Please see below for specific categories of resources like books, movies, smartphone apps, podcasts and websites.
YouTube is a great source for all kinds of nutritional and lifestyle videos for free. Many of the authors listed below have lectures recorded on this platform.
For disease-specific resources, please visit the “Diseases Topics” page.
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
HELPFUL FACT SHEETS
The Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine is an amazing organization, not only by providing great healthcare to people through the Barnard Medical Center in Washington DC, but also by performing research on the benefits of a healthful, plant-based diet. They also do a lot of advocacy regarding animal rights and eliminating animal abuse. The founder and main physician is Dr. Neil Barnard and he has written many books on various topics regarding health and nutrition. Many are listed in the next section. Below is a list of some of their informative fact sheets addressing the role of nutrition in various diseases as well as other topics. The link to their site where the sheets are located is here, but below I’ve listed them with additional links.
Breast Cancer – How To Reduce Your Risk
Cholesterol, Heart Disease and Nutrition
Dairy Concerns – It Does Not Do A Body Good
Diabetes and Food – It’s Not The Sugar!
Fish is Much Less Healthier Than You Think
Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease
Meat – Red and Processed are Known to Cause Cancer
Menstrual Pain and Food Effects
Pregnancy and Plant Based Diets
BOOKS
GENERAL HEALTH:
“How Not To Age“. Michael Greger, M.D. Incfedibly well researched book about the keys to longevity. Clearly clarifying what is real science and what is hype.
One of the most acclaimed longevity researchers in the world outlines his research and findings.
Undo It!: How Simple Lifestyle Changes Can Reverse Most Chronic Diseases Lifestyle medicine pioneer Dean Ornish’s book about reversing chronic disease.
“Your Body in Balance” Dr. Neal Barnard’s book about how lifestyle, especially foods impact our hormones and health.
“The Plant-Based Solution: America’s Healthy Heart Doc’s Plan to Power Your Health” Joel Kahn, MD
“4Leaf Guide to Vibrant Health: Using the Power of Food to Heal Ourselves and Our Planet“
“How to Make Disease Disappear
“How to Be Well: The 6 Keys to a Happy and Healthy Life
“Approaching the Natural: A Health Manifesto
“Super Natural Home: Improve Your Health, Home, and Planet–One Room at a Time“
“How to be a Happier Parent: Raising a Family, Having a Life, and Loving (Almost) Every Minute
“Cured: The Life-Changing Science of Spontaneous Healing”, Dr. Jefferey Reddiger, MD, describes how “miraculous” cures and life threatening disease reversal is seen worldwide
“The Healing Self” Deepak Chopra. Great self-healing advice and information.
“The Hungry Brain: Outsmarting the Instincts That Make Us Overeat“. Stephan Guyenet, Ph.D. Excellent analysis and discussion about why we overeat and gain weight.
“A Parent’s Guide to Intuitive Eating: How to Raise Kids Who Love to Eat Healthy“. Dr. Yami Cazorla-Lancaster
“Nourish. The Definitive Plant-Based Guide for Families“ Brenda Davis, ND
“Your Bones: How You Can Prevent Osteoporosis and Have Strong Bones for Life―Naturally” . A great reference about bone health by Larra Pizzorno
“Body on Fire: How Inflammation Triggers Chronic Illness and the Tools We Have to Fight It”. Dr. Monica Aggarwal. Dr. Aggarwal is a Cardiologist who reversed her debilitating rheumatoid arthritis symptoms.
NUTRITION:
“Forks Over Knives: The Plant-Based Way to Health
“Fiber Fueled” Will Bulsiewicz, MD. The Plant-Based Gut Health Program for Losing Weight, Restoring Your Health, and Optimizing Your Microbiome.
“The Healthiest Diet on the Planet” John McDougal, MD
“The Truth About Food” David Katz, MD
“The Cheese Trap: How Breaking a Surprising Addiction Will Help You Lose Weight, Gain Energy, and Get Healthy“
“The Whole Foods Diet: The Lifesaving Plan for Health and Longevity
“In Defense of Food: An Eater’s Manifesto
“The China Study: The Most Comprehensive Study of Nutrition Ever Conducted and the Startling Implications for Diet, Weight Loss, and Long-Term Health
“Whole: Rethinking the Science of Nutrition
“Plant-Based Nutrition, 2E (Idiot’s Guides)
“Food: What the Heck Should I Eat?
