The World's Best Book Summaries
What’s all the hype about plant-based eating? Are diets consisting primarily of plant-derived foods really better for you? What are the main benefits of plant-based eating? There are numerous health benefits to eating a plant-based diet. To name a few, plant-based foods contain more antioxidants (compounds that fight free radicals) and fewer calories. They are also lower in toxins. Learn about the benefits of plant-based eating.
Why is reading food labels important? What ingredients should you avoid and why? Reading food labels can help you make informed food choices by avoiding ingredients that may be damaging to your health. One simple rule of thumb to follow is to stay away from foods that contain unpronounceable ingredients, low-fat or fat-free dairy, and paradoxically enough, the health claims. Here are some things you should be looking out for when reading food labels.
What are the top four diet-related diseases? Is the damage done by the modern diet reversible? Americans suffer from a wide range of killer diet-related diseases, the main ones being obesity, cancer, type-II diabetes, and heart disease. However, this hasn’t always been the case; before the second world war, the rates of dietary diseases were low. Read about the rise of diet-related diseases.
Are refined foods really bad for you? And if so, why do we eat so much of them? Refined foods are almost empty of nutritional value without fortification and lead to massive influxes of glucose and fructose in the body. And even though their damaging effects are pretty much common knowledge these days, we still eat them in abundance. Why? Part of the answer can be found in history. Read about the rise of refined foods and how they function in the body.
Why is Bush Hill important in Fever 1793? How did Bush Hill change from when Matilda remembered it? In Fever 1793, Bush Hill was a dangerous place that was purchased by a rich businessman and converted into a hospital for those sick with yellow fever. Matilda had to spend time there with her grandfather while recovering from yellow fever. Continue reading to learn what Bush Hill was like in Fever 1793.
What happened when the yellow fever epidemic began in Fever 1793? How did the mayor of Philadelphia respond? When the yellow fever epidemic began in Fever 1793, Philadelphia was plunged into chaos. The officials didn’t know how to prevent the spread of the fever and panic spread quickly. Continue reading to learn what happened when the yellow fever epidemic arose in Philadelphia.
Is spending a lot of money on food really worth it? Is expensive food really significantly better than cheaper, more affordable staples? Most people are geared towards quantity and cheap, accessible food. But according to Michael Pollan, the author of In Defense of Food, we shouldn’t be too frugal when it comes to spending money on food. In general, more expensive food (especially, food of natural origin) is better for you because of a lack of toxins and improved nutritional quality. Here is why spending more money on food is indeed worth it, according to Michael Pollan.
What was Philadelphia like during the yellow fever epidemic? What did Matilda and Grandpa do once they finally got back home? In the book Fever 1793, Matilda and Grandpa return to Philadelphia after she recovers from yellow fever at Bush Hill. However, the city is not the same as when they left it over two weeks ago. Continue reading to learn what happened when an outbreak of yellow fever hit Philadelphia.
What’s the connection between fast food and obesity? Are the two really connected? The truth is that fast food and obesity have a clear link. With the rise of fast food over the last half-century, obesity has also increased significantly. Read more about fast food and obesity and how they’re connected.
Is there a link between saturated fat and heart disease? Does consumption of saturated fat lead to an increased risk of coronary heart disease? Is there any scientific evidence to corroborate this association? Since the 1950s, doctors and the general public alike have believed that consumption of saturated fat leads to coronary heart disease (CHD). However, only a few studies ever found a positive correlation between saturated fat and heart disease. Keep reading to learn more about the link between saturated fat and heart disease.