Naturally Healthy—I have an avid interest in nutrition, herbal medicine, and midwifery, and I therefore read widely on this topic. The complexity, the synergy, and the resilience of the human body is endlessly fascinating to me! I believe that God created our bodies to function a certain way, and that by studying it, we can learn better how to maintain healthy and productive lives for His glory. When we nourish ourselves inadequately or use invasive or toxic measures, however, we welcome a variety of diseases and health problems which hinder our ability to serve others.

You may not interested in becoming a professional “nutritionist” or “herbalist” or “midwife,” but I believe that all women who seek to nourish and care for their families are responsible to educate themselves in these matters. You have an immensely important task as the wife and mother in the home, and you need to take it seriously and joyfully. Raising a godly and healthy generation is key to our effectiveness in the world.

For books on horticulture and husbandry and their connection to health please see here.

Disclaimers: Unfortunately, some bizarre people have taken these important issues and run with them. Although I am glad to see more Christians explore natural health, they have written few authoritative or comprehensive books. I have tried to list the best of the writings on the topic of natural health, and have indicated in bold print specific reservations you may want to keep in mind when considering or reading these works.

This is the Age of Nutritionism, but, ironically, Americans have never been unhealthier. Seeing the amount of confusion and contradiction occurring amongst the “diet dictocrats,” this should be no surprise. There are many philosophies of health, each with its own devoted following; but I have found the following books to make the best sense historically and scientifically. I am not certified in any way, but am a Christian student who for years has been reading widely on these topics, and is now studying them “officially.”

I would like to remind my readers that health is ultimately in the hands of God. Faithfully following any health regimen will not guarantee perfect health. I do believe, however, that the Bible charges us with the responsible stewardship of our bodies as the temple of the Holy Ghost. Understanding our bodies is crucial to guarding them, but ultimately we rest in the wise and good Providence of God. What a restful thought!

Would you like to recommend your own favorite books on health, nutrition, or medicine?  Please email me.

health, nutrition, and medicine

This is a wonderful, straightforward guide for husbands and others who plan to attend a birth, whether a hospital or home-birth, a medicated birth or an unmedicated birth. This is not about making decisions for the mother, but about supporting her own educated choices. There is one quote given from a “co-mother,” but I was relieved to find it the only reference to unbiblical “partnerships,” a topic which is increasingly given attention in natural birth books.

Pregnancy and birth was once considered a beautiful and natural aspect of womanhood; today, in modern America, birth has become a medical event. When was the paradigm shifted?—When birth moved from the realm of midwives and homes, to the professional efficiency of doctors and hospitals. For years, doctors have been telling us that home-birth is dangerous, equating it with child-abuse. For years, midwives and mothers have been fighting back for the right to choose a more natural birth. What the medical industry doesn’t want to admit is that their birthing system, with its numerous invasive measures, is full of flaws and dangers about which parents are seldom informed—and which the doctors themselves avoid confronting. In this often disturbing but very important book, Mr. Wagner shares research and stories contrasting institutional births with home-births. The shockingly high number of maternal and baby deaths in American hospitals is the highest among industrial nations, and patient rights—and FDA laws—are grossly breached every day. Learn about various “normal” hospital procedures and how they endanger American mothers and their babies. Note: This book includes several true and very emotionally-demanding stories illustrating the tragic results of obstetrical malpractice. They need to be read, but not by pregnant women or the sensitive. Although I agree with Mr. Wagner’s outline of the problem, I disagree with his suggested solution: national healthcare. This solution seems contradictory to Mr. Wagner’s own arguments that a bureaucratic hospital system has led to many of the problems discussed. History demonstrates that the more responsibility we give to government and institutions, the more freedom we lose. I would suggest instead a decentralized medical system. [249 p]

Breaking the Vicious Cycle: Intestinal Health Through Diet, Elaine Gottschall, M.A., M.Sc.

If you or a loved one is suffering a chronic and debilitating intestinal disorder such as celiac, Crohn’s, diverticulitis, ulcerative colitis, irritable bowel syndrome, or those associated with autism, this is certainly an essential resource. Using extensive scientific evidence, Gottschall has developed an effective Specific Carbohydrate Diet™ that aims for an eventual recovery and cure. [79 p and recipes,  glossary, addendum, references and index]

Childbirth Without Fear, Grantly Dick-Read [ed. Helen Wessel]

Counseling the Nursing Mother: A Lactation Consultant’s Guide [Fourth Edition], Judith Lauwers and Anna Swisher

Excellent advise on counseling nursing mothers. Ignore the erroneous maternal nutrition advice, though the advise for nutrition counseling is excellent. The guide claims that a woman already eating 'healthfully' does not need to change her diet when she becomes pregnant / begins lactating. This is emphatically not true. The nutritional needs of a pregnant or nursing woman are greatly multiplied due to new demands on her body, and her diet needs to adjust accordingly. [679 p]

Often referred to as “Elimination Communication” (EC), Natural Infant Hygiene is a new name for an ancient, multicultural practice. Babies are born with an aversion to soiling themselves or their “nest,” but we train them to ignore their natural needs and urges by requiring them to soil their diapers. Later, we frustrate ourselves trying to retrain them into awareness of their elimination needs. The consequence is older toddlers in diapers and grade-school children still struggling with nighttime incontinence.The solution is an early awareness and acceptance of your baby’s elimination needs. Diaper Free! is well written and inspiring. Occasional references to macroevolutionary theory. [272 p]

Dr. Bob’s Drugless Guide to Balancing Female Hormones, Dr. Robert DeMaria, DC

The Herbal Kitchen: Cooking with Fragrance and Flavor, Jerry Traunfeld

Ignore the dedication / introduction in which we learn briefly (mercifully) of the author’s “alternative lifestyle.”

