If you’re on a journey to heal your body, balance your hormones, support longevity, or simply feel stronger from the inside out, diving into the right books can change everything. The three wellness books below offer transformative, science-backed strategies that empower women to take control of their health naturally.
Here’s my honest review of Younger You by Dr. Kara Fitzgerald, Forever Strong by Dr. Gabrielle Lyon, and Eat to Beat Disease by Dr. William Li — three powerful reads that will leave you feeling informed, inspired, and ready to thrive.
1. Younger You by Dr. Kara Fitzgerald
Dr. Kara Fitzgerald’s Younger You is more than a guide to anti-aging — it’s a scientifically grounded program designed to reverse your biological age using nutrition, lifestyle, and epigenetics. Dr. Fitzgerald is a board-certified naturopathic doctor and functional medicine leader with extensive clinical and research experience in nutritional biochemistry and DNA methylation.
Her published studies in the journal Aging demonstrate that her diet and lifestyle protocol can reduce biological age by over three years in just eight weeks. Through this book, she teaches that our genes are not our destiny — what truly matters is how we express those genes through daily habits like food, sleep, movement, and stress management.
The book offers two empowering options: the Younger You Intensive Plan and a more flexible Everyday Plan. Both are built on nutrient-dense meals, targeted supplements, and practical stress-reducing habits — all backed by real-world success stories.
She uses helpful visuals and tables to explain complex topics, especially around DNA methylation — the process that determines which genes are turned on or off. She clearly explains what methylation is, how it influences gene expression, and why it plays a central role in aging and chronic disease.
Dr. Fitzgerald also introduces the concept of biological age, which is different from your chronological age. Biological age reflects how well your body is functioning on a cellular level — and her research shows that it can be reversed through targeted diet and lifestyle choices.
While some of the science may feel complex, Dr. Fitzgerald’s tone is warm, clear, and encouraging. She breaks down advanced concepts in a way that’s accessible and empowering — helping readers walk away not just informed, but ready to take meaningful steps toward better health. — the process that determines which genes are turned on or off.
You’ll find:
- A 3-week Younger You protocol backed by clinical trials
- Supplementation guidance with safety insights
- Real-life case studies and success stories
- Functional nutrition strategies to slow aging
- Lifestyle practices to boost energy, resilience, and longevity
Who it’s for: Women who want to naturally reduce inflammation, reverse signs of aging, and take control of their long-term health. This book is ideal for those interested in epigenetics, autoimmune recovery, and holistic biohacking.
My Honest Take
Reading Younger You was incredibly eye-opening. It reminded me that there are clear, science-based strategies we can use to influence how we age and support our long-term health. The book balanced cutting-edge science with patient stories and practical steps. Learning about DNA methylation opened a new door for me. While some sections were technical, Dr. Fitzgerald made them feel approachable and motivating. This is biohacking made simple, sustainable, and truly transformational.
2. Forever Strong by Dr. Gabrielle Lyon
Dr. Gabrielle Lyon’s Forever Strong builds beautifully on the themes of Younger You, shifting the focus to one of the body’s most overlooked and powerful tools: skeletal muscle. Dr. Lyon is a board-certified physician and New York Times Best-Selling author with dual clinical fellowships in geriatrics and nutritional sciences. She coined the term Muscle-Centric Medicine® to describe her revolutionary approach to health, which places skeletal muscle at the center of metabolic function, aging, and longevity.
In her practice, Dr. Lyon discovered a critical truth: most people don’t have a fat problem — they have a muscle problem. Skeletal muscle, as the body’s largest endocrine organ, plays a vital role in glucose metabolism, immunity, hormone balance, and overall vitality.
Her book outlines how to nourish and activate muscle through proper protein intake, resistance training, and mindset shifts. It includes the Lyon Protocol 2.0 — a clear, science-backed framework for eating, training, and thriving.
Highlights Include:
- How muscle acts as a glucose sink to regulate blood sugar
- The importance of protein (especially for women over 30)
- Macronutrient guidance and meal-building strategies
- Simple but effective strength training techniques
- How myokines from muscle help fight inflammation and disease
Who it’s for: Women looking to gain strength, build lean muscle, manage blood sugar, and age with power. It’s perfect for those ready to shift from cardio-only routines to strength-focused living.
