The literature on nutrition, food, sustainable agriculture, and its relation to health and digestive disease is extensive.  Unfortunately, it has been drowned by the more powerful data of drug therapy and corrective surgery.  Preventative medicine is making a resurgence now as more people are turning to alternative sources for information.

The books below will give you invaluable knowledge.  The authors are gifted integrators of information and have shown tremendous vision in their work.  Any of the choices would empower you to improve the way you eat and help you prevent disease.  In most cases, the benefits will be both improved personal health as well as better environmental sustainability.

Academic Books

In Defense of Food - Michael Pollan

The Omnivore's Dilemma - Michael Pollan

The Botany of Desire - Michael Pollan

Fast Food Nation - Eric Schlosser

The Food Revolution - John Robbins

The China Study - T. Colin Campbell

Eating Well for Optimum Health - Andrew Weil

Good Calories, Bad Calories - Gary Taubes

Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease - Caldwell Esselstyn Jr.

The Spectrum - Dean Ornish

Food Matters - Mark Bittman

How Carrots Won the Trojan War - Rebecca Rupp

Cookbooks

Crazy Sexy Diet - Kris Carr

All-Pro Diet - Tony Gonzalez

Unprocessed - Chef AJ

The Complete Idiot's Guide to Plant-Based Nutrition - Julieanna Hever

Plenty - Yotam Ottolengh

The Get Healthy, Go Vegan Cookbook - Neal Barnard

Engine 2 Diet - Rip Esselstyn

The Gluten-Free Edge - Gini Warner