The Hysterectomy Hoax: The Truth About Why Many Hysterectomies are Unnecessary and How to Avoid Them, Stanley West, MD.

Mr. Pollan presents a very sensible outline of healthy eating. In a nutshell: Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants. Could it be as simple as that? This book discusses fundamental flaws in reductionist nutrition science, and outlines very practical suggestions for eating more healthfully. I highly recommend this book; it is bound to change your perceptions about food and health. Occasional references to macroevolutionary theory. [201 p and index]

My mouth waters whenever I open this book to browse through recipes and photographs. Who would not be enchanted by such culinary lyricism?—White Bean and Sage Fritters; Rhubarb with Berries and Candied Ginger; Fennel Soup with Saffron Dumplings; Plum Kuchen; Tomato and Avocado Salad with Lime-Herb Dressing. Madison shares a wide variety of beautiful and tasty dishes according to ingredient, so that you can enjoy fresh and local food from the farmers’ market, year round.

This essential book details home treatments for a wide variety of health issues, using nutritional and botanical remedies. Learn how to evaluate your family’s health, make simple herb remedies in your own kitchen, and recognize when it is appropriate to seek professional health. [298 pages] Available from Naturally Healthy.

Mother Food: Foods and Herbs that Promote Milk Production and a Mother’s Health, Hilary Jacobson

[322 p]

The Naturally Healthy Pregnancy: The Essential Guide to Nutritional and Botanical Medicine for the Childbearing Years, Shonda Parker

This book, written by a Christian wife and mother, is truly a breath of fresh air! You will find no New Age philosophy in these pages. Also, unlike some enthusiasts who adopt an “herbs or nothing” approach to healing, Mrs. Parker has developed a sensible Step Ladder Approach to Health™ in which health problems are addressed first on a nutritional/ lifestyle level, then herbs, then conventional medicine, and so forth. Here, Mrs. Parker expertly but simply discusses fertility, medical examinations, neonatal nutrition, breast-feeding, and birth control, all from a Biblical perspective. The bulk of the book lists common health concerns which accompany pregnancy, and shares how to address them most naturally and safely. (325 pages)

The Naturally Healthy Woman: Whole Health for the Whole Woman, Shonda Parker

Mrs. Parker offers a sound and unique perspective on the health and well-being of women. The Naturally Healthy Woman equips women to understand and care for themselves from puberty to the childbearing years to menopause. [247 pages] Available from Naturally Healthy.

This cookbook is so much more than a book of recipes! Excellent for those already introduced to healthful eating, it explores the benefits of lacto-fermentation, traditional fats, sprouting, grinding grains, natural sweeteners, and much more. Returning to the culinary traditions of native peoples, this book is absolutely filled with research and information. Highly recommended, but be prepared for unconventional ideas! The margins of this cookbook are chock-full of  quotes from various writers. Most of these quotes involve engaging anecdotes or important research, but occasionally are pagan or New Age in content. Note: I would not recommend consumption of raw meat as Fallon does.

Nutrition and Physical Degeneration, Dr. Weston A. Price

As an American dentist in early 1990s, Dr. Price noticed in his patients a disturbingly increasing trend of crooked teeth, dental diseases, and underdeveloped facial development. What was causing this epidemic? To answer this pressing question, Dr. Price and his wife traveled the world to find isolated civilizations and make examinations of their their teeth and facial structure. His discoveries are astounding. People who had never brushed their teeth or visited a dentist had exceptional dental health and facial development, as well as strength, intelligence, cheerful temperaments, fertility, and a conspicuous absence of many of the “accepted” diseases of industrialized civilization—including mental deficiencies. The key to this good health, Dr. Price believed, was their diets. Without exception, these people feasted on whole local foods, which varied widely according to the region. The moment these people were introduced to modern industrial foods (such as sugar and refined flour), however, their decline was gruesome. They developed tuberculosis, diabetes, dental carries and a myriad of other debilitating diseases. Their children developed narrow faces, crowded teeth, pinched nostrils, underdeveloped skeletal structures, reduced fertility, nervous temperaments, mental deficiencies, and other developmental deformities. In some cases, the tribes were close to extinction after accepting a modern diet. ¶This thick book contains detailed reports and plentiful photographs of Dr. Price’s evaluations and findings, as well as additional chapters explaining how to apply this information to our own diets. Especially emphasized is the important responsibility women have in nutritionally preparing their bodies for childbearing even before marriage and pregnancy.  I believe Dr. Price goes a bit too far when attributing crime largely to nutritional deficiencies. In addition, his vague and occasional references to “Nature” have an uncomfortable New Age connotation. Also disturbing is one foray into the realm of eugenics. These unsavory items comprise only a small portion of the book, however. Because this monumental work is the only one of its kind, I still recommend it. Just take it with the proverbial grain of (unrefined sea) salt! [511 p and appendix and index]

