4 out of 4 stars
Share This Review
Are you tired of fighting with your body through never-ending diets or plague yourself with harsh self-criticisms? If so, it may be time to cultivate a healthy relationship with food and self-image. I recommend the non-fiction book Nourish to help you get there. Nourish, written by registered nutritionist Heidi Schauster, MS, RDN, CEDRD-s, is not a diet book. This book offers no quick-fix to lose weight and does not endorse any fad diet. Instead, Nourish outlines ten steps to break free from unhealthy mindsets about food and weight.
Nourish may not be appropriate for people who are still in a stage of an eating disorder that requires medical or psychological attention. However, Schauster offers advice that may help people who are in the later stages of recovery or for those who have always struggled with healthy eating habits or body image issues. The book is divided into ten sections, each proposing a different strategy to make healthy changes. I liked that mindfulness is a recurring theme in each of these chapters. Above all, the book encourages eating and moving your body in a way that feels right and healthy, which requires slowing down and acknowledging all of the thoughts and feelings that occur as a result. Many readers will likely find this mental health advice beneficial, not just those suffering from eating disorders.
My favorite parts of the book were the scientific explanations of nutrition. Brief overviews of biological processes, such as the macronutrient groups and how stress hormones affect weight gain, were interspersed through the book where appropriate. Schauster, of course, is a nutrition therapist with 20 years of experience working with clients, so the lessons were simple enough for the average person to understand while maintaining their scientific integrity. As a biologist myself, I appreciated the accuracy of these explanations (as well as the well-researched bibliography!).
I also liked the narrative style of Nourish. This non-fiction book has a personal touch. Schauster utilizes her own struggles with disordered eating as relatable examples of the principles in each chapter. Beyond this, though, I thought reading Nourish was altogether relaxing. Schauster must be very gifted at guiding clients through their painful experiences in a calming manner. Readers who have stressed over diet books preaching restrictions and strict exercise may find this reassuring attitude to be a welcome reprieve.
I give Nourish 4 out of 4 stars. I believe it will serve its intended purpose of assisting those struggling with their relationship with food. I have put a few of the suggestions into practice myself. The book also appears to be professionally edited. I found no typos or grammatical mistakes. Overall, I found Nourish a pleasure to read. I recommend Nourish to readers who have a strained relationship with food or are interested in mindfulness practices.
******
Nourish
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Like gaporter's review? Post a comment saying so!