Back to the Basics

Written/Edited by Michele Garber

Each year a flurry of new health and wellness trends emerges in our collective conscience—many of them in direct conflict with another. There is a steady din of do’s and don’ts primed to confuse the heck out of us. Eat a plant-based diet. Plants make you sick. Paleo. Gluten-free. Dairy-free. Only lifts weights. Only do cardio. YIKES!

Sometimes the best health advice is good, old-fashioned common sense. Eat a healthy, balanced diet. Move. Sleep. Avoid stress. So let’s take it down a notch and get back to the simple wellness ideas that work. Here are a few books to help you reconnect with reality.

Food Swings: 125+ Recipes to Enjoy Your Life of Virtue & Vice

By Jessica Seinfeld

In our ultra-health-conscious culture, most of us aspire to eat a healthy and balanced diet. Then there are those not-so-rare occasions when we absolutely feel an irrepressible urge to splurge. Hey, we’re only human. In her new book, Food Swings, cookbook author extraordinaire Jessica Seinfeld offers the perfect balance of naughty and nice with more than 125 simple and delicious recipes to satisfy whatever our food mood may be. Divided into two halves, the first part, “Virtue,” is packed with healthy recipes like ginger salmon and a quinoa bowl that will sate the appetite of healthy eaters—whether dairy-free and gluten-free or even vegan. The “Vice” half, filled with tasty recipes, will quench even the most insatiable cravings. If the occasional splurge helps us stay better on track with our healthy eating goals, then Seinfeld has found the sweet spot to eating both healthy and happy.

Fitter Faster: The Smart Way to Get in Shape in Just Minutes a Day

By Robert J. Davis with Brad Kolowich, Jr.

Getting and staying fit is a constant challenge, especially with our incredibly busy lives. So often we serve up a familiar array of excuses for why we don’t exercise: “I’m too busy, too tired or just don’t enjoy working out.” In his new book, health journalist Robert J. Davis joins forces with certified personal trainer Brad Kolowich to bust through the usual excuses and offer a fitness method that is both quick and effective. Applying science while debunking common fitness misconceptions, Davis brings a holistic approach to maximizing workouts. From finding the ideal balance between cardio, strength training and stretching to deciding which equipment and supplements are worth buying, he tackles the countless factors that may adversely or positively affect the success of an exercise regimen. His comprehensive fitness plan eliminates the practices that don’t work and streamlines those that do.

The Nordic Guide to Living 10 Years Longer:  10 Easy Tips For a Happier, Healthier Life

By Bertil Marklund, MD, PhD

Often admired for their sophisticated simplicity, Scandinavians are masters of sleek design and clean, healthy living. In his new book endearingly referred to as “a short guide to a long life,” Swedish Dr. Bertil Marklund shares tips for applying the principles of the healthy Nordic lifestyle to our daily lives. From advice on reducing stress to the importance of sleep, Dr. Marklund’s brief yet comprehensive guide outlines common sense habits that—once adapted—may lead to a healthier, more joyful and longer life.