Food Intelligence

'This is not just one of the best science books I have read, but one of the best books full stop' - Chris van Tulleken, author of the Sunday Times bestseller ULTRA-PROCESSED PEOPLE

'Junk-food giants hijack your biology. Wellness hucksters sell you false hope. In a food environment rigged against you, this is your guide to fighting back.' Henry Dimbleby, author of the Sunday Times bestseller RAVENOUS, and architect of the UK's National Food Strategy.

'A must-read . . . written with great expertise' - David Kessler, author of the New York Times bestseller DIET, DRUGS, AND DOPAMINE

'If you are going to read one book about nutrition and health, then make it this one' - Deborah Blum, Pulitzer-Prize winning author of THE POISON SQUAD


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, they reveal the science behind how protein, fat, carbs and vitamins impact our bodies. They shine a light on the wonders of metabolism and debunk the latest 'theories' about blood sugar monitors and ultra-processed foods. They reveal the ways that the world around us - our food environment - shapes our eating behaviours and the food choices we make every day. Diseases like obesity and type 2 diabetes are not a result of a failure of willpower; 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.