The World's Best Book Summaries
One thing we think we know about nutrition is that we need lots of protein to be strong and healthy. But how should we get that protein? In the debate about plant protein vs. animal protein, it can be hard to know how they’re different and which is the healthier choice. We probably don’t need animal protein at all. We’ll cover the difference between plant and animal proteins and determine which is healthier.
The most famous disease of Western affluence is obesity, a symbol of our privilege and the excesses it fosters. Why are Americans so fat? Many people want to blame sugar or fat, and the American sweet tooth and addiction to refined foods certainly play their parts. But are there other, more significant reasons Americans are overweight? As we’ve made a collective effort to cut down on sugars and fats, our rates of obesity have continued to climb. Why are Americans overweight? Learn the surprising factors.
You love milk, yogurt, and cheese, and you know they’re generally healthy for you. But how do you know that? Did you learn it at school? From your parents? From Got Milk? ads? The dairy industry has influenced your nutrition knowledge whether you know it or not. Part of the problem with the dairy industry, and many other food industries, is that they’re far more involved in our lives and our decisions than we’re aware. We’ll cover why this a problem for the consumer and how the dairy industry particularly has promoted health messages that are inaccurate.
We’re taught to believe that science is pure and objective. But science is a human endeavor, and the scientists conducting it necessarily bring with them their own biases. But how rampant is bias in science? And how detrimental is it? We’ll cover the research and experiences of T. Colin Campbell, one of the authors of The China Study. With over 40 years as a member of the research community, Campbell is in a good position to answer the questions, How much bias is there is science? And should the public be worried about it?
You don’t have to resign yourself to cognitive impairment or dementia as you age. Diet can go a long way toward protecting the health of your brain and decreasing your risk of Alzheimer’s. So, what are the risk factors of dementia? And what are the best foods for dementia prevention? We’ll look at the risk factors of dementia and cognitive impairment and how eating the best brain foods can aid in dementia prevention.
What is scientific reductionism? And how does it harm the public? Scientific reductionism is the concept of simplifying complex processes in order to make them easier to research. However, it leads to a simplistic view of reality and inaccurate conclusions.
Eating a whole foods, plant-based diet isn’t a new idea. Socrates, via Plato, predicted that a society that indulged in the luxury of meat would lead to a society plagued with inflammation and disease. The winning athletes in the ancient Olympics also knew that eating a plant-based diet was the key to good health and performance. So how did we get where we are today, promoting meat’s health benefits and worrying that vegetarians don’t get enough protein? Some say the future is vegan — is it? Despite the detour we’ve taken as a society, there’s reason to believe that we’re
What is the whole foods, plant-based diet for weight loss? How do you follow this diet? Will it really help you lose weight? The whole foods, plant-based diet for weight loss is a diet that relies on unrefined plant foods for all of its calories and nutrients. Learn how adopting a WFPB weight loss diet can help you meet your weight-loss goals and lower your disease risk.
Is there a link between milk and prostate cancer? How could milk, something our society tells us is so healthy, cause prostate cancer? Studies show that milk, other dairy products, and meat increase a man’s risk of prostate cancer. We’ll cover the two mechanisms by which animal products, and milk in particular, may cause this highly preventable cancer.
We know we should be getting enough calcium for bone health, but could too much calcium be hurting us? What’s the link between excessive calcium and osteoporosis? We’ll cover why calcium, especially from dairy, may not be the way to stronger bones, and may actually lead to osteoporosis.