My Honest Take
This book completely changed how I see muscle — not just as something aesthetic, but as foundational for health. Dr. Lyon provides not just education but motivation. Her breakdown of protein, macronutrients, and the mindset around training made everything click for me. I loved the Lyon Protocol meal plan and how she challenges mainstream health narratives. While a few chapters didn’t hold my attention as much, I found it incredibly useful and encouraging. This book also beautifully complements what I’m learning through my CPT and holistic nutrition studies — reinforcing the importance of skeletal muscle for blood sugar, longevity, immunity, and healthy aging.
3. Eat to Beat Disease by Dr. William Li
Dr. William Li is a highly respected medical doctor and the co-founder of the Angiogenesis Foundation, where he pioneered a new field of medicine focused on using blood vessel growth and regression to fight disease. In Eat to Beat Disease, he takes a deep and fascinating dive into food as medicine. His book Eat to Beat Disease focuses on five defense systems in the body that protect us from illness: angiogenesis, regeneration, microbiome health, DNA protection, and immunity.
His unique specialty — angiogenesis — is the process through which our body builds or cuts off blood vessels. Dr. Li explains in detail when you want to promote angiogenesis (such as for healing, regeneration, and fertility) and when you want to inhibit it (such as in cancer or abnormal tissue growth). You’ll come away understanding both how it works and when it matters most.
He also emphasizes how food can:
- Regenerate stem cells
- Starve cancer and disease
- Strengthen your immune system
- Rebuild gut health and reduce inflammation
The book includes a list of 200+ science-backed healing foods (yes, dark chocolate and coffee are included!) and explains how to use them practically. In Eat to Beat Disease, Dr. Li shows you how to eat your way to better health with foods that can help starve cancer, reduce the risk of dementia, and fight dozens of avoidable diseases. It’s a fresh and empowering look at how your body heals from within — and how your plate can truly become your medicine.
As Dr. Li beautifully says, “Eating to beat disease empowers you to help yourself and the people you care about. You can love your food to love your health.”
What You’ll Learn:
- The 5 Health Defense Systems and how they work
- Foods that promote or inhibit angiogenesis
- How to “starve” disease and fuel regeneration
- The science of the microbiome, immunity, and DNA repair
- Daily food strategies for prevention and healing
Who it’s for: Women managing chronic inflammation, gut issues, fatigue, or looking to prevent disease. Also ideal for nutritionists, naturopaths, and practitioners seeking evidence-based tools.
My Honest Take
This book is packed with deep science, and at times it was dense — but always fascinating. Dr. Li uses metaphors to make complex topics easier to grasp, and his optimism shines through. I appreciated how he framed food as a healing ally, highlighting the potential of everyday ingredients to support immunity, slow aging, and regenerate health. If you want to understand how food shapes your body’s internal defenses and future wellbeing, this book is worth every page. It’s the perfect complement to Younger You and Forever Strong.
Final Thoughts: A Powerful Trio for Holistic Healing
Each of these books approaches wellness from a different angle:
- Nutrition and gene expression (Younger You)
- Muscle and metabolism (Forever Strong)
- Food as defense and medicine (Eat to Beat Disease)
Together, they create a full-circle strategy for longevity, vitality, and resilience.
📘Younger You gives you tools to slow aging and support or even reverse how your genes are expressed.
💪 Forever Strong teaches you how to build strength, improve body composition, and train with purpose.
🍇 Eat to Beat Disease reveals how healing begins on your plate — and how your body is built to defend itself.
- Nutrition can literally change your DNA expression (Younger You)
- Muscle is the organ of longevity (Forever Strong)
- Food is a powerful tool for disease prevention (Eat to Beat Disease)
Reading is a personal journey — what resonates with one woman may not resonate with another. But when it comes to improving your health, building strength, and feeling your best from the inside out, these three books are, in my opinion, a powerful place to start.
📚 Wellness starts with knowledge. Start reading — and start transforming.