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Brain Maker: The Power of Gut Microbes to Heal and Protect Your Brain for Life
Goodreads Choice Award
Nominee for Readers' Favorite Science & Technology (2015)The bestselling author of Grain Brain uncovers the powerful role of gut bacteria in determining your brain's destiny.
Debilitating brain disorders are on the rise-from children diagnosed with autism and ADHD to adults developing dementia at younger ages than ever before. But a medical revolution is underway that can solve this problem: Astonishing new research is revealing that the health of your brain is, to an extraordinary degree, dictated by the state of your microbiome - the vast population of organisms that live in your body and outnumber your own cells ten to one. What's taking place in your intestines today is determining your risk for any number of brain-related conditions.
In BRAIN MAKER, Dr. Perlmutter explains the potent interplay between intestinal microbes and the brain, describing how the microbiome develops from birth and evolves based on lifestyle choices, how it can become "sick," and how nurturing gut health through a few easy strategies can alter your brain's destiny for the better. With simple dietary recommendations and a highly practical program of six steps to improving gut ecology, BRAIN MAKER opens the door to unprecedented brain health potential.
Debilitating brain disorders are on the rise-from children diagnosed with autism and ADHD to adults developing dementia at younger ages than ever before. But a medical revolution is underway that can solve this problem: Astonishing new research is revealing that the health of your brain is, to an extraordinary degree, dictated by the state of your microbiome - the vast population of organisms that live in your body and outnumber your own cells ten to one. What's taking place in your intestines today is determining your risk for any number of brain-related conditions.
In BRAIN MAKER, Dr. Perlmutter explains the potent interplay between intestinal microbes and the brain, describing how the microbiome develops from birth and evolves based on lifestyle choices, how it can become "sick," and how nurturing gut health through a few easy strategies can alter your brain's destiny for the better. With simple dietary recommendations and a highly practical program of six steps to improving gut ecology, BRAIN MAKER opens the door to unprecedented brain health potential.
320 pages, Hardcover
First published April 28, 2015
1716 people are currently reading
23433 people want to read
About the author
David Perlmutter
230 books497 followersDr. Perlmutter is a Board-Certified Neurologist and four-time New York Times bestselling author. He serves on the Board of Directors and is a Fellow of the American College of Nutrition.
Dr. Perlmutter received his M.D. degree from the University of Miami School of Medicine where he was awarded the Leonard G. Rowntree Research Award. He serves as a member of the Editorial Board for the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease and has published extensively in peer-reviewed scientific journals including Archives of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and The Journal of Applied Nutrition. In addition, he is a frequent lecturer at symposia sponsored by institutions such as the World Bank and IMF, Columbia University, Scripps Institute, New York University, and Harvard University, and serves as an Associate Professor at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine.
His books have been published in 34 languages and include the #1 New York Times bestseller Grain Brain, The Surprising Truth About Wheat, Carbs and Sugar, with over 1 million copies in print. Other New York Times bestsellers include Brain Maker, The Grain Brain Cookbook, and The Grain Brain Whole Life Plan. He is the editor of the upcoming collection The Microbiome and the Brain that will be authored by top experts in the field and will be published in late 2019 by CRC Press. He has been interviewed on many nationally syndicated television programs including 20/20, Larry King Live, CNN, Fox News, Fox and Friends, The Today Show, Oprah, The Dr. Oz Show and The CBS Early Show.
Dr. Perlmutter is also the recipient of numerous awards, including: the Linus Pauling Award for his innovative approaches to neurological disorders; the National Nutritional Foods Association Clinician of the Year Award, the Humanitarian of the Year Award from the American College of Nutrition, and most recently the 2019 Global Leadership Award from the Integrative Healthcare Symposium.
Dr. Perlmutter received his M.D. degree from the University of Miami School of Medicine where he was awarded the Leonard G. Rowntree Research Award. He serves as a member of the Editorial Board for the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease and has published extensively in peer-reviewed scientific journals including Archives of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and The Journal of Applied Nutrition. In addition, he is a frequent lecturer at symposia sponsored by institutions such as the World Bank and IMF, Columbia University, Scripps Institute, New York University, and Harvard University, and serves as an Associate Professor at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine.
His books have been published in 34 languages and include the #1 New York Times bestseller Grain Brain, The Surprising Truth About Wheat, Carbs and Sugar, with over 1 million copies in print. Other New York Times bestsellers include Brain Maker, The Grain Brain Cookbook, and The Grain Brain Whole Life Plan. He is the editor of the upcoming collection The Microbiome and the Brain that will be authored by top experts in the field and will be published in late 2019 by CRC Press. He has been interviewed on many nationally syndicated television programs including 20/20, Larry King Live, CNN, Fox News, Fox and Friends, The Today Show, Oprah, The Dr. Oz Show and The CBS Early Show.
Dr. Perlmutter is also the recipient of numerous awards, including: the Linus Pauling Award for his innovative approaches to neurological disorders; the National Nutritional Foods Association Clinician of the Year Award, the Humanitarian of the Year Award from the American College of Nutrition, and most recently the 2019 Global Leadership Award from the Integrative Healthcare Symposium.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 862 reviews
May 10, 2015
It's important to pay attention to the microbiome. Eat kimchi, yogurt, and kefir. There, I just saved you 9 hours.
December 29, 2015
The brain and your gut are related.
Do: Take probiotics
Don't: Take antibiotics for viruses
Do: finish all of your antibiotics when you need to take them
Don't: Eat too much sugar or corn syrup
Do: Eat fermented foods like sour kraut, kimchi, and pickles and like
Don't: drink diet soda
Do: drink Kombucha and Kefir
There. Or you can read the book. Seriously, you'll get more out of the book but that's the gist of it.
Ps. Get enough sleep and exercise!
Do: Take probiotics
Don't: Take antibiotics for viruses
Do: finish all of your antibiotics when you need to take them
Don't: Eat too much sugar or corn syrup
Do: Eat fermented foods like sour kraut, kimchi, and pickles and like
Don't: drink diet soda
Do: drink Kombucha and Kefir
There. Or you can read the book. Seriously, you'll get more out of the book but that's the gist of it.
Ps. Get enough sleep and exercise!
August 19, 2015
I really liked this book at the beginning, but after about a hundred pages I can't take it anymore. Each chapter is as formulaic and predictable as an episode of House, with as many health miracles and panaceas as a full season of Dr Oz, and as overloaded with "Bob and Susan" stories as 7 Habits.
Perhaps my expectations were set too high by the book "Nerve" by Taylor Clark Why I LOVE 'Nerve' . That book presented a desirable combination of personal stories and scientific evidence, and the personal stories were much more engaging. The problem was clearly laid out and relatable so by the end of the chapter, the author's insight was easy to receive. Perhaps it was quality over quantity: books like Brain Maker (and books by Dr. Amen) seem to ambush the reader with as many personal stories and clinical trials as possible, as if to hammer home the point that probiotics [or what-have-you] can cure all.