“Proteinaholic: How Our Obsession with Meat Is Killing Us and What We Can Do About It
“Clean Protein: The Revolution that Will Reshape Your Body, Boost Your Energy—and Save Our Planet
“Becoming Vegan: The Complete Reference to Plant-Based Nutrition (Comprehensive Edition)“
“Eating on the Wild Side: The Missing Link to Optimum Health
“This Cheese is Nuts!: Delicious Vegan Cheese at Home
“Feeding You Lies” Vani Hari. Fascinating book about the food industry and the illusion of labels on packaging.
“Eat Wheat” by Dr. John Douillard. A great reference about the importance of real wheat in our diet.
“The Pleasure Trap” – Dr.s Doug Lisle and Alan Goldahamer show how our food choices have hijacked our ability to live a healthy and happy life.
“The Secret to Ultimate Weight Loss“. Chef AJ shares her personal experience, weight loss plan and many success stories.
“Eat To Beat Ypur Diet. Burn Fat, Heal Your Metabolism, Live Longer“. Dr. William Li, MD. A great primer about fat, what it does and how to lose it.
“The Sprout Book” by Doug Evans. A great source for learning about sprouts and how to easily grow them at home.
“Ultra Processed People: The Science Behind Food That Isn’t Food” Chris Van Tulleken. A facinating look intothe foods that are making us sick and fat, and which most of us are consuming on a regular basis.
WEIGHT LOSS:
“Eat To Beat Ypur Diet. Burn Fat, Heal Your Metabolism, Live Longer“. Dr. William Li, MD. A great primer about fat, what it does and how to lose it.
Forks Over Knives Healthy Weight Loss Tips
“The Secret to Ultimate Weight Loss“. Chef AJ shares her personal experience, weight loss plan and many success stories.
“The Hungry Brain: Outsmarting the Instincts That Make Us Overeat“. Stephan Guyenet, Ph.D. Excellent analysis and discussion about why we overeat and gain weight.
“Sicker, Fatter, Poorer. The urgent threat of hormone-disrupting chemicals to our health and future… and what we can do about it” Leonardo Trasande, MD
CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE:
“The Whole Heart Solution” Joel Khan, MD. How to prevent, reverse and cure heart disease.
“Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease: The Revolutionary, Scientifically Proven, Nutrition-Based Cure
DIABETES:
“Neil Barnard’s Program for Reversing Diabetes” Neil Barnard, MD
“Mastering Diabetes” Cyrus Khambatta, PhD and Robbie Barbarro, MPH
“Goodbye Diabetes” Wes Youngberg, MD
“The End of Diabetes” Joel Furhman, MD
DEMENTIA and BRAIN HEALTH:
“The Alzheimer’s Solution” Dean Sherzai, MD
“Brain Food – The Surprising Science of Eating for Cognitive Power” Lisa Mosconi, PhD
“Power Foods for the Brain” Neil Barnard, MD
“Heal Your Headache” David Buchholtz, MD – Migraine Headache management.
“Good Morning, I Love You” Shauna Shapiro, PhD. Mindfulness and self-compassion practices to rewire your brain for calm, clarity, and joy.
CANCER:
“Radical Remission. Surviving Cancer Against all Odds“. Kelly Turner, Ph.D. A must read for anyone with cancer or anyone taking care of or knows someone with cancer.
“Radical Hope” by Kelly Turner Ph.D. Her follow-up to Radical Remission
“Breasts: The Owner’s Manual” Dr. Kristi Funk. Breast cancer surgeon in Los Angeles.
“The Cancer Survivor’s Guide: Foods That Help You Fight Back” Neal Barnard, MD
“Chris Beat Cancer: A Comprehensive Plan for Healing Naturally“
IMMUNITY and AUTOIMMUNITY:
“Super Immunity: The Essential Nutrition Guide for Boosting Your Body’s Defenses to Live Longer, Stronger, and Disease Free
“Autoimmune Fix” Tom O’Bryan
“The Autoimmune Solution: Prevent and Reverse the Full Spectrum of Inflammatory Symptoms and Diseases
“The Wahls Protocol: A Radical New Way to Treat All Chronic Autoimmune Conditions Using Paleo Principles
“Goodbye Lupus: How a Medical Doctor Healed Herself Naturally With Supermarket Foods
“Body on Fire” by Dr. Monica Aggarwal, a cardiologist who struggled for years with debilitating rheumatoid arthritis.
