Food for Thought: Changing How We Feel By Changing How We Eat

As someone who has been living with chronic pain (Fibromyalgia) for a long time I have been desperate for answers. I have tried so many things that my doctors have recommended, all of which were temporary relief, didn’t reduce my flare ups, and almost always caused more problems than I had to begin with. After switching to a mostly vegetarian diet and keeping my distance from sugar I started seeing signs of improvement, not only in the frequency of my flare-ups, but also in the intensity of pain. This book is about exactly that: Changing your habits to change your life. It isn’t just about what you need to look for and stay away from, it’s about WHY it will help you.It may sort of look like a textbook, but it is really so much more than that, and it doesn’t read like a textbook. Dr. Goehler does a great job of turning scientific facts about our bodies into something that everyone can understand without needing a degree. There are real life examples, answers to direct questions, and great little figures to help you understand visually what some of these body functions are. Basically all the terminology is explained within the chapters that they pertain to, so you don’t have to already know the vocabulary or flip through to the glossary to understand what you are reading. It is also full of other relevant topics such as stress and sleep, which are equally important when it comes to improving your overall health.One of the best parts about the book is that there is a whole section of recipes in the last segment. So really, the book isn’t saying “here is what you need to know, good luck!” It is saying, “here is what you need to know, and here is a great place to start!” My favorite, “Will’s Multivariate Burrito” is a great healthy twist on a long time favorite. It also has a large selection of different delicious salads that I had never even thought about before finding them in this book. Definitely something for everyone in the recipe section, even if you are a pretty picky eater.Overall I cannot recommend this book enough. If you have health issues like chronic pain, IBS/IBD, diabetes, depression, chronic stress, obesity, and so many more, Food for Thought can really help you understand what you need to do to feel better. There’s no fads, no “click-bait” type information, and everything is backed by real studies listed in the references at the end of each chapter. I also love that it doesn’t feel preachy, or make you feel ashamed of your current diet. It has made me so excited about the future of my health, and excited to try all these new foods that don’t just taste delicious, but they also are truly going to help me.

The book had dirt on the edges and the back cover was slighty damaged probably due to something heavy being placed on it.