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The Probiotics Revolution: The Definitive Guide to Safe, Natural Health Solutions Using Probiotic and Prebiotic Foods and Supplements
If the thought of bacteria conjures images of germs that should be avoided at all costs—and certainly not ingested—think again! Some friendly bacteria, called probiotics, are not only beneficial to your health, they’re essential. Now an internationally recognized scientist at a top U.S. medical school—one of the leading researchers in the field—sheds light on the extraordinary benefits of these natural health superstars.
Thanks to an explosion of research in recent years, one thing is probiotics, the healthy bacteria that inhabit the digestive tract, are the body’s silent partners for good health, optimizing the power of the immune system to fight disease and the “bad” germs we fear. But how do they work? And in the face of factors like stress and poor diet, which decrease their numbers, how do you keep your supply well stocked?
Here is an up-to-the-minute, highly accessible guide to probiotics and the foods and supplements that contain and support them—many of which may be in your diet already.
The key role of probiotics and prebiotics in restoring healthy balance to our bodies, improving immune system functioning, and curbing inflammation
How to use probiotic foods and supplements to prevent and relieve allergies, inflammatory bowel disease, irritable bowel syndrome, yeast infections, and the negative side effects of antibiotic use
New evidence that probiotics may help fight asthma, cardiovascular disease, breast and colon cancer, autoimmune diseases, chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia—and even obesity
Natural sources of prebiotics, the nutrients that help make the digestive tract more hospitable for probiotic bacteria
The Probiotics Revolution also includes a step-by-step plan for incorporating the many food sources of probiotics and prebiotics into your diet, a complete buyer’s guide to probiotic supplements, and how to introduce probiotics to your family and children.
Thanks to an explosion of research in recent years, one thing is probiotics, the healthy bacteria that inhabit the digestive tract, are the body’s silent partners for good health, optimizing the power of the immune system to fight disease and the “bad” germs we fear. But how do they work? And in the face of factors like stress and poor diet, which decrease their numbers, how do you keep your supply well stocked?
Here is an up-to-the-minute, highly accessible guide to probiotics and the foods and supplements that contain and support them—many of which may be in your diet already.
The key role of probiotics and prebiotics in restoring healthy balance to our bodies, improving immune system functioning, and curbing inflammation
How to use probiotic foods and supplements to prevent and relieve allergies, inflammatory bowel disease, irritable bowel syndrome, yeast infections, and the negative side effects of antibiotic use
New evidence that probiotics may help fight asthma, cardiovascular disease, breast and colon cancer, autoimmune diseases, chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia—and even obesity
Natural sources of prebiotics, the nutrients that help make the digestive tract more hospitable for probiotic bacteria
The Probiotics Revolution also includes a step-by-step plan for incorporating the many food sources of probiotics and prebiotics into your diet, a complete buyer’s guide to probiotic supplements, and how to introduce probiotics to your family and children.
432 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2007
14 people are currently reading
152 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
March 7, 2012
There is no doubt that probiotics are an essential part of any recovery plan from any serious disease involving poor gut function. The research on this is clear and you only have to try them yourself for a while if you're ill to see the huge benefits.
This book talks a bit about probiotic yeasts, sauerkraut and other cultured vegetables, kefir and yogurt as well as probiotic supplements, which is wonderful.
I was happy to see this book talk specifically about the very strong probiotic VSL#3 (the product I use myself) and also to recommend actual well-known brands such as Culturelle, Florastor, Jarrow-dophilus and others.
Clear guidelines are also given for dosages. For healthy people food based probiotics may be enough or 3-5 billion daily, for pregnant women or to improve health 6-10 billion, for a medical problem 20 - 30 billion and for those with severe illnesses 1 - 2 VSL#3 daily (450 - 900 billion!).
Unfortunately this book unfairly demonises animal fat and saturated fat consumption and meat consumption, promotes soy products such as yogurt and even soy oil (!) as healthy and claims that a diet high in whole grains is ideal and very healthy and over-hypes the benefits of fibre. This last is problematic as many of us with gut issues do better on a LOWER fibre diet in fact, as the GAPS book listed below explains. This book also seemed to be hugely enthusiastic about probiotics being added to junk foods like crisps and breakfast cereals in the future.
The plus of a book just about probiotics is that you get a lot more in-depth information than in books with a wider scope. The downside is that issue of every problem looking like a nail just because the author is a hammer expert! Probiotics are great and may be very helpful as a preventative but if you have serious issues probiotics alone just can't do it all on their own though they are one essential part of the puzzle.
To get the best advice you really need to read this book together with a really good comprehensive gut healing program book if you are very ill and have significant gut issues. Books which combine information on probiotics with equally important recommendations for digestive enzymes, betaine HCl, and so on along with other dietary guidelines not related to probiotics.
The best two I know of are Gut and Psychology Syndrome and No More Heartburn: Stop the Pain in 30 Days--Naturally! : The Safe, Effective Way to Prevent and Heal Chronic Gastrointestinal Disorders.