EXERCISE and STRESS MANAGEMENT:
“Finding Ultra: Rejecting Middle Age, Becoming One of the World’s Fittest Men, and Discovering Myself
“Body by Science: A Research Based Program for Strength Training, Body building, and Complete Fitness in 12 Minutes a Week
“Strength in Stillness: The Power of Transcendental Meditation
” Dan Harris“Meat Is for Pussies: A How-to Guide for Dudes Who Want to Get Fit, Kick Ass, and Take Names
“Presto!: How I Made Over 100 Pounds Disappear and Other Magical Tales
“Plant-Based Muscle: Our Roadmap to Peak Performance on a Plant-Based Diet”” Robert Cheeke
“The Plant-Based Athlete: A Game-Changing Approach to Peak Performance” Matt Frazier and Robert Cheeke
“The Oxygen Advantage: Simple, Scientifically Proven Breathing Techniques to Help You Become Healthier, Slimmer, Faster, and Fitter” Patrick McKeown
“Kickoff.com“. Great vegan resource guide with many useful athletic links.
“The Stress Solution” Dr. Rangan Chatterjee, MD.
ENVIRONMENT, ANIMALS RIGHTS and INDUSTRY:
“Eat for the Planet: Saving the World One Bite at a Time
“The Uninhabitable Earth” David Wallace-Wells
“Diet for a Hot Planet: The Climate Crisis at the End of Your Fork and What You Can Do about It”
“Your Right to Know: Genetic Engineering and the Secret Changes in Your Food” Andrew Kimbrell
“Sicker, Fatter, Poorer. The urgent threat of hormone-disrupting chemicals to our health and future… and what we can do about it” Leonardo Trasande, MD
“Whitewash: The Story of a Weed Killer, Cancer, and the Corruption of Science“. Carey Gilliam
“Diet for a Small Planet (20th Anniversary Edition)
“OMD: The Simple, Plant-Based Program to Save Your Health, Save Your Waistline, and Save the Planet” Suzy Amis Cameron
“How2recycle.info” Great resource about what and how to recycle and how to read recycling labels.
“True Cost” Documentary about the “fast fashion” industry and how the world of clothing abuses and enslaves people and contaminates the planet.
“Diet for a New America: How Food Choices Affect your Health, Happiness and the Future of Life on Earth” John Robbins’ foundational book about how our diet impacts on our health and our future.
“Slaughterhouse: The Shocking Story of Greed, Neglect, and Inhumane Treatment Inside the U.S. Meat Industry” Gail Eisnitz
“Why we Love Dogs, Eat Pigs and Wear Cows. An Introduction to Carnism” Dr. Melanie Joy’s description of the concept of Carnism which is the belief system we have learned from our societies making eating certain animals acceptable and certain animal not acceptable.
“Spillover: Animal Infections and the Next Human Pandemic” David Quammen.
“Carbon Yoga: The Vegan Metamorphosis” Sailesh Rao
COOKBOOKS
“Plant Power Way” Rich Roll & Julie Piatt
The Plantpower Way: Italia: Delicious Vegan Recipes from the Italian Countryside
“How Not To Die Cookbook” Michael Greger, MD
“Neil Barnard’s Cookbook for Reversing Diabetes” Neil Barnard, MD
“The Vegan Starter Kit” Dr. Neal Barnard’s concise starter book about going plant-based.
“The Happy Pear: Recipes for Happiness”
“The Blue Zones Kitchen. 100 Recipes to Live to 100” – Dan Buetner’s follow up book to the Blue Zones (see above).
MEAL PLANNING SERVICES
- FREE 21-day kick start program by the Physician’s Committee for Responsible Medicine: www.21daykickstart.org
- Plant Power Way meal planner program: www.meals.richroll.com
- Health Made Simple meal planner program: go.nomeatathlete.com
- The Blue Zones meal planner: meals.bluezones.com
- Cooking classes online (I’ve done this and it was great): Rouxbe
- Happy Gut Course Transitioning to a healthy gut run by the Happy Pear.
- Lighter. Plenty of online support and meal planning services based on specific need.
WEBSITES
nutritionfacts.org (My favorite site!) The best resource for science-based nutritional information.
4leaf.com – Diet survey and basic information about nutrition.
Switch 4 Good. Olympic athlete and and world record holder Dotsie Bausch shows how elite athletes are thriving without dairy and how unhealthy it actually is.
Plant Trainers (www.planttrainers.com) – great resource for kids plant-based nutrition
buoyhealth.com. Online tool is a private, free service which analyzes symptoms and provides possible diagnoses.
LocalHarvest.org. Great online source to find local farmer’s markets.
mangomannutrition.com – Fantastic nutritional and athletic support and information for diabetes and overall health.
mercyforanimals.org – Animal cruelty and welfare information.
empowertotalhealth.com.au – Australian site about nutrition and health promoting aspects of a plant-based diet
cleaningservicenewyorkcity.com – Great resource for home-made cleaning products, makeup and household products.
thevegancalculator.com/#calculator – Calculates your positive impact on the world by changing your habits.
drfurhman.com – Dr. Joel Furhman’s website. Lots of information and some reliable products
drjoelkahn.com – Vegan Cardiologist promoting healthy heart-healthy practices
pinklotus.com – Amazing breast cancer resource run by Dr. Kristi Funk, breast cancer surgeon, also offering free breast cancer care.
heartstrong.com. Cardiologist Dr. Steven Lome’s site about heart health.
doihaveprediabetes.org – website about pre-diabetes. Take the survey.
