Eat for wellness 

Have you ever heard the expression: “You are what you eat”? It is becoming increasingly clear to us these days that our health is directly connected to our diets — not just how much we eat but what we eat. Whether you are facing high cholesterol levels or allergic reactions, the Bracebridge Public Library has information to help you.

If you search the library’s catalogue using the terms “diet therapy,” you will find a wide variety of diets, including low carbohydrate, IBD, hypertension, celiac disease, coronary heart disease, food allergy and even manic depression.

A Promise of Hope by Autumn Stringam is the true story of her own miraculous treatment of bipolar disorder with diet. Working from the premise that some illnesses are caused by vitamin and mineral deficiencies, Autumn and her brother, both psychotic, were given a specially developed nutritional supplement with amazing results.

In Gluten-Free Girl, Shauna James Ahern shares her personal story and a gluten-free lifestyle. The recipes she provides are her own, not simply modified, and designed to be delicious as well as nutritious.

With his earlier book, Eat Right 4 Your Type, Dr. Peter J. D’Adamo introduced us to a revolutionary approach to dieting. His new book, The Genotype Diet is described as “your personalized plan for turning off the bad genes and turning on the good ones.” He promises that by following his advice you can change your genetic destiny and live the longest and healthiest life possible.

There is no need to settle for bland, boring fare when following a low-sodium diet, according to Don and Maureen Gazzaniga, authors of a new book The No-Salt, Lowest-Sodium International Cookbook. Everything from dessert to seafood dishes is included as well as helpful information about nutrient values and meal planning. Ethnic cuisines using a variety of spices are often far healthier than the standard North American diet, which relies heavily on salt for seasoning.

For those of us who are lucky enough not to be dealing with a chronic condition or a debilitating disease but still want to live a healthier lifestyle, How To Cook Everything Vegetarian by Mark Bittman is a comprehensive cookbook with simple meatless recipes for great eating.