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Food and Healing: How What You Eat Determines Your Health, Your Well-Being, and the Quality of Your Life
Yes, you are what you eat. For everyone who wonders why, in this era of advanced medicine, we still suffer so much serious illness, Food and Healing is essential reading.
“An eminently practical, authoritative, and supportive guide to making everyday decisions about eating that can transform our lives. Food and Healing is a remarkable achievement.”—Richard Grossman, Director, The Health in Medicine Project, Montefiore Medical Center
Annemarie Colbin, founder of New York's renowned Natural Gourmet Cookery School and author of The Book of Whole Meals, argues passionately that we must take responsibility for our own health and rely less on modern medicine, which still seems to focus on trying to cure rather than prevent illness. Eating well, she shows, is the first step toward better health.
Drawing on an impressive range of thinking—from Eastern philosophy to current medical journals—Colbin shatters many myths not only about the “Standard American Diet” but also about some of the quirky and un healthy food fads of recent years. What emerges is one of the first complete works on:
• How food affects our moods
• The healing qualities of specific foods
• The role of diet in preventing illness
• How to tailor a diet approach that is right for you
“I recommend it to my patients. . . . It's an excellent book to help people understand the relationship between what they eat and how they feel.”—Stephen Rechtstaffen, M.D. Director, Omega Institute for Holistic Studies
“Have a look at this important, well-thought-out book.”— Bon Appetit
“An eminently practical, authoritative, and supportive guide to making everyday decisions about eating that can transform our lives. Food and Healing is a remarkable achievement.”—Richard Grossman, Director, The Health in Medicine Project, Montefiore Medical Center
Annemarie Colbin, founder of New York's renowned Natural Gourmet Cookery School and author of The Book of Whole Meals, argues passionately that we must take responsibility for our own health and rely less on modern medicine, which still seems to focus on trying to cure rather than prevent illness. Eating well, she shows, is the first step toward better health.
Drawing on an impressive range of thinking—from Eastern philosophy to current medical journals—Colbin shatters many myths not only about the “Standard American Diet” but also about some of the quirky and un healthy food fads of recent years. What emerges is one of the first complete works on:
• How food affects our moods
• The healing qualities of specific foods
• The role of diet in preventing illness
• How to tailor a diet approach that is right for you
“I recommend it to my patients. . . . It's an excellent book to help people understand the relationship between what they eat and how they feel.”—Stephen Rechtstaffen, M.D. Director, Omega Institute for Holistic Studies
“Have a look at this important, well-thought-out book.”— Bon Appetit
384 pages, Paperback
First published July 12, 1986
102 people are currently reading
1121 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
January 21, 2010
I have the older version; I'm not sure how much has changed.
I'm trying really hard to learn about health and nutrition. This book was just a little too weird. I liked the beginning and the case she makes for food being able to heal your body or make it sick. I appreciate that as a vegetarian she has first-hand knowledge that some people actually get sick eating that way and so she's really cool about 'eat what your body needs and if it needs meat then do it.'
But she also talks a lot about expansive and contractive foods, making sure you eat food that grows up, grows down, grows sideways, etc at each meal. You also need all the flavors like sweet, salty, sour, etc and all the colors. And each food has energy fields and you need to be aware of that and eat according to high/low energy fields. I was feeling like if I didn't have a million charts in my kitchen I'd never figure this out.
I can't believe that feeding yourself or your family has to be so much work. While she had some great ideas, I can't see how you apply that to actual day to day eating. And some of the ideas where just a little out there for me.
I'm trying really hard to learn about health and nutrition. This book was just a little too weird. I liked the beginning and the case she makes for food being able to heal your body or make it sick. I appreciate that as a vegetarian she has first-hand knowledge that some people actually get sick eating that way and so she's really cool about 'eat what your body needs and if it needs meat then do it.'
But she also talks a lot about expansive and contractive foods, making sure you eat food that grows up, grows down, grows sideways, etc at each meal. You also need all the flavors like sweet, salty, sour, etc and all the colors. And each food has energy fields and you need to be aware of that and eat according to high/low energy fields. I was feeling like if I didn't have a million charts in my kitchen I'd never figure this out.
