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Best Body by Dr. Rachel Paul PHD, RD.
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Nutrition Books I Love as a Registered Dietitian

A collection of books with titles including "The Big Fat Surprise", "Why We Get Sick", and "Real Food for Pregnancy".

As a registered dietitian, I get asked all the time what nutrition books I actually recommend – and I love this question. There is so much noise out there when it comes to nutrition advice, and finding books that are both well-researched and actually readable is not always easy. I have put together a list of some of my absolute favorites that I think are worth your time.

Nutrition Books Worth Reading

Real Food for Pregnancy and Real Food for Fertility by Lily Nichols

Two nutrition books photographed on a wooden surface. The book on the left is "Real Food for Pregnancy: The Science and Wisdom of Optimal Prenatal Nutrition" by Lily Nichols RDN, CDE, with a dark cover featuring whole foods including eggs, salmon, berries, and vegetables. The book on the right is "Real Food for Fertility: Prepare Your Body for Pregnancy with Preconception Nutrition and Fertility Awareness" by Lily Nichols RDN, CDE and Lisa Hendrickson-Jack FAE, HRHP, with a light cover featuring illustrated whole foods and a cell fertilization image. A text overlay reads "2 of my favorites for sure. If you want to become pregnant or are already pregnant - these are must-reads."

These two are at the top of my list for anyone who is pregnant or trying to become pregnant. Lily Nichols is a Registered Dietitian and Certified Diabetes Educator, and she does an incredible job of breaking down the science of prenatal and preconception nutrition in a way that is practical and approachable.

Real Food for Pregnancy covers optimal nutrition during pregnancy with real food – not supplements and protein shakes. Real Food for Fertility takes it a step further back and focuses on preparing your body for pregnancy through nutrition and fertility awareness.

If you are in this season of life, these are must-reads. I recommend them without hesitation.

The Metabolic Approach to Cancer by Dr. Nasha Winters and Jess Higgins Kelley

A hand holding "The Metabolic Approach to Cancer: Integrating Deep Nutrition, the Ketogenic Diet, and Nontoxic Bio-Individualized Therapies" by Dr. Nasha Winters ND, L.Ac., FABNO and Jess Higgins Kelley MNT, with a foreword by Kelly Turner, author of Radical Remission. The white book cover features ten circular icons representing different health factors. A text overlay reads "I like the overall messages of this book, specifically: reducing sugar, ultra-processed foods, exposure to everyday toxins, and stress. She goes into a lot of detail which may feel overwhelming - but sticking with the main, broad points is definitely beneficial, especially for cancer prevention."

This one is a deeper read but the core messages are ones I come back to again and again. The book focuses on reducing sugar and ultra-processed foods, limiting exposure to everyday toxins, and managing stress as part of an overall approach to health and cancer prevention.

I want to be honest – it goes into a lot of detail that can feel overwhelming if you try to implement everything at once. My recommendation is to focus on the broad main points rather than getting lost in the specifics. Those main points – eat real food, reduce sugar, lower your toxic load, manage stress – are genuinely beneficial for everyone, not just people facing a cancer diagnosis.

Why We Get Sick by Benjamin Bikman, PhD

A hand holding "Why We Get Sick: The Hidden Epidemic at the Root of Most Chronic Disease and How to Fight It" by Benjamin Bikman PhD, with a foreword by Jason Fung MD, author of The Obesity Code. The teal book cover features the large title text in white with a red dot network pattern throughout the letters. A text overlay reads "An excellent overview of the whole-body impact of imbalanced blood sugar - from brain health, to heart health, cancer, diabetes, and more."

This is one of the best overviews I have read on the whole-body impact of imbalanced blood sugar. Dr. Bikman walks through how insulin resistance connects to brain health, heart health, cancer, diabetes, and more. It is science-based but written in a way that does not require a medical degree to follow.

If you have ever been curious about why blood sugar management matters beyond just diabetes prevention, this book will give you a clear and compelling answer. It changed the way I think about metabolic health and I think it will do the same for you.

The Big Fat Surprise by Nina Teicholz

This is one of my absolute favorite nutrition books and I recommend it constantly. It is an extremely well-researched breakdown of the science – or lack thereof – behind decades of recommendations to reduce dietary fat. Nina Teicholz spent years investigating the research, and what she found is eye-opening.

If you are still avoiding egg yolks or red meat because you were told they are bad for you, this book is a must-read. It does not just challenge conventional wisdom – it shows you exactly where that conventional wisdom came from and why it deserves to be questioned. It reads like a story, not a textbook, which makes it hard to put down.

A hand holding "The Big Fat Surprise: Why Butter, Meat and Cheese Belong in a Healthy Diet" by Nina Teicholz. The dark book cover features a roasted meat dish with a golden halo above it and a New York Times Bestseller banner at the top. A text overlay reads "I absolutely love this book. It's an extremely well-researched (but easy to read) breakdown of the science behind recommendations to reduce dietary fat. If you're still avoiding egg yolks and red meat, this is a must-read."

What These Books Have in Common

Each of these books pushes back against the oversimplified nutrition advice that has dominated the conversation for decades. They are all grounded in research, written by people who have done the work, and focused on helping you understand your body better – not selling you a quick fix.

That is exactly the kind of nutrition information I want to put in front of you. Real food. Real science. Practical tools you can actually use.

Inside Best Body, this is the philosophy we build everything around. We do not follow fad diet rules or demonize entire food groups. We focus on what the research actually supports – eating real whole foods, getting enough protein, managing blood sugar, and building habits that last.

Frequently Asked Questions About Nutrition Books

Are nutrition books a reliable source of information?

It depends on the book and the author. I always look for books written by people with strong research backgrounds who cite their sources. The books on this list all meet that bar. That said, no single book should replace personalized guidance from a healthcare professional, especially if you have a specific health condition you are managing.

Where do I start if I am new to learning about nutrition?

I would start with Why We Get Sick by Benjamin Bikman. It gives you a strong foundation for understanding how food affects your body at a metabolic level without being overwhelming. From there, The Big Fat Surprise is a great next read because it helps you unlearn some of the misinformation that has been repeated for decades.

Do I need to implement everything in these books?

No – and I want to be clear about that. Some of these books, especially The Metabolic Approach to Cancer, go into a level of detail that can feel like a lot. Focus on the main takeaways. Small consistent changes based on solid principles will always serve you better than trying to overhaul everything at once.

Are these books relevant if I do not have a health condition?

Absolutely. Most of these books are about prevention and overall health optimization, not just disease management. Understanding how blood sugar works, why dietary fat was unfairly demonized, and how real food supports your body is useful for everyone regardless of where you are starting from.

What if I want more personalized nutrition guidance beyond books?

Books are a great starting point but they cannot account for your individual needs, goals, and lifestyle. That is what Best Body is designed to do. We take the foundational principles behind real food and whole body health and build a personalized plan around your life. You can learn more and join us here.

Final Thoughts on My Favorite Nutrition Books

Good nutrition information should not feel complicated or fear-based. The books on this list share a common thread – they respect your intelligence, back their claims with research, and focus on helping you build a healthier relationship with food and your body.

If you want the full list of nutrition and mindset books I recommend, you can find my book recommendations here!

Take a look at my other Amazon favorites here!

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