Summer reading: 6 books that will make you healthier!

August 13th, 2016

Summer is a great time to catch up on books.  Whether you read them on your patio or on the beach, I recommend these 6 books to improve your mind and your health.  Here are a selection of my favorites on my bookshelf.

1. The Sleep Revolution by Ariana Huffington.  This book examines how most of us have lowered the priority of sleep in our lives, the consequences of inadequate sleep, and how we can be happier through improved sleep practices.
2. The Miracle of Mindfulness: An Introduction to the Practice of Meditation
   by Thich Nhat Hanh. This is a wonderful book about how to incorporate meditation into your life and reduce stress. Though the author is a Buddhist monk from Vietnam, his technique is universal. One of the tips I learned from this book is to stop multitasking. No one truly “multitasks” (try telling that to your boss someday!). Instead, we “toggle” between tasks, shifting our attention from one focus to another. Accordingly, we should focus on our attention on the people directly around us, and not be distracted by out electronic devices. We all know it’s dangerous to drive and text, but it’s just as wise to put the phone away when you want to spend quality time with your loved ones. Live in the moment.
3. Grain Brain by Dr. David Perlmutter.  Wonder why you don’t feel so great after eating a giant bowl of pasta?  There is a scientific basis for this.  You may not realize that “carbs” and sugars may also be affecting the way you think.
4. Forks Over Knives by Gene Stone. This is the book that started an eating revolution and has many celebrity followers such as former President Bill Clinton. While I have not moved over to a completely plant-based diet, I have seen many patients with cholesterol issues improve their numbers with this lifestyle.
5. Dropping Acid: The Reflux Diet Cookbook by Dr. Jamie Kaufman and Jordan Stern. A MUST for anyone with gastroesophageal reflux disease [aka GERD, heartburn, reflux, LPR (laryngopharyngeal reflux), gastritis, indigestion]. Learn what foods can cause your problems and avoid them. I was surprised to learn that not apples are created equal! Granny smith apples are very acidic and can make your heartburn unbearable but Fuji apples do not.
6. Being Mortal: Medicine and What Matters in the End by Atul Gawande. We will all grow old and die. But does that mean we must suffer? This is a must-read if you have aging parents. It depicts the current crisis of the US healthcare system as it relates to end-of-life care.