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Healthy Home Economist / Archives / Healthy Living / Top Ten Health Books That Changed My Life

Top Ten Health Books That Changed My Life

by Sarah Pope / Affiliate Links ✔

The ten best health books to consider when getting started on a traditional lifestyle that will help change habits and results for the long term.

best health books stacked on table with bookshelf in background

Books are a usual favorite on most people’s gift lists as they are suitable for any occasion and you can find something to please almost anyone.

For those family and friends who are interested in health, why not give them a book that will really rock their world?

I’m often asked about which health books are my personal favorites.

So, I thought I’d list my Top Ten and give you the reasons why each particular book was a game-changer for me.

These books really got me started between 1995-2005 on the wellness journey that I continue on today!

These selections are more pertinent than ever as they are from authors who wrote the text themselves with sincerity and true groundbreaking ideas.

By contrast, many “health” or “fitness” books today by famous personalities are actually ghostwritten by establishment sources. The themes hidden behind “alternative” sounding semantics are conventional and often harmful.

What’s more, the success of these fake health books is usually manufactured and not organic from a grassroots perspective! How to spot them? They are usually books that go viral all over social media and/or are featured on the health and wellness table when you walk into large corporate bookstores.

These modern-style health books are best avoided as they can easily lead down a path that does not improve health in the long run.

The books listed below were truly popular at a grassroots level. They contain traditional themes and authentically groundbreaking ideas that run counter to the popular (and often harmful) health narratives of today.

Top Books to Consider for a Healthier Lifestyle

Juicing for Life

Juicing for Life by Cherie Calbom

Ok, I know.  Juicing is not the wellness silver bullet that it is cracked up to be in the health community.

Veggie juicing has the potential to be nothing but a huge blood sugar spike unless you stir in some cream to lower the glycemic index like the French traditionally practice with their raw carrot juice.

But, thirty years ago when I was a stressed-out corporate rat, living out of suitcases and constantly flying all over the place, juicing really saved my life and this particular book was my juicing go-to.

I’ve written before about my problem with panic attacks in my twenties that was triggered by my “burn the candle at both ends” lifestyle.

Vegetable juicing provided the much-needed minerals I required to get through this unhealthy period in my life until I was able to slow down, change careers, and start doing some actual cooking for myself.

Even now, I use vegetable juicing as a way to get a lot of easy to absorb minerals if I’m on the road and don’t have access to homemade bone broth.  

The difference now is that I drink my fresh veggie juice with some fat to improve absorption and prevent the blood sugar spike!

the untold story of milk

The Untold Story of Milk  by Dr. Ron Schmid

When I was new to raw dairy and still a little unsure about my decision many years ago, this book by Dr. Ron Schmid made all the difference.  

This book provides a comprehensive history of milk and how pasteurization came into favor.  

If you think raw milk is unsafe, this book will change your mind.

In short, the detail provided in this book is sure to overcome the deep-seated propaganda against raw milk that has been purposely sown in your brain by Big Dairy via government and conventional medical authorities to protect market share and profits.  

You will never look at milk the same again after reading this amazing story.

wise woman herbal for the childbearing year


Wise Woman Herbal for the Childbearing Year by Susun Weed

This book is absolutely essential for the woman who desires a medication-free prenatal and birth experience. I can’t tell you how much I referred to this book, almost on a daily basis, when I was planning a pregnancy, pregnant, or breastfeeding.

Knowing how to properly and successfully use herbs to assist your body through the very challenging physical experience of pregnancy, birth, and labor is information that you can’t put a price on.

My Mom always likes to tell me that having a baby is like running a marathon that never ends.  How true! This book will show you how to navigate that experience and not damage your body in the process.

secret life of the unborn child

The Secret Life of the Unborn Child by Thomas Verny

This book describes life from the perspective of an unborn baby and it will rock your world! I attribute what I learned in this book to my very important decision to not have any ultrasounds or subject myself or my baby to any unnecessary testing during my pregnancies.

For example, over 50 causal Chinese studies performed as a result of its one-child policy demonstrate without a shadow of a doubt that ultrasounds are dangerous for the unborn fetus.

This usually unnecessary procedure is a contributor to the explosion of speech impediments and non-genetic left-handedness (an indicator of brain damage) as well as many more conditions that were rare a generation ago but are commonplace now.

This book is a great read for any parent to be and will change how you feel about your pregnancy.

cooking for life ayurvedic recipes

Cooking For Life: Ayurvedic Recipes for Good Food and Good Health by Linda Banchek

This book was my very first cookbook if you can believe that!  

I bought it at the suggestion of my Ayurvedic MD who was helping me implement some very important lifestyle changes at the time to help me deal with my stressed-out corporate life many years ago.  

