9 Best-Selling Nutrition Books Millions Trust and Recommend

Endorsed by Tony Robbins, Ben Greenfield, Mark Sisson, these Nutrition Books offer science-backed insights and practical guidance for lasting health

Tony Robbins
Ben Greenfield
Ted Rubin
Updated on June 30, 2025
We may earn commissions for purchases made via this page
9 of 9 books have Kindle versions

When millions of readers and top experts agree on the value of certain Nutrition books, it's worth paying attention. Nutrition continues to evolve as science uncovers new ways food impacts health, longevity, and well-being. Today, nutrition plays a vital role in managing chronic disease risk and optimizing everyday energy, making trusted guidance more essential than ever.

Experts like Tony Robbins, who focuses on peak personal performance, Ben Greenfield, an athlete deeply invested in longevity, and Mark Sisson, author of the Primal Blueprint, have spotlighted books that go beyond fads. Their endorsements stem from firsthand experience and rigorous evaluation, lending credibility to these selections as practical and insightful guides.

While these popular books provide proven frameworks, readers seeking content tailored to their specific Nutrition needs might consider creating a personalized Nutrition book that combines these validated approaches. This customization can address your unique goals and challenges, blending expert wisdom with your personal context.

Best for science-backed plant nutrition
Kindle version available
Ted Rubin, a marketing strategist known for his work on digital engagement, encountered this book through a colleague and shared how it inspired him to adopt a vegan lifestyle. He humorously refers to it as "How Not To Kill Yourself," highlighting its impact on his health perspective. His experience underscores how the book’s evidence-based insights resonate beyond health professionals to anyone motivated to improve their nutrition. Alongside Vegan Olive, a longtime vegan blogger, their endorsements reflect a broad appreciation for the practical guidance Dr. Greger offers on adopting plant-based nutrition for disease prevention and longevity.
TR

Recommended by Ted Rubin

CMO and marketing strategist

Loving the new name I have for Dr. Michael Gregor’s book, the one that moved me to be a vegan How Not To Die, just shared with me by a colleague I sent to the book to… He looks great and told me he loved the book… “How Not To Kill Yourself” 🙏🏻😂❤️ (from X)

What started as Dr. Michael Greger's mission to sift through vast scientific research became a detailed guide revealing how diet impacts the top causes of premature death. You’ll uncover specific foods and lifestyle changes that research links to preventing and sometimes reversing diseases like heart disease and cancer, such as adding flaxseed for prostate health or hibiscus tea for hypertension. The book's Daily Dozen checklist offers a tangible way to incorporate these insights daily. If you're seeking evidence-based nutrition strategies to improve long-term health, this book offers clear, science-backed guidance without hype.

New York Times Bestseller
Author of NutritionFacts.org
ACLM Lifestyle Medicine Trailblazer Award
Read on Kindle
Best for ancestral diet explorers
Kindle version available
Ben Greenfield, an athlete and CEO deeply engaged in health and longevity, discovered this book amidst his pursuit of nutritional truth. He praises Paul Saladino as one of the most brilliant new minds in health and nutrition, highlighting Saladino’s rigorous research and authentic practice. Ben’s endorsement underscores why this book resonates widely, especially with those seeking alternatives beyond conventional diets. "Paul Saladino is, by far, one of the most brilliant new minds in the health and nutrition sector. This guy is the real deal. He is well researched, practices what he preaches, and has a passion for digging for the ultimate truth. I can't recommend him or his work highly enough." This candid recommendation reflects how the book challenged and expanded Ben’s thinking, inviting you to reconsider what optimal nutrition might look like. Expert Mark Sisson echoes this sentiment, emphasizing Saladino’s ability to blend traditional and functional medicine insights for impactful health breakthroughs.
BG

Recommended by Ben Greenfield

Athlete and CEO focused on health and longevity

Paul Saladino is, by far, one of the most brilliant new minds in the health and nutrition sector. This guy is the real deal. He is well researched, practices what he preaches, and has a passion for digging for the ultimate truth. I can't recommend him or his work highly enough. (from Amazon)

2020·384 pages·Nutrition, Diet, Health, Inflammation, Weight Loss

After analyzing extensive clinical cases and scientific literature, Dr. Paul Saladino developed a perspective challenging conventional nutrition advice by advocating for a meat-based ancestral diet. You’ll encounter detailed critiques of common dietary staples like grains and leafy greens, alongside evidence linking animal-based nutrition to reduced inflammation, better sleep, and improved mental clarity. Saladino’s medical background and patient experiences ground his arguments, making this book particularly useful if you’re seeking alternatives to mainstream dietary guidance or grappling with chronic health issues. The chapters providing sample meal plans and FAQs offer tangible support for readers ready to experiment with carnivorous eating patterns.

