The Genealogy of Plant Foods
The Spiritual, Nutritional, and Medicinal Power of the Foods that Sustain Us
A groundbreaking book that reveals the origins, uses, and medicinal properties of over 100 plant foods.
• Offers entries of 106 plant foods, including their origins, histories, and religious significance as well as culinary and medicinal uses
• Covers an extensive range of fruits, vegetables, grains, pulses, nuts and seeds, herbs and spices as well as “specialty” foods like chocolate, pasta, sugar, coffee, and tea
• Provides nutritional and healing properties, based on the latest scientific findings on nutriceuticals and phytochemicals, to present each food as a medicine
The last major study of plant foods, Origin of Cultivated Plants, was first published in 1885. Since then, scientists, historians, and anthropologists have learned so much more. The Genealogy of Plant Foods fills the knowledge gap for readers today who seek to learn about the plant foods we depend upon.
This book covers an extensive range of fruits, vegetables, grains, pulses, nuts and seeds, herbs, and spices. It also explores “specialty” foods like chocolate, pasta, sugar, coffee, and tea. Readers will learn the genealogical story of these plant foods, along with the ways our ancestors prepared, ate, and used them as medicine. Learn how the avocado, yam, and lentil migrated from their places of origin to where they can be found today, as well as their mythological powers, spiritual significance, and the ancient and modern festivals held in their honor.
The author shows how to prepare these foods at home and discusses their nutritional and healing properties, based on the latest scientific findings on nutriceuticals and phytochemicals, to present each food as a medicine. Readers will learn the healing effects that each food has on preventing chronic health conditions and how they can use the medicinal properties of food for their own personal wellness.
Drawing on extensive research from peer-reviewed medical and scientific journals, this book offers little-known accounts of the genealogy, histories, and nutritional and medicinal properties of 106 plant foods that physically and spiritually sustain us.
The Genealogy of Plant Foods. Healing Arts Press / Inner Traditions, January 13, 2026.
Paper, 384 pages, full color: $29.99. Kindle ebook: $20.99. ISBN 979-8-88850-309-6.
The book will be available in bookstores, or can be ordered online from the following (pre-orders accepted):
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Inner Traditions: click here.
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