Ayurvedic cooking was my very first foray into the world of traditional diet, and it really got the snowball rolling for me.

After learning Ayurvedic cooking, it was a very natural step to learn traditional cooking from other cultures as well.

the truth about children's health


The Truth about Children’s Health by Robert Bernardini

This is a great book to debunk all the common myths about children’s health such as fevers are bad and ear infections should be treated with antibiotics.

If you are an out of the box thinker and not given to “monkey see, monkey do” type of behavior when it comes to caring and raising your children, this book is for you.

It will help you raise a healthy child in spite of your doctor.

excitotoxins


Excitotoxins: The Taste that Kills by Russell Blaylock MD

I first saw Dr. Blaylock (neurologist) speak at the 2004 Wise Traditions Conference.  

After his talk, he got into a heated argument with an oncologist who happened to be in the audience who was offended by his take on the profit-making cancer industry and how aspartame causing brain tumors was being covered up by the medical establishment.

That argument was incredible to witness.

No doubt, the physician that was offended by the Dr. Blaylock’s takedown of aspartame would likely agree with him today…twenty years later!

Two medical doctors arguing about the very basic premise that what is in our processed foods is quite literally frying our brains was a memorable experience I can tell you!

After that talk, I simply had to read his book and was not disappointed.  

MSG and aspartame (Nutrasweet) are two of the most dangerous chemicals in our food supply and this book goes into great detail about the exact process of how these chemicals destroy our brain and kill individual neurons which most likely never recover.  

If you are finding it difficult to leave processed foods behind, this book will give you the nitty-gritty that will motivate you to make the necessary changes.

gut and psychology syndrome


Gut and Psychology Syndrome by Natasha Campbell-McBride MD

If you suffer from any type of auto-immune disease, this book is an absolute must-read.  

Dr. Campbell-McBride goes into detail about how an imbalance in the gut is the root of all auto-immune illness and what you can do with your diet to reverse this downward slide in your health.

One auto-immune illness leads to another and then another, so if you suffer from allergies and think this is no big deal, think again.  

Allergies are auto-immune in nature and it will likely lead over time to more serious diseases unless you do something about it.

Hippocrates, the ancient Greek physician, cautioned that “All diseases begin in the gut”.  

This book will explain how this is so and what proactive steps you can take to fix yours and leave auto-immune disease behind.

nourishing traditions

Nourishing Traditions by Sally Fallon Morell with Mary G. Enig PhD

Are you interested in Traditional Cooking and the health benefits this can confer to your family and yourself?  

If so, then this cookbook is the basic primer you need to get started. Don’t even attempt to delve into traditional cooking without it.

My copy of Nourishing Traditions is dog-eared and batter-splattered from being used so much over the years!  

When you get your copy in the mail, be sure to cover it with a clear book cover protector as you will be using it as a constant reference on the kitchen counter as you cook.

nutrition and physical degeneration


Nutrition and Physical Degeneration by Dr. Weston A. Price

Natives from traditional cultures consuming their traditional diets were healthy, strong, robust and mostly free from chronic and infectious diseases.  

If you doubt the historical validity of this in any way, then you must read this detailed account of Dr. Weston A. Price’s 10-year journey around the world during the early part of the last century.

This book documents the astounding health of traditional societies with detailed data as well as amazing pictures.

If you are tired of fad diets and silver bullet approaches to health, it’s time to come home to the wisdom of Traditional Diets.  

This is how people used to eat to stay healthy and well without the modern crutches of over-the-counter drugs, antibiotics, braces, and fillings to name but a few.

So there you have it. My Top Ten list of health books that have had the biggest effect on my health journey over the years.

What health books are on your list?  

Are some of the health books on my list life-changers for you as well?

man with periscope looking for life changing health books
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Category: Healthy Living
Sarah Pope

Sarah Pope MGA has been a Health and Nutrition Educator since 2002. She is a summa cum laude graduate in Economics from Furman University and holds a Master’s degree from the University of Pennsylvania.

She is the author of three books: Amazon #1 bestseller Get Your Fats Straight, Traditional Remedies for Modern Families, and Living Green in an Artificial World.

Her four eBooks Good Diet…Bad Diet, Real Food Fermentation, Ketonomics, and Ancestrally Inspired Dairy-Free Recipes are available for complimentary download via Healthy Home Plus.

Her mission is dedicated to helping families effectively incorporate the principles of ancestral diets within the modern household. She is a sought after lecturer around the world for conferences, summits, and podcasts.

Sarah was awarded Activist of the Year in 2010 at the International Wise Traditions Conference, subsequently serving on the Board of Directors of the nutrition nonprofit the Weston A. Price Foundation for seven years.

