The Bloat Cure: 101 Natural Solutions for Real and Lasting Relief

by Robynne Chutkan

The must-have A to Z manual to banish your bloat for good, from the author of Gutbliss and The Microbiome Solution  
 
If you’re bloated and looking for relief, you’ve come to the right place. In her medical practice The Digestive Center for Women, Dr. Robynne Chutkan has helped thousands of women get back into their skinny jeans, and she can do the same for you. Understanding what’s behind your suffering is the key to deflating for good. The Bloat Cure helps you identify the root cause of your bloat, whether it’s the artificial sweeteners in your sports drink, the cough medicine you’re taking, an undetected thyroid problem, or one of the other 101 common causes.
               
Once you pinpoint your condition, Dr. Chutkan offers a clear plan of action to stop whatever’s triggering it, rehabilitate your system, and get your GI tract running like a well-oiled machine. Get ready for immediate relief -- and start feeling like yourself again! 

Genres: Health, Nonfiction

224 pages, Hardcover

First published December 29, 2015

Reviews

[Lorilin · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book isn't what I thought it was going to be. The intro claims your belly will be "flat as a pancake" by the time you finish the book, so I guess I was expecting more of a step-by-step program or elimination process. But this is really 100 short chapters listing ALL possible causes of bloating--from sugar to menopause to cancer (LOTS of different kinds of cancer) to diverticulosis to soda. Honestly, you can get the same result by plugging "bloating" into the Web MD symptom checker online.

My takeaway from Bloat Cure is that I should limit (and possibly eliminate altogether) dairy, gluten, sugar, soy, alcohol, and meat--a tall order, but it's advice most everyone has heard before. Chutkan also encourages people to eat more veggies, as she believes lack of fiber (from real food sources--not processed) is a major cause of bloat. Her 1-2-3 Rule helps you achieve this and is easy to remember: eat one vegetable for breakfast, two for lunch, and three for dinner. Chutkan, for example, has a green smoothie in the morning; carrots and cucumbers with hummus in the afternoon; and asparagus, lettuce, and tomatoes for dinner. I'm going to try to do the same.

There is also some good info on the devastating effects of antibiotics to your gut. I had no idea that taking a probiotic helped so LITTLE to replenish good gut bacteria. That was (depressing) news to me.

Ultimately, I learned a few things from this book, but I was hoping for more. Like I said, you can get pretty much the same result by searching for "causes of bloating" online. Unfortunately, Bloat Cure just doesn't add much to the conversation.

[Healthypedia · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are a number of things you can do to relieve bloating and Dr. Chutkan shares 101 of the most efficient solutions.

Bloating is a common digestive problem that can be caused by a variety of factors, including eating certain foods, drinking carbonated beverages, and having certain medical conditions. In her book, ‘The Bloat Cure: 101 Natural Solutions for Real and Lasting Relief’, Dr. Robynne Chutkan, a gastroenterologist and gut health expert, lists 101 causes of bloating and provides solutions for each.


Author’s background

Dr. Robynne Chutkan is a certified gastroenterologist and accomplished author of digestive health books such as ‘Gutbliss,’ ‘The Microbiome Solution,’ and ‘The Anti-Viral Gut’.

She earned her education at Yale, completed medical school and residency at Columbia University, and specialised in gastroenterology through a fellowship at Mount Sinai Hospital in NY. A faculty member at Georgetown Hospital and founder of the Digestive Center for Wellness, Dr. Chutkan’s expertise is well-respected.


What is the book about?

‘The Bloat Cure’ is a valuable resource for anyone who experiences bloating. It is divided into 101 short chapters, each of which focuses on a different cause of bloating.

Each chapter includes information on the cause, symptoms, and potential solutions. The book also includes a section on how to identify the cause of your bloating and a section on lifestyle changes that can help to reduce bloating.


Four key takeaways from ‘The Bloat Cure’

1. Bloating can be a sign of a serious condition or disease

Bloating can be caused by a variety of factors, including harmless ones such as eating gas-producing foods or drinking carbonated beverages, and more serious ones such as ectopic pregnancy, cancer, liver disease, or heart failure.

So if you want to understand the cause of regular or severe bloating, we recommend you consulting professionals or seeking medical advice. If you have any concerns at all about whether your bloating may be due to something serious, don’t hesitate to seek immediate medical attention.

Some common causes include:

• Eating gas-producing foods, such as beans, broccoli, and cabbage
• Drinking carbonated beverages
• Swallowing air
• Constipation
• Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
• Celiac disease
• Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO)

More serious causes of bloating include:

• Ectopic pregnancy
• Cancer
• Liver disease
• Heart failure

2. Correct your diet first to get rid of bloating

Dr. Chutkan shares simple and valuable tips on how to reduce bloating with the help of correct nutrition. These include:

1. Limit or eliminate dairy, gluten, sugar, soy, alcohol, and meat. These foods can be difficult to digest for some people and can contribute to bloating.

2. Eat more vegetables. Vegetables are a good source of fiber, which can help to regulate digestion and reduce bloating. Follow the 1-2-3 Rule: eat one vegetable for breakfast, two for lunch, and three for dinner.

3. Be mindful of your eating habits. Avoid eating too quickly, chewing gum, or drinking carbonated beverages, as these can all contribute to bloating.

3. Stress can be a cause of bloating too, so try to relax

In her book, Dr. Chutkan recommends to manage stress in order to reduce the discomfort in your body. Stress can contribute to bloating, so it’s important to find healthy ways to manage it and control your mind, such as exercise, yoga, or meditation.

4. Antibiotics can cause and seriously worsen bloating

‘The Bloat Cure’ discusses the devastating effects of antibiotics on the gut. Antibiotics can kill off beneficial bacteria in your digesting system, which can lead to bloating and other problems. If you need to take antibiotics, it’s important to take a probiotic to help replenish the good bacteria in your gut, although the powers of probiotics are overestimated.


Strengths and weaknesses, according to readers’ reviews

Strengths:
• Many readers found the book very informative and enjoyed the efficiency of ‘Problem/Symptom/Solution’ format of the chapters.
• Clear and understandable language.
• The book focuses on holistic methods for minimising bloating.

Weaknesses:
• Some of the readers found solutions too obvious and simplified.
• Many readers mentioned that the chapters were too short as they expected longer introductions to each of the problems.


Best quotes from ‘The Bloat Cure’

“Destroying your gut bacteria with antibiotics and then trying to replace them with probiotics is like draining a full bathtub and refilling it with a single cup of water – literally a drop in the bucket.”

“Removing your gallbladder without changing your diet is unlikely to make your bloating go away; almost 25 percent of people have recurrence of symptoms after their gallbladder is removed. Try changing your diet instead – swap animal products such as meat and dairy for plants, and keep an eye on your fat intake. Your gallbladder – and your bloat – will thank you.”

“Sitting is the new smoking as far as your health is concerned, and that’s especially true for your GI tract, where sitting at a computer all day can slow your transit to a crawl.”


Final takeaway

‘The Bloat Cure’ by Dr. Robynne Chutkan is a compilation of short and efficient tips on how to identify the cause of your bloating and how to reduce it. Written in a very compact and to-the-point style, this book is especially helpful for people who have tried to self-treat their bloating without success.

[Ron Alpert · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thoroughly done....

But you didn’t answer my primary concern. What would be helpful is if there was a chart that Cross correlated different solutions.

[Doloris Wood · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent ... wish I had read this many years ago!

[Sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

"The Bloat Cure" was a very interesting book indeed. I had never known that there could be so many causes for a bloat and I found it fascinating learning about what causes them and how to cure them.

[Torie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Your girl has tummy problems (it’s a hot girl problem obvi). My dr recommended this book to me but 95% didn’t pertain to me because they’re hyperspecific reasons (EG having an ectopic pregnancy, having celiac’s disease, or having an ED). So a disclaimer for my review is i skipped and skimmed because most of these were not one of my hot girl issues.

A lot of the solutions to each of the problems end up being a lot of the same solves. They’re short chapters which list a possible cause, the science behind it, and a short list or paragraph of solutions.

Some of the solves were kinda….

Like I don’t know if I can go with her solution of foregoing carbonated drinks and dairy altogether?? One of her solutions for if you want a carbonated drink is to leave it out until it gets flat or half flat and im like then why drink it at all 😭

Idk didn’t really help me understand my body more other than the fact women are more anatomically set up for bloat than men because our colons wind more due to our pelvis depth.

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very interesting catalog of disease that cause bloat and quick suggestions as to how to effect change. If one has one of the diseases or issues, much more information would be required.

[Bozhena Levine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Straight and to the point, this book is a great guide for a clear plan of action to eliminate the bloat and start feeling better immediately.

[☼Bookish in Virginia☼]

~ Review Copy

THE BLOAT CURE probably should have been titled, BLOAT 101. Not the for 101 causes that are addressed, but because of the basic information provided. I mean, this is a book for those who don't like reading extensively. The presentation here could not be more straightforward. There is a heavy use of bullets.

PROS
-- I gave this book 4 Stars because it's going to be exactly what some people want. A quick and dirty way to figure out why they might be bloated. The content is listed in alpha-order so you can start with A or you can jump around to read what you want. There is no requirement to begin at one point. No building of information.

-- The information is presented with an brief introduction... followed by a solution. Really, Cancer is less than one page.

-- I think people who don't like the book were expecting something like the popular diet books that are out there. A long formal introduction to the topic and then wordy chapters following that introduction that go into great depth about the human body and where and how bloating fits in. That's fine but this isn't that kind of book. And in fact, I prefer this book. It gives a hint as to what the problem could be so you can address it with your doctor, or in the case of simpler things, change your diet. Even if changing your diet requires more reading. So like a directory.

CONS
-- THE major drawback of this book, if you take it as designed, is that there is no immediate identification of causes of bloating that need immediate medical attention. Just asterisks next to the chapter titles would have been useful, but there is no way to locate these dire situations except to read through all 101 possibilities. When you get to #9, Ascites, for example, you'll be told that if you think you are suffering from it that you should seek IMMEDIATE medical attention. What happens if your dire situation is #99?

SUMMARY
This book is more of a Directory than some people are going to like. However, if you have bloating (or think you have bloating) and you aren't sure of the cause, it's going to be very helpful. THE BLOAT CURE might not give you sufficient answer to resolve your problem, but it will give you a name and symptoms to begin with. Others might long for more information but what's inside was really sufficient from my perspective.

~ Review Copy

[Sabrina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book through Goodreads First Reads program.

I found this book to be very informative and I like the quick, concise Problem/Symptom/Solution format of the chapters. Having lost a considerable amount of weight myself and constantly striving to maintain and be healthy, I felt like I already knew many of the instigators of bloat. A lot of the eat this/don't eat that information I was familiar with, but I did learn some new things and found reading more about the medical reasons interesting as well.

Good read & I came away with some new knowledge to test out in my daily life.

[Lisa · Rating 2 out of 5]

I found this book disappointing. Some of the solutions are rather obvious. For instance, bloat from caffeine, it is recommended to cut caffeine beverages. I had to shake my head. Bloat from opiates had a solution of finding an alternative to opiates, or take smaller doses.

As I read through the ailments I was hoping to find vegetable cocktail suggestions or healthy smoothie recipes. I didn't find any such thing.

I didn't find this book helpful for any of the ailments I personally have, but I remain hopeful that maybe someone will find a solution to their problem.

**I received a free copy of this book for an honest review**

[Janine Brouillette · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good reference book on the many causes of bloating. Dr. Robynne Chutkan lists 101 chapters in alphabetical order of the most common reasons of bloating and a possible solution. Most chapters are one page.....a paragraph for the problem/symptom and a paragraph for the solution. Dr. Chutkan writes very clearly and easy to understand.....I only wish that each chapter was a little longer and more in detail.

[Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an ARC in a Goodreads giveaway.

Dr. Chutkan addresses 101 causes of bloat in short chapters that detail symptoms and solutions. It's easy to understand, with minimal jargon. Dr. Chutkan makes it clear when you should consult a doctor and when you can treat the problem on your own. I found The Bloat Cure helpful, concise, and authoritative.

[Patricia Wright · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book. So easy to read and understand. Tons of information. Recommend it highly. You won't be disappointed!

[Alexis Simmers · Rating 3 out of 5]

I attained this book from Goodreads giveaways and I really enjoyed it! It is very interesting and has many helpful tips and ideas.

[Sarah Drye · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very easy fast to read
no new information - a reminder of how stress and what you consume determines your well being

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting & easy to read though not the quick fix I had hoped for --