The Best Nutrition Books

William W. Li, MD, is the New York Times bestselling author of Eat to Beat Disease: The New Science of How Your Body Can Heal Itself and a globally recognized physician-scientist specializing in angiogenesis and food-as-medicine research. As CEO of the Angiogenesis Foundation, he pioneered 34 FDA-approved medical treatments for chronic diseases and launched international initiatives exploring diet’s role in health.

His work bridges cutting-edge science and practical nutrition strategies, with themes of metabolic healing and disease prevention central to his writing.

Li’s influential TED Talk “Can We Eat to Starve Cancer?” has surpassed 11 million views, and he regularly appears on major platforms including Good Morning America, CNN, and The Kelly Clarkson Show. His follow-up book, Eat to Beat Your Diet, expands on using food to optimize metabolism and longevity.

A Harvard-trained internist and former faculty member at Harvard Medical School, Li combines clinical expertise with accessible science communication. Eat to Beat Disease has been translated into 23 languages and sold over 1 million copies worldwide, cementing its status as a modern nutrition classic.

1. Boost angiogenesis defense with soy, tomatoes, and dark chocolate daily.
2. Activate stem cell regeneration through pomegranate, green tea, and fatty fish consumption.
3. Support gut microbiome health with kimchi, kefir, and kiwi for dopamine production.
4. Protect DNA from aging using walnuts, berries, and broccoli sprout compounds.
5. William W. Li’s 5x5x5 framework personalizes nutrition for optimal health defense systems.
6. Food doses matter: 1 Brazil nut daily boosts selenium for cancer prevention.
7. Fermented foods like sourdough bread inhibit cancer via Lactobacillus Reuteri activation.
8. Black tea (2 cups/day) and beer (1/day) lower hypertension and colorectal risks.
9. Eat to starve tumors: anti-angiogenic foods disrupt cancer’s blood supply networks.
10. Transform your plate into a disease-fighting toolkit using 5 defense systems.
11. The gut-brain axis links microbiome health to anxiety reduction through oxytocin foods.
12. Customize anti-inflammatory diets with olives, red wine, and bone broth proteins.

Joel Fuhrman, M.D., is the bestselling author of Super Immunity: The Essential Nutrition Guide for Boosting Your Body’s Defenses to Live Longer, Stronger, and Disease Free. He is also a board-certified family physician and a pioneering advocate of the nutrient-dense "nutritarian" diet.

Specializing in disease prevention and reversal through nutrition, Fuhrman blends clinical expertise with decades of research. He serves as the Director of the Nutritional Research Foundation and is a faculty member at Northern Arizona University’s Health Sciences division. His work, including the New York Times bestseller Eat to Live, emphasizes plant-based eating to enhance longevity and combat chronic illnesses such as diabetes and heart disease.

A frequent guest on Good Morning America, The Today Show, and The Dr. Oz Show, Fuhrman has educated millions through media appearances and five PBS specials that collectively raised over $50 million for public broadcasting. His evidence-based approach is leveraged in collaborations with the National Institutes of Health to study nutritional interventions for autoimmune diseases.

Fuhrman’s Eat to Live Cookbook and The End of Diabetes further solidify his reputation as a leading voice in preventive medicine. Over 1 million copies of his books have sold worldwide, with translations enabling global reach for his life-changing protocols.

1. Nutrient-dense plant foods form the foundation of Dr. Fuhrman’s super immunity blueprint
2. Chronic disease prevention starts with abandoning processed foods and animal products
3. Micronutrient diversity in meals strengthens cellular immunity more than supplements alone
4. A nutritarian diet reprograms your body’s antiviral defenses for long-term protection
5. Overconsumption of animal protein spikes IGF-1 levels and cancer risks
6. Viral mutations become less threatening with robust nutrition-driven immune surveillance
7. Nutritional excellence creates biochemical shields against colds, flu, and chronic illness
8. Immune system failures trace directly to micronutrient deficiencies in standard diets
9. Transform your health by making every calorie count toward disease resistance
10. Green vegetables and mushrooms are essential for optimizing immune defense
11. Super immunity requires prioritizing phytochemical-rich foods over symptom-masking medications
12. Dr. Fuhrman’s protocol turns mealtime into preventive medicine against modern plagues