Heart Disease Risk Assessment Tool. American College of Cardiology risk self-assessment tool.
Veganmedicaldoctor.com – Dr. Brooke Goldner, MD, Internist, who cured herself of Lupus.
foodbabe.com – Great information. She is an amazing food safety advocate and activist
bluezones.com – Live like the healthiest and longest-lived people in the world.
forksoverknives.com – excellent resource for recipes, courses and nutritional education in general.
rouxbe.com – Great online cooking school offering all kinds of classes.
Farmer’s Market Listing – Lists local farmers markets in your area.
Local Harvest Resource to find local CSA (Community Sponsored Agriculture farm).
onegreenplanet.org – Website dedicated to planetary and personal wellness.
richroll.com – Vegan ultra-triathlete/lifestyle enthusiast Rich Roll’s website. lots of great resources.
nomeatathlete.com Great resource for vegan/plant-based athletes.
well.org – Website dedicated to general human, animal and planetary wellness.
centerforfoodsafety.org – Organization fighting the industrial model and promoting organic, ecological, and sustainable alternatives.
eatwellguide.com – Provides an online directory of sustainably raised meat, poultry, dairy and eggs.
eatwild.com – Lists local suppliers of grass-fed meat and dairy products.
heritagefoodsusa.com – Sells mail-order traceable products from small farms.
foundmyfitness.com – Longevity researcher Dr. Rhonda Patrick’s site.
examine.com – Independent website reviewing scientific data about benefits of specific supplements.
chrisbeatcancer.com – Inspirational personal story and information about fighting and preventing cancer
eattobeat.org – Cancer information and prevention
ornish.com – Dr. Dean Ornish (lifestyle and wellness pioneer).
masteringdiabetes.org – Online information and support program to reverse Type 2 Diabetes and improve management of Type 1 Diabetes.
mindbodygreen.com – General personal wellness site.
care2.com – Human, animal and planetary wellness site.
thrivemarket.com Great online source for discount organic and non-GMO foods.
dryfarmwines.com – online source for healthier, lower sugar and sulfite, organic and bio-dynamically grown wines.
navs-online.org North American Vegetarian Society.
veganhealth.org – Evidence based nutrient recommendations.
4leafprogram.com – Information about plant-based diets.
ewg.org – Environmental working group. Lists healthy and unhealthy products including food, healthcare and cleaning products…
The Clean Label Project. Analysis of many food products and identifying labeling fraud.
Grove. A great online resource for natural cleaning products.
uhtrust.org – Environmental Health Trust. Lots of information about the dangers of cellular technology.
prolonfmd.com – Fasting mimicking diets. Longevity and health through fasting and caloric restriction.
myplasticlife.com – site discussing how we can reduce plastic in our lives.
packagefreeshop.com – great online source for plastic alternatives.
Outerknown. Sustainably and organically made modern, trendy clothing.
lifewithoutplastic.com – another great online source for plastic alternatives.
goingzerowaste.com – Discusses and gives ideas about how to reduce our waste production.
carnism.org Site dedicated to the issue of why we eat certain animals and not others.
www.paddisonprogram.com – An online resource dealing with Rheumatoid Arthritis, along with other inflammatory conditions.
www.almondcow.co – A great, inexpensive gadget for home to make all kinds of plant-based milks.
Nutramilk – Another device to make plant milk. A little more expensive but it also has options to make butters and is also a high speed blender.
beekeepersnaturals.com – A great source for healthy, ethical bee products.
www.wholesomellc.com – great nutritional information for cancer patients as well as a cancer prevention strategy. Online courses available.
Veganbootcamp.org – Don’t know how to start? Check out this site for information about how to start applying vegan principles to diet and lifestyle.
Force of Nature – All natural, do-it-yourself all-purpose cleaner and disinfectant. Saves lots of money and much cleaner and safer than traditional chemicals.
Pubmed – The National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) library of scientifically verified studies. 2 other such sites are:
MOVIES / DOCUMENTARIES / VIDEOS
“Food Choices” Documentary about the health and environmental impact of animal agriculture as well as ethical considerations.
“Forks over Knives”. Impact of nutrition on health overall.
“What the Health”. How the food industry influences health policy.