I can't believe that feeding yourself or your family has to be so much work. While she had some great ideas, I can't see how you apply that to actual day to day eating. And some of the ideas where just a little out there for me.
March 9, 2008
This is definitely the best book on nutrition and how to use food in an integrated and healing way that I've ever read. It is also probably the only nutrition book that I have read from cover to cover, because Colbin's writing is so clear and easy to follow. There are plenty of helpful charts in the book that make understanding some very complicated ideas very easy. Colbin's approach is based strongly on macrobiotics but with a lot more flexibility and more influences from other healing traditions outside of that of Japan. What I loved most about Colbin's approach is her emphasis on the importance of an individualized and flexible diet, that no one diet works for any person all of the time. It seems to me that American society is particularly obsessed with finding "the one" diet that will solve everyone's health problems and promise a long and happy life. Unfortunately, it's not that simple. HOWEVER, I feel that through learning more about what we really eat and how it affects our own highly unique bodies, then we can adopt a more exploratory and healing approach to the way that we eat.
January 3, 2010
This book was very helpful. The author is right, it is absurd that mainstream medicine pays so little attention to the link between diet and health. And I agree with her statement that so many of our medical problems are actually caused by uneccesary medical interventions, and that is one of the great tragedies of our time. I liked that this book was not rigid and sanctimonious in tone, as are so many writings in the holistic health movement. I also liked her emphasis on tailoring nutrition to the individual. This book was pretty realistic and down-to-earth. There were a few things in the book that I didn't agree with, however. I thought the author went too far in her opposition to vaccines - I understand the concern about vaccines, but they have helped to eradicate some awful diseases. I also didn't like the part where the author says that, in an ideal state of inner peace, you are supposed to stop feeling anger at all. Anger is a natural human emotion that serves a useful purpose, so it's not healthy or realistic to say that people shouldn't feel anger at all. Though I didn't agree with everything in the book, overall I found it very interesting and helpful.
November 14, 2017
If I could rate this book with 6 stars, I would. Colbin gives a very detailed account on what the body needs and how it can be healed through the right type of nutrition. My studies in the field of science have made me question the origin and reliability of any kind of information I receive. However, Colbin is good in providing past studies along with the information that she gives. I love how she refers to topics such as medicine and how drugs cause more damage on the body than healing it. Also, she does not force us to follow a single perspective on the topic; as she mentions in her book, each body is different and it has its own needs, maybe being vegetarian for a few years it will workout, but then the body will need more nutrients, so you might have to switch into pescetarianism (or eating meat), and again that might change in a few years later.
A very well-written book that provides invaluable information.
A very well-written book that provides invaluable information.
January 24, 2014
The most pedandtic nutrition resource I've ever seen-- I came out with a lot of new considerations regarding food and wellness (i.e. you can't eat the same things the entire year, you must adapt to the environment and pay attentions to "hot" and "cold", "expansive" and "contractive" foods). It's a wonderful guide to learning how to pay attention to our inner needs and use food to satiate at a deeper level.
August 19, 2013
Really hippie stuff, even for me. Could not get into it, or figure out for the life of me why my nutrition diploma in 2013 uses a book written by a cook from 1986 as a text book. Highlights include when she speculates that "low fat" might turn out to be the next "oat bran craze". Oy.
May 13, 2023
The style and structure of this book was difficult for me. It was hard to follow and I had a hard time figuring out applications. Additionally, I felt her feeling towards vaccinations and modern medicine concerning.
