9 Helpful Books About Maintaining a Healthy Body & Mind

9 Helpful Books About Maintaining a Healthy Body & Mind

Quick Tips For Staying Healthy

• Cook more meals at home
• Establish a workout routine
• Get a fitness tracker and compete with your friends
• Go for a hike now & then
• Consider switching to a plant-based diet
• Take up yoga and stretch regularly
• Establish a regular sleeping pattern

Emotion, Stress, & Health

In Depth

Many health enthusiasts agree that we're living in an age of advanced self-care. All over the world, people are trying their hardest to change their lives, strengthen their bodies, and achieve inner peace. With the help of a few trusty guidebooks, that is. If you're feeling stuck or simply want to try going down a different path for a change, here, in no particular order, are some inspiring reads that will help you set a new course.

At #1, we have Gene Stone's "Forks Over Knives, The Plant-Based Way to Health." Packed with heart-healthy recipes and tips for a balanced, sustainable diet, this is a cookbook with a difference. For so many chronic dieters, it can seem difficult to get into the swing of plant-based eating. Luckily, this read makes it easy to find delicious vegetarian recipes that won't leave you wanting.

At #2, we find "Your Medical Mind: How To Decide What Is Right For You" by Jerome Groopman and Pamela Hartzband. When we get to the doctor, we seldom know what questions we should actually be asking. Readers of this book will learn how to make the most out of any routine check-up and ask the right questions concerning a more serious illness. In this information-packed read, two M.D.'s use case studies and rare insights to guide patients through their own medical journey.

Readers of this book will learn how to make the most out of any routine check-up and ask the right questions concerning a more serious illness.

Coming in at #3, we get John J. Ratey and Richard Manning's "Go Wild." Paleo may be all the rage now, but how many of us think to accompany the popular stone-age diet with matching lifestyle choices? In this eye-opening book, readers get a look into humanity's development as hunter-gatherers and learn to make choices based on their primal needs.

In the #4 slot is "Body Respect" by Linda Bacon and Lucy Aphramor. So many books promise to make us slimmer, better versions of ourselves. So why do so many people still struggle with body image and weight? This revelatory work goes deep into the true motives behind the dieting industry, busting misconceptions about health, self-image, and the more harmful aspects of self-improvement culture along the way.

For #5, we have Christiane Northrup's "Goddesses Never Age." It's almost become second nature for us to fear getting older. But why shouldn't we embrace aging by looking deeper into ourselves and giving our creativity free reign? That's the question at the center of "Goddesses'" plan for a healthy, joyful maturity. Readers of all ages will enjoy the playful, inspired approach to aging that Northrup embraces.

But why shouldn't we embrace aging by looking deeper into ourselves and giving our creativity free reign?

At #6 is Evelyn Tribole's "Eating on the Run." Life can get pretty hectic in the modern world. With stress piling up and personal demands vying against work responsibilities for our attention, how are we supposed to stay healthy and dedicated to our personal goals? By working smarter, not harder. With suggestions for quick, healthy meals from an experienced nutritionist, this guidebook could help get you on a healthier path without impacting your busy lifestyle.

Coming in at #7 is "Driven to Distraction at Work: How to Focus and Be More Productive" by Edward M. Hallowell. Focusing at work is harder than ever for Americans. With the Internet constantly demanding our attention and office jobs slowly eating up our free time, how can we re-engage with what's important to us? If you've ever sought a way to increase focus and create a better work-life balance, this might be the right book for you.

For #8, we find "The Book of Metanoia" by Dannye Williamsen. The Greek word "metanoia" means "to change your mind." That's just what Williamsen intends to do by introducing readers to a collection of powerful quotes, coaching them to look inward, focus on what's important, and create the kind of freeing internal change they seek.

That's just what Williamsen intends to do by introducing readers to a collection of powerful quotes, coaching them to look inward, focus on what's important, and create the kind of freeing internal change they seek.

Finally, at #9 is "21 Days to Master Extreme Self-Care" by Cheryl Richardson. If you've ever wanted to change everything about your life, this book is a great place to start. By outlining a strict 21-day plan to gain greater insight and focus into who we are, Richardson encourages readers to truly nourish themselves on a mental, physical, and spiritual level.