Read on Kindle
Best for personalized nutrition plans
Can send to Kindle
This custom AI book on nutrition is created based on your background, skill level, and the specific nutrition principles you want to focus on. By sharing your interests and goals, you receive a tailored guide that covers essential nutrition topics relevant to you. This approach ensures you learn exactly what matters most for your health journey, making the experience efficient and engaging.
2025·50-300 pages·Nutrition, Nutrition Basics, Macronutrients, Micronutrients, Metabolic Health

This tailored nutrition book explores foundational principles of nutrition and their practical applications to support your lasting health goals. It delves into essential nutrients, dietary balance, metabolism, and digestion, ensuring the content matches your background and interests. The book examines how core nutritional concepts influence energy, wellness, and disease prevention, offering a focused learning experience that aligns with your unique goals. By combining widely validated knowledge with your personal context, it reveals insights that many readers have found valuable, making the material both relevant and actionable. This personalized resource guides you through nutrition concepts designed specifically to enhance your understanding and promote sustainable health habits.

Tailored Content
Nutrient Optimization
1,000+ Happy Readers
View on TailoredRead
Best for plant-based diet advocates
Kindle version available
Tony Robbins, a leading business and life coach known for his work in personal development and health optimization, endorses this book, bringing significant authority to its nutritional insights. His recommendation aligns with a widespread recognition of the book’s influence on dietary choices and health outcomes. Robbins' focus on peak performance and longevity underscores why he values this detailed exploration of plant-based nutrition. Additionally, Aimée Lyn Inhc, a Cornell-certified plant-based nutrition expert, calls it the best book she’s ever read, reinforcing the book’s credibility among specialists dedicated to plant-based health approaches.
AL

Recommended by Aimée Lyn Inhc

Plant-based vegan, Cornell-certified nutritionist

Best book I’ve ever read. (from X)

2017·496 pages·Nutrition, Diet, Health, Plant-Based, Disease Prevention

After analyzing extensive data from a 20-year collaboration among Cornell, Oxford, and Chinese researchers, T. Colin Campbell and his son Thomas reveal the profound impacts of diet on long-term health. You’ll explore how a whole foods, plant-based diet can influence risks for cancer, heart disease, and diabetes, supported by both epidemiological evidence and biochemical research. The book challenges conventional dietary beliefs, especially regarding animal protein, and explains these findings through accessible chapters that combine large-scale studies with lab science. If you’re interested in the science behind nutrition and its practical implications for health, this book offers detailed insights that can reshape your understanding of diet and disease.

Read on Kindle
Best for evidence-based healthy eating
Kindle version available
Eat, Drink, and Be Healthy offers a fresh perspective on nutrition, backed by Harvard Medical School expertise, that has resonated widely since its release. This guide critiques traditional dietary models like the USDA Food Pyramid and introduces a scientifically grounded approach to choosing foods that may help prevent major illnesses such as cancer and heart disease. Its appeal lies in translating complex nutritional science into accessible guidance that empowers you to rethink what healthy eating means for your life. Whether you're seeking to improve your diet or understand the science behind it, this book provides a thoughtful foundation for making better choices.
2001·304 pages·Nutrition, Health, Dietary Guidelines, Chronic Disease, Cancer Prevention

Unlike most nutrition books that recycle outdated guidelines, Walter C. Willett M.D. draws on his extensive experience at Harvard Medical School to challenge the USDA Food Pyramid and conventional dietary advice. You gain a clearer understanding of which foods genuinely reduce risks for cancer, heart disease, and other chronic conditions, supported by scientific insights rather than popular myths. Chapters delve into nutrient-rich choices, debunking common misconceptions and offering a fresh framework for lifelong healthy eating. This book suits anyone who wants to cut through conflicting nutrition advice and make informed decisions based on credible research.

Read on Kindle
Best for prenatal nutrition guidance
Kindle version available
Lily Nichols is a Registered Dietitian/Nutritionist and Certified Diabetes Educator whose work centers on evidence-based prenatal nutrition. Known for her thorough research and sensible guidance, she has influenced nutrition policies worldwide and is a sought-after consultant and speaker. Her expertise drives this book, which offers clear, science-backed recommendations to help you make confident food choices that support a healthy pregnancy and optimal development for your baby.
2018·346 pages·Nutrition, Pregnancy, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Food, Prenatal Care

The research was clear: traditional prenatal nutrition advice wasn't aligning with the latest science. Lily Nichols, a Registered Dietitian and Certified Diabetes Educator, challenges outdated guidelines by meticulously analyzing current evidence to reveal what foods truly support pregnancy health and fetal development. You’ll learn why certain nutrients matter more than others, how to bridge nutritional gaps, and practical ways to incorporate these insights into your diet. Chapters delve into nutrient timing, food quality, and debunk common myths, making it a solid guide for anyone wanting to nurture themselves and their baby with confidence. This book suits those who prefer science-backed, detailed prenatal nutrition over generic recommendations.

