The best 84 Diets books

Fast Food Nation shows how the fast food industry has massive consequences on many other aspects of our lives, including our education, health and working conditions. The book reveals the terrible methods and working conditions – caused in great part by the fast food industry’s focus on profit – that are used to create our food.

Based on the author’s meetings with many of the world’s indigenous people, Nutrition and Physical Degradation presents a comparison of the health of those who consumed only local whole foods and those who had begun to include processed foods in their diet. The author found that the latter suffered from problems with their teeth, bodies and brains, while the former remained strong and vigorous. Having investigated the differences between processed and local whole foods, the book argues that diets made up of processed foods lack the requisite vitamins and minerals for maintaining a healthy body.

Eat to Live gives readers a comprehensive overview of human nutrition, a re-evaluation of conventional nutritional wisdom, personal case studies and a practical dietary program with lots of recommendations. The reader can expect to learn about a number of different nutritional studies as well as the health benefits and repercussions of basic foods such as meat, milk, fish, vegetables and fruits.

Gut (2015) takes an entertaining yet scientific look at an organ that is just as interesting and important as the brain – the gut. By tracking a piece of cake as it works its way through the digestive system, you’ll come to appreciate the gut for the sophisticated and impressive ecosystem that it is.

In Defense of Food is a close examination of the rise of nutritionism in our culture, and a historical account of the industrialization of food. An expert in food ecology, author Michael Pollan takes a look at the way in which the food industry shifted our dietary focus from “food” to “nutrients,” and thus narrowed the objective of eating to one of maintaining physical health – a goal it did not accomplish.

Grain Brain (2013) outlines how what we eat can cause or mitigate serious brain disorders like anxiety, ADHD and depression. Eating well is crucial to your brain’s functioning well, and these blinks tell you why.

The Bulletproof Diet (2014) shows you how to hack your body to optimize your health, lose weight and increase your mental functioning. How? Maintain a diet filled with the right proteins and fats, and learn to exercise and sleep in the most effective way possible.

Should We Eat Meat? (2013) helps you navigate the ethical dilemmas behind your hamburger with a broad and objective assessment of meat production and consumption. Should you stick to grass-fed beef or take up veganism to save the planet? These blinks will give you all the facts you need to make your own informed decision.

Brain Maker (2015) explains the connection between your health and your microbiome – the bacteria in your gut. It shows you how even diseases that affect the brain such as Alzheimer’s are actually influenced by your microbiome. Importantly, you’ll learn how making some simple dietary decisions can help you keep disease at bay and make yourself healthier.

The Paleo Manifesto (2013) is the go-to guide to going paleo. It explains why the Paleo diet is in sync with our ancestors’ diet, and how you can use humanity’s anthropological and evolutionary history to get fit, feel great and lead the healthy lifestyle you’ve always wanted to.

The China Study (2005) is a controversial book that explores the connection between diet and disease, showing you how a diet high in animal-based proteins can lead to a host of health problems. Based on scientific data, these blinks explain why if you want to stay healthy, you should go vegan.

Comfortably Unaware (2012) is about the impact our food choices are having on the planet. It explains how the animals that are raised for us to eat end up polluting our waters, soil and air, and why our natural resources are poorly managed.

First Bite (2015) reveals the real root of eating problems: our very first childhood experiences with food. Backed by fascinating scientific studies, these blinks explain the perils of marketing food to children and the negative influence of gender norms and well-intentioned families. Finally, they direct us toward positive dietary change.

Always Hungry? (2016) explains the common misconceptions about health and weight loss. In it you’ll see what you’ve been doing wrong in the quest to lose weight, and importantly, explore how you can actually train your body to process fat without giving up real, delicious food.

Farmageddon (2014) is an in-depth guide to the dark reality of cheap meat. These blinks explain how industrial farming has replaced traditional methods and how it’s draining our resources, poisoning the environment and making us unhealthy.

It Starts With Food (2012) gives you the inside scoop on the profound effects food can have on your body and well-being. Importantly, these blinks explain how you can alter your diet to both lose weight and feel better, body and soul.

Sugar addiction is a very common affliction these days, and one that carries serious health risks – but it can be overcome. Beat Sugar Addiction Now! (2010) explains the four different kinds of sugar addiction, as well as their root causes, associated health implications and the steps you can take to beat them.