I can't help but read each section with skepticism. "Wow, this is so amazing and miraculous, how come we never knew this before?" It doesn't feel balanced, and it feels like a very dense lecture that I didn't know I had signed up for. Honestly, it's just too much information, it's just too dense, it's not convincing and ultimately it's not at all engaging.
Read this instead: Taylor Clark Nerve: Poise Under Pressure, Serenity Under Stress, and the Brave New Science of Fear and Cool
Perhaps my expectations were set too high by the book "Nerve" by Taylor Clark Why I LOVE 'Nerve' . That book presented a desirable combination of personal stories and scientific evidence, and the personal stories were much more engaging. The problem was clearly laid out and relatable so by the end of the chapter, the author's insight was easy to receive. Perhaps it was quality over quantity: books like Brain Maker (and books by Dr. Amen) seem to ambush the reader with as many personal stories and clinical trials as possible, as if to hammer home the point that probiotics [or what-have-you] can cure all.
I can't help but read each section with skepticism. "Wow, this is so amazing and miraculous, how come we never knew this before?" It doesn't feel balanced, and it feels like a very dense lecture that I didn't know I had signed up for. Honestly, it's just too much information, it's just too dense, it's not convincing and ultimately it's not at all engaging.
Read this instead: Taylor Clark Nerve: Poise Under Pressure, Serenity Under Stress, and the Brave New Science of Fear and Cool
August 3, 2019
This book emphasizes a few very important points, about the importance of our microbiome to our health. The book presents lots of evidence that our microbiome--the microbes in our gut--serve important roles in our overall health and also to our brain health. Some brain dysfunctions may be due to problems with the microbes in our gut. So, the book has some good recommendations for improving our microbiome. Pre-biotics, probiotics, and fermented foods might all useful for this purpose. Even better, the book also has some good advice about avoiding sugars and bread, and the benefits from intermittent fasting.
It's the last part of the book that completely floored me. Dr. Perlmutter gives lots of ideas about healthy foods. These include steak, corned beef, eggs, butter, salmon, wine, "good fats", ... the list goes on. I am sickened that people believe that this is good nutritional advice. Dr. Perlmutter may be a Fellow of the American College of Nutrition, but this book shows how utterly useless that organization must be. Stay away from this book. There are much better sources of information out there.
It's the last part of the book that completely floored me. Dr. Perlmutter gives lots of ideas about healthy foods. These include steak, corned beef, eggs, butter, salmon, wine, "good fats", ... the list goes on. I am sickened that people believe that this is good nutritional advice. Dr. Perlmutter may be a Fellow of the American College of Nutrition, but this book shows how utterly useless that organization must be. Stay away from this book. There are much better sources of information out there.
March 15, 2016
Perlmutter has a long history of pushing pseudoscience. He preys on those who lack scientific literacy, all so he can make a buck. There are other books written by credible researchers. Giulia Enders' Gut and the Sonnenburgs' The Good Gut are two good examples of scientifically sound books on gut microbes.
Do yourself a favor and don't waste your time and money on snake oil.
Do yourself a favor and don't waste your time and money on snake oil.
September 4, 2019
This was a very informative and excellent read, especially for a newbie like I am in the realm of the microbiome. It covers many bases, including:
1)Composition of microbiome and how this affects you.
2)How your bacteria are determined in large part by your birth and early infancy.
3)Effects of diet and environment on your gut.
4)Links to multiple disorders including depression, autism, Tourette syndrome, obesity, neurological disorders, ADHD, and allergies.
5)Probiotics, prebiotics.
6)Types of food and drink you can eat/make.
7)Recipes for many different fermented foods.
8)Fecal Microbiota Transplant (FMT) information.
I'm not in agreement with the Doctor regarding limiting meat to 30% of your diet and focusing on vegetables and fiber. He also seems to believe that our past ancestors had access to much more vegetation than what anthropology evidences.
He also really pushes:
Local food
Organic food
Grass-fed meat
While I totally aspire to the above, much of this is not possible for the population. It is an access issue, money issue or both. Further, the central theme of the Brain Maker book, as well as the former Grain Brain book, was to reduce inflammation. This can be done without having to latch on to all of the above. While it is admirable to ascribe to sustainable meat/ag, it may not be the most important thing for humans at the current time. We can work to get there, but trying to pile everything on at once can be a bit overwhelming for someone new coming into the fold.
1)Composition of microbiome and how this affects you.
2)How your bacteria are determined in large part by your birth and early infancy.
3)Effects of diet and environment on your gut.
4)Links to multiple disorders including depression, autism, Tourette syndrome, obesity, neurological disorders, ADHD, and allergies.
5)Probiotics, prebiotics.
6)Types of food and drink you can eat/make.
7)Recipes for many different fermented foods.
8)Fecal Microbiota Transplant (FMT) information.
I'm not in agreement with the Doctor regarding limiting meat to 30% of your diet and focusing on vegetables and fiber. He also seems to believe that our past ancestors had access to much more vegetation than what anthropology evidences.
He also really pushes:
Local food
Organic food
Grass-fed meat
While I totally aspire to the above, much of this is not possible for the population. It is an access issue, money issue or both. Further, the central theme of the Brain Maker book, as well as the former Grain Brain book, was to reduce inflammation. This can be done without having to latch on to all of the above. While it is admirable to ascribe to sustainable meat/ag, it may not be the most important thing for humans at the current time. We can work to get there, but trying to pile everything on at once can be a bit overwhelming for someone new coming into the fold.
May 16, 2020
Adding link 5/16/2020
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases...
Article reinforces my practice of taking supplemental reuteri
"When Wilmes and his colleagues tested L. reuteri in this chip, they saw that lactate produced by the microbes traveled through the human gut tissue, indicating that it could enter the bloodstream and potentially travel to the brain."
Adding link 4/4/19 -
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases...
"Summary:
Researchers have demonstrated a causal link between the gut microbiome and the immune system's ability to fight cancer. "
Adding link 3/3/19 -
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/03/02/op...
"More than a hundred factors were found to be involved in glycemic response, but notably food wasn’t the key determinant. Instead it was the gut bacteria."
***
Adding link 10/2/18 -
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases...
quote from link
"This is further evidence that consumption of artificial sweeteners adversely affects gut microbial activity which can cause a wide range of health issues."
***
Toddler temperament could be influenced by different types of gut bacteria
Date:
May 27, 2015
Source:
Ohio State University Center for Clinical and Translational Science
Summary:
The microbiome of a toddler's gut may influence their behavior, a new study suggests. Scientists found correlations between temperament and the presence of specific types of intestinal bacteria in both girls and boys. The researchers aren't looking for a way to help parents modify the 'terrible twos,' but for clues about how - and where - chronic illnesses like obesity, asthma, allergies and bowel diseases start.