Read on Kindle
Best for custom nutrition plans
Can send to Kindle
This personalized AI book about gut nutrition is created after you share your background, experience with digestion, and the specific areas you want to improve. By focusing on your unique goals and interests, the book offers a clear 30-day plan designed just for you. It explains how nutrition can restore your microbiome and boost digestion effectively, making the learning process both relevant and practical.
2025·50-300 pages·Nutrition, Gut Health, Microbiome, Digestive Nutrition, Diet Planning

This tailored book explores a step-by-step journey to improving gut health through nutrition within 30 days. It covers essential concepts of microbiome balance, digestive function, and nutrient impact, focusing on your interests and nutritional background. The personalized approach ensures the content matches your current knowledge and addresses your specific goals for gut restoration and digestive support. Through a detailed daily plan, it reveals how dietary choices influence your microbiome and digestion, helping you understand the science behind gut health and practical nutritional habits.

Tailored Guide
Microbiome Focus
1,000+ Happy Readers
View on TailoredRead
Best for gut health enthusiasts
Kindle version available
David Perlmutter, a board-certified neurologist and New York Times bestselling author, highlights how our microscopic companions profoundly shape our health. He points to the modern world's disruptions to this relationship and praises Dr. Davis for illuminating ways to restore microbial health. As Perlmutter notes, "Super Gut reveals how virtually every aspect of our health is fundamentally influenced by the vast array of microscopic organisms living upon and within us." This perspective reshaped his understanding of illness prevention and wellness, making it a compelling reason for you to explore this book. Alongside him, Mark Hyman underscores the book’s practical recipes and strategies that empower you to reclaim vitality and youthful vigor.

Recommended by David Perlmutter

Board-certified neurologist, New York Times bestselling author

Super Gut reveals how virtually every aspect of our health is fundamentally influenced by the vast array of microscopic organisms living upon and within us. Dr. Davis makes it clear that so many issues related to living in our modern world challenge this relationship and set the stage for illness. But the good news, as Super Gut so eloquently portrays, centers on our new-found ability to improve the health and functionality of the vast array of microbes upon which we depend. It’s clear that we can manipulate this relationship to our advantage. And Dr. Davis shows us how. (from Amazon)

2022·368 pages·Health, Nutrition, Gastroenterology, Healthy Living, Microbiome

William Davis, M.D., a preventive cardiologist known for his Wheat Belly series, explores how modern lifestyles have disrupted our gut microbiome, leading to widespread health problems. He presents a focused four-week plan to restore beneficial bacteria, reduce harmful microbes, and improve digestion, mood, and weight management, supported by over forty recipes and a detailed diet protocol. You’ll gain insights into identifying gut imbalances and practical ways to reprogram your microbiome for better physical and mental well-being. This book suits anyone interested in the connection between gut health and chronic conditions, especially those ready to adopt dietary changes with scientific backing.

New York Times Bestseller
Read on Kindle
Best for whole foods simplicity seekers
Kindle version available
Michael Pollan is the author of eight books, including several New York Times bestsellers like The Omnivore’s Dilemma and Food Rules. A longtime contributor to The New York Times Magazine and a writing professor at Harvard and UC Berkeley, his extensive background in food and culture shapes this manifesto. Named one of Time magazine’s 100 most influential people in 2010, Pollan wrote this book to cut through the noise of modern nutrition science and help you rediscover the simple truths of eating well.
2009·256 pages·Nutrition, Food, Dietary Habits, Plant-Based Eating, Food Science

Michael Pollan challenges the conventional wisdom that nutrition is about individual nutrients rather than whole foods. He reveals how modern diets have turned food into a confusing mix of isolated nutrients, leading to what he calls the American Paradox—our obsession with nutrition coinciding with declining health. Throughout the book, you learn to simplify your eating habits around Pollan’s succinct mantra: "Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants," which encourages thoughtful, natural food choices. This approach benefits anyone wanting to regain control over their diet, understand the cultural and scientific influences on eating, and enjoy food without guilt.

