When it comes to exploring the sheer breadth of a single topic in metabolic health — like the gut microbiome, insulin resistance, or women’s hormones — nothing beats a well-written, well-researched book. At Veri, we love the following 10 books because they cover foundational subjects in metabolic health with a level of depth that you can’t find in an online article. Written by leading experts in their respective fields, these books do an exceptional job at breaking down complex clinical research and offering practical lifestyle tips and interventions at the same time.
1. The Glucose Goddess Method by Jessie Inchauspé
A well-rounded introduction to all things glucose and metabolic health.
Jessie Inchauspé — also known as the Glucose Goddess — has great practical tips on managing your glucose levels, so much so that we’ve written about her “glucose hacks” before. With a background in genetics and a wealth of personal experiences and anecdotes with blood glucose management, Inchauspé provides a thorough and well-rounded examination of glucose and its effects on your everyday life in her book, The Glucose Goddess Method: The 4-Week Guide to Cutting Cravings, Getting Your Energy Back, and Feeling Amazing. She blends scientific research with practical, research-based advice on diet and lifestyle to help you stabilize blood glucose levels for overall metabolic health and well-being. It’s the perfect introductory book for anyone interested in improving their energy levels, managing their weight, preventing diabetes, or simply gaining a better understanding of how food affects their body. You can buy it here.
2. Outlive by Peter Attia, MD
If you’re looking for research-based tips on living a longer, healthier life, this book is for you.
Dr. Peter Attia is a renowned physician with a background in mechanical engineering and medicine, followed by years of research in the fields of aging, nutrition, and chronic disease. His practice is rooted in the principles of Medicine 3.0, which emphasizes the importance of preventative health in improving your lifespan and quality of life (healthspan). In his book Outlive, Dr. Attia explores topics ranging such as nutritional biochemistry, exercise physiology, sleep science, and stress management, emphasizing how these factors collectively impact the aging process. He also offers practical, evidence-based strategies and tips you can apply to your everyday life to live a longer, healthier life. You can buy Outlive here.
Recommended by the Veri team. “I love this book because not only is it a comprehensive guide to improving your healthspan, but it also charts the course for Medicine 3.0, where preventative health is just as important as treatment and we use personalized tools and data to make decisions. That is the future I want to live in, and this book helps us get there!”
3. Meals That Heal by Carolyn Williams, PhD, RD
A must-have cookbook for busy folks who want to improve their metabolic health.
Inflammation is one of your body’s natural responses to injury, and some level of inflammation is necessary for health and survival. But too much inflammation — and for extended periods of time — can actually lead to elevated glucose levels and make your cells less sensitive to insulin. Research indicates that eating an anti-inflammatory diet is one of the best lifestyle interventions to manage chronic inflammation. In her cookbook Meals That Health: 100+ Everyday Anti-Inflammatory Recipes in 30 Minutes or Less, Carolyn Williams, a registered dietitian and culinary nutrition expert, presents over 100 anti-inflammatory recipes that can be prepared in 30 minutes or less. This cookbook emphasizes the importance of diet in managing inflammation and promoting overall metabolic health. If you’re short on time and want a range of breakfast, lunch, and dinner ideas that are quick, easy, and above all nutritious, Williams’s recipes combine her knowledge of nutrition with practical cooking tips, making this book one you’re likely to turn to all year long for weekday meals. You can buy the cookbook here.
4. Survival of the Fittest by Mike Stroud
An insightful look into what the human body and mind are capable of achieving.
Mike Stroud, a physician and leading expert on human performance, brings his experience as a researcher and avid adventurer to Survival of the Fittest: Understanding Health and Peak Physical Performance. In his book, Stroud explores into the limits of human endurance and survival, particularly in extreme conditions. He examines the science behind physical and mental endurance, metabolism, nutrition, and physiological adaptation to stress, drawing on both research and his personal experiences in Antarctica and the Arctic. If you’re an endurance athlete, adventurer, or simply fascinated by the limits of human performance, Survival of the Fittest is a compelling read. You can buy the book here.
Recommended by the Veri team. “Motivational and inspiring, this book teaches us that we don’t need others telling us we can’t do something because we are too old or it’s too dangerous, hard, or painful. It’s speckled with anecdotes of people who do extraordinary physical feats — like a grandmother who did the Eco Challenge race at the age of 72. Not only does Mike Stroud inspire us to reach our fullest fitness potential, but he also shares insights into how this is physiologically possible from a medical perspective. I often think back on this 72-year-old grandmother, even years after putting down the book.”
5. Fix Your Period by Nicole Jardim
An excellent introduction to the role that glucose and insulin play in women’s health and hormones.
Nicole Jardim’s Fix Your Period offers a comprehensive and empowering guide to understanding and managing menstrual health issues. It covers everything from hormonal imbalances to period problems and provides natural, practical solutions rooted in nutrition science, recipes, and lifestyle interventions that align with Veri’s own Four Pillars of metabolic health (nutrition, exercise, sleep, and stress). Jardim’s background as a certified women’s health coach and her personal journey with hormonal issues add a relatable and informed perspective to the book.
Recommended by the Veri team. “Fix Your Period offers a deep dive into endocrine issues affecting women and how (primarily) our diet can affect these. This book really unlocked the understanding that insulin resistance is often an underlying issue for many women’s fertility issues. Jardim outlines what your period symptoms — or lack of — might mean, and offers a natural plan to combat them based on food choices, stress management, exercise, and sleep. I’ve often returned to this book for a re-fresh on the information it provides, as well as the delicious recipes that Jardim includes!”
6. The Sleep Solution by W. Chris Winter, MD
The best resource to learn about sleep science and how to improve your quality of sleep.
In his book The Sleep Solution: Why Your Sleep is Broken and How to Fix It, Dr. W. Chris Winter addresses a wide range of sleep issues and offers practical advice for achieving better sleep. Dr. Winter, a neurologist and sleep specialist, combines his extensive clinical experience and research in sleep medicine to provide readers with clear, accessible understanding of sleep and its disorders. A significant chunk of the book is devoted to dispelling common myths about sleep, including sleep duration, the effects of medications and alcohol on sleep, and the validity of popular sleep aids and remedies. He also explores the effects of lifestyle — including stress, diet, exercise, and technology — on sleep quality, and offers practical tips to improve sleep. You can buy The Sleep Solution here.
7. Cured by Jeffrey Rediger, MD
An inspiring exploration of the interplay between the mind and the body.
Cured: Strengthen Your Immune System and Heal Your Life by Dr. Jeffrey Rediger, a faculty member at Harvard Medical School, offers an in-depth look at spontaneous remission — a phenomenon where individuals recover from severe, often chronic illnesses without conventional medical treatment. Rediger, a doctor and psychiatrist, meticulously researches and investigates cases of spontaneous healing, interviewing patients, analyzing medical records, and exploring the power of preventative health interventions alongside modern medicine. In particular, he examines the role that the immune system, nutrition, stress, and community play in overall health. You can buy it here.
Recommended by the Veri team. “Cured remains my favorite book, and I often return to it. It is full of science-backed citations and paints an enlightening picture of disease and the immune system, showcasing that we may have more control over our health than we think. I can safely say that it has changed the way I think about my body, food, stress, sickness, and overall health.”
8. In the FLO by Alisa Vitti
An empowering guide to women’s hormones and living in alignment with your menstrual cycle.
In her book In the FLO: Unlock Your Hormonal Advantage and Revolutionize Your Life, Alisa Vitti offers a guide for women on optimizing health and well-being by aligning lifestyle choices with their menstrual cycle. Vitti, a functional nutritionist, and women’s hormone expert introduces the concept of cycle syncing, a method that involves tailoring diet, exercise, and even social and professional engagements to the phases of the menstrual cycle. The book is more than just a health guide — it’s a manifesto for women to understand their bodies and transform their lives in all aspects, via practical and approachable advice. You can buy it here.
Recommended by the Veri team. “Alisa Vitti introduced me to the idea of a woman’s menstrual cycle as the fifth vital sign of health (along with blood pressure, body temperature, heart rate, and respiratory rate). This book opened my eyes to the fact that what we eat has a direct effect on our metabolic health - it seems so obvious to say that now! As well as incorporating the other pillars of stress, exercise, and sleep into the equation, Vitti advocates for ‘cyclical living’, which takes into account the four stages of the menstrual cycle and how women can use this fifth vital sign of health as our superpower.”
9. The Good Gut by Justin Sonnenburg and Erica Sonnenburg
The leading resource on the science behind your microbiome and its effects on health.
In their book The Good Gut: Taking Control of Your Weight, Your Mood, and Your Long-term Health, Justin Sonnenburg and Erica Sonnenburg — both Stanford University microbiologists — delve into the critical role of the human gut microbiome in overall health. The Sonnenburgs bring their extensive research and expertise to this comprehensive guide, highlighting how the trillions of microbes residing in your gut have a profound impact on various aspects of your health, including weight, mood, and long-term well-being. They break down fascinating research behind the effects of diet on gut health, the gut-brain connection, and practical advice for maintaining a healthy gut. You can buy their book here.
10. Roar by Stacy Sims, PhD
For women of all ages looking for a comprehensive guide to fitness, training, and nutrition.
In Roar, Stacy Sims, an exercise physiologist and nutrition scientist with extensive experience working with elite athletes, explores the specific needs of female athletes — a topic often overlooked in sports science. The core message of Roar is that women are not small men and that their training and nutrition needs are distinct. Sims challenges many one-size-fits-all fitness and nutrition recommendations and offers tailored advice for women at all stages of their lives and athletic pursuits. The book covers everything from the menstrual cycle to nutrition, strength and conditioning, and age-based adaptive training. You can buy the book here.
Recommended by the Veri team. “Gamechanger for any woman who does sports on any level. Dr. Sims has been fronting the approach to research in exercise science that women are not ‘small men.’ For years, this branch of research has recruited healthy men in their 20s as participants and scaled the findings to apply to female athletes. Even my professor and younger PhD students at university fronted this view that ‘the male and female sexes are no different in performance; you only have to scale to the right body size’ when there is of course so much at play with the physiology of hormones, body composition, and other factors. This book will walk you through this without needing a degree in physiology.”