Dr. P.K. Newby, ScD, MPH, MS, is a Harvard-trained nutrition scientist, gastronome, and bestselling author of Food and Nutrition, a comprehensive guide to evidence-based eating for personal and planetary health. With over two decades of research on diet-related diseases and sustainable food systems, she bridges scientific rigor with practical advice, drawing from her multidisciplinary background in public health, environmental science, and culinary arts.

Newby’s expertise extends to her National Geographic publications Foods for Health and Superfoods, which explore global food traditions and plant-forward diets.

As an award-winning Harvard professor, she created one of the university’s most popular courses, Food, Nutrition, Environment, and Health, and has advised policy groups at the Kennedy School of Government. A dynamic communicator, Newby shares nutrition insights through her blog Cooking & Eating the PK Way and gained national recognition as a finalist on ABC’s cooking competition The Taste. Her work has been featured in over 65 peer-reviewed publications and translated into multiple languages, establishing her as a trusted voice in combating diet misinformation.

1. P.K. Newby links diet choices to 80% preventable chronic diseases through food science
2. Plant-forward diets slash disease risk while supporting sustainable food systems
3. Nutrition ecology framework connects food choices to health-environment-economy trifecta
4. Debunked: Common myths about dairy gluten and "perfect" diets exposed
5. Food production contributes 30% global emissions – your plate matters
6. Harvard’s Healthy Eating Plate beats USDA’s MyPlate for science-backed guidance
7. Water-first hydration and tea/coffee beat sugary drinks for longevity
8. Sustainable proteins include plants first – meat sparingly from ethical sources
9. Processed food reduction strategy: Shop perimeter-first with whole ingredients
10. Newby’s 134 Q&A format answers “What should I eat?” decisively
11. Food tech innovations can solve diet-environment dilemmas when guided ethically
12. Daily food decisions create personal health and planetary change simultaneously

Michael Herschel Greger, author of the New York Times bestseller How Not to Diet, is a physician, clinical nutrition expert, and leading advocate for evidence-based plant-based diets. A graduate of Cornell University and Tufts School of Medicine, Greger merges his medical training with decades of research to address obesity and chronic disease prevention through dietary interventions.

His nonprofit platform, NutritionFacts.org, provides free access to over 2,000 science-backed health resources, reinforcing his reputation as a trusted voice in lifestyle medicine.

Greger’s prior work, including the million-copy bestselling How Not to Die, established his framework for combating top preventable diseases via nutrition. A founding Fellow of the American College of Lifestyle Medicine, he has advised documentaries like What the Health and You Are What You Eat: A Twin Experiment, while testifying before Congress and in high-profile trials. All proceeds from his books, including How Not to Diet Cookbook and How Not to Age, fund charitable health initiatives through NutritionFacts.org.

1. Prioritize plant-based diets to leverage natural calorie density for sustainable weight loss
2. Follow Dr. Greger’s Daily Dozen checklist to ensure nutrient diversity and portion control
3. Opt for low glycemic load foods to stabilize blood sugar and reduce fat storage
4. Boost fiber intake to trap calories and enhance gut microbiome fat-burning efficiency
5. Avoid added fats and sugars that override appetite regulation and promote overeating
6. Front-load calories earlier in the day to align with natural circadian fat-burning cycles
7. Eliminate processed meats and trans fats linked to obesity and metabolic slowdown
8. Leverage chronobiology by timing meals to maximize metabolic rate and minimize fat storage
9. Combat food addiction by resetting taste receptors through a two-week processed food detox
10. Adopt Dr. Greger’s 21 weight-loss accelerators for evidence-based strategies beyond diet alone
11. Replace calorie counting with whole-food focus to naturally achieve calorie deficit without hunger
12. Understand saturated fats’ role in reducing physical activity motivation and increasing fat storage