New York Times Bestseller
Read on Kindle
Best for nutrition science skeptics
Kindle version available
T. Colin Campbell brings a sharp insider’s perspective to the tangled world of nutrition science in The Future of Nutrition. Drawing on decades of research and his previous bestselling work, Campbell exposes how nutrient-focused thinking and corporate influence have clouded public understanding. This detailed exploration engages anyone who wants to see beyond dietary fads and understand the complex forces shaping what we eat and why. The book’s blend of history, science, and policy invites you to rethink nutrition for both health and society’s future.
2020·336 pages·Nutrition, Health Science, Public Policy, Whole Foods, Dietary Guidelines

What if much of what you believe about nutrition is misleading? T. Colin Campbell, a veteran nutrition scientist, challenges the prevailing focus on isolated nutrients rather than whole foods, unraveling how this approach has misdirected public understanding and health policy. You’ll gain insight into the hidden influences shaping dietary guidelines, including corporate interests, and the impact of our food culture on personal and environmental well-being. Chapters dissect myths around animal protein, fats, and cholesterol, offering a fresh perspective on how nutrition science can evolve to better serve society. This book suits anyone curious about the deeper forces behind nutrition advice and those seeking to rethink their approach to food and health.

2020 Foreword Indie Award in Health Category
Author of New York Times Bestseller The China Study
Read on Kindle
Best for practical plant-based cooking
Kindle version available
The How Not to Die Cookbook offers a unique bridge between scientific research and everyday cooking, reflecting Dr. Michael Greger's commitment to accessible, evidence-based nutrition. It presents readers with over 120 recipes designed to integrate the Daily Dozen checklist into delicious meals, appealing to those motivated to improve their health through plant-based eating. This cookbook is a valuable resource for anyone seeking practical guidance in transforming nutrition theory into enjoyable culinary practice.
2017·272 pages·Nutrition, Diet, Healthy Cooking, Weight Loss, Plant-Based Meals

Michael Greger, M.D., FACLM, known for his evidence-based approach to nutrition through Nutritionfacts.org, co-authored this cookbook to translate scientific findings into accessible plant-based meals. You gain practical knowledge on incorporating Dr. Greger's Daily Dozen—a checklist of nutrient-rich foods—into your daily diet, supported by over 120 recipes ranging from Superfood Breakfast Bites to Spaghetti Squash Puttanesca. This book suits anyone interested in adopting a plant-based lifestyle to potentially prevent or reverse chronic diseases, offering not just recipes but a framework grounded in nutrition science. While it focuses on health-conscious home cooks, the clear guidance benefits those eager to make lasting dietary changes without sacrificing flavor.

Read on Kindle

Conclusion

This collection underscores a few clear themes: first, nutrition is deeply personal yet grounded in universal scientific principles. Books like How Not to Die and The China Study provide research-backed evidence for plant-based eating, while The Carnivore Code invites exploration of ancestral diets, reflecting the diversity of nutritional paths.

If you prefer proven methods rooted in broad scientific consensus, start with How Not to Die and Eat, Drink, and Be Healthy. For those curious about gut health's role in overall wellness, Super Gut offers actionable strategies. Combining these reads can give you a well-rounded understanding.

Alternatively, you can create a personalized Nutrition book to combine proven methods with your unique needs. These widely-adopted approaches have helped many readers succeed, offering both foundational knowledge and practical tools for lasting change.

Frequently Asked Questions

I'm overwhelmed by choice – which book should I start with?

Start with How Not to Die for a science-backed overview of nutrition's impact on health. It's accessible and widely recommended, giving you a solid foundation before exploring more specialized topics.

Are these books too advanced for someone new to Nutrition?

No, many like Eat, Drink, and Be Healthy and In Defense of Food are written for general audiences, explaining concepts clearly and avoiding jargon, making them great for beginners.

Do I really need to read all of these, or can I just pick one?

You can pick one based on your interests. For example, choose Super Gut if gut health intrigues you or Real Food for Pregnancy if expecting. Each book offers distinct insights.

Are any of these books outdated given how fast Nutrition changes?

While nutrition science evolves, these books remain relevant due to their strong evidence base and expert endorsements, providing timeless principles alongside current research.

Which book gives the most actionable advice I can use right away?

The How Not to Die Cookbook translates nutrition science into practical recipes, making it easy to apply healthy eating habits immediately.

Can personalized Nutrition books complement these expert recommendations?

Yes! While these expert books offer proven frameworks, personalized Nutrition books tailor advice to your unique needs, combining popular strategies with your goals. Explore more here.

📚 Love this book list?

Help fellow book lovers discover great books, share this curated list with others!