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Book Recommendations

There's nothing like a good book to give depth of knowledge, a wider perspective, and an excuse to pass a rainy afternoon on the couch. 

 

If we here at VIGEO Health spend more time worrying about your health and researching you do, then something is wrong.   You owe it to yourself to be educated about your health, your future, and your options.   Listed below are a few places to start learning.  

Have you read something really good lately and think it should be on this list?   

Send your recommendations to dawn@vigeohealth.net, we would love your ideas!

Reading not your thing?   Try a podcast instead.  Better yet, have a listen while you go for a walk! 

Retention of material is proven to be better if your body is active as well.

Running Athletic Women

Fueling for Athletes

While I don’t always eat low-carb, and I certainly don’t race low carb, this book and other blogs and podcasts from Ben Greenfield have revolutionized my race-day fueling.   I went from having IBS and walking most of my Ironman “run”, to racing with no stomach issues for 24 hours to finish a 100-mile run.   I cannot recommend learning from Ben highly enough.

 

Greenfield, Ben. Beyond Training. Victory Belt Publishing, 2018.

https://www.amazon.com/Beyond-Training-Mastering-Endurance-Health/dp/1628603763

 

Greenfield, Ben. The Low Carb Athlete. Archangel Ink, 2015.

https://www.amazon.com/Low-Carb-Athlete-Low-Carbohydrate-Nutrition-Performance/dp/1517371538

Running Athletic Women
Sad on Couch

Niacin

Niacin (especially the non-flush version INOSITOL HEXANICOTINATE) is effective in helping with depression, mental illness, alcoholism, cardiovascular disease and many other issues.   We recommend this supplement often.

 

Hoffer, Abram; Saul, Andrew & Foster, Harold. Niacin: The Real Story.  Basic Health Publications, 2015.

https://www.amazon.com/Niacin-Story-Wonderful-Healing-Properties/dp/1591202752

Throw away your Calcium Supplements?

You have probably heard the slogan “Got Milk?”.   You also probably have absorbed the concept that bones contain calcium from this catchy ad campaign (paid for by the dairy council!).  What you may not realize is that bones contain 12 major minerals, along with more than 60 other trace minerals.   Over 90% of people have excess calcium in their bodies.  Calcium is perhaps the one thing that we almost always get enough of in food, whether we eat a lot of dairy or not. 

 

When minerals are out of balance, the body must choose which functions to prioritize.  It may not be a surprise to hear that the body will always choose to prioritize the functions which keep you alive!  However, the non-optimized parts which now aren’t working as well, can leave you feeling less than optimal.

Excess calcium and mineral imbalances cause multiple health problems, including obesity, heart disease, hypothyroidism, diabetes, anxiety, migraines, depression, dementia, and hypertension. 

However, it turns out that sea water contains all the trace minerals in just the right ratios that we need in our bodies.   Isn’t our creator amazing?!  

If you are interested in learning more about minerals and how to balance them, I suggest you check out a book called The Calcium Lie 2, by Dr. Robert Thompson.  It is short and to the point and worth a read. 

 

https://www.amazon.com/Calcium-Lie-II-Imbalances-Damaging/dp/0988386658

Overflowing Milk
Women Stretching

Hormones and Women's Health

Women are complicated.   Hormones are a big part of that.  But you can age more gracefully and retain your strength, energy and health by replacing your hormones as they decrease through menopause.  I’m not talking about birth control fake hormones, either.  Bio-identical hormones from a compounding pharmacy can make you feel youthful again, in many ways!

 

Wartian-Smith, Pamela. What You Must Know About Women’s Hormones: Your Guide to Natural Hormone Treatments for PMS, Menopause, Osteoporosis, PCOS, and More.  Square One Publishers, 2022. 

https://www.amazon.com/What-Must-About-Womens-Hormones/dp/0757005187

 

Brownstein, David. The Miracle of Natural Hormones. Medical Alternatives Press, 2003.

https://www.drbrownstein.com/shop/p/the-miracle-of-natural-hormones

 

Wright, Jonathan & Lenard, Lane.  Stay Young and Sexy with Bio-Identical Hormone Replacement: The Science Explained. Smart Publications, 2010.

https://www.amazon.com/Stay-Young-Bio-Identical-Hormone-Replacement/dp/1890572225

Men's Hormones

We live in a world which throws a lot curveballs at our bodies and our health.   It’s been proven that the average Testosterone levels in men have declined 1% a year for the last 30 years.  It’s no wonder that many men feel tired, sluggish, low on energy and low on libido.  Pssst…there’s something you can do about that. 