Dr. Casey Means, Stanford-trained physician and New York Times bestselling author of Good Energy: The Surprising Connection Between Metabolism and Limitless Health, is a leading voice in metabolic health and preventive medicine. A co-founder of Levels—a health technology company pioneering real-time metabolic monitoring—she bridges cutting-edge science with practical strategies for reversing chronic disease through nutrition and lifestyle changes. Her work, rooted in functional medicine principles, challenges conventional healthcare paradigms by emphasizing root-cause solutions over symptom management.

Means’ insights stem from her clinical training at Stanford Medical School and her decision to leave traditional surgery to address systemic gaps in chronic disease prevention. She regularly contributes to The Wall Street Journal and Forbes, and her appearances on The Joe Rogan Experience and Tucker Carlson Today have amplified her message to millions. Her newsletter and active social media channels (@drcaseyskitchen) offer science-backed health optimization tools.

Good Energy debuted as a #1 New York Times bestseller, cementing Means’ role as a trusted authority in the metabolic health movement. The book’s actionable framework has influenced policy discussions, including advisory roles in national health initiatives.

1. Metabolic health is the root cause of 90% of chronic diseases today.
2. Swap ultra-processed foods for fiber-rich whole foods to boost cellular energy.
3. Track five key biomarkers to prevent disease before symptoms appear.
4. Industrial seed oils create "bad energy" by increasing inflammation and oxidative stress.
5. Prioritize sleep and sunlight exposure to reset metabolic circadian rhythms.
6. Mitochondrial dysfunction drives conditions from depression to Alzheimer's through energy collapse.
7. Casey Means' four-week plan gradually replaces processed foods with ancestral nutrition.
8. Probiotics and fermented foods heal gut lining to improve nutrient absorption.
9. Chronic stress creates metabolic chaos through elevated cortisol and blood sugar.
10. Good Energy eating combines protein fats and fiber at every meal.
11. Environmental toxins in plastics and cosmetics disrupt hormonal metabolic signals.
12. Walking after meals significantly improves blood sugar control and energy.

Jonny Bowden, PhD, CNS, and Stephen T. Sinatra, MD, co-authored the bestselling book The Great Cholesterol Myth: Why Lowering Your Cholesterol Won’t Prevent Heart Disease—and the Statin-Free Plan That Will. Bowden, a nationally renowned nutritionist and board-certified holistic health practitioner, brings decades of expertise in dietary science. Sinatra, a board-certified cardiologist and founder of the Heart MD Institute, contributes cutting-edge clinical insights on cardiovascular health. Their collaborative work merges nutritional and medical perspectives to debunk cholesterol misconceptions, emphasizing insulin resistance and inflammation as critical heart disease factors.

Bowden has authored over 15 health books, including Living Low Carb and The 150 Healthiest Foods on Earth, and is a frequent contributor to Men’s Health and The Huffington Post.

Sinatra, a pioneer in integrative cardiology, wrote Reverse Heart Disease Now and hosts the Heart MD Institute podcast. Their revised edition synthesizes peer-reviewed research and clinical experience, positioning it as a cornerstone of heart-health literature. The book has been featured on Dr. Oz’s show and praised by New York Times bestselling author Nina Teicholz, with its evidence-based approach resonating globally since its 2012 debut.

1. Inflammation drives heart disease, not cholesterol – arterial inflammation triggers plaque formation, not LDL alone
2. Oxidized LDL cholesterol damages arteries – only damaged particles initiate atherosclerosis
3. Sugar harms hearts more than dietary fat – processed carbs increase cardiovascular risk
4. Statin drugs show limited lifespan benefits – muscle damage and nutrient depletion offset cholesterol reduction
5. LDL particle size matters more than total cholesterol – small dense particles pose greater danger
6. Chronic stress doubles heart disease risk – cortisol spikes damage blood vessels long-term
7. The Snackwell Phenomenon misled public health – low-fat foods replaced fat with harmful sugars
8. Oxidation protection beats cholesterol-lowering – antioxidants prevent LDL damage better than statins
9. Insulin resistance accelerates cardiovascular aging – metabolic dysfunction fuels inflammation
10. Functional testing reveals true heart risk – particle counts and CRP beat standard cholesterol panels

Dr. Jason Fung is a Toronto-based nephrologist and New York Times bestselling author of The Cancer Code. He is a globally recognized authority in intermittent fasting and metabolic health strategies.

