Book Review: Deep Nutrition by Dr. Catherine Shanahan

This book permanently changed the way I think about food. Recommended to me by many friends and colleagues, Deep Nutrition is a book I wish I had read much sooner. With nutrition books there is always that initial consequence of just getting you to be a bit more conscious of your eating habits. What sets Deep Nutrition apart is the depth of scientific investigation behind the philosophy. That’s what really helps it to stick. This is not just another fad diet book; this is a work of impressive scholarship by an accomplished physician. In particular I was impressed with her discussion of cutting edge research into epigenetics. This is an area ripe for quackery that Shanahan handled with nuance and clarity.

The book’s big revolutionary idea is thinking of food not just as fuel but as a kind of biological language allowing our body to communicate with the environment. Shanahan’s argument for more traditional diets is premised on this notion. It’s a unique approach to say the least but properly mined it generates a lot of insight. I also respect that she isn’t afraid to get a bit political when talking about the food industry. It isn’t just the disgusting practices in how so much western food is produced — rather it is the fact that the entire food and healthcare industries have a financial incentive in keeping us unhealthy, overweight, and sick. It’s a bitter pill but the evidence she presents is compelling. Politics aside, thankfully her concrete suggestions for eating to maximize our health I think are generally good. I have only begun adopting some of her advice and I’m already seeing some improvements. Still, your mileage may vary. One should always take nutrition books with a grain of salt (pardon the pun).

Grade: B+