*
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/...
*
Been reading this type research for about 35 years. Mostly library borrowed. Rarely buy one after reading. Will be buying multiple copies of this one.
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases...
Article reinforces my practice of taking supplemental reuteri
"When Wilmes and his colleagues tested L. reuteri in this chip, they saw that lactate produced by the microbes traveled through the human gut tissue, indicating that it could enter the bloodstream and potentially travel to the brain."
Adding link 4/4/19 -
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases...
"Summary:
Researchers have demonstrated a causal link between the gut microbiome and the immune system's ability to fight cancer. "
Adding link 3/3/19 -
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/03/02/op...
"More than a hundred factors were found to be involved in glycemic response, but notably food wasn’t the key determinant. Instead it was the gut bacteria."
***
Adding link 10/2/18 -
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases...
quote from link
"This is further evidence that consumption of artificial sweeteners adversely affects gut microbial activity which can cause a wide range of health issues."
***
Toddler temperament could be influenced by different types of gut bacteria
Date:
May 27, 2015
Source:
Ohio State University Center for Clinical and Translational Science
Summary:
The microbiome of a toddler's gut may influence their behavior, a new study suggests. Scientists found correlations between temperament and the presence of specific types of intestinal bacteria in both girls and boys. The researchers aren't looking for a way to help parents modify the 'terrible twos,' but for clues about how - and where - chronic illnesses like obesity, asthma, allergies and bowel diseases start.
*
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/...
*
Been reading this type research for about 35 years. Mostly library borrowed. Rarely buy one after reading. Will be buying multiple copies of this one.
October 28, 2019
I started questioning this book after reading sentences describing how incredible, fantastic and unbelievable the information in this book was, and how it would completely change my life. It was really silly, exaggerated sentences that seemed unprofessional and out of place in a book allegedly presenting medical research to the public. I read this in Norwegian, so maybe those sentences sounded OK in English, but they made me wonder about the author, and finally this made me DNF the book.
When I googled the author, he appeared on lists of alleged "health experts" you should not trust. You can read a critique of him here: https://www.thecut.com/2015/06/proble...
I do agree that the microbiome in our gut is very important, and eating less sugar would be good for it. It's also perfectly believable that one organ affects others in our body and that more doctors should study how they interact with each other, rather than becoming experts in just one of them. So there are good information here too. It's just over the top, too much, stretched too far without proper research to back up all the claims of how fantastic Perlmutter's solutions to all your health problems are. Stating that fixing people's gut biome is a miracle cure to alzheimer and diabetes worldwide is a pretty big claim.
When I googled the author, he appeared on lists of alleged "health experts" you should not trust. You can read a critique of him here: https://www.thecut.com/2015/06/proble...
I do agree that the microbiome in our gut is very important, and eating less sugar would be good for it. It's also perfectly believable that one organ affects others in our body and that more doctors should study how they interact with each other, rather than becoming experts in just one of them. So there are good information here too. It's just over the top, too much, stretched too far without proper research to back up all the claims of how fantastic Perlmutter's solutions to all your health problems are. Stating that fixing people's gut biome is a miracle cure to alzheimer and diabetes worldwide is a pretty big claim.
May 12, 2015
3.5 on this one. I think Dr. Perlmutter's work is important in informing the general public about advances in understanding the human microbiome (gut bacteria), but I think the science is still too early to justify his "magic bullet" analysis. He makes it sound as if this is the cure-all for every type of disease. I find this field of research fascinating and look forward to what comes next.
October 28, 2015
This guy likes to think of himself as a pioneer. But mostly he's a quack. He quotes real scholarly research and then wildly extrapolates way beyond the current knowledge and acts like he's totally sure of his understanding. Given all that, it did open up for me a new understanding about the ecosystem in my body of beneficial bacteria. Its amazing. And it did lead me in the direction of finding out about the human biome project, and great writing on the subject by Michael Pollan, who I respect as a much more careful and ethical writer. Also got me started on taking probiotics and making kombucha so I have to give the guy a little credit.
June 16, 2015
This is a fascinating book about how interconnected our gut and brain are. If you geek out on health sciences, I recommend this one.
May 31, 2015
Very valuable information. I knew a lot of it already but wish I could get all my friends who are troubled by chronic medical issues to read it and experiment for themselves.
January 28, 2016
If you or your loved ones suffer from any autoimmune disease, mental health issue, or degenerative disease--any one of the many health issues that is poorly understood--you will want to consider the concepts in this book.
I plan to post a review of this book on my blog late February, 2016.
I plan to post a review of this book on my blog late February, 2016.
August 3, 2015
Excellent. Been following a lot of the science found in this book for several years, and my take from living a lot of it is that a)it really works, and b)the American food supply, dietary recommendations, and obsession with antibiotics is slowly killing us.
My one gripe with this book is that his recommended way of changing your eating habits is to buy expensive, often difficult to find ingredients, and make ALL your own food. While that would certainly do it, my reaction when I read the sections on food and recipes was "but I already have a full time job." Over the past few years and a lot of experimentation I figured out how to take much of what he recommends make it work for me, but for someone just jumping in I wish he provided recommendations that were a lot more practical.
My one gripe with this book is that his recommended way of changing your eating habits is to buy expensive, often difficult to find ingredients, and make ALL your own food. While that would certainly do it, my reaction when I read the sections on food and recipes was "but I already have a full time job." Over the past few years and a lot of experimentation I figured out how to take much of what he recommends make it work for me, but for someone just jumping in I wish he provided recommendations that were a lot more practical.
February 7, 2025
I was recommended to read this book by my preceptor and you best believe I read it. I’ve always been intrigued by the microbiome especially in undergrad so I was excited to get back into it. This book was definitely a good review of the gut microbiome and the potential it has in medicine. It was written for all people, not just those with a scientific background, and step by step lead the reader through studies and subjects impacted by the microbiome. I think because of this, it was written a bit simply, and I knew exactly what the author was going to bring up in the following chapter. Some of the advice is way more extreme than others. I also didn’t love the personal anecdotes of ‘miracles’ that people went through. I need a randomized double blind control trial! I especially wasn’t a fan of the mini shoutouts to the author’s website and products (sketchy) - he gets a lot of hate online for that reason too.
September 2, 2016
You know, Dr. Perlmutter, if you structured your book correctly, you wouldn't have to spend the first quarter of it telling us, "I'll explain this later, but for now just trust me."
This guy takes a bunch of promising preliminary research into the importance of gut bacteria and then extrapolates it so that a bad gut microbiome is the cause for every disease.