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November 8, 2024 vegetables this, vegetables that... nah. I fuck with sea vegetables now. #getwiththemovementscrub #algaeeater
December 28, 2020
I loved how this wasn't dogmatic! It provided a wealth of health-related information that goes against the grain and social conditioning, but always emphasized a flexible, open-minded, trust-your-body/gut/needs approach. It never had that dense, info-dump flow and I learned a lot! I enjoyed learning about acid and alkaline balancing as well as contractive and expansive food flux. It really emphasized that pendulum swing and need for balance between extremes over a strict regimen and I think that's why it endures as a holistic guide. Highly recommend for revelatory mind-body food-healing wisdom + digestible readable style + self-aware, helpful, compassionate author who expertly blended key information with personal accounts of both patients and herself. Definitely recommend!
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March 5, 2025This is a great book if you want to learn the intricacies of how what we eat affects our physical, psychological, and spiritual health.
Annemarie does a laudable job of intertwining her vast experience as a food and natural healer with many accounts from other prominent alternative healers, such as Michio Kushi.
I learned a lot from this book and will keep it as a manual to use when I feel out of balance and not well.
Annemarie does a laudable job of intertwining her vast experience as a food and natural healer with many accounts from other prominent alternative healers, such as Michio Kushi.
I learned a lot from this book and will keep it as a manual to use when I feel out of balance and not well.
September 12, 2021
A book that literally changed my life. To me, this is a revolutionary book on healthy eating.
I took a Masters in Nutrition years before finding this book, and I feel I learned more with this book than with the official traning.
I took a Masters in Nutrition years before finding this book, and I feel I learned more with this book than with the official traning.
December 1, 2016
An interesting book. Dated for sure but also still relevant.
May 13, 2018
*所謂「知性」是找出重要關聯的能力。Robert S. Mendelsohn, M.D.
1. 我們選擇的食物必須是真實而充滿生命能量的。P.V
2.如果只是吃得「健康」卻犧牲了「美味」，一點意義也沒有。P.VI
3. 挑食物，七要素：完全食物、新鮮天然純粹有機栽種的食物、當季食物、當地食物、符合傳統、均衡、美味。
4. 生命的創造必須靠同樣有生命力的東西，健康是來自各種身體功能的和諧。 P11
5. 我們的身體各部分，其實不能獨立看待，他耍屬於一個整體，存在於各種社會、情緒及精神層面。P13
6. 真正的治療要從認知開始：首先必須認識自己，了解身心的運作。P15
7. 通用法則：萬物皆一體、萬物變動無常、「如在其上，如在其下；如在其下，如在其上」、萬事皆有反向、能量的移動像鐘擺，在兩個極端之間來回、沒有所謂的意外、磁力法則則處處適用。P22
