Overview

Are you tired of diets that promise results but leave you stuck in the same cycle? Many people struggle to eat well, stay active, manage their weight, and feel good in their own body. The problem isn't always a lack of discipline. Often, it's a lack of understanding - about metabolism, hormones, blood sugar, appetite, stress, sleep, muscle, and how the body responds to food and exercise. In The Health Detective's Handbook, Susan Birch draws on over 40 years of experience in nutrition, exercise, coaching, and health education to explain how the body works in a clear, practical, and engaging way. This isn't a quick-fix diet book. It's a guide to understanding your body, asking better questions, and making changes that fit your real life. Susan helps you: - Understand why diets often fail and how to break free from the cycle. - Learn how metabolism, hormones, blood sugar, muscle, sleep, and stress influence health. - Build a way of eating that supports energy, appetite control, and long-term wellbeing. - Use exercise to improve strength, resilience, and metabolic health. - Create a personalised plan based on your own goals, capacity, and stage of life. The book includes 17 real-life case stories, including Susan's own journey. These stories show how people have navigated weight plateaus, fatigue, diabetes, low energy, brain fog, and loss of confidence by learning how to work with their body rather than against it. With warmth, humour, practical wisdom, and the curiosity of a detective, Susan shows you how to take better care of your body so it can support you through every stage of life. The Health Detective's Handbook is a practical, evidence-informed guide for anyone who wants to understand their health, make sense of the confusion, and build lasting change.

Full Product Details

9781067090906

Table of Contents

Reviews

""As a working mother of four with a busy life, I felt this book was written for me. It's personal, practical, and easy to apply-an incredibly useful and enduring resource for anyone serious about improving their health."" - Nikki Kelly, world rafting champion ""I always knew certain habits and food choices were good for me, but this gave me a deeper understanding of why they matter and changed how I show up for myself... this book gave me my why."" - Sacha Mountfort, client ""A comprehensive guide to the best practices available to support all aspects of a healthy life... written with ease and confidence and, above all, honesty."" - Estrelita van Rensburg, MBChB, MMed, PhD, DSc, co-author of Eat Well or Die Slowly and Eat Your Way to Health ""Sue's skill and ability to break down complicated body biochemistry in a clear and concise way, while also providing the answers and practical ways to change, makes this book essential reading."" - Gay Kingi, case study participant and reviewer ""This book is a gift! Sue has encapsulated her lifetime of work, listening, and learning, and has generously shared the accumulated wisdom for us all to ponder."" - Anne M. Giles, education consultant ""Susan has managed a rare feat: combining solid science with the human experiences of her clients. The Health Detective's Handbook is the kind of book I wish I'd read years ago - a lifelong guide for anyone searching for answers and wanting to understand the reason behind their successes and setbacks."" - Karen Hunt, former Rotorua Lakes Councillor

Author Information

Susan Birch is The Health Detective, a nutrition and exercise specialist with over 40 years of experience in health, fitness, coaching, and education. She holds a Master's in Health Sciences and specialises in helping people understand the root causes behind their health challenges. Based in the Eastern Bay of Plenty, New Zealand, Susan brings science, practical experience, and real-life common sense together in a way people can understand and use. She is passionate about helping others take ownership of their health and build strong, active, meaningful lives.

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