Anti-Inflammatory Eating for a Happy, Healthy Brain: 75 Recipes for Improving Depression, Anxiety, and Memory Loss

by Michelle Babb

New from the author of "Anti-inflammatory Eating Made Easy," this cookbook shows how to use diet to improve your state of mind. The latest research shows the connection between a healthy gut and a healthy mind. Inflammation markers are frequently found in the blood of people with anxiety and depression, proving a food-mood connection. In this book nutritionist Michelle Babb shows how reducing that inflammation and balancing the flora in the gut results in a healthy mind. Based on the success of her clients, Babb first explains the science behind this eating plan, then delivers 75 tasty recipes that range from simple to easy gourmet that will satisfy your taste buds, your microbiome, and your mood.

Genres: Cookbooks, Health, Nonfiction, Food, Cooking, Nutrition, Foodie

192 pages, Paperback

Published October 25, 2016

Reviews

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book to be very informative and well done. I became interested in relationship between health and nutrition a few years ago and although I'm retired took some courses in nutrition through Coursera. I was delighted when I found out I had won a copy of this book through Goodreads giveaway in return for an honest review.

The advice in this book is helpful. I especially liked the beginning segment on how to get started and the foods to choose to alleviate inflammation. About 20% of the book is informational and the remainder is composed of recipes.

Each recipe is graded on its ease from minimal time and skill to more complicated. I thought this was a good idea.

I have some reservations about the recipes, however. Several ingredients are not readily known or available in rural areas like the one I live in. Also, the ingredients can be a bit pricey. I'm referring to items like Bhutanese red rice, gluten free tahini, garnet yams, etc. Also, the author feels all meats should be pasture raised, veggies should be organic, and fish sustainable. These may be ideal but are not always affordable or available.

The recipe guideline for beans, greens and grains bowls - a versatile mix and match guide is genius. I also liked the quinoa and lentil soup/stew.

I highly recommend this book if you are interested in using nutrition to increase your health.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found the concept of this book interesting. I have experienced varying degrees of depression and anxiety for most of my life. Adjusting my diet to improve these is something I want to attempt.
This book specifically did not have recipes that I could see myself cooking. It was a combination of food sensitivities, small town shopping, and recipes that did not appeal to me.
The positives I took away: morning smoothie is a good way to start your day (I often make it the evening before, and refrigerate. You just need to stir a bit before drinking). Add nuts to your diet. If you fry food, use grapeseed oil.

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

"Anti-inflammatory" in this book is defined as a Mediterranean-style diet. The author talks a very little and rather generally about recent research into the connection between the brain and the gut, and mentions a few studies that show patients more frequently co-presenting with both a mood disorder and a food sensitivity. She's not trying to convince anyone, though: the introductory information in this book is for people who already think this eating style will benefit them.

Again, this food plan-- high in fresh vegetables, no gluten, no dairy-- would be feasible and healthy for most people. Very few recipes are useful for me, as they tend to rely heavily on beans and leafy greens. There's very little health information here aside from "eat more whole foods," so not recommended except for those few people who already know about the Mediterranean diet, know it works for them, and just need more recipes.

[Sarah Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book had a little bit of information about eating a healthy natural anti-inflammatory diet. If you need more information you might want to look for another book, but this one gets to the point and has lots of great recipes. I can't wait to try many of these, and I really liked that they all were scored with a difficulty level so that you can decide which to try based on your experience level if you were newer to cooking.

[Helen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the recipes and photographs in this beautiful, little cookbook. The recipes are easy & use ingredients that you are likely to actually have in your kitchen! For example, the Truffled Eggs are deviled eggs made with hummus and spices. I've made the Sinfully Silky Chocolate Mousse many times because it is actually healthy. It is made with tofu and avocado but tastes ridiculously yummy! The Slow-Cooked Chicken and White Bean Stew with Rainbow Quinoa is very easy to whip up in your slow cooker for a healthy dinner with minimal effort. With mental illness and depression becoming an epidemic, it is important to do everything possible to protect our brains - along with exercise and always wearing a bike helmet :)

[Victoria · Rating 4 out of 5]

Different in a good way

I enjoyed the recipe plans based on mood or desired mental state. The recipes are easy, for the most part, and use common ingredients. There could be more pictures.

