Food for Thought: The Books I Ate this Year

Looking back, I guess I was hungry 😋

Dec 14, 2024

I’m still working my way through Eat to Beat Your Diet and 10% Human, but today I want to share my thoughts, opinions, and insights about these books with you. Starting with the reasons why I picked them up.

Why Did I Buy These Books?

I’ll need to back up some years to get to my point. Up until I was 26 years old, I was a skinny girl. Things changed when I moved to the mighty United States and married six months later. I started to gain weight gradually and consistently.

Then I was pregnant, gained more, and from time to time I would lose weight, only to find it again.

A decade plus some has passed, and nothing seemed to correct this out-of-rhythm dance. Until I got tired of it.

I realized that I wouldn’t have a 26-year-old body again after a pregnancy and a hysterectomy. Being skinny was not a goal to chase, because it’s empty in its purpose.

What I really wanted was to fit better in my clothes, feel comfortable in my body, and live a long, healthy life. The shape and form of the body didn’t matter.

That got me interested in learning more about my body and health in general, which led to listening to podcasts, interviews, and watching documentaries around the subject, which naturally brought me to books, and these books especially.

We Are What We Eat

Hard to find a quote truer than this one. I’ve tested. I’m sure you’ve tested it too—even if involuntarily, you’ve experienced the difference food can make in you.

The chemical reactions produced in our bodies when we eat are not just about fuel; they’re about communication. Each bite we take sends signals to our cells, our hormones, and even the trillions of microbes that inhabit our gut.

Trillions of microbes!

Every doctor, nutritionist, and scientist I was watching/listening to talk about the gut microbiome and how it dictates all we do, how we feel, and basically who we are.

What we eat governs the microbes’ world, which in turn governs us.

That’s why I was very excited to win 10% Human by Alanna Collen at an event about how our gut works. Me winning something on a raffle? It was meant to be!

When We Eat Also Makes an Impact

In 2017, I did a three-day fast for the first time. I still remember the feelings and the boost of energy going without food brought to me. I was alert, clear-minded, sharp, happy, and not hungry at all. Feeling light.

I loved how I felt, but life took over, and I didn’t stick to it regularly. This year, in some podcast, I met Dr. Mindy Pelz when she was launching Fast Like a Girl, and those feelings said a quiet hello inside.

I responded, and a 12-14 hour fast became part of my routine. On weekends I go a little longer.

I enjoy the lightness of my body not working on digestion all the time. I like how mindless eating lost its place in my routine, even when I’m not paying attention, it just happens.

At Some Point, It Was All About the Gut

The bottom line was that the gut microbiome controls everything. What you crave, the hormones you produce, how the brain functions, and somehow even your income!

A leaky gut was something that needed to be fixed. It could be the reason for my brain fog and psoriasis.

It does make sense to treat our co-habitant microbes well because they are paying rent by making us be and feel well, enjoying a long and disease-free life.

That was what got me into Fiber Fueled by Dr. Will Bulsiewicz. He suggests a meat-free diet, something I’m not considering for now, but I did cut red meat considerably, to just two or three times a month.

Ok, Eliminating Extra Fat Was Still a Want

Note that I didn’t say “lose fat.” I started using the proper word: eliminating! I wanted the excess fat in my body gone for good.

Still not really about the shape, but the body's quality of life.

Exercising alone didn’t bring much change, but when combined with fasting, more vegetables and legumes, and now these specific foods that have a chemical reaction that promotes fat burning…

Cha-ching! I found my map to the treasure of being comfortable in my own skin.

The bonus here, the majority of the foods Dr. William W. Li lists in Eat to Beat Your Diet are foods I like.

What Do These Books Have in Common?

They are written by doctors and scientists, providing well-explained information, backed with studies and research.

Except for 10% Human, all the other three have recipes to help you apply in real life what you just learned.

I haven’t tried the recipes yet because I prefer to just know what to eat and combine them my way. However, for the new year, I want to challenge myself to try new ingredients, so I'll report back when my explorations begin.

It’s an ongoing process, these four books have changed my eating habits and my conscience about food. They are helping me understand more about health overall.

This is a beginning. It happened that I came across those books while deep-diving in a field I’m not an expert at, but very curious about.

I’m open to suggestions and recommendations. Please reach out with your findings.

Quick Summaries of Fast Like a Girl, Fiber Fueled, Eat to Beat Your Diet, and 105 Human*

1. Fast Like a Girl by Dr. Mindy Pelz

Dr. Mindy Pelz redefines intermittent fasting for women, focusing on how hormonal cycles impact fasting benefits. She shares strategies for syncing fasting with life stages to boost energy, metabolism, and mental clarity. It’s about working with your body, not against it.

2. Fiber Fueled by Dr. Will Bulsiewicz

Dr. Will Bulsiewicz explores the gut microbiome’s connection to health, showing how fiber-rich foods fuel good bacteria, improving digestion, immunity, and mood. With practical tips, he emphasizes progress over perfection for transforming health one plant-based meal at a time.

3. Eat to Beat Your Diet by Dr. William W. Li

Dr. William Li focuses on metabolism, showcasing how specific foods activate fat-burning and longevity pathways. His approach prioritizes nourishment over calorie counting, helping readers optimize health and embrace food as a powerful tool for healing.

10% Human by Alanna Collen

Alanna Collen reveals how microbes make up 90% of us, influencing weight, immunity, and mental health. She explains how modern lifestyles disrupt this balance and offers insights into nurturing the microbiome for a healthier, more harmonious life.