 

Campbell, Jay. The Testosterone Optimization Therapy (TOT) Bible: The Ultimate Guide to Living a Fully Optimized Life. 2018.

https://www.amazon.com/Testosterone-Optimization-Therapy-Bible-Optimized-ebook/dp/B079JVH28N

 

Kelly, Daniel.  Optimized Under 35: How to boost testosterone, increase your sex drive, and achieve incredible health.  Archangelink, 2019.

https://www.amazon.com/Optimized-Under-35-Testosterone-Incredible/dp/1790381150

Two Men Fishing in the River
Sad on Couch

Niacin

Niacin (especially the non-flush version INOSITOL HEXANICOTINATE) is effective in helping with depression, mental illness, alcoholism, cardiovascular disease and many other issues.   We recommend this supplement often.

 

Hoffer, Abram; Saul, Andrew & Foster, Harold. Niacin: The Real Story.  Basic Health Publications, 2015.

https://www.amazon.com/Niacin-Story-Wonderful-Healing-Properties/dp/1591202752

Citrus Fruits

The Low Carb Diet

This is the original idea that started the low carb trends, and this book is still a good place to start if you are curious about how controlling carbohydrates can benefit your life goals.

 

Westman, Eric; Phinney, Stephen; & Volek, Jeff.  The New Atkins for a New You. Touchstone, 2010.

https://www.amazon.com/New-Atkins-You-Ultimate-Shedding/dp/1439190275

Healthy Food
Bath Salts

Why You Should Eat More Salt

If the government tells you not to do something, do the opposite.   This is true about eating more eggs, more fat, and definitely more salt.  Salt is NOT a condiment.  It is an essential nutrient and shortages of it can cause insulin sensitivity, weight gain, sluggish metabolism, increased toxic load, and more. 

 

DiNicolantonio, James. The Salt Fix: Why the Experts Got It All Wrong – And How Eating More Might Save Your Life.  Harmony Books, 2017.

https://www.amazon.com/Salt-Fix-Experts-Wrong-Eating/dp/0451496981

Iodine and the Thyroid Connection

Why are SO many people on Thyroid medications these days?   Dr. Brownstein postulates, though his experiences with 6000 patients, that a shortage of iodine is the true underlying cause of low body temperature, dry skin, low energy, cold hands and other thyroid issues.   Iodine deficiency is found in 90% of people and can iodine can help reproductive organ problems as well as repairing toxin overload.  

 

Brownstein, David. Iodine: Why You Need It, Why You Can’t Live Without It. Medical Alternatives Press, 2014.

https://drbrownstein.directfrompublisher.com/catalog/book/iodine

Patient with Healthcare Nurse
Types of Mushrooms
Types of Mushrooms

Mushrooms

Paul Stamets is excited about mushrooms, and you will catch his excitement and want to grow them yourself by the end of this book!   

 

Stamets, Paul. Mycelium Running: How Mushrooms Can Help Save The World. Ten Speed Press, 2010.

https://www.amazon.com/Mycelium-Running-Mushrooms-Help-World/dp/1580085792

Healthy Water

Mind blown.  That’s how Dawn felt after reading this book.  Plus, you will want to go watch your pasta water boil in a pot, just to see if what the author describes is true.

 

Pollack, Gerald. The Fourth Phase of Water: Beyond Solid Liquid Vapor. Ebner and Sons Publisher, 2013.

https://www.amazon.com/Fourth-Phase-Water-Beyond-Liquid/dp/0962689548

River Rapids

Escaping Your
Comfort Zone

Soft.  We are soft creatures these days.   Go do something really hard.  Your brain will thank you for it.

 

Easter, Michael. The Comfort Crisis: Embrace Discomfort to Reclaim Your Wild, Happy, Healthy Self. Rodale Books, 2021.

https://www.amazon.com/Comfort-Crisis-Embrace-Discomfort-Reclaim/dp/0593138767

Rewiring Your Brain

Norman Doidge manages to educate about tough concepts as well as tell fun stories to keep the pages turning.  He has several books, and they are all good.   You might find yourself crawling around the house, though, to make sure all the circuits in your brain are firing!

 

Doidge, Norman. The Brain That Changes Itself: Stories of Personal Triumph from the Frontiers of Brain Science. Penguin Books, 2007.

https://www.amazon.com/Brain-That-Changes-Itself-Frontiers/dp/0143113100

 

Doidge, Norman. The Brain's Way of Healing: Remarkable Discoveries and Recoveries from the Frontiers of Neuroplasticity. Penguin Life, 2016.

https://www.amazon.com/Brains-Way-Healing-Discoveries-Neuroplasticity/dp/014312837X

MRI Scans
Young Confident Woman

Why We Can't Change Our Minds

Ever wonder why it’s hard to say Yes after you’ve said NO to something?    Why you would defend the Cov1D vaccine in the fact of overwhelming evidence that it is harmful and not helpful?   Why you lean to one political party even if you no longer agree with their ideals? Ironically, and somewhat unwittingly, perhaps, the authors reveal their own political bias while trying to explain why it is hard to let go of bias! If you are curious why we get stuck defending the ideas we’ve adopted for ourselves, even when they no longer make sense, then you will find this fascinating.  

