Summer Reading: Outdoors Required

Summer and reading. They just go together for me. I always have a list of books I want to read, but it seems that during the summer, I have an easier time finding opportunities to do it. But, I will not be reading my books in bed and they will not be on my nightstand either. Nope. These books will be peeking out of my beach bag or safely packed in my carry-on travel bag, thrown in my picnic basket or swinging in my backyard hammock. This is my SUMMER reading list after all, and I plan to be outside in the fresh air as much as I can when I read these this summer.

All of these books happen to be written by someone in the medical field - two by doctors and one by a pharmacist.  It is exciting to me that many doctors are taking a more holistic and open-minded approach to practicing medicine.  They are opening their eyes to the role our diets play in how we feel and how our symptoms present.  They take into consideration our stress levels, our lifestyles and are more interested now in getting to the root of our issues and encouraging us, the patients, to take a more active role (and therefore responsibility) in how we feel.

3 Books on My Summer Reading List

Here are three non-fiction books I will be reading this summer on the topic of health and why I chose them. You can purchase all of them off Amazon or at your neighborhood bookstore or check them out at your local library.

1.  Clean Eats by Alejandro Junger, M.D.

On my list because . . .

I have been in a cooking rut lately and I need some inspiration.  I love all the healthy food blogs as well as Pinterest boards out there that are incredibly inspiring with plenty of recipes. In fact, I include them here on this blog and collect them on my Pinterest account here, too, but sometimes I just want inspiration from the traditional book format and, besides, I have no plans to carry my laptop outside.  I have heard great things about this book so inspire me, please!

2.  Gutbliss by Robynne Chutkan. M.D.

On my list because . . . 

The Chinese say the state of our health all begins in our gut, our digestion.  It is key and bliss anywhere including my gut sounds good to me.  Dr. Chutkan has her practice in Washington, D.C. and I think, if I had to see anyone to get more bliss in my gut, I think I would like to see her.  I saw her on TV and she seemed so approachable and knew her stuff!

3.  The Root Cause by Izabella Wentz, PharmD

On my list because . . . 

I have been diagnosed with Hashimoto's Thyroiditis.  It is an autoimmune disorder of the thyroid and is more complicated than just hypothyroidism. I wrote about thyroid care here and how you can take better care of it. Your symptoms can suddenly change and you can present with very seemingly unconnected ailments like anemia, intestinal permeability, food sensitivities, dental issues and the like. This is in addition to the other fun regular symptoms like weight gain, cold intolerance, hair loss, fatigue and digestive issues.  This runs in my family and I need to know all I can to keep myself healthy and anybody else in my family as well from suffering the frustration of this autoimmune disease.


Have you read any of these? What did you think? Please share what you plan on reading this summer - fiction or nonfiction, health related or not. I enjoy hearing what others are finding to be good reads, too, so that I can add 'em to my list!