The World's Best Book Summaries
What types of food and drinks are bad for sleep? Can you take herbal supplements to improve your sleep? In Sleep Smarter, Shawn Stevenson discusses how your dietary choices impact your sleep patterns and quality. Certain foods and drinks can either help to promote a restful sleep or disrupt it. Check out the drinks and foods that affect sleep, positively or negatively.
How are ultra-processed foods and obesity linked? In what ways can ultra-processed foods become addictive? Dr. Chris van Tulleken, in his book Ultra-Processed People, explains how ultra-processed foods become addictive and cause us to eat more than necessary. Companies do this with tricks such as adding flavorings, softness, caloric density, and more. Keep reading to learn why ultra-processed foods are addictive and how they affect the body.
Is ultra-processed food addiction real? What experiment did Dr. van Tulleken perform to prove it? In his book Ultra-Processed People, Dr. Chris van Tulleken experimented on himself to prove how addictive ultra-processed foods are. Not only were UPFs addictive, but they wreaked havoc on multiple different areas of his body. Here’s a look at van Tulleken’s experiment and the alarming results.
Why is it so hard to stop eating your favorite chips? What are the implications of supermarkets containing aisle after aisle of sodas, frozen meals, and packaged snacks—and only tiny produce sections? In Ultra-Processed People, book author, professor, and infectious disease doctor Chris van Tulleken argues that ultra-processed food is destroying our health and our planet. He claims that ultra-processed food isn’t really food at all; rather, it’s akin to an addictive substance that tricks us into eating more. Below, we’ll explore van Tulleken’s arguments and his recommendations to counteract the effects of ultra-processed food.
How does procrastination affect your mental and physical health? How does putting off a task result in stronger negative emotions? The desire to avoid negative emotions often drives procrastination. Timothy A. Pychyl warns that this rarely works out the way we expect it, because procrastination doesn’t make us happier, nor does it make us feel physically better. Take a look at the mental and physical effects of procrastination on health below.
How did ancient humans, with no toothbrushes, have better oral hygiene? How are we hindering our jaw development with modern diets? In the book Jaws, Sandra Kahn and Paul R. Ehrlich explain that our ancestors tended to have healthier mouths than we have now, even though they didn’t have dentists or toothbrushes. This is due to a number of factors, including our modern diet. Here’s a look at the history of oral hygiene, including how ancient humans maintained their oral health by simply using their jaws as they were meant to be used.
What are the disadvantages of city life? Are city-dwellers really more stressed? How do cities affect sleep? In the book The Nature Fix, Florence Williams explains that people who live in cities suffer from excess stress, poor sleep quality, a lack of sunlight, and less empathy. While cities do offer numerous advantages for employment, socialization, and entertainment, the benefits may not outweigh the downsides. Here’s an in-depth look at the real cost of urban living.
In what ways can nature heal you? What are the benefits of listening to songbirds? Why does smelling eucalyptus make you feel relaxed? If you’re feeling stressed, depressed, or in a funk, consider the last time you went outside. In The Nature Fix, Florence Williams contends that humans have an innate affinity for nature, and thus the antidote to many of our physical and mental ailments is a good dose of the outdoors. Keep reading to learn about the benefits of time in nature, according to Williams.
Did you know that ancient humans had better oral health than we do today? Why are jaw problems so common around the world? What can you do to prevent jaw deformities? Jaws discusses how our modern lifestyle has created an epidemic of jaw deformities, leading to widespread health problems. Orthodontist Sandra Kahn and ecologist Paul R. Ehrlich say that a decrease in average jaw size is contributing to health issues. Keep reading for an overview of Jaws: The Story of a Hidden Epidemic.
How can mouth breathing jeopardize your oral health? How common is mouth breathing? The consequences of mouth breathing can go way beyond bad breath, according to the book Jaws by Orthodontist Sandra Kahn and ecologist Paul R. Ehrlich. They explain that mouth breathing can contribute to deformed jaws, gum disease, tooth decay, and more. Keep reading to learn why you should breathe through your nose, if you can.