 

Tavris, Carol and Aronson, Elliot.  Mistakes Were Made (But Not by Me): Why We Justify Foolish Beliefs, Bad Decisions, and Hurtful Acts. HMHCO, 2007.

https://www.amazon.com/Mistakes-Were-Made-but-Third/dp/0358329612

Essential Amino Acids

Imagine starting a long hike across the country and carrying only Carbs, Fats and Essential Amino Acids as your food source.   No other proteins or meats.   You will finish the hike stronger and healthier than when you started.   Yep, science has cracked the code! We can now put the exact ratios of protein building blocks that are needed by the human body into pill form.  Fascinating.

 

Minkoff, David. The Search For The Perfect Protein: The Key to Solving Weight Loss, Depression, Fatigue, Insomnia, and Osteoporosis.  Lioncrest Publishing, 2019.

https://www.amazon.com/Search-Perfect-Protein-Depression-Osteoporosis/dp/1544503865

Protein Products
Kids Racing

Children

Children are having more problems than ever before.   More toxins, more childhood vaccines, more electronics, less freedom to explore the outside world.  It can be overwhelming.   Children are short of nutrients, too, and can benefit from a balanced micronutrient lifestyle.

 

Saul, Andrew & Campbell, Ralph. The Vitamin Cure for Children’s Health Problems.  Basic Health Publications, 2011.

https://www.amazon.com/Vitamin-Cure-Childrens-Health-Problems/dp/1591202949

 

Bock, Kenneth & Stauth, Cameron. Healing the New Childhood Epidemics: Autism, ADHD, Asthma, and Allergies. Ballantine Books, 2007.

https://www.amazon.com/Healing-New-Childhood-Epidemics-Groundbreaking/dp/0345494512

Low Dose Naltrexone

Naltrexone was originally developed aa a drug for opiate abuse treatment.   In a low dose (2-4 mg rather than 50 mg per day) people have found it be helpful with many other chronic health issues.

 

Moore, Elaine & Wilkinson, Samantha. The Promise of Low Dose Naltrexone Therapy. McFarland & Co Publishers, 2009.

https://www.amazon.com/Promise-Low-Dose-Naltrexone-Therapy/dp/0786437154

Prescription Drugs
Vitamins

Vitamin D

Vitamin D is not a vitamin.  It’s a hormone.  It’s been a key factor is the severity of Cov1d cases. It’s also pretty important for health.  Since most people don’t get enough from sunshine, especially in the winter, this is a good read.

 

Holick, Michael. The Vitamin D Solution: A 3-Step Strategy to Cure Our Most Common Health Problems. Penguin Group, 2010.

https://www.amazon.com/Vitamin-Solution-3-Step-Strategy-Problems/dp/0452296889

Strength Training for People Who Hate Weightlifting

If strength training is an afterthought, and you don’t want to spend hours in the gym, this type of workout is for you.  Don’t get me wrong….it’s intense…but you only do it for 10 minutes a few times a week.   Highly recommended for reversing osteoporosis and age-related muscle loss.

 

Jaquish, John and Alkire, Henry. Weight Lifting Is A Waste of Time:  So is Cardio, and There’s a Better Way to Have the Body You Want.  Lioncrest Publishing, 2020.

https://www.amazon.com/Weight-Lifting-Waste-Time-Cardio/dp/154450893X

 

McGuff, Doug & Little, John. Body By Science: A Research-Based Program For Strength Training, Body Building, and Complete Fitness in 12 Minutes a Week. McGraw-Hill, 2009.

https://www.amazon.com/Body-Science-Research-Strength-Training/dp/0071597174

Weight Lifting
Pill Variety

Orthomolecular Medicine

Linus Pauling is the grandfather of orthomolecular medicine and won a Nobel Prize for his work on Vitamin C.   His attitude towards using nutrients to cure disease has fallen out of favor due to the high profits of drug companies suppressing the concept, but it is one we all need to get back to for better health.  Following in his footsteps is Andrew Saul, who managed to raise his kids to adulthood without ever giving them antibiotics!

 

Pauling, Linus. How to Live Longer and Feel Better. Oregon State University Press, 2006.

https://www.amazon.com/How-Live-Longer-Feel-Better/dp/0870710966

 

Saul, Andrew. Doctor Yourself: Natural Healing That Works.  Basic Health Publications, 2012.

https://www.amazon.com/Doctor-Yourself-Natural-Healing-Works/dp/1591203104

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