Blatteis, Angela & Vivienne Vella. The Soup Cleanse: A Revolutionary Detox of Nourishing Soups and Healing Broths from the Founders of Soupure. Grand Central Life & Style. 2015. 240p. notes. index. ISBN 9781455536665. $22; ebk. ISBN 9781455536658. HEALTH

If the word “cleanse” conjures up an image of preparing for a colonoscopy, you’re not alone. Soupure founders ­Blatteis and Vella are talking about nourishing your body while flushing out the toxins on a cellular level. Their array of soups, teas, and smoothies, perfected in the kitchen of their Los Angeles–based store, are full of healthy and delicious vegetables, fruits, nuts, seeds, and rich bone broths. There are recipes for light chilled soups, hearty winter comforters, and everything in between. ­VERDICT An excellent introduction to “souping,” complete with 50 recipes and meal plans.

Heskett, Jamé. The Well Path: Lose 20 Pounds, Reverse the Aging Process, Change Your Life. Harper Wave. Mar. 2016. 304p. index. ISBN 9780062415530. $27.99; ebk. ISBN 9780062415554. HEALTH

Heskett, a New York–based physician and founder/director of an antiaging and wellness center, uses a holistic approach, covering not only diet and exercise but also the circulation of blood and lymph, nonexercise activity, sleep, and other factors that contribute to health. She emphasizes whole, unprocessed foods, regular exercise, and an overall awareness of one’s body and daily activities. VERDICT This title presents solid whole-body and homeopathic advice and a well-mapped plan for losing weight and feeling better.

Kristeller, Jean with Alisa Bowman. The Joy of Half a Cookie: Using Mindfulness To Lose Weight and End the Struggle with Food. Perigee. Jan. 2016. 288p. notes. ISBN 9780399172151. $24.95; ebk. ISBN 9780698178854. HEALTH

This book draws on the mindfulness-based eating awareness training developed by Kristeller (professor emerita, Indiana State Univ., psychology), with help from the National Institutes of Health. It explains that paying attention to eating patterns will promote weight loss and improve diet. In addition, such awareness will give the body time to begin to process food and to send the signal it’s full. Most of us eat while doing something else. If taste is predominantly sweet or salty, the body is overwhelmed. Choose simple, whole foods, advises Kristeller, and learn to listen to what the body is communicating. VERDICT This title is well researched and clearly presented.

Ludwig, David. Always Hungry? Conquer Cravings, Retrain Your Fat Cells, and Lose Weight Permanently. Grand Central Life & Style. Jan. 2016. 304p. illus. notes. index. ISBN 9781455533862. $28; ebk. ISBN 9781455533855. HEALTH

Ludwig, a professor at Harvard Medical School and its School of Public Health, shows why counting calories doesn’t work. The author explains that what we eat is more important than how much and describes the effects of high and low glycemic load. High-glycemic foods flood the body with sugar, and then cause a sugar crash. Low-glycemic foods result in the body feeling full sooner and take longer to digest, thereby evening out metabolism and reducing or eliminating cravings. VERDICT Ludwig’s meal plans and recipes are excellent. This quality book on the basics of losing weight will appeal to all types of readers.

Masley, Steven & Jonny Bowden. Smart Fat: Eat More Fat, Lose More Weight, Get Healthy Now. HarperOne. Jan. 2016. 216p. bibliog. index. ISBN 9780062392299. $26.99; ebk. ISBN 9780062392312. HEALTH

For years, the popular theory has been: don’t eat fat and you won’t be fat. This overlooks that the body needs fats to keep its hormones in sync, alleviating inflammation and utilizing nutrients efficiently. Many fats are bad for one’s health, of course, specifically hydrogenated (trans) fats. Indeed, most processed foods contain high amounts of various sugars and trans fats. Practicing doctor Masley (Univ. of South Florida) and health writer Bowden recommend consuming only foods that have not been tampered with: fresh or frozen vegetables without added sauces; fresh fruits; organic and free-range meat; eggs and dairy with monounsaturated fats such as olive oil and avocado oil; and naturally occurring saturated fats such as chicken and coconut fat. Fifty recipes are included. VERDICT A sensible reconsideration of healthy eating.

Miller, Kelsey. Big Girl: How I Gave Up Dieting & Got a Life. Grand Central. Jan. 2016. 273p. ISBN 9781455532636. pap. $14.99; ebk. ISBN 9781455532643. HEALTH

This is not a diet book, it’s an antidiet book, as well as a memoir of one woman’s lifelong struggle to lose weight and journey through mindful eating with the help of ­Evelyn Tribole and Elyse Resch’s 2012 Intuitive Eating, and an intuitive eating coach. Miller, founder of the Anti-Diet Project, tells a story that’s compelling and deeply felt. VERDICT This highly recommended title will appeal to all women, no matter the kinds of personal demons they are battling to overcome.

Schapiro, Ilyse & Hallie Rich. Should I Scoop Out My Bagel? And 99 Other Answers to Your Everyday Diet and Nutrition Questions To Help You Lose Weight, Feel Great, and Live Healthy. Skyhorse. Jan. 2016. 248p. ISBN 9781634502313. pap. $15.99; ebk. ISBN 9781510700697. HEALTH

Why do men lose weight faster than women? What if I’m still hungry after dinner? Are there foods that help speed up metabolism? These and other questions related to healthy eating are answered in this amusing and informative book by dietician/nutritionist Schapiro, aided by Rich. Here readers will find the truth about gluten-free eating, enhanced waters, and other timely topics. VERDICT Not a diet book per se but a strong collection of useful general information.

Short Takes

Arrone, Louis J. The Change Your Biology Diet: The Proven Program for Lifelong Weight Loss. Houghton Harcourt. Jan. 2016. 356p. ISBN 9780544535756. $26.99; ebk. ISBN 9780544535794. HEALTH

People today are eating more junk food than ever before, and it’s interfering with our metabolisms. Physician Aronne provides two basic metabolism-adjusting diets, which can be tweaked to particular needs, along with brief, fast workouts that may be incorporated into everyday activities.

Palanisamy, Akilesh. The Paleovedic Diet: A Complete Program To Burn Fat, Increase Energy, and Reverse Disease. Skyhorse. Jan. 2016. 256p. illus. ISBN . $24.99; ebk. ISBN 9781510700673. HEALTH

This compelling combination of the principles of Ayurveda with the diet of our hunter-gatherer ancestors explains how various spices lessen the toxic effects of inflammation-inducing foods. While fascinating, the book may be a bit heavy for casual readers.

Wolfe, Jenna. Thinner in 30: Small Changes That Add Up to Big Weight Loss in Just 30 Days. Grand Central Life & Style. Jan. 2016. 240p. ISBN 9781455533985. $28; ebk. ISBN 9781455533992. HEALTH

On the theory that small changes are easier to make, Today show fitness correspondent Wolfe gives us 30 days’ worth, from remembering to use correct posture to working, in three steps, up to an hour’s workout.

Susan B. Hagloch began her career at the Akron-Summit County Public Library as a page in 1966. A graduate of Kent State University’s MLS program in 1975, she was supervisor of branches and the Bookmobile at the Tuscarawas County Public Library, New Philadelphia, OH, from 1977 to 1986, when she was named director. She retired in 2003 and is the author of Library Building Projects: Tips for Survival (Libraries Unlimited, 1994) as well as numerous articles for LJ and Ohio Libraries. She has been an LJ reviewer since 1977