Food Intelligence: The Science of How Food Both Nourishes and Harms Us by Julia BelluzMy rating: 3 of 5 stars
This is a book about the energy we get from food and how our bodies use it. The authors explore centuries of nutrition science, research findings that challenge myths, and outdated policies that still influence how we approach food. Topics include the well-known Biggest Loser study, metabolism, flex fuel, body fat, food environment, personalized nutrition, calorie gut, and more.
“Reading this book, we sincerely hope, will make you see the stuff on your dinner plate as more than stuff on your dinner plate. We hope to simultaneously ramp up your sense of awe about food and your body and decrease the chances of being swindled by influencers, while helping you to be kinder to yourselves and each other” (p. 13).
The book avoids quick fixes and fad diets. Unlike other self-help diet books, this one offers a detailed explanation of how much our environment, nutritional claims, and the vitamin and supplement industry influence us.
Some myths are debunked with well-presented, scientifically supported studies. Others fall short; for example, the argument against eating animal-based foods. It references the EAT-Lancet study, which received strong backlash after publication for incorrect references, flawed conclusions, and misleading environmental claims.
There are excellent explanations of foundational nutrition science; however, the scientific rigor may deter the average reader.
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