His book explores cancer through the lens of dietary interventions and preventive fasting protocols, challenging conventional oncological frameworks. As co-founder of The Fasting Method, Fung combines clinical expertise from his UCLA and University of Toronto training with real-world applications, helping patients manage chronic conditions.

His influential works—including The Obesity Code and The Diabetes Code—have collectively sold millions of copies worldwide and have been translated into over 20 languages. These works have established him as a leading voice in nutrition-based disease reversal.

Frequently featured in PBS, NPR, and The Washington Post, Fung’s research bridges academic rigor with accessible public health solutions. The Cancer Code reflects his decades of nephrology practice and advocacy for redefining mainstream approaches to chronic illnesses.

1. Cancer evolves as an evolutionary throwback to ancient cellular survival mechanisms
2. Insulin dysregulation feeds cancer growth—obesity and diabetes create fertile metabolic soil
3. The seed-and-soil theory shifts focus from genetic mutations to bodily environment
4. Intermittent fasting disrupts cancer's energy supply by lowering blood glucose and insulin
5. Refined carbohydrates fuel cancer progression through chronic insulin stimulation pathways
6. Cancer manifests as cellular atavism—reawakening prehistoric survival traits in modern bodies
7. Traditional cancer models miss evolutionary pressures driving malignant adaptation
8. Metabolic therapy through dietary changes outperforms exclusive focus on tumor genetics
9. Cancer prevention requires creating hostile biochemical terrain through lifestyle interventions
10. The obesity-cancer link reveals preventable risks through carb restriction and fasting
11. Cancer cells exploit insulin signaling pathways to bypass normal growth controls
12. Dietary strategies for cancer parallel diabetes reversal—starve malignancies through metabolic correction

Thomas M. Campbell II, MD, and T. Colin Campbell, PhD, are the bestselling authors of The China Study, a groundbreaking work in nutritional science that advocates for whole-food, plant-based diets to prevent and reverse chronic diseases. Dr. Thomas Campbell, a board-certified family physician and Clinical Director of the University of Rochester’s Program for Nutrition in Medicine, combines clinical expertise with public health advocacy.

His co-author and father, Dr. T. Colin Campbell, is a renowned nutritional biochemist whose decades of research, including the landmark China–Cornell–Oxford Project, form the book’s scientific foundation. Together, they bridge rigorous academic study with actionable dietary guidance, emphasizing the dangers of animal protein and the benefits of plant-centric nutrition.

Thomas Campbell also authored The Campbell Plan, which expands on these principles with practical strategies for adopting sustainable dietary changes. Their work has been featured in the documentary Forks Over Knives and promoted through the T. Colin Campbell Center for Nutrition Studies, where they educate on evidence-based nutrition. The China Study has sold over one million copies worldwide and remains a seminal text in health and wellness, translated into multiple languages and endorsed by medical professionals globally.

1. Animal protein intake directly correlates with cancer growth activation
2. Whole food plant-based diets prevent heart disease and diabetes development
3. Casein from dairy promotes tumor development in controlled lab studies
4. Diseases of affluence spike with increased meat and dairy consumption
5. Rural Chinese diets prevent diseases of affluence through low animal protein
6. Thomas Campbell links casein protein to tumor development in lab studies
7. Dietary cholesterol from animal foods accelerates atherosclerosis risk factors
8. Plant-based nutrition reduces inflammatory markers and oxidative stress damage
9. Obesity rates plummet when switching to unprocessed plant food regimes
10. China Study disproves protein adequacy myths about animal-based diets
11. Disease patterns cluster by diet rather than genetic predisposition
12. Longevity aligns with minimally processed plant foods in China Study data

Giulia Enders is the internationally bestselling author of Gut: The Inside Story of Our Body’s Most Underrated Organ and a renowned medical doctor specializing in microbiology and gut health. Her groundbreaking work blends accessible science writing with humorous insights into the digestive system, demystifying topics from gut-brain connections to microbial ecosystems.

