PRODUCTS : The Food Bible by Judith Wills

The first thing you’ll notice about this book is that its hefty which hopefully means that it’s jammed packed full of useful and knowledgeable information on well..food.

Judith Wills penned this The Food Bible some twenty years ago and has re-released several editions since. Here is her latest revised edition which contains the most up to date research and information from the worlds best authorities on every aspect of food and diet.

The book is essentially a food guide, a reference book on everything you need to know about food. Judith provides lists for food that contains the most amount of iron, or calcium or Vitamin B; basic but essential information on why you should eat breakfast, lunch or dinner and she helps clarify some myths around low carb, low fat, vegan, vegetarianism and various other ways of eating but from a very unbiased point of view.

She provides you with the facts and information and leaves you to make up your own mind regarding what you think might best suit you and your family.

I follow a low carb diet when I am not out blogging and it is possibly the first diet or woe that I follow where I don’t feel hungry and feel I am on a diet. Judith, provides information on this woe along with the pros and cons on why it might be good or bad.

The Eatwell Guide is also published in the book which I totally disagree with. It recommends that over a third of our food per day should come from carbohydrates such as potatoes, wheat, pasta, rice, bread and porridge which unless truly organic, for me are filled with chemicals and these types of white carbs are most definitely not good for us.

The Food Bible, does also provide some great recipes and if you are a little lost in this whole ‘Eat Well’ debate and haven’t a clue on how to get yourself back on the right healthy eating track, then this book will most certainly help cut through the jargon and diet clutter to help you on your way.

The diet plans are simple and easy to follow and I reckon would easily fit most pockets. There is even a Healthy Heart Diet and an Anti-Cancer Diet.

A loved the section on Food Production. It gives you an indepth understanding of sustainable farming, crop production, genetically modified food and organic.

Judith covers meat, fish and dairy production including the differences on caged eggs, organic eggs and free range. Which eggs do you choose? I’m an organic lass all the way.

The Food Bible also covers dietary choices and allergies, providing really helpful lists of what foods fall into certain categories -those items in your cupboards or those to add to your shopping lists if you are following a gluten free, vegan, dairy free, vegetarian diet.

The one section I found most interesting was the Food as Medicine. An easy guide to use, just flick through the A-Z pages to find your ill, and read up on it. From Acne and spots, to Depression, Fatigue to Insomnia, this handy guide will inform you which super foods to munch down on.

This section also extends to include herbs and spices which I highly believe in. Tumeric is a great anti-inflammatory as is Basil; Cinnamon is a great anti-bacterial and anti-blood clotting spice and one of my all time favourites, garlic - which lowers blood cholesterol and protects against stomach and bowel cancers.

The section at the back of the book, I find the most helpful especially if you are counting calories or carbs, this super handy guide breaks down just about most foods and lists all the numbers you need to know.

There is also a whole section with some fantastic recipes listed. Again, Judith has thought of everything here as there is a little side panel detailing the recipes calorie, fat, fibre, protein and carb count. I just looked straight at this to find any low carb recipes and was surprised to find quite a few.

This book is truly a gem as a food reference book. It is very easy to read and digest, and easy to put into practice the advice given once you have made up your mind on which way of eating suits you. Even if you are not on a diet or looking to be healthier, it’s great for a diet MOT and to check if you need to make an adjustment here or there.

We all fall off the healthy eating bandwagon, and it is hard to eat healthy with all the sugar filled treats out there, but I do think this Food Bible, makes you think again about what we are putting in our mouths.

We are what we eat! it’s taken me years to truly understand that.

I might not agree with everything written in this book, but I do love it and it does live in my kitchen.

The Food Bible is written by Judith Wills and available from White Owl Books for £15.99