Organic Body Recipes: 175 Homemade Herbal Formulas for Glowing Skin and a Vibrant Self, Stephanie Tourles

[357 p and resources and index]

Pottenger’s Cats: A Study in Nutrition, Francis Marion Pottenger, Jr. MD

[123 p]

Principles and Practice of Phytotherapy: Modern Herbal Medicine, Simon Mills MCPP FNIMH MA, Kerry Bone MCPP FNIMH DipPhytoBsc(Hons)

When my siblings learned that I spent over $80 for this one textbook, they were shocked. This was a book highly recommended by Shonda Parker, and I am glad to say that it was worth my money. This heavy textbook is great for those who are already familiar with the basics of herbs and chemistry, and want a more scientific but still practical approach to herbal medicine. I feel that this is a must-have for practicing herbalists. The authors address various historical and modern theories and philosophies of herbal medicine; safety and efficacy of herbs; deciding what herbs and dosages are appropriate; drug-herb interactions; herbal therapies for pathological states and body systems. The last section is comprised of thorough monographs for more than forty-five common medicinal herbs. (648 p)

The skin is the surface of the body, and its condition speaks of the general state of the body. Rather than slathering on chemical potions that mask or suppress your skin’s natural purifying functions, use nutrition and organic beauty maintenance to restore beautifully and naturally healthy skin.

Sugar Blues, William Dufty

This is the book that gently but firmly convinced me to adopt the “sugar-free lifestyle.” Some mature subject matter. [177 p and index]

This book is an excellent reference for expectant mothers who desire the best possible hospital birth experience. Each chapter addresses a common aspect of hospital protocol, such as induction, episiotomy, IVs, maternal fasting, electronic fetal monitoring, epidurals, and cesarean section. It simply but scientifically outlines the pros and cons of each intervention, and helps you decide when each is necessary or not. It also mentions alternative, more natural procedures when they are appropriate. I was impressed by the objectivity of the book, and its foundation on sound scientific and medical principles. Goer also equips women with specific questions to ask prospective health caretakers. [218 p and literature summaries, appendix, and index]

Unraveling the Mystery of Autism and Pervasive Developmental Disorder: A Mother’s Story of Research and Recovery, Karyn Seroussi

Genetics, vaccinations.... what causes the heart-rending effects of autism or pervasive developmental disorder? When her son Miles was diagnosed at eighteen months with autism, author Karyn Seroussi was passionately determined to research its causes and cures. Through the internet she made connections with other parents, doctors, and medical researchers who shared their astounding findings—at the risk of losing their licenses, jobs, and credibility in the medical community. What was so controversial about their theories and findings? They had linked autism to digestive disorders, a fantastic-sounding proposition. Learn about antibiotics, vaccinations, food intolerance, Candida overgrowth, and hallucinogenic toxins—all while following Karyn and her scientific-researcher husband as they seek  a cure for their son... and find it. Afterwards, read Woodford’s Devil in the Milk and Gottschall’s Breaking the Vicious Cycle. (See above.)

The Vaccine Book: Making the Right Decision for your Child, Dr. Robert Sears, M.D., F.A.A.P.

I can recommend this book as one place to start your own journey of discovery and decision. Dr. Sears has compiled very complete information on each of the routine vaccines: the targeted disease (its nature, commonality, seriousness, treatment), traditional timing of the vaccine, the manufacturing of the vaccine, ingredients in the final vaccine solution, possible side effects of the vaccine, and reasons why someone might choose or not choose a particular vaccine. Additional chapters address vaccine safety research, vaccine ingredients, and common myths and questions. Dr. Sears has included his recommended alternate vaccine schedule for parents who want to vaccinate but are concerned about the risks of administering so many so early and in such large groupings. Although this is a pro-vaccine book, Dr. Sears is graciously tolerant of those parents who decide to forgo vaccines. He offers a few pointers to help them further protect their unvaccinated children. The writing is clear and accessible, if at times, I find, distractingly chatty and, very rarely, possibly condescending. [258 p and resource list and index]

The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding, LaLeche League

This is the hallmark manual of breast-feeding, discussing the why's and how's of feeding your new baby through toddler-hood. Feeding positions, scheduling, common problems, pumping, and various health concerns are thoroughly addressed in plain language. You'll want to pass up their unbiblical child-rearing / family roles advice as well as erroneous nutritional recommendations. They claim that a woman already eating 'healthfully' does not need to change her diet when she becomes pregnant or begins lactating. This is emphatically not true. The nutritional needs of a pregnant or nursing woman are greatly multiplied due to new demands on her body, and her diet needs to adjust accordingly. [412 p and appendix and index]