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Educational Materials for All

Dr. Merlo's Recommendations for
Blogs, Movies, Websites,
Books, and Documentaries
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Books

Caldwell B. Esselstyn Jr., M.D.: "Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease: The Revolutionary, Scientifically Proven, Nutrition-Based Cure"

Michael Greger, M.D. and Gene Stone: "How Not to Die: Discover the Foods Scientifically Proven to Prevent and Reverse Disease"

T. Colin Campbell, Ph.D. and Thomas M. Campbell II, M.D.: "The China Study: The Most Comprehensive Study of Nutrition Ever Conducted and the Startling Implications for Diet, Weight Loss, and Long-Term Health"

Scott Stoll MD: Alive! A Physician's Biblical and Scientific Guide to Nutrition

Doug Lisle, PhD: The Pleasure Trap: Mastering the Hidden Force that Undermines Health & Happiness

Dean Ornish, M.D.: "The Spectrum: A Scientifically Proven Program to Feel Better, Live Longer, Lose Weight, and Gain Health"

Neal Barnard, MD: Your Body In Balance

Joel Fuhrman, M.D.: "Eat to Live: The Amazing Nutrient-Rich Program for Fast and Sustained Weight Loss"

Rip Esselstyn: "The Engine 2 Diet: The Texas Firefighter's 28-Day Save-Your-Life Plan that Lowers Cholesterol and Burns Away the Pounds"

John Robbins: Healthy At 100

Chef AJ: Unprocessed

Alona Pulde, M.D., Matthew Lederman, M.D., and Marah Stets: "The Forks Over Knives Plan: How to Transition to the Life-Saving, Whole-Food, Plant-Based Diet"

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Documentaries

Eating You Alive, 2024

Fat, Sick & Nearly Dead, 2010

Forks Over Knives, 2011

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Image by kike vega

Physical Activity & Exercise

Books

ACSM's Essentials of Youth Fitness

The Lifestyle Medicine Handbook: An Introduction to the Power of Healthy Habits

ACSM's Nutrition for Exercise Science

Medical Fitness Association’s Standards & Guidelines for Medical Fitness Center Facilities (Third Edition)

ACSM's Complete Guide to Fitness & Health

The Eccentric Solution: An Orthopaedic Prescription for Muscular Health

Websites
Books

Sister Dang Nghiem MD: Mindfulness as Medicine: A Story of Healing Body and Spirit

Dr. Pamela E. Butler: Talking To Yourself

​Anthony Robbins: Awaken the Giant Within

Amit Sood MD: The Mayo Clinic Guide to Stress Free Living

Brene Brown PhD: Rising Strong
Robert M. Sapolsky: Why Zebras Don’t Get Ulcers
Earl Hipp: Fighting Invisible Tigers: A Stress Management Guide for Teens
Herbert Benson, MD: The Mind/Body Effect: How to Counteract the Harmful Effects of Stress
Dr. Rangan Chatterjee: The Stress Solution
Gabor Maté, MD: When the Body Says No: The Cost of Hidden Stress
Aditi Nerurkar, MD: The 5 Resets: Rewire Your Brain and Body for Less Stress and More Resilience
Elaine N. Aron, PhD: The Highly Sensitive Person: How to Thrive When the World Overwhelms You

Wendy Suzuki, PhD: Good Anxiety: Harnessing the Power of the Most Misunderstood Emotion

Documentaries​​​

Stressed, 2019
Stress: Portrait of a Killer, 2008
The Healing Within, 2006
Free the Mind, 2012
From Stress to Happiness, 2020
One Nation Under Stress, 2019

 

Websites & Apps
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Image by Hannah Busing

Substance Use Harm Reduction

SAMHSA’s National Helpline:

SAMHSA’s National Helpline is a free, confidential, 24/7, 365-day-a-year treatment referral and information service (in English and Spanish) for individuals and families facing mental and/or substance use disorders.

Books

Susan E. Collins, PhD & Seema L. Clifasefi, PhD: Harm Reduction Treatment for Substance Use

Patt Denning, PhD, Jeannie Little, Adina Glickman: Over the Influence: The Harm Reduction Guide for Managing Drugs and Alcohol


Jennifer Fernandez, PhD: Power Over Addiction: A Harm Reduction Workbook for Changing Your Relationship with Drugs


Shira Hassan: Saving Our Own Lives: A Liberatory Practice of Harm Reduction


Gabor Maté, MD: In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts: Close Encounters with Addiction
Carl Hart, PhD: High Price


Meagan N. Houston, PhD: Treating Suicidal Clients & Self-Harm Behaviors: Assessments, Worksheets & Guides for Interventions and Long-Term Care

Readings
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Documentaries

The Quest for Sleep, 2022
The Dreaming Mind: Waking the Mysteries of Sleep, 2022
How To Sleep Better?, 2005
Headspace: Guide to Sleep, 2021

Image by Timon Studler

Connectedness

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