[Diana Beckham · Rating 5 out of 5]

Delicious and healthy

I like that the author rates the difficulty level of each recipe. I can't wait to host a meal using her recipes.

[Fiona · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some really interesting ideas.

[Elise H · Rating 4 out of 5]

The philosophy is a bit thin. But the recipes are tasty and there’s a good variety of recipes to try.

[MicheleStitches · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nothing revelatory — basically advising a Mediterranean diet. The bulk of the book is recipes.

[Elizabeth Lively · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's informative. Grocery list and weekly menu planning is helpful but I didn't find one recipe I would refer back to.

[bibliophagy · Rating 2 out of 5]

not enough imagery for my liking, and not many of the recipes caught my attention

[Amber · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book! Lots of learning before the recipes start. And even then, some great recipe ideas that I hope to try soon!

[Pam · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am very thankful to have won a free copy of this book through a Goodreads giveaway. I have been studying natural health topics for many years but have a hard time incorporating my knowledge into my eating habits! After reading this book, I feel motivated to get on track to eating a more healthful diet.

The author starts off by discussing systemic inflammation and its relationship to diet. She focuses on the gut brain connection and specific foods which improve our brain function (mood, memory, anxiety, etc.) She also provides helpful tips on food prep and menu planning. The last 75% of the book is devoted to recipes accompanied by gorgeous pictures!

I haven't tried any of the recipes yet but have found numerous dishes (mostly vegetarian) that I am interested in making! A few of them include: 5 different recipes of beans, greens, and grains bowls; zoodles marinara with turkey meatballs; slow-cooked lentil and quinoa stew; roasted roots bathed in balsamic; honey-glazed walnuts with cinnamon spice; and potato and roasted green bean salad with slivered almonds. The author also provides a difficulty meter, with each recipe, which is helpful for those of us who don't cook very much.

I really enjoyed the book and can't wait to start cooking (which is unusual for me)! It is a great reminder of how important the consumption of the right foods is to good health.

[Adrienna · Rating 4 out of 5]

What I do like about this read are these things:
1. Listing the Mind-alternating foods
2. Listing the Mood-boosting foods
3. Recipes tailored to Gut-wrenching (digestive issues)
3. Tailor recipes and foods to cater to mind-alternating and mood-boosting foods
4. Difficulty meter 1-5, what is easy and hard to make
5. Few recipes I am willing to try

*I am wondering how quinoa flapjacks will actually taste, and hoping the foods are not bland (yet I may have to add some spices and herbs on my own if I do not trust just salt and pepper for instance). More importantly, I am hoping these foods do give me a happy and healthy brain as well as body.

I also sent out an email to the author about possible substitutions for future lifestyle. Overall, the book was pretty good and hope the recipes are too.

[Brenda · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wonderful book. Truly a pleasant surprise from what I was expecting. Every healthcare worker should have a copy in their library. Yet it's message is easy to read and understand for every person! Wonderful recipes! Helpful suggestions to pick and choose from to fit your needs.

[Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book reminded me of the connection between nutrition and mental health. I'm looking forward to implementing some of these recipes in meals in the coming weeks as I feed those close to me suffering with depression.

[Deborah Cleaves · Rating 4 out of 5]

Clean eating.

Not sure the author has adequate science to support her theories, but the recipes looked tasty even when they had ingredients that sounded odd. They definitely supported a clean eating regimen and appeared to provide balanced healthy meals and snacks.

[Leslie Barrett Garel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good information and good recipes. Unfortunately I borrowed the broom from my library and I would buy it if I could find a hard copy. I prefer to have reference books and recipe books on hard copy. Seems to be out of print.

[Erin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another take on not eating sugar, avoiding white things like pasta and bread, eating protein and green leafies. Good recipes.

[Tracy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great info

The information shared helps the reader take a proactive approach in managing their health. We have the ability to eat our way to better health.

[Ann Tracy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great receipes with a difficulty meter.