As an excellent example, he argues that cesarean section birth is a cause for autism because children born by c-section are more likely to get autism, which to him means that not going through the bacteria in the vagina on the way into the world is a leading cause of autism. Too bad a study came out 3-4 months after this book showing that it isn't a causation--the two are related but likely have a shared trigger rather than one being the cause of the other.
Though I guess "Your gut bacteria is basically your entire emotional, physical and mental health" is a lot more interesting of an argument than "preliminary studies show a greater correlation between gut bacteria and emotional, physical and mental health than previously believed."
So people with disease x have elevated levels of bacteria y in their gut. Doesn't mean the bacteria caused the disease.
I also take huge issue with the study mentioned in the beginning of the book that compares levels of dementia between European and African groups. Besides the fact that he called the Europeans "western" there (which, barf, Europe is north of Africa, but he didn't make up that convention), he went on to extrapolate that the "unhygienic" Africans have less dementia than the "hygienic" Europeans for the sole reason that they have different gut bacteria. What about age? What about other factors? What part of Africa?
This guy takes a bunch of promising preliminary research into the importance of gut bacteria and then extrapolates it so that a bad gut microbiome is the cause for every disease.
As an excellent example, he argues that cesarean section birth is a cause for autism because children born by c-section are more likely to get autism, which to him means that not going through the bacteria in the vagina on the way into the world is a leading cause of autism. Too bad a study came out 3-4 months after this book showing that it isn't a causation--the two are related but likely have a shared trigger rather than one being the cause of the other.
Though I guess "Your gut bacteria is basically your entire emotional, physical and mental health" is a lot more interesting of an argument than "preliminary studies show a greater correlation between gut bacteria and emotional, physical and mental health than previously believed."
So people with disease x have elevated levels of bacteria y in their gut. Doesn't mean the bacteria caused the disease.
I also take huge issue with the study mentioned in the beginning of the book that compares levels of dementia between European and African groups. Besides the fact that he called the Europeans "western" there (which, barf, Europe is north of Africa, but he didn't make up that convention), he went on to extrapolate that the "unhygienic" Africans have less dementia than the "hygienic" Europeans for the sole reason that they have different gut bacteria. What about age? What about other factors? What part of Africa?
May 13, 2015
I solemnly swear to treat my microbiome better from now on, but I am not yet ready to go gluten free.
July 26, 2015
This should be mandatory reading for everyone.
January 11, 2018
They should really start to make statistics and research methods a part of the medical board exam so that we don't see more books like this hitting the shelf.
December 5, 2019
Written with too much of a self-help/carny huckster vibe. For an excellent book about microbiomes, try Ed Yong's I Contain Multitudes.
June 8, 2015
There are plenty of 'revolutionary' ideas around food and lifestyle at the moment. Pete Evans, with his controversial Paleo books, and the unfortunate business of blogger Belle Gibson, who lied about having cancer to all her followers and seemed to be beating the disease, simply by switching to a wholefood, healthy lifestyle. You only need to visit a food court in the CBD at lunchtime, or the cafes of Bondi, to see everyone enjoying an overpriced, yet delicious, cold pressed juice. So what are we doing wrong, and what should we be doing?
According to the author of Brain Maker, Dr David Perlmutter (best selling author of Grain Brain), we can prevent MS, Alzheimers, Depression and Anxiety by not having a c-section and eating a diet full of pre and pro biotics. If, like me, reading that statement throws you in spin and horrifies you, then this book is not going to be for you. His rational is based on many hours of research, hundreds of mice having needless tests (surely you can do diet and food tests on humans without the undue stress placed on a small animal?) and the odd reference to Harvard. There are also lots of anecdotal examples of how Dr Perlmutter had sad, overweight, patients, even one who had MS, come into his office, only to be cured of all ills a few weeks later. He even has videos of successful before and after shots on his website.
I could do with losing a couple of pounds, and can feel heavy, sluggish and even a little down on the odd day. Anxiety also grips me on occasion, but I have no major body issues. The food suggestions make sense; Less carbs, more good fats, less processed foods, filtered water and reduce fructose intake, all good stuff right? After reading through this book I have decided I will consciously cut down on the carbs, ramp up the pro-biotics and add some kimchi into my diet. Will I pin any hopes of a radical transformation on it? No. It would be good enough to lose an inch or two and feel a bit lighter.
What if my partner had MS? What if my Mother's brain was failing with dementia? Would I cut out all modern treatment to follow the diet? No WAY! But, some will. They may believe the pages of Brain Maker and make the right decision; They may pin everything on the claims and still find heartbreak. This book, if claims are true, will build momentum, wipe out suffering, major diseases and the need for billion dollar pharmaceutical industries (which I do agree, want us to keep popping those pills and buying those scripts).
This book raised questions for me about my own diet, and raised more about the state of our health systems, and the power a book can be to peddle any kind of diet. The diet makes sense to me in places, as a healthy way to live, but I do not for one second think that dementia could be avoided completely by following this diet, or a child will get MS because she was born via C-section, took antibiotics and was formula fed. The claims of solving the worlds most debilitating diseases fell flat with me.
Take what you need from this book, enjoy the tasty recipes and read with an open mind. Learn all you can from each side of the fence before plunging in and following something which may or may not serve you.
2.5 stars from me (too many mice tests and grand claims of miracles in Dr's offices).
#healthyliving#diets#guthealth#brainhealth
June 12, 2015
There are breakthroughs in this book that work. Doctor Perlmutter continually stresses the microbiome-brain connection, but adds that every cell in our bodies is connected to every other one. The SAD-Standard American Diet-is causal in inflammation that leads to our modern, now so common, diseases of excess: diabetes, metabolic syndrome, obesity and now, Alzheimer's. These are the equal to any medieval plague.
Our culture, our society, our prosperity, have force fed us (willingly) with so much junk energy. Our bodies, our brains do not know how to handle, how to process, this onslaught of sugar led power. What happens is massive bulging, short circuiting, gummed up brain synapses and early death. Our bloodstreams have become sugary sweet pipelines that can cause blindness and loss of limbs.
This book has led me to make immediate changes in my nutrition. Be on the lookout for hidden sugars, trans fats, gluten. Switch to fermented foods like yogurts, Kefir. I am much more wary of what I consume now and already see and feel the difference.
Our culture, our society, our prosperity, have force fed us (willingly) with so much junk energy. Our bodies, our brains do not know how to handle, how to process, this onslaught of sugar led power. What happens is massive bulging, short circuiting, gummed up brain synapses and early death. Our bloodstreams have become sugary sweet pipelines that can cause blindness and loss of limbs.
This book has led me to make immediate changes in my nutrition. Be on the lookout for hidden sugars, trans fats, gluten. Switch to fermented foods like yogurts, Kefir. I am much more wary of what I consume now and already see and feel the difference.
June 27, 2021
Doctors are not my favourite group of people though obviously I greatly appreciate those surgeons who saved my life; and I greatly appreciate Dr Joseph Mercola and Dr David Perlmutter.
In this book, leading neurologist Dr Perlmutter, shows us how gut microbes heal and protect our brain. Much of the information he provides us with is apparently new.
I found this to be an extremely valuable book, particularly for those with brain problems, like MS, autism, ADHD, depression, etc.
Perlmutter explains that the digestive system is “intimately connected” to what goes on in the brain.
19th-century biologist Élie Mechnikov made a direct link between human longevity and a healthy balance of bacteria in the body: the good bacteria must outnumber the bad.
The author himself has seen “dramatic turnarounds” in health by simple dietary modifications.
He mentions a man with multiple sclerosis that required a wheelchair and bladder catheter; after treatment his MS went into total remission. He refers also to Jason, a 12.year-old boy with severe autism who could hardly talk who was transformed after treatment with probiotics.
He lists a large number of ailments that can be helped by the transformation of one’s gut health, including ADHD, asthma, autism, allergies, food sensitivities, chronic fatigue, diabetes and obesity. In fact any degenerative or inflammatory condition can be helped.
The most significant factor related to the health and diversity of the microbiome is the food we eat.
The two key mechanisms leading to brain degeneration are chronic inflammation and the action of free radicals and these are influenced by gut bacteria and one’s overall gut health.
The practical regimen outlined in the book includes six essential keys: prebiotics, probiotics, fermented foods, low-carb foods, gluten-free foods and healthy fat. Results will appear wihin weeks.
This information will completely revolutionize the treatment of neurological illnesses.
“Your microbiome is the ultimate brain maker.”
Foods such as garlic, Jerusalem artichoke and fermented foods such as sauerkraut, kombucha and kimchi "open the door for heightened levels of health in general, and brain function and protection in particular”.
The author gives us a simple test whereby we can determine our risk factors.
This includes questions such as; were you born by c-section?, were you breast-fed for less than one month?, do you take antibiotics at least once every two or three years?, have you been diagnosed with an autoimmune disease?
The Greek island of Ikaria has the greatest percentage of ninety-year-olds on the planet; they have 20% fewer cases of cancer, half the rate of heart disease and practically no dementia.
Babies there are born naturally and are breast-fed for two years. They eat vegetables from the garden, local fish and meat, homemade yogurt, nuts and seeds and lots of olive oil. The air is clean and there’s no pollution. When they get ill, they are given a spoonful of locally produced honey. They never get autism, asthma or ADHD. They stay fit and lean, since they are always active.
Many scientists are calling the neurons in the gut ”the second brain”. Your gut’s brain makes more serotonin than the brain in your head.
The two most common groups of organisms in the gut, representing more than 90 percent of the bacterial population in the colon, are Firmicutes (pronounced fir-MIH-cue-tees) and Bacteroidetes (pronounced BAC-teer-OY-deh-tees). Firmicutes are notorious as “fat-loving” bacteria and they are much more efficient at extracting energy (i.e. calories) from food. They were found to increase fat absorption. Obese people have elevated levels of Firmicutes in their gut flora, compared to lean people who are dominated by Bacteroidetes.
Higher levels of Firmicutes turn on genes that increase the risk of obesity, diabetes and even cardiovascular disease,
Infants born vaginally obtain bacterial colonies resembling their own mothers’ vaginal microbiome, dominated by beneficial Lactobacillus, whereas babies born via c-section acquire colonies similar to those found on the skin’s surface, dominated by potentially harmful Staphylococcus.
Babies born by cesarean section may not receive an abundant supply of Lactobacillus, instead they are exposed to what is on the doctors’ and nurses’ hands. Also every single woman in the US receives antibiotics when giving birth by c-section.
A third of infants born in the U.S. today are born by c-section.
Babies born by c-section have
A five-fold increased risk of allergies
Twice the risk of ADHD
Twice the risk of autism
An 80 percent increased risk of celiac disease
A 50 percent increased risk of becoming obese as an adult
A 70 percent increased risk of type1-diabetes.
A loss of microbial species and obesity in the West is due to diet, use of antibiotics and overly sanitized conditions.
Our Western diet which is low in plant fibres that serve as fuel for gut bacteria results in fewer types of microbes and beneficial byproducts; we are starving our beneficial microbes. These byproducts of our gut bacteria help control inflammation and “our immune system’s response”. The Western microbiome predisposes us to a variety of diseases.
It lacks diversity and has more bacteria from the group Firmicutes (the inferior, fat-loving bacteria) than Bacteroides (those that “lean” people have).
In countries with the least sanitization the prevalence of Alzheimer’s was found to be dramatically reduced.
In countries with a high degree of sanitization and thus lower levels of parasites, and less diversity of ”intestinal organisms” Alzheimer’s prevalence skyrocketed. In other words, hygiene is positively associated with risk of Alzheimer’s.
A study showed that elderly people who added more fat, in the form of olive oil or mixed nuts, to their diets maintained their cognitive function much better than those who ate a low-fat diet. (This is the opposite of what Medical Medium Anthony William recommends; he says we should eat much less fat.)
There’s a valuable chapter (though all the chapters are valuable) about inflammation including in regard to Alzheimer’s. Particularly the relationship between poor blood sugar control and Alzheimer’s is so strong that it is being called type-3 diabetes.
What the author terms “a disrupted gut community” leads to diabetes and brain disease.
Various herbs and supplements with known anti-diabetic properties work to control blood sugar through the microbiome. For example, berberine and ginseng, together with compounds found in tea, coffee, wine, and chocolate have anti-diabetic qualities through their effects on gut bacteria.
Good gut bacteria produce important brain chemicals like brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), gamma-amino butyric acid (GABA) and glutamate.
BDNF is involved in the creation of new neurons (neurogenesis) and forming synapses between neurons. This synapse formation is essential for “thinking, learning and higher levels of brain formation”. Decreased levels of BDNF are found in Alzheimer’s, epilepsy, anorexia nervosa, depression, schizophrenia and OCD.thor
In this chapter the author also deals with leaky gut and LPS (lipopolysaccharide) which he calls a “biological villain”.
The health and variety of your gut’s bugs depend on the foods that you eat!
Foods that are high in fibre keep blood sugar in check and reduce inflammation. Omega-6 fats dominate in the Western diet; these are the pro-inflammatory fats that have been linked to brain disorders and heart trouble, Omega-3 fats, on the other hand, such as those found in olive oil, fish, flaxseed, boost brain function, help stamp out inflammation, and can counterbalance the detrimental effects of the omega-6 fats.
While Anthony William states that we should completely cut out coffee, Dr Perlmutter tells us that there is an impressive risk reduction for the development of Alzheimer’s in people who drink coffee.
It also reduces the risks of type2-diabetes, strokes, Parkinson’s disease, and even cancer and cardiovascular disease.
The author discusses MS and informs us that MS patients were either born by C-section, not breast-fed or treated with antibiotics early in life. (I myself have MS and was not breast-fed at all.)
Dr Perlmutter had a patient, Carlos, badly affected by MS, and began to give him a new treatment. First he was given probiotic enemas, after which he walked much better.
Then Carlos was given FMT (fecal microbial transplantations), which to most people sounds somewhat distasteful, in that one is given fecal transplants from other, healthy, people. After 10 fecal transplants, he began to walk so well no-one could see he had a problem.
Dr Perlmutter has been practising neurology for three decades but had never witnessed such a remarkable improvement in his MS patients as in Carlos’s case.
(I will not be asking my doctors for FMT but will be following the author’s other advice.)
In a chapter about depression we learn how hopeless the various anti-depressants are, that only treat symptoms and hardly work.
Depression is an inflammatory disease, and we have known of the connection between depression and the gut for more than eighty years.
The higher the level of inflammation, the higher the risk of depression.
High blood sugar is also one of the biggest risk factors for depression, as it is for Alzheimer’s. Women with diabetes have been shown to be 30 percent more likely to develop depression; and women who took insulin for their diabetes were 53 percent more likely to develop depression. Obesity is also associated with increased inflammatory markers; and is correlated with a 55 percent increased risk of depression.
LPS (see above) increases the production of inflammatory markers, which correlate with depression.
Low-grade inflammation is “a primary driver of cognitive decline”.
People who eat a Mediterranean diet rich in healthy, anti-inflammatory fats and proteins, have significantly lower rates of depression.
The author indicates that there is a connection between autoimmune disease and risk of depression.
Chronic stress increases gut permeability nd inflammation; gut bacteria control to a large etent the body’s stress response. The problem can be reversed by taking the probiotic Bifidobacterium infantis.
Not only depression but also disorders such as panic disorder, obsessive.compulsive disorder, social phobias and generalized anxiety disorders are caused by factors that include the ”state and formation of the gut and its inhabitants”.
The chapter includes an important section on ADHD, sufferers from which often have digestive complaints. Probiotics and other supplements provide the same outcome as Ritalin.
There are important chapters on “how your intestinal flora can make you fat and brainsick”, ”Autism and the gut”, “Punched in the gut – the truth about fructose and gluten”; and more.
He tells us that we should choose foods rich in probiotics, for example, fermented foods such as kefir, kombucha, tempeh, kimchi, sauerkraut and pickles. We should go low-carb and embrace high-quality fat.
As regards cholesterol, those with the highest cholesterol levels perform better on cognitive tests than those with lower levels. Cholesterol is a critical brain nutrient essential to the function of neurons. The brain needs high amounts of cholesterol as a source of food. LDL is a vehicle for transporting life-sustaining cholesterol from the blood to the brain’s neurons and is not only not “bad cholesterol” but not a cholesterol molecule at all.
When cholesterol levels are low, the brain simply doesn’t function optimally, and people with low cholesterol are at great risk for neurological problems from depression to dementia.
The best diet is a low carb high-fat diet, a diet that keeps blood sugar balanced and will keep gut bacteria balanced. The diet should be high in fibre, which you’ll get in whole fruits and vegetables. The diet should be devoid of gluten.
Dr P provides us with a list of what he terms brain maker foods: 1) vegetables, including leafy greens and lettuces, spinach, broccoli, kale, onions, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, asparagus, garlic, etc, etc. 2) low-sugar fruit – avocado, bell peppers, cucumber, tomato, squash, lemons limes etc etc
3) fermented foods (see above)
5) healthy fat – extra virgin olive oil, sesame oil, coconut oil, almond milk, avocados, coconuts, olives, nuts and seeds (flaxseed, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, sesame seeds, chia seeds
5) protein – wild fish, herring, sardines etc
6) herbs, seasonings and condiments.
Dr P gives us a valuable list of the best probiotics – Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus brevis, Bifidobacterium lactis, Bifidobacterium longum.
I repeat that I found this to be an absolutely essential book, particularly for those with brain problems and those who want to avoid them (all of us, I presume). I highly recommend it.
In this book, leading neurologist Dr Perlmutter, shows us how gut microbes heal and protect our brain. Much of the information he provides us with is apparently new.
I found this to be an extremely valuable book, particularly for those with brain problems, like MS, autism, ADHD, depression, etc.
Perlmutter explains that the digestive system is “intimately connected” to what goes on in the brain.
19th-century biologist Élie Mechnikov made a direct link between human longevity and a healthy balance of bacteria in the body: the good bacteria must outnumber the bad.
The author himself has seen “dramatic turnarounds” in health by simple dietary modifications.
He mentions a man with multiple sclerosis that required a wheelchair and bladder catheter; after treatment his MS went into total remission. He refers also to Jason, a 12.year-old boy with severe autism who could hardly talk who was transformed after treatment with probiotics.
He lists a large number of ailments that can be helped by the transformation of one’s gut health, including ADHD, asthma, autism, allergies, food sensitivities, chronic fatigue, diabetes and obesity. In fact any degenerative or inflammatory condition can be helped.
The most significant factor related to the health and diversity of the microbiome is the food we eat.
The two key mechanisms leading to brain degeneration are chronic inflammation and the action of free radicals and these are influenced by gut bacteria and one’s overall gut health.
The practical regimen outlined in the book includes six essential keys: prebiotics, probiotics, fermented foods, low-carb foods, gluten-free foods and healthy fat. Results will appear wihin weeks.
This information will completely revolutionize the treatment of neurological illnesses.
“Your microbiome is the ultimate brain maker.”
Foods such as garlic, Jerusalem artichoke and fermented foods such as sauerkraut, kombucha and kimchi "open the door for heightened levels of health in general, and brain function and protection in particular”.
The author gives us a simple test whereby we can determine our risk factors.
This includes questions such as; were you born by c-section?, were you breast-fed for less than one month?, do you take antibiotics at least once every two or three years?, have you been diagnosed with an autoimmune disease?
The Greek island of Ikaria has the greatest percentage of ninety-year-olds on the planet; they have 20% fewer cases of cancer, half the rate of heart disease and practically no dementia.
Babies there are born naturally and are breast-fed for two years. They eat vegetables from the garden, local fish and meat, homemade yogurt, nuts and seeds and lots of olive oil. The air is clean and there’s no pollution. When they get ill, they are given a spoonful of locally produced honey. They never get autism, asthma or ADHD. They stay fit and lean, since they are always active.
Many scientists are calling the neurons in the gut ”the second brain”. Your gut’s brain makes more serotonin than the brain in your head.
The two most common groups of organisms in the gut, representing more than 90 percent of the bacterial population in the colon, are Firmicutes (pronounced fir-MIH-cue-tees) and Bacteroidetes (pronounced BAC-teer-OY-deh-tees). Firmicutes are notorious as “fat-loving” bacteria and they are much more efficient at extracting energy (i.e. calories) from food. They were found to increase fat absorption. Obese people have elevated levels of Firmicutes in their gut flora, compared to lean people who are dominated by Bacteroidetes.
Higher levels of Firmicutes turn on genes that increase the risk of obesity, diabetes and even cardiovascular disease,
Infants born vaginally obtain bacterial colonies resembling their own mothers’ vaginal microbiome, dominated by beneficial Lactobacillus, whereas babies born via c-section acquire colonies similar to those found on the skin’s surface, dominated by potentially harmful Staphylococcus.
Babies born by cesarean section may not receive an abundant supply of Lactobacillus, instead they are exposed to what is on the doctors’ and nurses’ hands. Also every single woman in the US receives antibiotics when giving birth by c-section.
A third of infants born in the U.S. today are born by c-section.
Babies born by c-section have
A five-fold increased risk of allergies
Twice the risk of ADHD
Twice the risk of autism
An 80 percent increased risk of celiac disease
A 50 percent increased risk of becoming obese as an adult
A 70 percent increased risk of type1-diabetes.
A loss of microbial species and obesity in the West is due to diet, use of antibiotics and overly sanitized conditions.
Our Western diet which is low in plant fibres that serve as fuel for gut bacteria results in fewer types of microbes and beneficial byproducts; we are starving our beneficial microbes. These byproducts of our gut bacteria help control inflammation and “our immune system’s response”. The Western microbiome predisposes us to a variety of diseases.
It lacks diversity and has more bacteria from the group Firmicutes (the inferior, fat-loving bacteria) than Bacteroides (those that “lean” people have).
In countries with the least sanitization the prevalence of Alzheimer’s was found to be dramatically reduced.
In countries with a high degree of sanitization and thus lower levels of parasites, and less diversity of ”intestinal organisms” Alzheimer’s prevalence skyrocketed. In other words, hygiene is positively associated with risk of Alzheimer’s.
A study showed that elderly people who added more fat, in the form of olive oil or mixed nuts, to their diets maintained their cognitive function much better than those who ate a low-fat diet. (This is the opposite of what Medical Medium Anthony William recommends; he says we should eat much less fat.)
There’s a valuable chapter (though all the chapters are valuable) about inflammation including in regard to Alzheimer’s. Particularly the relationship between poor blood sugar control and Alzheimer’s is so strong that it is being called type-3 diabetes.
What the author terms “a disrupted gut community” leads to diabetes and brain disease.
Various herbs and supplements with known anti-diabetic properties work to control blood sugar through the microbiome. For example, berberine and ginseng, together with compounds found in tea, coffee, wine, and chocolate have anti-diabetic qualities through their effects on gut bacteria.
Good gut bacteria produce important brain chemicals like brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), gamma-amino butyric acid (GABA) and glutamate.
BDNF is involved in the creation of new neurons (neurogenesis) and forming synapses between neurons. This synapse formation is essential for “thinking, learning and higher levels of brain formation”. Decreased levels of BDNF are found in Alzheimer’s, epilepsy, anorexia nervosa, depression, schizophrenia and OCD.thor
In this chapter the author also deals with leaky gut and LPS (lipopolysaccharide) which he calls a “biological villain”.
The health and variety of your gut’s bugs depend on the foods that you eat!
Foods that are high in fibre keep blood sugar in check and reduce inflammation. Omega-6 fats dominate in the Western diet; these are the pro-inflammatory fats that have been linked to brain disorders and heart trouble, Omega-3 fats, on the other hand, such as those found in olive oil, fish, flaxseed, boost brain function, help stamp out inflammation, and can counterbalance the detrimental effects of the omega-6 fats.
While Anthony William states that we should completely cut out coffee, Dr Perlmutter tells us that there is an impressive risk reduction for the development of Alzheimer’s in people who drink coffee.
It also reduces the risks of type2-diabetes, strokes, Parkinson’s disease, and even cancer and cardiovascular disease.
The author discusses MS and informs us that MS patients were either born by C-section, not breast-fed or treated with antibiotics early in life. (I myself have MS and was not breast-fed at all.)
Dr Perlmutter had a patient, Carlos, badly affected by MS, and began to give him a new treatment. First he was given probiotic enemas, after which he walked much better.
Then Carlos was given FMT (fecal microbial transplantations), which to most people sounds somewhat distasteful, in that one is given fecal transplants from other, healthy, people. After 10 fecal transplants, he began to walk so well no-one could see he had a problem.
Dr Perlmutter has been practising neurology for three decades but had never witnessed such a remarkable improvement in his MS patients as in Carlos’s case.
(I will not be asking my doctors for FMT but will be following the author’s other advice.)
In a chapter about depression we learn how hopeless the various anti-depressants are, that only treat symptoms and hardly work.
Depression is an inflammatory disease, and we have known of the connection between depression and the gut for more than eighty years.
The higher the level of inflammation, the higher the risk of depression.
High blood sugar is also one of the biggest risk factors for depression, as it is for Alzheimer’s. Women with diabetes have been shown to be 30 percent more likely to develop depression; and women who took insulin for their diabetes were 53 percent more likely to develop depression. Obesity is also associated with increased inflammatory markers; and is correlated with a 55 percent increased risk of depression.
LPS (see above) increases the production of inflammatory markers, which correlate with depression.
Low-grade inflammation is “a primary driver of cognitive decline”.
People who eat a Mediterranean diet rich in healthy, anti-inflammatory fats and proteins, have significantly lower rates of depression.
The author indicates that there is a connection between autoimmune disease and risk of depression.
Chronic stress increases gut permeability nd inflammation; gut bacteria control to a large etent the body’s stress response. The problem can be reversed by taking the probiotic Bifidobacterium infantis.
Not only depression but also disorders such as panic disorder, obsessive.compulsive disorder, social phobias and generalized anxiety disorders are caused by factors that include the ”state and formation of the gut and its inhabitants”.
The chapter includes an important section on ADHD, sufferers from which often have digestive complaints. Probiotics and other supplements provide the same outcome as Ritalin.
There are important chapters on “how your intestinal flora can make you fat and brainsick”, ”Autism and the gut”, “Punched in the gut – the truth about fructose and gluten”; and more.
He tells us that we should choose foods rich in probiotics, for example, fermented foods such as kefir, kombucha, tempeh, kimchi, sauerkraut and pickles. We should go low-carb and embrace high-quality fat.