8. 每有所謂的意外：每一個事件或現象都有其存在的原因。把它歸咎於「機率」只是暴露我們的無知與疏忽，因為我們沒有去注意究竟是甚麼相互關係造成了這樣的結果。P22
9. 每一次的測試，都又向真理邁進一小步。經過不斷的測試，才能避免觀念的錯誤。如果相信「恆為真」，不但沒有彈性，而且不能接納錯誤、改變、和新的可能性。
10. 營養不良不一定是絕對性的，可能是相對性的，或許是因為吃進過多的某種物質而造成其他營養相形之下不足。P53
11. Walter Cannon:「身體架構本身並非固定不變，是透過耗損的動作持續在瓦解，也透過重複的過程持續在創造。」P76
12. 因為體內的不溫暖，情緒上也覺得不溫暖。......，很多長期採行低脂飲食法的人，都有煩躁、神經質和憂鬱的現象。P100
13. 不能幫你改善健康的飲食，繼續堅持下去疫點意義也沒有，不管它有多少客觀證據、科學論據或學理充分，也不管它的提倡者多麼具有說服力。所有飲食，只要不適合，就該立即停止。P217
14. 佛洛伊德告訴我們，潛意識引發的行為都是有理可循的。P241
15.身體不是用來生病的。─奇蹟之路《A Course in Miracles》P247
16.食物應該是藥，藥物也應該是食物。P261
17. 註：Henry Bieler, 既然身體靠食物餵養，因此用飲食來改變體質是生病時的最好選擇。P247
18 橋治大澤：「每一種病都可以治得好，但不是每一個人都治得好。」P300
19. 對付重大疾病，如果內心沒有跟著調整，縱然有全天下最好的飲食療法，效果也是有限。P303
20 大多數情況下，我們要做的就只是不要阻擋身體的自我療癒，讓身體去做好它的工作。P303
21. 我們要把現在的結果看成是過去行為的累積，把它當成一種資訊，不要當作一種懲罰。P304
22.健康只是意向的整合—如果身體能夠依循心靈的意向，那麼身體就會因為和諧而完整。失去了心靈的導引，身體的存在是沒有目的的。《奇蹟課程》P332
23.健康本身是一種心的旅程。如果把健康當成目標，那是一種糟蹋；只有把健康當成手段，才能有所收穫。P332
1. 我們選擇的食物必須是真實而充滿生命能量的。P.V
2.如果只是吃得「健康」卻犧牲了「美味」，一點意義也沒有。P.VI
3. 挑食物，七要素：完全食物、新鮮天然純粹有機栽種的食物、當季食物、當地食物、符合傳統、均衡、美味。
4. 生命的創造必須靠同樣有生命力的東西，健康是來自各種身體功能的和諧。 P11
5. 我們的身體各部分，其實不能獨立看待，他耍屬於一個整體，存在於各種社會、情緒及精神層面。P13
6. 真正的治療要從認知開始：首先必須認識自己，了解身心的運作。P15
7. 通用法則：萬物皆一體、萬物變動無常、「如在其上，如在其下；如在其下，如在其上」、萬事皆有反向、能量的移動像鐘擺，在兩個極端之間來回、沒有所謂的意外、磁力法則則處處適用。P22
8. 每有所謂的意外：每一個事件或現象都有其存在的原因。把它歸咎於「機率」只是暴露我們的無知與疏忽，因為我們沒有去注意究竟是甚麼相互關係造成了這樣的結果。P22
9. 每一次的測試，都又向真理邁進一小步。經過不斷的測試，才能避免觀念的錯誤。如果相信「恆為真」，不但沒有彈性，而且不能接納錯誤、改變、和新的可能性。
10. 營養不良不一定是絕對性的，可能是相對性的，或許是因為吃進過多的某種物質而造成其他營養相形之下不足。P53
11. Walter Cannon:「身體架構本身並非固定不變，是透過耗損的動作持續在瓦解，也透過重複的過程持續在創造。」P76
12. 因為體內的不溫暖，情緒上也覺得不溫暖。......，很多長期採行低脂飲食法的人，都有煩躁、神經質和憂鬱的現象。P100
13. 不能幫你改善健康的飲食，繼續堅持下去疫點意義也沒有，不管它有多少客觀證據、科學論據或學理充分，也不管它的提倡者多麼具有說服力。所有飲食，只要不適合，就該立即停止。P217
14. 佛洛伊德告訴我們，潛意識引發的行為都是有理可循的。P241
15.身體不是用來生病的。─奇蹟之路《A Course in Miracles》P247
16.食物應該是藥，藥物也應該是食物。P261
17. 註：Henry Bieler, 既然身體靠食物餵養，因此用飲食來改變體質是生病時的最好選擇。P247
18 橋治大澤：「每一種病都可以治得好，但不是每一個人都治得好。」P300
19. 對付重大疾病，如果內心沒有跟著調整，縱然有全天下最好的飲食療法，效果也是有限。P303
20 大多數情況下，我們要做的就只是不要阻擋身體的自我療癒，讓身體去做好它的工作。P303
21. 我們要把現在的結果看成是過去行為的累積，把它當成一種資訊，不要當作一種懲罰。P304
22.健康只是意向的整合—如果身體能夠依循心靈的意向，那麼身體就會因為和諧而完整。失去了心靈的導引，身體的存在是沒有目的的。《奇蹟課程》P332
23.健康本身是一種心的旅程。如果把健康當成目標，那是一種糟蹋；只有把健康當成手段，才能有所收穫。P332
May 6, 2013
While this book does have a ton of good information, it too often makes incredibly tenuous links between health and diet. While I accept a fair amount of non-scientific theory around health, this book was too woo-woo and New Age for me. It seems a good amount of the data is outdated. Along with this, there is too much of a leaning towards changing types of diets instead of attempting to balance a type that is slightly off (ie. eating meat because your vegan diet is too low in protein vs. of incorporating more protein sources into a vegan diet).