Overall this book provides good basic information on probiotics and makes a great introduction to this topic for readers new to the topic.
Jodi Bassett, HFME
This book talks a bit about probiotic yeasts, sauerkraut and other cultured vegetables, kefir and yogurt as well as probiotic supplements, which is wonderful.
I was happy to see this book talk specifically about the very strong probiotic VSL#3 (the product I use myself) and also to recommend actual well-known brands such as Culturelle, Florastor, Jarrow-dophilus and others.
Clear guidelines are also given for dosages. For healthy people food based probiotics may be enough or 3-5 billion daily, for pregnant women or to improve health 6-10 billion, for a medical problem 20 - 30 billion and for those with severe illnesses 1 - 2 VSL#3 daily (450 - 900 billion!).
Unfortunately this book unfairly demonises animal fat and saturated fat consumption and meat consumption, promotes soy products such as yogurt and even soy oil (!) as healthy and claims that a diet high in whole grains is ideal and very healthy and over-hypes the benefits of fibre. This last is problematic as many of us with gut issues do better on a LOWER fibre diet in fact, as the GAPS book listed below explains. This book also seemed to be hugely enthusiastic about probiotics being added to junk foods like crisps and breakfast cereals in the future.
The plus of a book just about probiotics is that you get a lot more in-depth information than in books with a wider scope. The downside is that issue of every problem looking like a nail just because the author is a hammer expert! Probiotics are great and may be very helpful as a preventative but if you have serious issues probiotics alone just can't do it all on their own though they are one essential part of the puzzle.
To get the best advice you really need to read this book together with a really good comprehensive gut healing program book if you are very ill and have significant gut issues. Books which combine information on probiotics with equally important recommendations for digestive enzymes, betaine HCl, and so on along with other dietary guidelines not related to probiotics.
The best two I know of are Gut and Psychology Syndrome and No More Heartburn: Stop the Pain in 30 Days--Naturally! : The Safe, Effective Way to Prevent and Heal Chronic Gastrointestinal Disorders.
Overall this book provides good basic information on probiotics and makes a great introduction to this topic for readers new to the topic.
Jodi Bassett, HFME
March 11, 2015
An easy to read book with an important message about incorporating probiotics in our diets. You can easily scan it to get the jest of it or simply read it to get a thorough understanding of what is currently known about pro and pre biotics. Either way its written clearly and simply. We're incorporating probiotics in our diets and it's been noticeably helpful in digestion.
January 30, 2016
This. This is what I was looking for in my search about inflammation. It is still written by a researcher who leans to the medical model, but he is articulate, has some great studies to back up his claims, and it is well edited.
My beef is that he isn't hippy-dippy enough. ;-) He doesn't know hardly anything about fermented foods. His one go-to is simply yogurt. There is an amazing world of fermented food that he knows absolutely nothing about. He is super conservative about saying ny sweeping claims and sticks with particular strains that have backed studies. But that is okay. I can do my own extrapolations. It reaffirms my gut feeling (pun not intended) that the solution is not simply eliminating problem foods. I am much more hopeful after reading this, that I can prevent at least a bit of my own genetic inflammatory legacy.
My beef is that he isn't hippy-dippy enough. ;-) He doesn't know hardly anything about fermented foods. His one go-to is simply yogurt. There is an amazing world of fermented food that he knows absolutely nothing about. He is super conservative about saying ny sweeping claims and sticks with particular strains that have backed studies. But that is okay. I can do my own extrapolations. It reaffirms my gut feeling (pun not intended) that the solution is not simply eliminating problem foods. I am much more hopeful after reading this, that I can prevent at least a bit of my own genetic inflammatory legacy.
April 9, 2013
I bought this book after taking two very strong antibiotics. It is very well-organized and readable. The author gives so much background information about probiotics and yet there is so much practical advice, especially in relation to specific diseases. The Kindle version of this book was expensive, but it was worth every penny for the invaluable information. Someone on Amazon mentioned that some of the tables were hard to read on a Kindle. I read the book on an iPad and the tables were no problem.
March 19, 2012
Excellent book to help you understand how important pre- and probiotics are. Definitely useful to give you enough concrete information and ideas to incorporate more good bacteria into your & your kids lifestyle. Healthy, healthy, healthy; easy and tastes good too. Oh yeah, by the way did I mention I cured my UTI with probiotics! Also my allergies are not as bad this warm, early spring season just as the author has said his improved. Can't beat that!
December 31, 2012
as you can see by the reading list--I'm concerned about the processed world we live in this Dr. explains perhaps why we have so many allergies and auto immune diseases its food for thought and for good health and there are no side affects from probiotics just adding better quality yogurt kefir and real fermented foods --just a little--to the diet could work wonders for all of us
December 3, 2016
very informative!! I am a Registered Nurse and think this book should be read by anyone who wants relief from chronic health problems and not just "quick fix" drugs that will mask symptoms.
