Eat to Live

Joel Fuhrman's weight loss program rests on a formula: health equals nutrients divided by calories. For the first six weeks his diet is vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and low in salt and fat, after which animal products may be added. It rules out snacks, sugar and oils, and has been described as extremely restrictive. First written in 2003, the book was revised in 2011 with updated research and a new chapter on what Fuhrman calls toxic hunger and on the part food addiction plays in weight problems. He argues that a diet of high micronutrient quality reduces cravings and overeating. The revision also adds new recipes and menus and updated frequently asked questions.

Cardiologist Monali Y. Desai, founder of If We Were Family, named it among the nutrition books she recently found interesting, while noting she agrees completely with none of them.