Resources
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Recommended Reading List
Loving What Is, by Byron Katie
Remember the phrase "question authority?" Loving What Is is a workbook on questioning authority - but in this case, what is in question is the authority of our own fundamental beliefs about our relationships. Known simply as "The Work," Byron Katie's methods are clean and straightforward. The basis is a series of four questions addressed to your own lists of written assumptions.
Milk - The Deadly Poison, by Robert Cohen
Robert Cohen performed research in the 1970's on the hormonal effects on the brain and behavior. Twenty-five years later, this father of three became concerned about the most controversial drug approval in FDA history, the genetically engineered hormone that is now in our milk supply. Along the way, Cohen discovered that milk is implicated in causing breast cancer, osteoporosis, heart disease, and chronic childhood illnesses. Cohen's skills as a researcher, and his passion for the safety of his family, led to his single-minded pursuit to expose the truth about milk.
The Cortisol Connection, by Shawn Talbott
"Stress is killing us," warns Talbott, and "humans are not zebras": unlike the rest of the animal kingdom, our fight-or-flight reactions to physical and emotional disturbances can lead to prolonged, chronic stress and elevated levels of cortisol. Over the long term, excessive amounts of this "primary stress hormone" can "kill your sex drive, shrink your brain, squelch your immune system, and generally make you feel terrible."
The Secret Life of Plants, by Peter Tompkins
Secret Life is like the old Disney films because the book describes science that challenges stereotypical mainstream thinking. Anyone who believes plants are sentient beings will love this book. (Personal note: Be warned, I had trouble pruning anything in my yard for about 3 months after reading this book!)
Animal, Vegetable, Miracle, by Barbara Kingsolver
This book chronicles the year that Barbara Kingsolver, along with her husband and two daughters, made a commitment to become locavores, those who eat only locally grown foods. This first entailed a move away from their home in non-food-producing Tucson to a family farm in Virginia, where they got right down to the business of growing and raising their own food and supporting local farmers.
The Miracle of Water, by Masaru Emoto
Masaru Emoto has photographed thousands of water crystals throughout his years of research, yet few have been as beautiful and life affirming as those formed from the words "love and gratitude." In The Miracle of Water, Dr. Emoto demonstrates how water's unique role in transporting the natural vibration of these words can help you welcome change and live a more positive and happy life. Dr. Emoto also explores the significance of words and language, their origins, and their impact on water.
The Omnivore's Dilemma, by Michael Pollan
It's a fascinating journey up and down the food chain, one that might change the way your read the label on a frozen dinner, dig into a steak or decide whether to buy organic eggs. You'll certainly never look at a Chicken McNugget the same way again.
Empty Harvest, by Bernard Jensen and Mark Anderson
Is our nation's 'bread basket' becoming a dead basket? The authors of this book contend that we are breaking down our soil ecosystem and that modern-day agriculture is out of sync with nature. Artificial soil produces artificial food. Today's mineral-deficient soil may be "one of the greatest original sources of disease."
Fame, Fortune and Ambition, by Osho
This book examines the symptoms and psychology of preoccupations with money and celebrity. Where does greed come from? Do values like competitiveness and ambition have a place in bringing innovation and positive change? Why do celebrities and the wealthy seem to have so much influence in the world? Is it true that money can't happiness? These questions are tackled with a perspective that is thought-provoking, surprising and particularly relevant to our troubled economic times.
The No-Grain Diet, by Joseph Mercola
The "no-grain" model emphasizes organic vegetables and quality protein, with limited fruits and absolutely no simple carbs. Mercola's idea of "quality protein" is somewhat startling. He is deeply concerned about toxins, and urges grass-fed beef over potentially mercury-filled fish. His main point is frequently reinforced: refined grains of any type are basically deadly and eating them should be viewed as an unhealthy addiction.
(Note: All reviews summarized from Amazon.)
Food, Inc.
This film is guaranteed to shake up our perceptions of what we eat. This powerful documentary deconstructing the corporate food industry in America was hailed by Entertainment Weekly as "more than a terrific movie, it's an important movie." Aided by expert commentators such as Michael Pollan and Eric Schlosser, the film poses questions such as: Where has my food come from, and who has processed it? What are the giant agribusinesses and what stake do they have in maintaining the status quo of food production and consumption? How can I feed my family healthy foods affordable?
Flatten Your Abs Forever, by Paul Chek
How what you eat as well as when you eat can affect your appearance. This recording of a lecture by Paul Chek, the founder of the C.H.E.K Institute illustrates why people who desire to be healthier could see more gains by focusing on nutrition rather than doing countless crunches in the gym.
King Corn
This is a fun and crusading journey into the digestive tract of our fast food nation where one ultra-industrial, pesticide-laden, heavily-subsidized commodity dominates the food pyramid from top to bottom, corn. Fueled by curiosity and a dash of naïveté, college buddies Ian Cheney and Curt Ellis return to their ancestral home of Greene, Iowa to figure out how a modest kernel conquered America. With the help of some real farmers, oodles of fertilizer and government aid, and some genetically modified seeds, the friends manage to grow one acre of corn. Along the way, they unlock the hilarious absurdities and scary but hidden truths about America's modern food system in this engrossing and eye-opening documentary.
Sweet Misery, A Poisoned World
This documentary is a close examination into what some consider to be a "hoax": aspartame toxicity. This documentary attempts to look at what is definitively known about aspartame and discovers that the label "hoax" in this case is a dangerous misconception. This controversial documentary is sure to open eyes to the possible dangers of what lurks in our food.
An Inconvenient Truth
Director Davis Guggenheim's eloquently weaves the science of global warming with Mr. Gore's personal history and lifelong commitment to reversing the effects of global climate change. A longtime advocate for the environment, Gore presents a wide array of facts and information in a thoughtful and compelling way.
(Note: All reviews summarized
from Amazon.)
Recommended Viewing List
Nutrition Tip
Take care of your heart by eating a lot of heart-healthy foods.
Interestingly, many of these are red. Tomatoes, apples, beets, raspberries, strawberries, red cabbage and cranberries are just some of the many foods with properties that are good for the heart.