Born in Germany and trained at the Institute for Medical Microbiology in Frankfurt, Enders merges academic rigor with public engagement, exemplified by her viral TED Talk and role as the lead expert in Netflix’s documentary Hack Your Health: The Secrets of Your Gut.

Enders gained prominence after her viral 2012 Science Slam presentation Darm mit Charme (“Charming Bowels”), later expanded into her bestselling book featuring illustrations by her sister, Jill Enders. A TED speaker and advocate for microbiome research, she bridges academic study—including her doctoral work on bacterial adhesion—with public education. Translated into 40 languages and adapted into a Netflix documentary, Gut has sold over 4 million copies worldwide, cementing Enders’ role as a leading voice in microbiome science.

1. The gut is a "second brain" producing neurotransmitters influencing mental health.
2. Gut microbiota diversity directly impacts immune system strength and disease resistance.
3. Chronic stress disrupts gut-brain communication, worsening digestion and mental well-being.
4. Giulia Enders reveals vomiting as a life-saving choreographed bodily process.
5. Simple dietary changes can restore gut balance more effectively than probiotics.
6. The "hygiene hypothesis" explains how excessive cleanliness weakens gut immunity.
7. Gut lining’s glycocalyx structure determines nutrient absorption and toxin blocking.
8. Enders proves 70% of serotonin originates in gut neurons.
9. Car sickness stems from conflicting brain-gut sensory signals during motion.
10. Ancient gut bacteria strains evolve faster than human DNA adaptations.
11. Gut microbes directly influence cravings through neurotransmitter production.
12. Gut redefines constipation as a neurological mismatch, not just dehydration.

Dr. Will Cole, bestselling author of Gut Feelings and a leading functional medicine expert specializing in chronic illness and holistic wellness, bridges cutting-edge science with mind-body healing. His book explores the gut-brain connection through the lens of nutrition, emotional health, and inflammation management, drawing on his clinical experience treating thyroid disorders, autoimmune conditions, and digestive issues.

A doctor of chiropractic with advanced training in functional medicine, Cole hosts the popular SHE MD podcast and has been featured in major wellness media outlets.

Cole’s prior works, including Ketotarian (a plant-based ketogenic approach) and The Inflammation Spectrum, established him as a pioneer in personalized health strategies. Named one of America’s top 50 integrative medicine practitioners, he combines clinical practice with global telehealth consultations. His practical frameworks for gut health and metabolic flexibility have influenced nutritional protocols in functional medicine clinics worldwide, while his podcast reaches millions seeking science-backed wellness insights.

1. Dr. Will Cole’s FLAG framework reduces Shameflammation through flexibility and grace
2. Heal gut-brain axis with mindful eating and somatic practices in 21 days
3. Shameflammation links chronic stress to leaky gut and autoimmune disorders
4. Replace diet shame with curiosity using Cole’s 4-step FLAG principles
5. Gut Feelings’ 21-day plan resets emotional eating through mindfulness and nutrition
6. Dr. Will Cole: Gut health dictates mood swings and food cravings
7. End the shame-gut cycle by embracing lightness and mindful awareness
8. True health requires healing both gut inflammation and emotional trauma
9. Cole’s Gut Feelings reveals how stress sabotages digestion via the vagus nerve
10. Transform your relationship with food by addressing shame-induced gut issues
11. Gut Feelings’ key message: Your emotions are as vital as your diet
12. Dr. Will Cole’s 21-day plan bridges nutrition and emotional resilience