I would have given it three stars if not for a handful of dubious and despicable connections between food and sociality, for instance, the claim that overconsumption of sugar leads to crime.
I would have given it three stars if not for a handful of dubious and despicable connections between food and sociality, for instance, the claim that overconsumption of sugar leads to crime.
August 1, 2008
I absolutely love this book. I can only read a little bit at a time because it's so full of information. I think she has a good overall perspective and offers a lot of good advice for what to eat to be your healthiest. There are a lot of home remedy suggestions, and she shows you how you can really change how you feel and cure several problems without going to the doctor, but rather by changing your eating habits. Some of her philosophies are a little hippy-dippy but I love that kind of stuff and tend to agree with a lot of it.
March 9, 2014
I found this book sort of reaffirmed a few things I've realized while eating, but never knew why.
Certain foods affect the body differently. Some make you feel open, some make you feel closed off. Some give you an acidic feeling, others don't. Reading about the different major diets was interesting. All have their pros and cons (some more cons and less pros), so it was interesting to read the effects it can have on the body if maintained for a long period of time, if it's possible.
Certain foods affect the body differently. Some make you feel open, some make you feel closed off. Some give you an acidic feeling, others don't. Reading about the different major diets was interesting. All have their pros and cons (some more cons and less pros), so it was interesting to read the effects it can have on the body if maintained for a long period of time, if it's possible.
August 11, 2016
Outdated, worst sort of pseudoscience. Not bad premises but supported with un-scientific and emotional-based evidence and illogically formulated. Yes, diet is of prime importance to our health. However, I couldn't get past what she claims as universal laws. Universal to who? It's clear she cobbled them together to fit her thesis.
Disappointing.
Disappointing.
December 26, 2008
I asked my writing group for the title of a book on food that taught them the most, and all recommended this book. It has really helped push my thinking along. I just ordered a copy to own and will read again.
December 9, 2009
Brilliant read for anyone interested in the connection between the food they eat and their present physical, emotional and mental health. It's also a good place to start if you're thinking of making dietary changes.
October 25, 2012
Very good book. Read it for a "food therapy" class. Annemarie talks about where healthy eating meats everyday realities and what one person would consider good for them may not be good for another person. A must read for anyone interested in holistic nutrition!
August 8, 2023
Though it has a lot of information it's clear and easy to read. Love the way she interprets nutrition, in a natural and non restrictive way.
It's one of those book you should be revisiting every now and then.
It's one of those book you should be revisiting every now and then.
September 30, 2023
Terrific book. She would be so sad to see what the people working under her are doing to/with her ethos and legacy. the antithesis of what she was about <3 This book is one of a few that show who she was and what she wanted. Unfortunately greed tends to cloud those who worked under her.
January 5, 2008
Life changing, eye opening, inspiring, best book I've read in a long time.
January 20, 2008
This book will change your perspective on "dieting", health and the medical system. It's the common sense that many of us abandon when we're bombarded with hype and fads.
February 11, 2008
Everyone should read this book. Seriously.
March 31, 2008
Lovely and easy to read book that looks cross-culturally at nutrition and develops a theory of whole food nutrition. I love this book and re-read it often!
October 24, 2008
Excellent, excellent, excellent. Must read. I discovered this while attending the Institute of Integrative Nutrition.
December 10, 2010
This is not a book you sit down and read straight through. It's more like a permanent reference book you constantly go back to when your body out of whack.
Want to read
December 20, 2010Molly Recommendation.
May 6, 2011
Truly an amazing book. This covers so much that it's hard to condense it into one review. Suffice to say, Annemarie Colbin is my new hero!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews