One of my very dearest and oldest friends gave me a fantastic book entitled, The Happiness Diet for Christmas of 2012. Although I believed I was eating healthy before this book came into my life, I learned more than I anticipated. I’m more motivated to tweak things, take it up a notch, and stop certain practices that I was never aware were unhealthy.
The authors are a psychiatrist and a columnist, respectively. It makes for an interesting combination, and I found the neuroscience piece very enlightening. Everyone tends to cook by using certain foods coupled together, but the authors detail exactly why and how these combinations work on your brain and body to make you a healthier, happier human being.
One startling piece of the book dealt with vitamin and supplements. I consider myself sort of a vitamin and herbal supplements junkie. This all started 14 years ago while I was studying Tai Chi, and in the classes, the instructor also reviewed Chinese herbs , medicines, and healing practices. I bought myself a guidebook, and went to town on holistic remedies. In Happiness, they issue a strong caveat about taking any supplements , including a multivitamin. I know that the best way to be healthy is to get all your nutrients from your food, (obviously that’s the main concept of the book), but I’m also realistic, and so I took supplements. Now I won’t be doing that anymore.
Check out the book!
Let me know what you find surprising, interesting or enlightening!
And authors of The Happiness Diet, you’re welcome!!
E-mail me and I’ll let you know where to send the check(s)!
Note to readers:
I’m not sure why WordPress no longer allows me to italicize, bold, or underline in my posts. Until I figure it out, I apologize for the erroneous writing that is making reading far less fluid and presentable!! I know it’s irking the crap out of me!!
Beyond the Gym is a humorous look at the adventures one can find when they hop off the treadmill and head into the great outdoors. 
cdc
/ January 30, 2013This book is awesome! What an eye-opener. Good to know we are doing most of it…
Pauline
/ January 30, 2013Amen, my dear!!
Drew Ramsey, MD (@DrewRamseyMD)
/ January 31, 2013Hi Pauline – Thanks for the positive review! I’m so pleased to hear you enjoyed the book. Yes the supplement information is startling. Certainly some people need supplements – I take a vitamin D pill bc I was deficient and in my medical practice I put people who don’t like fish on omega-3 supplements as two examples. But I found that a lot of people take lots of things without any good science behind them and then when I learned more about the risks, contaminants, drug interactions, and most importantly lack of evidence that they are helpful, I got more concerned.
The book is out in paperback now and we caught a number of typos and errors. It also has a new cover that is a little more “friendly” as the burger was turning off some folks. Finally, today there were some segments on The Doctors show about the book! http://www.thedoctorstv.com/main/show_page/D5092
For more on food, mood and brain health check out my webpage DrewRamseyMD.com, @DrewRamseyMD or my FB page DrewRamseyMD.
THANKS!
Pauline
/ January 31, 2013Hi Drew,
I appreciate your feedback tremendously! I think your book is brilliant, and I’ve been talking to various people about it.
Aspects of it that I most appreciate are that it makes sense, it’s not extreme, or difficult to implement.
You are an inspiration!
Pauline