Do you find reading an escape? With the day-to-day stresses of life, I find it’s a great way to ease anxiety, calm down, and bring some joy into a hectic day.
Since committing to reading 20 books in 2020, I’ve completed 19. It’s helped me make space for “me time” and fills my bucket.
Have you found the same thing?
And now that we’re down to just two books left in our 2020 nutrition book club, I’d love your feedback!
- Are you enjoying my recommendations?
- Did you have a chance to follow along with some or all of the books?
- Have the discussion questions brought perspective?
- Would you like me to dig deeper into each book?
- Should I continue this again next year?
I’d love to know your thoughts. So please send me a message with your answers!
Now it’s time to dig into last months book and then reveal Novembers nutrition book club selection.
THE PLANT PARADOX – MY THOUGHTS
I have a lot to say about this book. There’s just not enough room to really go into my thoughts.
But here’s the thing – when reading nutrition books, it’s important to look through a critical lens. You have to think about what’s being said and question everything.
Sometimes the information is gold. It really hits home and you find you can back it up. That’s great! But other times, it’s just not adding up. That’s this book for me.
The information was from a narrow perspective and didn’t give an accurate picture. It demonized many whole foods and creates fear around eating them. His diet isn’t balanced and takes a one-size-fits-all approach.
Nutrition doesn’t work that way.
To claim that no one should eat lectins and that everyone would benefit from his diet is a dangerous game. It’s egotistical and narrow-minded. I know it seems harsh, but it’s true.
I wouldn’t recommend the book to most people. But if you are able to think critically about what’s being said, you’ll be able to cut through the noise and find a few information gems in there.
Want to discuss this further? Email me and let’s chat!
Here are my answers to the discussion points:
- What’s your initial reaction to this book? Are you excited to read it, nervous, or not interested? Why or why not? I was skeptical about this book because I knew the premise. But I went in with an open-mind to see if I could learn something new.
- What was your favourite quote or passage? “The dose makes the poison”.
- What’s one new thing you learned? A “healthy” chicken breast contains the equivalent of one birth control pills worth of estrogen. Also, a Duke study showed that a single packet of Splenda kills 50% of normal intestinal flora.
- Name one thing you already knew that came as no surprise. Lectins are large proteins found in plants and animals.
- What’s one major takeaway you got from this book that you’re going to apply to your life? Don’t believe everything you read and nutrition doesn’t have to be extreme!
I’d love to hear your thoughts on this book and discuss it with you. You can email me your answers to the discussion questions and we’ll chat!
MISSING MICROBES
By Martin J. Blaser, MD
About this book
Have you ever taken antibiotics? Chances are you have. They can be critical and even life-saving, but you’ve probably had them more often then needed.
Any exposure to antibiotics will negatively impact your gut microbiome. That’s because antibiotics don’t discriminate. In order to kill of the dangerous bacteria, they take the good guys out too.
This book explains the impact of antibiotics on your gut health. It also covers the effects on your overall health: obesity, asthma, allergies, diabetes, and some forms of cancer.
Why I’m reading it
Antibiotics are overused and abused in our medical system. It’s a common reason for the digestive issues I see a lot in my practice. According to Dr. Blaser, American children receive on average 17 courses of antibiotics before they are 20 years old.
It’s no wonder you’re struggling with poor digestion!
Because I work in gut health, I’m always looking to learn more and gain a better understanding of antibiotics and their impact on digestion.
Discussion points
- What’s your initial reaction to this book? Are you excited to read it, nervous, or not interested? Why or why not?
- What was your favourite quote or passage?
- What’s one new thing you learned?
- Name one thing you already knew that came as no surprise.
- What’s one major takeaway you got from this book that you’re going to apply to your life?
Disclaimer
The books I recommend may not reflect my beliefs or the way I practice nutrition. This is simply a way for us to open up conversation about what’s out there to discuss it’s validity and truth.
This is not sponsored or promoted and I have no affiliation with the author. Any opinions expressed are my own.
Stay tuned
Next month I’ll be bringing you a whole new book, with a full review of Missing Microbes. I’d love to hear your thoughts too!