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Understanding Healthy Eating: A science based guide to how your diet affects your health
Summary
This book is your guide to understanding eating for general health. It includes a priority ranking of healthy eating concepts for everyone to understand and crushes common nutrition myths .
It
1)An in-depth discussion of basic concepts behind eating for better health
2)A priority ranking of healthy eating concepts – which ones matter the most, the least, and everything in between
3)Guides to improve your diet in a slow, steady, sustainable way for better health effects
4)Diet myth busting so you can focus on what works
5)A discussion on supplements that may enhance your health
6)Links to further literature if you would like to dive deeper into the science behind nutrition and its effects on health
What people are saying about ‘Understanding Healthy Eating’
“A good, no-no sense, review of how to structure your diet. It written in a down to earth style that conveys the information quickly and precisely. It assumes the starting point is a conventional western diet, but also includes non-meat diets, if that is your style. As the title says, it is not a book about diet for training, but a diet for optimizing health." Mads A.
“Great book, full of pertinent information. Allows you to really establish a positive and right relationship with food, plus great knowledge on nutrition.“ Gustavo
“This book is amazing and must read for everyone that has an interest in what is actually important when it comes to healthy eating. I purchased this book for my mom who used to fall for nutrition scams all the time. Scams such as anything unnatural will hurt you, calories don't matter, eat more to lose weight, whole foods are the only way lose weight, and much much more lol. Now that she understands the importance of calorie balance along with the other principles that contribute to fat loss she's actually losing weight and keeping it off! she's not falling for scams any more and prioritizes what matters. Thank you RP for all that you folks do. Science really is stronger!” Sava A.
“A highly accessible examination, and discussion of, the principals of healthy eating. Totally readable and super insightful! I love the idea of focusing on the aspects of healthy eating that make the most difference in the equation (food composition, calorie balance, then macros) as opposed to the aspects that carry less impact (timing, supplements, etc.) This book really lays out the fact that there is no single way to eat healthy, rather, there are many ways and by systematic small adjustments over time we can radically impact our health. Totally worth reading if you like this sort of thing!” Jesse C
This book is your guide to understanding eating for general health. It includes a priority ranking of healthy eating concepts for everyone to understand and crushes common nutrition myths .
It
1)An in-depth discussion of basic concepts behind eating for better health
2)A priority ranking of healthy eating concepts – which ones matter the most, the least, and everything in between
3)Guides to improve your diet in a slow, steady, sustainable way for better health effects
4)Diet myth busting so you can focus on what works
5)A discussion on supplements that may enhance your health
6)Links to further literature if you would like to dive deeper into the science behind nutrition and its effects on health
What people are saying about ‘Understanding Healthy Eating’
“A good, no-no sense, review of how to structure your diet. It written in a down to earth style that conveys the information quickly and precisely. It assumes the starting point is a conventional western diet, but also includes non-meat diets, if that is your style. As the title says, it is not a book about diet for training, but a diet for optimizing health." Mads A.
“Great book, full of pertinent information. Allows you to really establish a positive and right relationship with food, plus great knowledge on nutrition.“ Gustavo
“This book is amazing and must read for everyone that has an interest in what is actually important when it comes to healthy eating. I purchased this book for my mom who used to fall for nutrition scams all the time. Scams such as anything unnatural will hurt you, calories don't matter, eat more to lose weight, whole foods are the only way lose weight, and much much more lol. Now that she understands the importance of calorie balance along with the other principles that contribute to fat loss she's actually losing weight and keeping it off! she's not falling for scams any more and prioritizes what matters. Thank you RP for all that you folks do. Science really is stronger!” Sava A.
“A highly accessible examination, and discussion of, the principals of healthy eating. Totally readable and super insightful! I love the idea of focusing on the aspects of healthy eating that make the most difference in the equation (food composition, calorie balance, then macros) as opposed to the aspects that carry less impact (timing, supplements, etc.) This book really lays out the fact that there is no single way to eat healthy, rather, there are many ways and by systematic small adjustments over time we can radically impact our health. Totally worth reading if you like this sort of thing!” Jesse C
116 pages, ebook
Published January 1, 2016
13 people are currently reading
602 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
August 11, 2024
Not that much science in it for a science based guide and lacks proper sources and gives advise on stuff that has scientifically proven better alternatives.
Although the guide claims to be science-based, the level of scientific detail and the depth of explanation might not be as rigorous as one would expect from a comprehensive, science-based guide. The guide appears to over simplify complex nutritional science to make it more accessible, which lead to it lacking scientific depth.
The document mentions that comprehensive literature reviews were used to inform the content, but the actual citations and references are not directly included in the text. Instead, it directs to their website for the full list of studies but that redirect is broken, it also shows a lack of transparency and thoroughness in source citation within the text itself.
While the advice given in the document generally aligns with mainstream nutritional guidance, it could be argued that some recommendations might overlook more effective or scientifically robust alternatives. For instance, the focus on calorie balance as the predominant factor might underplay the significance of food quality, nutrient density, and other dietary strategies that have also been supported by scientific research.
The guide's recommendations seem generally sound, but the lack of in-text citations and the heavy reliance on summarizing literature reviews might suggest a potential bias. Without clear references, it's difficult to verify the sources or understand the context of the studies used to support the claims.
The guide could have been enhanced by addressing emerging research areas, such as the role of gut microbiota in health and the impact of ultra-processed foods which are gaining attention in the scientific community but are only briefly mentioned or not discussed in detail.
Although the guide claims to be science-based, the level of scientific detail and the depth of explanation might not be as rigorous as one would expect from a comprehensive, science-based guide. The guide appears to over simplify complex nutritional science to make it more accessible, which lead to it lacking scientific depth.
The document mentions that comprehensive literature reviews were used to inform the content, but the actual citations and references are not directly included in the text. Instead, it directs to their website for the full list of studies but that redirect is broken, it also shows a lack of transparency and thoroughness in source citation within the text itself.
While the advice given in the document generally aligns with mainstream nutritional guidance, it could be argued that some recommendations might overlook more effective or scientifically robust alternatives. For instance, the focus on calorie balance as the predominant factor might underplay the significance of food quality, nutrient density, and other dietary strategies that have also been supported by scientific research.
The guide's recommendations seem generally sound, but the lack of in-text citations and the heavy reliance on summarizing literature reviews might suggest a potential bias. Without clear references, it's difficult to verify the sources or understand the context of the studies used to support the claims.
The guide could have been enhanced by addressing emerging research areas, such as the role of gut microbiota in health and the impact of ultra-processed foods which are gaining attention in the scientific community but are only briefly mentioned or not discussed in detail.
July 26, 2022
Dare I say this book is life changing in a positive way?
Very well laid out.
Easy to follow with practical implications and recommendations.
It is likely to boost my long term health more than any other book I read in the past ten years.
Totally worth the time and money.
Very well laid out.
Easy to follow with practical implications and recommendations.
It is likely to boost my long term health more than any other book I read in the past ten years.
Totally worth the time and money.
February 2, 2019
A no-BS approach to health, backed with solid evidence and reasoning.
January 4, 2025
Common sense information about eating healthy. Great read
February 26, 2024
This book should be taught to every person, particularly in food-abundant countries with poor nutrition in the population. This book does not preach extreme dieting, fad dieting, or omission of entire food groups. It does a great job of breaking down nutrition, what constitutes positive health changes in a diet, and how to begin to build a healthy diet (and what to do if you want more after that).
I have rated this book 5 stars for its content, but there is a caveat. The format of the ebook is not very good. The format does not load on e-readers like kindle due to it essentially being a PDF Image document, and the aspect ratio of the ebook makes it a pain to read on mobile without zooming in and panning across the pages. on a tablet such as an iPad it works much better for reading. I know it's a long shot, but to the Renaissance Periodization team, please update the format of this ebook to allow for resizing text and e-reader compatibility. Thank you.
I have rated this book 5 stars for its content, but there is a caveat. The format of the ebook is not very good. The format does not load on e-readers like kindle due to it essentially being a PDF Image document, and the aspect ratio of the ebook makes it a pain to read on mobile without zooming in and panning across the pages. on a tablet such as an iPad it works much better for reading. I know it's a long shot, but to the Renaissance Periodization team, please update the format of this ebook to allow for resizing text and e-reader compatibility. Thank you.
December 16, 2024
A simple guide
Have you ever wondered what makes up a healthy diet? Well, this book breaks it down in a simple way. It talks about calories, food, macronutrients, timing, hydration, and supplements. You’ll find this pyramid everywhere when people talk about healthy eating, and this book confirms that healthy eating is actually pretty easy. It helped me make sense of all the choices I have to make at the supermarket.
Have you ever wondered what makes up a healthy diet? Well, this book breaks it down in a simple way. It talks about calories, food, macronutrients, timing, hydration, and supplements. You’ll find this pyramid everywhere when people talk about healthy eating, and this book confirms that healthy eating is actually pretty easy. It helped me make sense of all the choices I have to make at the supermarket.
July 5, 2021
A good read and valuable summary of pretty much all the scientific research out there. I rate it 4 stars because it was a bit too beginner focused for my tastes, but the information was, as always with these authors, great.
June 14, 2024
Best book about diet I have ever read
Cuts through all the bs, and lays out a practical and realistic plan for healthy eating. No gimmicks, just science. Do NOT read this book if you are looking for a quick fix or fad diet. This is for people serious about getting healthier.
Cuts through all the bs, and lays out a practical and realistic plan for healthy eating. No gimmicks, just science. Do NOT read this book if you are looking for a quick fix or fad diet. This is for people serious about getting healthier.
January 23, 2019
Good guide for people getting into healthy eating, not something revolutionary, just the basics boiled down
January 5, 2022
Amazing book
I recomend this book to everyone trying to learn about eating healthy, its really easy to understand and there is no any bs in it :)
I recomend this book to everyone trying to learn about eating healthy, its really easy to understand and there is no any bs in it :)
December 6, 2022
A great introduction for people interested in eating healthfully.
September 3, 2023
This book literally changed my life. Lays out everything you need to know in a straightforward, easy to execute way.
May 31, 2024
Great for anyone interested in improving their diet, even if you know everything in the book it helps put everything in perspective for prioritizing what matters.
February 20, 2025
great book
Good, honest book on healthy eating. No diets, no pushing books to buy and no fads to wade through. Just good reading.
Good, honest book on healthy eating. No diets, no pushing books to buy and no fads to wade through. Just good reading.
December 4, 2025
This short book is full of valuable research-supported advice. It outlines the most important parts of a healthy diet, and thus gives readers clear priorities. No fads. Just science.
July 28, 2021
Really great for understanding the healthy eating fundamentals
I’ve always struggled to eat healthy and every time I started the process, I got overwhelmed with the choices I needed to make. This book really breaks it down and gave me exactly what I was looking for: the knowledge of what healthy eating actually is and what it’s not. If you’re starting on this journey as well, this will help you a lot and even if you’re well on your way, I’m sure it’ll clear a lot of misunderstandings and myths.
I’ve always struggled to eat healthy and every time I started the process, I got overwhelmed with the choices I needed to make. This book really breaks it down and gave me exactly what I was looking for: the knowledge of what healthy eating actually is and what it’s not. If you’re starting on this journey as well, this will help you a lot and even if you’re well on your way, I’m sure it’ll clear a lot of misunderstandings and myths.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews