Annie's Top 5 Summer Reads

There’s nothing I love more than curling up with a great book, especially during the summer when the weather is warm and I can do it outside on the beach, by the pool, or laying in the grass! A great book is also a wonderful travel companion on vacation. I typically gravitate towards books that can teach me something about optimizing or improving my lifestyle in one way or another because they help shift my perspective about the way I do things, take a look at areas I may be neglecting, or reinforce good habits I already practice. I’ve already knocked out some wonderful reads in the last couple months so here are my top 5 summer reads! 1) The Coconut Oil Miracle by Bruce Fife. Ok, so maybe this was the 100^th time I’ve read this one, but I just love it so much! It contains such valuable information about the benefits of coconut oil and how to incorporate it into your life. Every time I read it I’m inspired to use it in new ways and more frequently. 2) Mind Over Medicine by Lissa Rankin, M.D. I’ve always believed in the mind/body connection and that your thoughts do affect your health. This book provides the science to back up theory of connection between our physiological state and our thoughts. I love the notion that we can heal ourselves using the power of the mind to tap into the body’s self-repairing mechanisms, and this book teaches you how to do that. If you are interested in alternative healing methodologies, this is a fascinating read. 3) May Cause Miracles by Gabrielle Bernstein I absolutely love this book! It is all about choosing love and dropping fear to create abundance and happiness in your life. In the book, Gabby talks about shifting our thinking and using our inner guidance to release bad energy and let gratitude, forgiveness, and love to flow through all aspects of our lives. If you want a feel good read or are struggling with negativity, this one is for you! 4) The Sprouted Kitchen: A Tastier Take on Whole Foods by Sara Forte This is the perfect summer cookbook! The photos are so bright an vibrant, and you will be inspired to embrace all of the fresh summer produce available in your area and get in the kitchen. The recipes are all about seasonality, simplicity, and wholesome foods that bring your diet back to basics and flush out processed, packaged, on the go meals from your life. I love how Sara transforms simple whole-foods into something special and delicious that make me think about food outside of the box when I’m in a rut. 5) Perfect Health by Deepak Chopra This is a very cool book that applies the ancient Indian medical system Ayurveda to everyday life. There are quizzes in the book to help identify your dosha, or body type classification within the system, and a plan tailored to help bring you back into balance with your dosha. This is a great choice if you’re interested in an easy to understand introduction to Ayurveda and want to learn more about eating right for your body type. I hope you guys enjoy my top 5 summer reads and feel inspired by them like I do! Do you have a favorite health and wellness book? I’m getting ready to start a few new ones I just picked up for the fall so remind me to share them with you when I’m finished! Happy reading, Annie