Deep Nutrition (2008) is about modern diets and how they’re making people sick. These blinks explain the danger of industrially produced food, what it’s doing to our bodies and how we can return to an earlier way of eating that will keep us healthier for years to come.

Salt (2002) tells the fascinating story of this basic mineral, from its early uses in food preservation to its role as a precious commodity, driving trade and conquest. These blinks shed light on the political conflict sparked by society’s demand for salt as well as the environmental damage wrought by the salt industry.

Whole (2013) poses some fascinating questions: Can a change in our diet change the world? Would cutting back on our meat consumption make us and the planet a whole lot healthier? The evidence certainly suggests that a diet based on whole foods, plants and other low-protein foods might be the key to healthier living for everyone. So find out why the powers that be would rather you kept eating fast food.

How Not to Die (2015) explains how a plant-based diet can extend your life while transforming your quality of living. These blinks offer a wealth of health-boosting nutritional information and hands-on dietary advice that you won’t get from your doctor.

100 Million Years of Food (2016) is about the foods our ancestors ate and how that diet relates to our eating habits today. These blinks will take you way back in time to explore the evolution of eating. They’ll explain that, while there’s no one-size-fits-all diet, there are a few general rules to abide by.

The Case Against Sugar (2016) offers a critical look at how the sugar industry has grown ever stronger despite medical data showing that it can be harmful to our health. Find out how this happened, and how critics have been silenced and ridiculed despite overwhelming evidence that this one ingredient can be linked to many of the most serious diseases in the Western world.

The Wild Diet (2015) is your guide to using the biology of fat-burning to lose weight. These blinks explain what makes high-intensity exercise, plant-based, protein-rich diets and hydration so effective, and provide you with health hacks that you can start applying right away.

The Whole30 (2015) is a dietary program aimed at improving your health and general well-being. It’s based on the idea that, by cutting out certain harmful food groups and reintroducing others, you can find a diet that works for you.

The Plant Paradox (2017) alerts us to the dangers of eating seemingly healthy plant foods. It explores the differences between our diets and those of our ancestors’ and tells us which food products we should eat and which we should avoid to improve our digestion and maintain our optimal weight.

The Diabetes Code (2018) addresses one of the western world’s most alarming health epidemics: the rise of type 2 diabetes – a disorder closely related to poor diet and obesity. But as Jason Fung shows, it can be reversed. The important thing is to figure out what works and what doesn’t. Drawing on his professional experience as well as the latest scientific data, Fung makes a powerful case for a dietary strategy to prevent and reverse type 2 diabetes that you can start implementing today.

Genius Foods (2018) makes a simple but compelling point: what we eat today is starving our brains. Drawing on the most up-to-date scientific research, it connects the dots and shows just how our diets can affect our cognitive health. But this isn’t just an academic treatise – it’s an actionable plan that’ll put you on the path to greater mental agility, balance and a happier life while safeguarding yourself against dementia.

As the title suggests, The Complete Ketogenic Diet for Beginners (2016) is a helpful introduction to the low-carb, high-fat diet that can help you burn off unwanted pounds. It takes you on a step-by-step tour of what to expect as you “go keto” as well as what you can do to help make sure you stick to the new dietary lifestyle.

Eat to Beat Disease (2019) shines a light on the sophisticated systems the body uses to defend itself from deadly diseases. Drawing on the latest scientific research, these blinks explore how your dietary choices support these defense systems and explain how, when it comes to your health, food truly is medicine.

The Obesity Code (2016) addresses the alarming global rise of obesity and asks what we can do to minimize the risks to our health. The best place to start, Jason Fung argues, is to clear up common misconceptions about the causes of obesity, beginning with the old saw that all dietary fats are to blame. That means taking a closer look at the latest evidence and addressing the true culprit: insulin resistance.

What to Eat When (2018) shows how it’s not just what you eat, but when you eat that matters. This practical and fun guide dives deep into the science of eating to show you how you can enhance your health, energy and intellect through healthier eating habits. It provides a blueprint for eating right, all the time.

We Are the Weather (2019) is a rigorous investigation of climate change, what it means and why humans seem so powerless to tackle it. Jonathan Safran Foer argues that while climate change is terrifying and hard to understand, there is a very simple action that we can take: By leaving out meat and animal products for breakfast and lunch, we can make a huge contribution to the health of the planet.  

