disorder?” These indigenous diets seem to counteract depression, breast cancer, and heart disease. Drawing on scientific research and personal anecdotes, she reveals the power of traditional diets in preventing and even reversing chronic diseases. The book offers recipes and practical advice on how to incorporate these healthy eating principles into our modern lives.

The Power of Habit, by Charles Duhigg, Investigates the psychology behind habits and their influence on our daily lives. We are all looking for a way to make new, healthier habits stick and getting rid of pesky, unhealthy ones. Duhigg delves into the science of habit formation, drawing on research from various fields to unravel the mechanics behind our routines and behaviors. Through captivating anecdotes and real-life examples, he illustrates how habits shape our personal and professional lives because we execute habits without thinking. How many of us have a cup of coffee in the morning? We turn the coffee pot on practically before our eyes are open. We have trained ourselves to recognize cues (waking up) that cause an automatic routine (turning the coffee pot on) to gain a reward (a warm feeling of alertness in the morning). We can harness this power of habit to create positive health changes by acknowledging the cues and the rewards that motivate us and implementing a healthy routine. Duhigg’s engaging storytelling makes this book a valuable resource for understanding and transforming our habits.

Food Rules, by Michael Pollan, Follows the same vein as his now-famous mantra, “Eat Food. Not too much. Mostly plants.” This book is a practical guide that distills the complex world of nutrition into straightforward principles. With a focus on simplicity, Pollan presents 64 easy-to-follow guidelines for making healthy food choices. Maybe 64 sounds like a lot, but as you read the book, it feels attainable. “Eat when you are hungry, not when you are bored; Do all your eating at a table; and Pay more. Eat less.” are three examples of the wisdom Pollen shares with the reader. Drawing on his extensive experience, he debunks common myths and offers valuable insights into the impact of our food choices on our health and the environment. Pollan’s witty and accessible writing style makes “Food Rules” an engaging read, while his emphasis on whole, unprocessed foods and mindful eating provides readers with a solid foundation for making informed decisions about what they eat. This book is a must-have for anyone seeking to adopt a health-minded, thought provoking, and “easy to digest” lifestyle around healthy eating.

This article was part of the June 2023 e-news FRESH Rx. Subscribe for similar content delivered to your inbox monthly.