“Simply Raw”. Movie documenting how nutrition can reverse diabetes (link is to the YouTube version).
“Fed Up” Impact of the Standard American Diet on our health.
“Earthlings”. (narrated by Juaquin Phoenix). Ethics of animal agriculture
“Food, Inc” Animal agriculture and its effect on our food and diet.
“The Cove” Documenting the slaughter of dolphins in Japan
“The Game Changers” Plant-based athletes speak out.
“The Widow Maker”. Hidden risks of heart disease and how politics and profit dictate which procedures and tests are done.
“If Slaughterhouses had Glass Windows, Everyone Would Be Vegetarian” You Tube video by Paul McCartney.
“Vegucated” Info about the concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs), which house 280 million hens in filthy conditions.
“The Biggest Little Farm” Documentary about how a couple from the city convert a few hundred acres of dead, mono-cropped California dirt back into an organic, regenerative farm by using plants, insects, animals and Mother Nature’s wisdom.
YOUTUBE VIDEOS AND LECTURES
“Power Foods for the Brain” Neal Barnard, MD
“Glass Walls” Paul McCartney. Reveals animal cruelty.
“Reversing Heart Disease. What’s Good for You is Good for the Planet” Dean Ornish, MD. Pioneer in lifestyle medicine.
“The Transformative Power of Lifestyle Medicine” Dean Ornish, MD
“Tackling Diabetes with Nutrition” Neal Barnard, MD
“Fasting. Awakening Rejuvenation from Within” Valter Longo, PhD. Nobel Prize nominated researcher.
“There is no Hack. There is Just Hard Work” Rich Roll. Vegan ultra endurance athlete.
“Dairy. 6 Reasons you Should Avoid it at ALL Costs“. Mark Hyman, MD
“Nutrition and Ending Cardiovascular Disease” Kim Williams, MD. Former head of the American College of Cardiology
“Calorie Density: How to Eat More, Weigh less and Live Longer” Jeff Novick, MS, RD. Great lecture about the truth about fats and diet.
“Simply Raw”. Movie documenting how nutrition can reverse diabetes (link is to the YouTube version).
PODCASTS
The Exam Room – The Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine podcast about science-based nutrition topics.
Heart Doc VIP – Cardiologists Dr. Joel Kahn’s short, weekly podcast about heart health.
No Meat Athlete Radio – Vegan athletes discussing various health topics as they related to life and athletics.
Nutrition Facts – Podcast version of Dr. Greger’s amazing website Nutritionfacts.org. There is also a videocast version.
Chris Beat Cancer – Various topics discussed regarding healthy living to prevent, treat and beat cancer.
Podship Earth – Former head of the EPA, Jared Blumenfeld, discusses various topics affecting the environment and climate change.
Found My Fitness – Super geeky science/health topics provided by Rhonda Patrick, PhD.
The Mind Body Green Podcast – Former NBA basketball star and CEO of the super popular website Mind Body Green, Jason Wachob discusses various health and wellness topics.
Thought For Food – Similar to No Meat Athlete. 2 Vegan endurance athletes discussing various health and wellness topics.
Mastering Diabetes – Mastering Diabetes is a great online resource and program to get your diabetes under control.
Plant Yourself – Howard Jacobson, host and co-founder of the Big Change Program and WellStart Health. His mission is to inspire and empower you to make Big Changes for yourself, your family, your community, and our planet.
Ten Percent Happier – ABCs Dan Harris’s podcast about mindfulness and meditation
Nutrition Rounds – Nutrition and health podcast by Dr. Danielle Bellardo
SMARTPHONE APPS
Calm – Mindfulness and meditation app with guided meditations.
Snorelab – Snoring and sleep apnea analysis.
Happy Cow – Find and look up local restaurants with vegetarian and vegan options worldwide.
Daily Dozen – Dr. Michael Greger’s app which lists those foods/spices which you should eat every day.
Healthy Living – The Environmental Working Groups app which reviews and lists healthy products (food, personal care, cleaning…)
Dirty Dozen (and Clean Fifteen) – products to absolutely must buy organic and which you don’t have to worry about as much.
Fooducate and Cronometer – 2 apps which provide nutritional information about a vast array of products along with food tracking and planning functions.
Moment – Tracks your cellphone usage (IPhone only so far)
Way of Life and Productive – Habit trackers (I use both)
Sh**t I Smoke which shows you how bad the air quality is in your area and expresses it in terms of the equivalent number of cigarettes you are smoking, if you smoked. The app is available on Apple and Android devices.
21 Day Kickstart App. Phone app accompanying the great website.
The Neuro Plan App. Plan to improve cognitive function and minimize the risks of dementia.