Food Intelligence: The Science of How Food Both Nourishes and Harms Us
About this product
“ Food Intelligence dispels many popular myths we have about weight loss and breaks down the real drivers of the obesity crisis based on decades of research. I really hope everyone gets a chance to read this book." —Sanjay Gupta, MD, Chief Medical Correspondent at CNN and host of Chasing Life
The essential guide for understanding what you’re eating, and the forces that are driving you to eat it.
**AN ECONOMIST BOOK OF THE YEAR**
Nutrition isn’t rocket science; it’s harder.
There are new diet fads, bold claims about superfoods and articles promising the secrets to lasting weight-loss and longevity. The more ‘expert’ advice we hear about diet, the less clarity we have about what to eat.
In Food Intelligence, award-winning health journalist, Julia Belluz, and internationally renowned nutrition and metabolism scientist, Kevin Hall, cut through the myths about nutrition to deliver a comprehensive book on food, diet, metabolism and healthy eating.
Breaking food down into its constituent parts, Food Intelligence reveals:
The real science behind how protein, fat, carbs and vitamins impact our bodies
The wonders of metabolism
The latest ‘theories’ about blood sugar trackers and ultra-processed foods
How our food environment shapes our eating behaviors and the food choices we make every day
How diseases like obesity and type 2 diabetes are not a result of a failure of will power; they are consequences of food systems working as designed
Humane and deeply reported, this journey into the science of what we eat will equip you with the food intelligence you need to better understand what’s on your dinner plate, how it got there, and why you eat it. Read more
Editor's Take
Amazon/Goodreads-style reader feedback is broadly positive for this book. Goodreads reviewers describe it as “fascinating,” “smart,” and “easily accessible,” praising its clear explanation of food science, nutrition myths, and why people eat the way they do.
Readers also say it feels balanced and evidence-based, with several noting that it avoids hype and quick-fix diet claims. A few mention that the organization can feel a little frustrating at times, but still call it educational and highly recommended.
For video coverage, there are YouTube interviews and discussions about the book, including appearances with Julia Belluz and Kevin Hall, but no direct review-style YouTube links were available to extract validated video IDs from.
Overall, the online response suggests this is a well-liked, science-forward nutrition book that appeals most to readers looking for nuance rather than diet advice.
Price History
Specifications
| Topic | Nutrition |
Product Details
| Publisher | Avery |
| Publication date | September 23, 2025 |
| Language | English |
| Print length | 352 pages |
| ISBN-10 | 059333230X |
| ISBN-13 | 978-0593332306 |
| Item Weight | 1.12 pounds |
| Dimensions | 6.24 x 1.17 x 9.27 inches |
| Best Sellers Rank | #27,972 in Books ( See Top 100 in Books ) #9 in Endocrinology & Metabolism (Books) #38 in Food Science (Books) #83 in Biology (Books) |
| Customer Reviews | 4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars (276) |