The Fate of Food (2019) looks at a rapidly changing world and the question of how we’ll feed our ever-growing population. Is it possible to produce a clean, climate-resilient food supply that’s adequate to meet our needs? The Fate of Food examines the technological and sociological demands of feeding the world. 

In How Bad are Bananas? (2010), author Mike Berner-Lee provides readers with an A-to-Z guide of how they can start living a more environmentally conscious life and reduce their own carbon footprint. You may think you’re familiar with climate change and carbon footprints, but do you really know the everyday activities that contribute to the current environmental crisis? From grocery shopping to washing your clothes, you’ll learn how to be more efficient and less wasteful.

The Body: A Guide for Occupants (2019) is an entertaining and fact-filled account of how we all work. With his trademark wit, Bill Bryson explains the astonishing ways in which our bodies are put together, and what goes on inside them.

Wheat Belly (2011) explores the havoc that modern wheat products are wreaking upon our mental and physical health. It shines a light on how wheat usage has changed over the years, as well as how dramatically our diets have changed. The author, Dr. William Davis, draws upon the latest scientific research to advance the argument for excluding wheat from your diet once and for all. 

How Not to Diet (2019) explores how a healthy, plant-based diet can achieve effective, healthy, and sustainable weight loss. It also explores why so many people are overweight and offers a clear and detailed guide for tackling the issue. There are no quick-fixes or fad diets here, just rigorous science-based advice you can trust.

Food Fix (2020) shows us how the world's gravest problems, like chronic disease, inequality, and climate collapse, can all be traced back to our food and the way we produce it. Here, American physician Mark Hyman describes what we should do next, setting out the path to healthy eating and regenerative farming. 

In the FLO (2020) outlines a way for women to eat, live, and work in sync with their monthly cycles. Author Alisa Vitti demonstrates how taking charge of your hormonal health can help you unleash your creativity, manage stress, and even improve your sex life.

Feeding You Lies (2019) is an exposé of one of America’s shadiest industries – the food sector. Fed up with being lied to and sold junk rebranded as “health food,” blogger Vani Hari decided to find out what was really going on behind all the glitzy marketing. In Feeding You Lies, she details what she discovered. Along the way, she provides a wealth of tips and tricks to avoid being taken in and make healthier choices in the grocery store.

The Great Cholesterol Myth (2012) takes medical orthodoxy and turns it on its head. Rather than blaming heart disease on cholesterol and dietary fat, this book calls for a more nuanced view of the causes of cardiovascular illnesses. Drawing on cutting-edge research into nutrition and human health, The Great Cholesterol Myth argues that we’ve misunderstood heart disease for decades.

Food and Nutrition (2018) looks at the science behind what we eat. Based on only the best and most thorough studies, it cuts through the noise and fads to reveal what we really know about healthy eating.

The Energy Plan (2019) explores a science-based approach to healthy eating. It examines the latest research from the field of nutrition, and outlines how you can use this information to make better choices about the food you eat. 

The Urban Monk (2016) is a field guide for how to navigate modern life with a more monk-like mentality. Drawing on Eastern spiritual traditions, contemporary science, and the lives of our ancestors, it’s packed full of practical tips on how we can integrate ancient wisdom into our modern lifestyles. It addresses a wide range of personal problems, including stress, unhealthy diets, and a lack of time, energy, and sense of purpose.

What’s it about?

Breaking Up With Sugar (2019) is an empathetic, no-nonsense take on food addiction and unhealthy relationships with sugar and grain flour. Author Molly Carmel tells her story of struggling with obesity and gives readers actionable tips on how to get their relationship with sugar under control, once and for all.

Wean in 15 (2020) is a practical guide to helping your baby become a healthy, enthusiastic eater. Based on up-to-date guidelines and data from the UK’s National Health Service, the World Health Organization, and various researchers and dietitians, it offers a step-by-step plan – including recipes – for how to wean your baby. At the same time, it acknowledges that there is no one-size-fits-all method, and it encourages you to adapt the plan to your individual parenting style and your baby’s specific needs.

What’s it about?

Head Strong (2017) is a cutting-edge guide to strengthening and fine-tuning your cognitive powers. From what toxic foods to avoid to the importance of healthy lighting, it leaves no stone unturned in its advice on reaching optimal mental performance.

Eat to Beat Depression and Anxiety (2021) is a groundbreaking look at how nutrition can influence mental health. Based on the latest scientific information, it gives the lowdown on the mind-gut connection, inflammation, and keeping your microbiome healthy. 

