How Superfoods Work

De: Julia Nordgren, The Great Courses

Narrado por: Julia Nordgren

They’re not faster than a speeding bullet or able to leap tall buildings in a single bound. But that doesn’t mean steel-cut oats, blackberries, ginger, and other foods can’t swoop in to save the day - or at least our diets.

Fiber, protein, micronutrients, and disease-fighting phytochemicals, superfoods like these have it all. And when combined with other healthy foods, they can improve blood sugar, cholesterol levels, and body mass index. And the best part about superfoods: They’re not trendy, eccentric, or impossible to find. They’re all tried-and-true, everyday ingredients that offer real nutritional benefits for any sort of diet imaginable.

In How Superfoods Work, reevaluate the superfoods you are (or aren’t) eating and discover ways to make your life healthier - and more delicious. Delivered by chef and practicing physician Dr. Julia Nordgren, these 12 lessons reveal the nutrition science behind readily available superfoods, including dark chocolate (an indulgent way to eat healthy), miso (whose fermented nature promotes good gut health), and cashews (the perfect replacement for creamy elements in a recipe). Using her medical expertise, Dr. Nordgren explains how these and other superfoods work for our bodies; using her culinary expertise, she reveals quick and easy recipes to get more of these superfoods on your table.

Want a more efficient metabolism? Looking to strengthen your body? Want a more rewarding relationship with mealtime? Chia seeds to the rescue! Or avocado! Or green tea! Or kale!

©2020 Audible Originals, LLC (P)2020 Audible Originals, LLC.

Great. quick primer on Superfoods!

Author and narrator were compelling and thoughtful. Will recommend as a reference to others interested in learning more about how diet can make a profound difference in health.

Excellent...

This is a very informative audio book by a very knowledgeable physician which also includes recipes for many superfoods to improve our health. There are also tips & tricks to alternatives for dairy, gluten or egg free recipes. There are also actual medical reasons and interactions discussed between medications with superfoods. Many of the foods discussed can be alternatives to prescription medications for reducing blood pressure and cholesterol for example. There are also kid friendly recipes & tips. This is one book I'd want to keep. She also has a cookbook.

Great information, needs text

As an audiobook, this is extremely short. It was still highly interesting though. I think "How Superfoods Work" is a little misleading. Perhaps something like "12 Foods You Should Be Eating More Of", although I suppose that sounds less scientific and more like a listicle.Also, it's really 14, as Ginger, Garlic and Scallions are all covered in one chapter.

The auther, a doctor and chef, talks about these foods:
1. Steel-Cut Oats
2. Blackberries
3. Chia seeds
4. Eggs
5. Avocado
6. Turmeric
7. Miso
8. Ginger, Garlic and Scallion (the "trinity of Asian cuisine" - discussed together in one chapter although they are three separate foods)
9. Green Tea
10. Cashews
11. Kale
12. Dark Chocolate

The author shares information about what makes each food so useful as part of your diet, personal stories, and recipes.

The problem is, recipes don't work super great in an audio format. If a digital handout was included with the audiobook, I haven't found it. The author does list some recipes on her website, although I don't believe the recipes in the audiobook are included there. She also has a cookbook for sale (it's possible this audiobook's main purpose is to promote sales of the cookbook) - unfortunately, the cookbook only appears to be available as a physical cook, with no digital format.

Still, there are some good suggestions here. I've purchase some sencha green leaf tea to make fridge tea with, I might try making a blackberry smoothie with fruit and almond milk, and I looked up a alfredo sauce recipe made from cashews online and tried it out. I might try out other ideas based on some of her suggestions as well.

Specific and Variable

I'm a type one diabetic with sleep apnea. I listened to this in search of foods that could give me energy without spiking my blood sugar. I found all that and more with these lectures.

Each lecture covers one super food. The foods picked aren't obscure, so they should prove easy enough to find in grocery stores or online. Lectures always open with a list of health benefits associated with the chosen super food. These benefits are mostly the same across each food, with a focus on gut health and fighting cancer. This means if you hate some of the chosen foods, you can fill up on other ones. Lectures then close with several ways you can cook with the food, offering specific recipes.

I found these lectures helpful because this format is so all encompassing. I now believe there's a super food dish out there for anyone, and these lectures may introduce you to it.

Science plus culinary

How Superfood Works by Julia Norden, The Great Courses on Audible, narrated by Julia Norden, a medical physician and chef and an author of great lessons. Each lesson is elementary understandable and knowledgeable. Any technical or specific language, terms explained very suitably to the layperson. Having listened to the lesson, you will better understand how to eat to benefit yourself, your health in the long term, your energy levels, your looks.
Small changes matter!

Very useful.

Easy listening, informative. Upbeat reader. Title a bit misleading— Introducing Superfoods might have described it better.

Good book with nutritional information

I enjoyed the book. I will definitely benefit from the reading and listening as it pertains to my health.

very informative

great podcast!
very informative!
I learned so much.
I highly recommend.
great recipes ideas included.

yum

great info for all diets.my only complaint is that the course could be longer.

healthy doesn't mean boring

I like how each chair focused on one food. This have enough time to discuss health, preparation, and variety.