Books Are Good For Your Health and Happiness—What We’re Reading Now

 One of our favorite quotes is by children’s book author, Dr. Seuss. He says, “The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.” And there is actually science behind that. The simple act of reading has been proven to increase empathy, help with memory, connectivity, sleep, stress and could even lower blood pressure. Sitting down with a good book for only six minutes can reduce heart rate and ease muscle tension.  Everyone at Nutritious Life loves a good book. And not just one type—fiction, non-fiction, health, self-help and cookbooks, of course. We’re sharing our faves with you, so set aside some time today to curl up with a good read.  We promise it’ll be time well spent.    COOKBOOKS   Half Baked Harvest Super Simple Cookbook by Tieghan Gerard This should be everyone’s go-to cookbook. The images are beautiful, the recipes and ingredients are simple (hence the name), and it boasts more than 125 recipes. My favorite part is that the introduction features a list of must-have pantry and fridge items to help the reader stock up on essential ingredients. There’s a recipe in this book for every occasion! —Emily, Community Coordinator Thug Kitchen: The Official Cookbook: Eat Like You Give a F*ck by Thug Kitchen I’d rather clean a bathroom than cook a meal, so cookbooks aren’t my thing. Even though I’m totally into healthy eating and I have a high appreciation for the magic that chefs create, cooking totally stresses me out! However, I make a pretty great sous chef when needed and I’m really good at loading a dishwasher, so there’s that… So, my fave cookbook is literally any cookbook that someone else is using to cook for me. But if I had to flip through the pages of one while drinking a glass of wine, then Thug Kitchen wins for the laughs.   —Karen, Chief Operating Officer The Good Housekeeping Cookbook: 1,275 Recipes from America’s Favorite Test Kitchen by Susan Westmoreland and the editors of Good Housekeeping Craving something, this cookbook will answer that! There are over a thousand recipes in this cookbook. And even better, it has tips from the GH Test Kitchen chefs. Not going to lie, I basically had no idea how to cook in my early 20s and this helped me so much. The meals look so impressive, but they don’t have a million ingredients and the directions are straightforward. It’s an awesome gift too! They even have a bride edition (yes, I have that one too!).  —Lindsey, Editorial Director IT’S ALL GOOD: Delicious, Easy Recipes That Will Make You Look Good and Feel Great by  Gwenyeth Paltrow This book is not only filled with the most inspiring pictures of GP, every recipe is simple, clean, and turns out exactly how she says it will.  I haven’t had one mess up to date.  —Cassie Piasecki, Nutritious Life Studio alumni and creator of @SmartyCassie Let Them Eat Vegan by Dreena Burton I don’t eat vegan anymore, but I learned to love my veggies using this cookbook. My copy is falling apart, held together with binder clips. —Jodi Thom NLC, CHC, Nutritious Life Studio alumni and Certified Health Coach The Art of Simple Food by Alice Waters The importance of seasonal food and the integrity of ingredients is the main reason for loving this cookbook. Food is simply delicious when you make the right flavor combination. This book supports my approach to cooking by letting the ingredients shine.  —Mercedes Vargas, Nutritious Life Studio alumni Coconut Lagoon: Recipes from a South Indian Kitchen by Joe Thottungal I don’t usually buy cookbooks since everything is so accessible online, but I recently visited a restaurant in Downtown Ottawa called Thali and the owner wrote a cookbook called Coconut Lagoon. It’s  about South Indian Cuisine. Since it’s similar to my homeland Sri Lanka’s cuisine, I got it. There are some great recipes showcased with a modern twist.  —Anoli Fernando, Nutritious Life Studio alumni  and creator of @amplitude_fitness  SELF-HELP The Untethered Soul: The Journey Beyond Yourself by Michael A. Singer This is my favorite of all self-help books because it pushed me hard—and I had to read it multiple times. It ultimately helped me to control my racing mind, which many of us are struggling with especially now.  —Keri Glassman, MS, RD, CDN, founder  The Defining Decade: Why Your Twenties Matter—And How to Make the Most of Them Now by Meg Jay, PhD As a 20-something year old millennial myself, I read this book fresh out of college (in one sitting) and still recommend it to my now 25/26 year old colleagues and friends. If you’re in your 20s or just want an inspirational, relatable read, read. this. book. I enjoyed that the book was from the perspective of the author’s clients (she’s a psychologist), so I think there is something for everyone to relate to in it, no matter your age or gender. —Emily, Community Coordinator 10% Happier: How I Tamed the Voice in My Head, Reduced Stress Without Losing My Edge, and Found Self-Help That Actually Works—A True Story by Dan Harris 10% Happier taught me that I probably need meditation in my life, and that one day maybe I really will be able to sit still for more than 5 minutes and view that time as productive. But as of now, I’m still a meditation failure experiment…and after reading the book I’m totally fine with it. —Karen, Chief Operating Officer Add More Ing to Your Life: A Hip Guide to Happiness by Gabrielle Bernstein There was a time in my late 20s where I was feeling pretty beat up by New York City. I had a great job (but worked too much). I had a boyfriend that I loved (who cheated on me), and I had a great social life (but my health was suffering). I had a panic attack that left me scared and in need of a change. I found this book randomly