As regards cholesterol, those with the highest cholesterol levels perform better on cognitive tests than those with lower levels. Cholesterol is a critical brain nutrient essential to the function of neurons. The brain needs high amounts of cholesterol as a source of food. LDL is a vehicle for transporting life-sustaining cholesterol from the blood to the brain’s neurons and is not only not “bad cholesterol” but not a cholesterol molecule at all.
When cholesterol levels are low, the brain simply doesn’t function optimally, and people with low cholesterol are at great risk for neurological problems from depression to dementia.
The best diet is a low carb high-fat diet, a diet that keeps blood sugar balanced and will keep gut bacteria balanced. The diet should be high in fibre, which you’ll get in whole fruits and vegetables. The diet should be devoid of gluten.
Dr P provides us with a list of what he terms brain maker foods: 1) vegetables, including leafy greens and lettuces, spinach, broccoli, kale, onions, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, asparagus, garlic, etc, etc. 2) low-sugar fruit – avocado, bell peppers, cucumber, tomato, squash, lemons limes etc etc
3) fermented foods (see above)
5) healthy fat – extra virgin olive oil, sesame oil, coconut oil, almond milk, avocados, coconuts, olives, nuts and seeds (flaxseed, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, sesame seeds, chia seeds
5) protein – wild fish, herring, sardines etc
6) herbs, seasonings and condiments.
Dr P gives us a valuable list of the best probiotics – Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus brevis, Bifidobacterium lactis, Bifidobacterium longum.
I repeat that I found this to be an absolutely essential book, particularly for those with brain problems and those who want to avoid them (all of us, I presume). I highly recommend it.
January 16, 2021
I've read a few books by this author and I always sigh because his books sound like one long infomercial for his website. So I was pleased that little pitfall was avoided with this one.
What I liked the most about this one was all of the research. It was impressive. The author came in well-armed to make his message solid. He was passionate about gut health and it felt a little urgent as he rolled from one point to the next. So 4 stars.
What I liked the most about this one was all of the research. It was impressive. The author came in well-armed to make his message solid. He was passionate about gut health and it felt a little urgent as he rolled from one point to the next. So 4 stars.
March 31, 2021
Əgər insan anatomiyası sizin üçün maraqlıdırsa rahatlıqla oxuma siyahınıza əlavə edə biləcəyiniz kitablardandır. Əslində kitab bağırsaq və beyin arasında əlaqəni aydınlaşdırır. Yediyimiz qidaların həyatımıza, beynimizə və psixologiyamıza necə təsir göstərdiyindən bəhs edir. Bu mövzular sizin üçün maraqlı deyilsə yorula biləcəyiniz lakin bəyənirsinizsə çox rahatlıqla oxuyub , sevə biləcəyiniz kitablardandır.
Yazırın özü həkim olub həm öz həm də digər araşdırmaların nəticəsini paylaşır . Oxuqdan sonra istər istəməz qidalarınıza diqqət etməyə başlayacaq və bədəninizi dinləməyə başlayacaqsınız. Kitabın sonunda isə doğru qidalanma ilə bağlı olaraq bir çox reseptlər oxuyucuya təqdim edilir.
Yazırın özü həkim olub həm öz həm də digər araşdırmaların nəticəsini paylaşır . Oxuqdan sonra istər istəməz qidalarınıza diqqət etməyə başlayacaq və bədəninizi dinləməyə başlayacaqsınız. Kitabın sonunda isə doğru qidalanma ilə bağlı olaraq bir çox reseptlər oxuyucuya təqdim edilir.
December 17, 2015
Great ad for probiotics. Overall informative about gastro-intestinal health and the link to the rest of your body's function. The book is dishonest in how it attempts to claim possible solutions for other conditions outside of its realm, as opposed to acknowledging that people with other conditions also have medical problems which can be alleviated with these possible solutions. The lack of talk about possible drawbacks to these procedures also makes the book less credible from a scientific perspective. The other food suggestions seem credible, though a lot of it builds off of the earlier book Grain Brain.
That said, I did go and buy a ton of probiotic yogurt after reading this book.
That said, I did go and buy a ton of probiotic yogurt after reading this book.
October 18, 2015
Important information here about cultivating and nurturing a healthy and vibrant microbiome in your intestines. Great for newcomers to mindful health and eating. The last third of the book does gets a little preachy / infomercially, but there is solid research in the rest of the book.
Eat a variety of fermented foods and make healthy choices with your food. Chill out on sugar, and gluten. There, you have it.
Eat a variety of fermented foods and make healthy choices with your food. Chill out on sugar, and gluten. There, you have it.
May 3, 2015
Gut to Brain connection. Sally Fallon said it first!!!!
February 11, 2024
This was a great first book for me to start 2024. This was super informative on how having a clean gut microbiome can impact you in so many positive ways, specifically focusing on diseases. Although more studies need to be conducted, the author talks consistently about how if you improve your gut you can lessen your chance or improve symptoms of adhd, Alzheimer’s, Tourettes, and autism. If this isn’t relevant to some, it’s also mentioned how gluten, HFCS, and antibiotics have severely impacted your gut microbiome in such negative ways that drastically increase your chances of diseases related to the brain.
This book has definitely made me am want to make changes to better my health, primarily removing gluten and added sugars as I didn’t realize how much this impacts us. I’m also really intrigued about the importance of probiotics, so this will be a staple in my daily regimen as well.
All in all, great first read and I am looking forward to reading his other book, “Grain Brain” at some point as well.
This book has definitely made me am want to make changes to better my health, primarily removing gluten and added sugars as I didn’t realize how much this impacts us. I’m also really intrigued about the importance of probiotics, so this will be a staple in my daily regimen as well.
All in all, great first read and I am looking forward to reading his other book, “Grain Brain” at some point as well.
January 22, 2016
It's been a while since I've written a review, but I found this one worthy of the time to take to write one. I'm back on my food kick at the moment, so this book came at a perfect time. David Perlmutter, the author, is a neurologist who discusses in detail the connection between our gut microbes, our brain and really the rest of the body. Our gut is basically a 'second brain', having major impact on what signals are sent to our brain. Our gut is also our defense and when weak, can be penetrated to release toxins and harmful substances to the rest of our body. Before two years ago, you would have had me interested in this theory and maybe practice some of the helpful suggestions he mentions. After having a horrible virus that took several years away from a good quality of life, I have totally become a hippie when it concerns food. There is nothing worse than being in pain and having it constant at that. Going from a normal, energetic and pain-free life to one with daily pain, you will do or try anything to alleviate or eliminate that suffering. Food has greatly helped me in that healing process. I do absolutely believe I first got sick because of an unbalanced microbe biome. I wholeheartedly believe it. I think this book is a must read for everyone, especially if they haven't heard the correlation between health and your digestion/bacteria. I listened to the book and found it most likely easier to listen than actually reading it. I could zone out at times if it seemed repetitively and not miss much. :) I am once again recommitting to eating healthy and hopefully preventing further issues!
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