Fast This Way (2021) is not just another book touting the benefits of fasting. Instead, it uses the most up-to-date science and the author’s years of experience to outline exactly how to sustainably fast for a long and healthy life.

The Diet Compass (2018) boils down the latest research on health, aging, and nutrition into one scientifically-backed program that anyone can apply to their own diet. When the author, Bas Kast, collapsed while jogging at the young age of 40, he decided to radically change his diet and live a healthier lifestyle. The book is a result of years pursuing the question: What really is healthy?

Eat Better, Feel Better (2021) is a guide to cultivating a balanced diet. Based on Giada De Laurentiis’s personal journey to transforming her health, it reveals how you can change your diet to control inflammation and improve your well-being.

I’m So Effing Tired (2021) shows how you can overcome chronic exhaustion by tapping into the interconnected relationship between your gut, your immune system, and your hormones – also known as “the energy trifecta.” It demonstrates how you can boost energy levels by making changes to your lifestyle, your diet, and how you manage stress. 

The Energy Paradox (2021) delves into the hidden causes of fatigue. It explores new theories on healthy living, and outlines the foods, medicines, and everyday products that have a big impact on your energy levels. 

Fast Burn (2021) is a dieting guide that aims for actual results. This handbook lays out a revolutionary approach to intermittent fasting that puts your body in gear to lose weight fast.

The Pegan Diet (2021) is a simple, science-driven approach to nutrition that blends the best of two popular diets – veganism and paleo. The result? a way of eating that foregrounds vegetables, avoids refined carbohydrates, and makes judicious use of fats and ethically sourced animal products. The benefits of this diet speak for themselves: lower cholesterol, better gut health, more energy, and greater happiness. 

Biohack Your Brain (2020) is a guide to caring for your most essential organ – the brain. Drawing on the latest neuroscientific research, it’s packed with actionable advice on everything from optimizing your diet for brain health to stimulating your gray cells and beating stress. Along the way, it sheds light on how you can start protecting yourself against cognitive diseases like Alzheimer’s.

Feel Great Lose Weight (2020) isn’t just another diet book of quick fixes and fads. Drawing on Dr. Rangan Chatterjee’s expertise, it gives you the tools to be the mechanic of your own health, showing you how to fine-tune your eating habits and lifestyle to lose weight sustainably and feel great for the long term.

Drop Acid (2022) is an in-depth exploration of uric acid, a substance increasingly linked to many modern health issues, from obesity and diabetes to hypertension and stroke. Uric acid has long been seen as a precursor to gout and kidney stones, but new research suggests that high levels of uric acid can contribute to many other health issues over the long term. With reference to scientific studies and a three-week “LUV” (Lower Uric Values) diet plan complete with recipes, this Blink will prepare you to optimize your health by reducing foods and behaviors that play a part in raising uric-acid levels.

Hooked (2021) explores our complex relationship with processed food. It explains why certain foods leave us wanting more, and reveals how our brain chemistry and our evolutionary biology are exploited by the fast-food industry.

The Plant-Based Athlete (2021) debunks the myth that our bodies need meat, eggs, and dairy to achieve peak athletic success. Drawing on extensive research and interviews with professional athletes, it shows that a plant-based diet actually results in better performance, recovery time, and overall health.

Intuitive Eating (2012) has two aims: to expose the broken promises of the diet industry and to lay the foundations for a saner approach to healthy eating. It argues that we shouldn’t blindly accept the often screwy constraints of faddish diets – instead, we’d be much better off listening to our own bodies. Unlike our minds, which are far too receptive to irrational ideas about food, our bodies intuitively know what’s best for us. 

Brain Food (2018) highlights the role nutrition plays in your brain’s health. It explores the incredible brain-gut connection and reveals exactly what to eat and drink to maximize your cognitive power and prevent stress, dementia, and memory loss.

Clean(ish) (2022) is a guide to living a life that’s free from the pesticides and other toxins in our food and environment. Through anecdotes, tips, and exercises, it gently and compassionately lays out a road map to a cleaner lifestyle.

Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis (2013) is a guide to healing the body through lifestyle interventions. Wentz offers practical suggestions for people with Hashimoto’s, including recommendations for tests and dietary changes, so they can get on the right track toward feeling better.

Why We Eat (Too Much) (2021) illuminates the new science of metabolism. An exploration of how our bodies process the calories we eat into the fuel that keeps our cells running, it demolishes old myths about the value of dieting. When we really understand appetite, it argues, we can finally begin eating healthfully rather than attempting to starve our bodies into submission. 

The Shift (2021) breaks down how to achieve weight loss by shifting your mindset. By changing the way you think about yourself and your body, you can set into motion incredible changes that can alter not just your body, but also your sense of self, happiness, and self-worth.

It Starts with the Egg (2014) demystifies the science behind egg quality and how it impacts outcomes for fertility and pregnancy. In bringing together a range of reputable studies, it offers evidence-based advice on how to make simple lifestyle changes that will improve egg quality and optimize fertility.

Eat It! (2022) offers a sensible, fact-based and reassuring weight-loss program for those of us who are tired of chasing the latest diet trends. You’ll find sound advice and a guilt-free approach to shedding pounds and eating sensibly.

Juicing for Beginners (2013) is a comprehensive guidebook that tells you everything you need to know to get started on juicing. It covers the basics of juicing, from its health benefits and machine types, to different beginner-friendly recipes to try. 

The Galveston Diet (2023) is a science-backed diet program for women experiencing perimenopause or menopause symptoms. With a focus on science-backed approaches, this diet program includes a special meal plan designed for six weeks and a variety of healthy, delicious recipes. It is designed to help women in midlife improve their overall health and wellness while managing the challenges that come with this stage of life.

Outlive (2023) is a comprehensive guide to living a longer, healthier, and more fulfilling life. Drawing on cutting-edge science and practical advice, it empowers you to optimize your exercise, nutrition, sleep, and emotional health for maximum longevity.

The Mind-Gut Connection (2016) explores the complex relationship between the gut and brain, highlighting the crucial role this connection plays in both physical and mental health. The book delves into key insights, such as the brain-gut axis, the impact of stress on gut health, and the connection between food and mental well-being, emphasizing the need for holistic care to improve overall health.

Eat to Beat Your Diet (2023) is a science-backed guide to healthy weight loss and disease-free living. It reveals surprising links between fat, metabolism, and certain nutrients, showing that eating more of the most beneficial foods is actually the path to increased health and happiness.

Fast Like a Girl (2022) empowers women to craft a fasting lifestyle based on their own personal hormone cycle. Learn how to harness your natural power by making fasting work with your body rather than against it.

Built to Move (2023) is your ultimate guide to building a better, healthier, more functional body. The concept is simple – it provides a handful of simple tests to assess your movement, and a handful of easy-to-follow routines to improve it. Utilizing the latest insights of mobility, sleep, and nutrition science, you’ll learn to keep your body and mind as fit as possible with minimal effort – no matter if you’re a couch potato or a world class athlete. 

Fiber Fueled (2020) introduces you to your gut microbiome and its importance for your health. It explains how you can keep your microbiome healthy by eating a wide variety of plants.

The 40-Day Sugar Fast (2019) is a spiritual journey to having a healthier relationship with food. With Biblical stories, personal anecdotes, and mini-sermons, it shows how putting a distance between yourself and sugar can lead you closer to God.

Gut Feelings (2023) illuminates the vital connections among emotions, the gut microbiome, and health. Taking a holistic approach to body, mind, and mood, the author offers a three-week plan to address the underlying causes of chronic illness, including stress, shame, suboptimal nutrition, and sleep.

Meals She Eats (2023) combines practical advice on PCOS with easy-to-follow recipes to manage the disorder’s symptoms. Drawn from the authors’ own experiences, it shares lifestyle changes and strategies that have proven effective for them. 

The 12-week Fitness Project (2021) offers an alternative to restrictive diets that addresses health beyond the scale, creating sustainable change that draws on time-tested wisdom to improve overall well-being.

Ultra-Processed People (2023) exposes the alarming dominance of ultra-processed foods in today’s diets. It uncovers the hidden consequences of these foods on our health, environment, and societal norms, and explores solutions to transform our current food culture.

Allen Carr's Easy Way to Quit Emotional Eating (2019) guides compulsive eaters past the mental traps that lead to overindulgence. It applies the "Easyway" method which has already helped millions quit smoking and expands on it to uncover the psychological roots of our unhealthy impulses, freeing us to rediscover balanced eating habits.

Eat More, Live Well (2021) offers a fresh take on the diet and health connection, building on the importance of a diverse and thriving gut microbiome for health, well-being, and longevity.