Her work has been covered by numerous independent and major media including USA Today, ABC, and NBC among many others.

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Reader Interactions

Comments (87)

  1. Healthy Solutions Natural Food Store via Facebook

    Dec 14, 2011 at 12:56 am

    We love books – always such a great Gift!

    Reply
  2. My Life in a Pyramid via Facebook

    Dec 13, 2011 at 11:53 pm

    Great book ideas. Looking forward to picking a few of them up 🙂

    Reply
  3. Malenksha

    Dec 13, 2011 at 10:57 pm

    Great list! Some I’ve not seen before, so definitely worth seeking out. I’d add books by Joel Salatin to my own similar list. His latest one, “Folks, This Ain’t Normal”, explains how hard it is to get local food into our hands. Certainly opened my eyes to how frustrating being a farmer is trying to sell directly to consumers! And made me more urgent to seek out the better foods (raw milk and cheese, more local grass-fed meat, etc.).

    Reply
    • Meagan

      Dec 14, 2011 at 9:17 am

      Love Joel Salatin! Am so going to volunteer for at least a month when I am able to have him show me how to attempt to be a farmer!

  4. Jennifer

    Dec 13, 2011 at 8:49 pm

    Great list! I’ve read several of them. Looking forward to reading the rest. Sarah, thank you so much for this blog! The information you post is very helpful.

    Reply
  5. Tony

    Dec 13, 2011 at 4:21 pm

    Michael Pollan’s – In defense of food, An omnivore’s dilemma, Food rules
    Animal, vegetable, miracle – Barbara Kingslover

    It is not unusual to see a common theme emerging from books like these ( as well as my ‘bible’ Nourishing Traditions ). That theme is, processed food is not food, if your parents / grand parents would not recognize it do not eat it as well as a return to more traditional eating.

    Reply
    • Meagan

      Dec 14, 2011 at 9:16 am

      Agreed. Those were some of my first reads when delving into the nutrition fiasco. I also read Fit for Life, Green for Life, books about sprouting, cleansing and fasting as well. Dr. Price’s Nutrition and Physical Degeneration was probably the biggest influence on how I eat now. As much as I enjoy eating more vegetarian, I incorporate lots of dairy, eggs and small amounts of meat weekly.

  6. Kelli

    Dec 13, 2011 at 4:16 pm

    All wonderful books! Ever read “Healing With Aromatherapy” or “The Hudnred Year Lie”?
    The last one is about the dangers of synthetic chemicals and how Big Indutry tries to cover up the truth about their dangers.

    Reply
    • Kelli

      Dec 13, 2011 at 4:16 pm

      Sorry, its supposed to say “The Hundred Year Lie”.

  7. Leah

    Dec 13, 2011 at 2:56 pm

    Cream stirred into fresh juice–brilliant! I can’t wait to try it!

    Reply
  8. Stephanie

    Dec 13, 2011 at 2:52 pm

    How about a book that can (and in my case did) SAVE your life, not just change it? Dr. Joel Fuhrman’s “Eat to Live” and his “Disease Proof Your Children.” “Take Charge of Your Child’s Health” by Dr. George Wootan, “How to Raise a Healthy Child in Spite of Your Doctor” by Dr. Robert Mendellson or his “Confessions of a Medical Heretic.” Anything by Dr. John Lee.

    Reply
  9. Melissa

    Dec 13, 2011 at 2:08 pm

    Any recommendations for books that discuss traditional methods of healing common childhood and adult illnesses without medication?

    Reply
    • Evi

      Dec 17, 2011 at 5:16 pm

      I like these two, both by the holistic MD Randall Neustaedter:

  10. Amber

    Dec 13, 2011 at 1:53 pm

    Thank you so much for this list. Some I already have but others I have never heard of.

    I am wondering if anyone has a gift idea for the milkman? I pick up my raw milk from a depot and because of my work hours I never get to see the farmers in person. I would like to give something to show my appreciation for their hard work and delicious milk, any ideas?

    Reply
    • Molly

      Dec 13, 2011 at 2:44 pm

      How about a picture of your kids grinning with those exaggerated milk mustaches tucked into a thank you card, attached with ribbon to a jar of local honey, or something you’ve put up?

    • Sarah, TheHealthyHomeEconomist

      Dec 13, 2011 at 5:02 pm

      What a lovely idea and very creative! 🙂

    • Heather

      Dec 15, 2011 at 10:42 am

      If you are going to do the milk mustache pictures (we have) I would use cream or yogurt. The thicker consistency sits better on the upper lip and shows up better in pictures. That is if you can keep your kid from licking it off while you are trying to snap the picture. It took us 14 tries before I could get the shot.

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