April 14, 2018
Awesome book to learn more about probiotics!
May 25, 2021
need more
August 3, 2011
This is an exciting book for those seeking to be cured of various health complaints. It explores the new world of research into the curative qualities of probiotics - bacteria friendly to our digestive system and bodies as a whole.
It turns out that probiotics can heal or relieve digestive diseases, allergies, asthma, urogenital diseases and perhaps many more serious disorders. Future research will clarify this point. The author himself was severely plagued by asthma and allergies until he began to experiment with probiotics. Now his problems are a thing of the past.
Detailed advice is given as to food sources of probiotics and recommended supplements are listed. Moreover, much information is provided about the benefits of a healthy diet as a whole, the so-called prebiotics, including how to entice one's children to try healthy new foods. The final chapter lists appropriate recipes.
I highly recommend this book to those willing to change/improve their diet to regain their health or prevent future health problems.
I give this book 4 stars and not 5, since the author is apparently unaware that use of a micro-wave oven destroys all life energy in the food exposed to it, and because he does not mention the value or necessity of prioritizing the choice of organic food.
It turns out that probiotics can heal or relieve digestive diseases, allergies, asthma, urogenital diseases and perhaps many more serious disorders. Future research will clarify this point. The author himself was severely plagued by asthma and allergies until he began to experiment with probiotics. Now his problems are a thing of the past.
Detailed advice is given as to food sources of probiotics and recommended supplements are listed. Moreover, much information is provided about the benefits of a healthy diet as a whole, the so-called prebiotics, including how to entice one's children to try healthy new foods. The final chapter lists appropriate recipes.
I highly recommend this book to those willing to change/improve their diet to regain their health or prevent future health problems.
I give this book 4 stars and not 5, since the author is apparently unaware that use of a micro-wave oven destroys all life energy in the food exposed to it, and because he does not mention the value or necessity of prioritizing the choice of organic food.
October 17, 2012
My sister-in-law recommended this, I found it very helpful. As an immunologist but also as someone willing to share about their own health experience, he makes a convincing case for paying attention to consuming pre/pro biotics in our foods and possibly as supplements for further health issues. A helpful guide and even includes some recipes. I did sort of want to give him a hug at points, as he is SO excited about probiotics and their potential. Bless his little heart. ;)
March 28, 2009
Interesting. Not an engaging read all the time, but found that different strains of probiotic are good for different things and how GREAT they are! I was finally able to learn about VSL#3, THE most potent probiotic EVER! LOVE it!!! Really helps with my ulcerative colitis!!! I'll be forever greatful I found this book!
January 22, 2012
Amazing to learn how inflammation--involved with allergies, asthma, arthritis, ibd, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, heart disease, and many more health problems--can be slowed and even prevented with a healthy immune system, which depends so much on having the good kind of bugs in our guts. Simply fascinating read, at least for me: I have three of the above and family members have all the rest!
August 4, 2008
This book is illuminating to what's going on in your gut. It also talks about microbiology at a basic level so that one can understand how the cells in your body operate to keep you healthy. The authors is at U of M where they are doing alot of research on probiotics.
August 19, 2008
I really liked this book. The way that he explains everything is so straight forward. It was also exciting because he is on the front lines of all the research that is being done- I really enjoyed reading about the future of what could be done with probiotics.
November 12, 2010
Great book. Probiotics used to be an integral part of our ancestors diet, but we've gotten away from them. It's a shame because they're ESSENTIAL to health. A must read book for anyone who wants to be healthy.
March 7, 2013
Very useful for one learning about probiotics and their health benefits. This wasn't a new introduction for me and I still came away with knowledge. I believe that we will be seeing more about probiotics in the future.
October 28, 2014
This book is totally amazing !!!! Just loved it , so easy to understand, and to follow. Most books I have read on this subject have been so technical that even though I knew probiotics were important I did not understand why. Now I know and look forward to incorporating them in my diet.
December 16, 2007
Excellent, must-read nutrition book. Complete with easy tips to improve your diet right now.
January 5, 2008
A great new year's resolution to start 2008 off with a revolution... here's to eternal health from the inside out!
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June 9, 2010i wrote a whole review and then lost it. i liked the book. i like yogurt. the end.
June 24, 2011
Eat more probiotics and all your health woes will be solved! Watch this space while I try!
July 23, 2011
Probiotics really can cure diseases? That's pretty awesome and this book convinced me.
May 11, 2012
Good explanation of the workings of your gut and the reason to pay more attention it's health. Nice info about probiotics supplements and how to choose and buy good ones.
June 17, 2012
Keep reading and rereading! Tips in here that will save your life and give quality longevity!
April 5, 2016
Liked it Very informative and interesting.
Got me into: yogurt, kefir, etc.
Good recipes too
Got me into: yogurt, kefir, etc.
Good recipes too
December 31, 2009
Excellent book for building your immune system. Has product/supplement recommendations.
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews