Holistic Keto for Gut Health: A Program for Resetting Your Metabolism

by Kristin Grayce McGary

A step-by-step guide to addressing autoimmune and other health challenges through a healthy digestive system

• Offers a therapeutic ketogenic gut repair program that differs from mainstream ketogenic diets because it excludes inflammatory foods that cause gut damage, immune dysfunction, accelerated aging, and tissue damage

• Provides a science-based explanation for why almost everyone has some degree of gut damage and how this impacts your immune function and health issues

• Details the right kind of lab tests needed for proper diagnosis of food sensitivities and autoimmune disorders

• Includes dozens of delicious, easy-to-prepare recipes that keep you feeling satisfied

Do you feel exhausted? Experience foggy thinking and mysterious symptoms that come and go--symptoms your doctors can’t figure out and yet they keep prescribing more and more medications? Do you have headaches, congestion, or allergies? Do you suffer from joint pain, sleep challenges, hormone imbalances, skin problems such as eczema and psoriasis, thyroid dysfunction, or any other autoimmune disorder? Holistic healthcare expert Kristin Grayce McGary reveals that the answer to resolving your health challenges may lie in comprehensive gut repair.

Combining the best gut-healthy elements of primal, paleo, and ketogenic nutritional plans, McGary offers a one-of-a-kind approach for optimal digestive health. Unlike the traditional keto diet, which contains inflammatory foods, McGary’s science-based, functional ketogenic program emphasizes a holistic nutritional and lifestyle plan to repair your gut while avoiding the dangers of gluten, dairy, soy, starches, sugars, chemicals, and pesticides. She reveals how nearly everyone has some degree of gut damage and explains how this impacts your immune function, energy levels, and many health issues.

Drawing on her extensive knowledge of blood chemistry analysis and how to halt and prevent autoimmune challenges, McGary details the right kind of lab tests needed for proper diagnosis of food sensitivities and autoimmune disorders and where to get them--helping readers overcome the ongoing misdiagnosis that millions with gut problems and autoimmunity symptoms suffer. Additionally, she provides a thorough list of supplements and foods for gut healing, delicious recipes that leave you feeling satisfied and strong, and contemplative exercises to help you dive even deeper into healing.

Blending humor, scientific information, client examples, and personal stories with unique insights into achieving optimal health, McGary gives you the practical tools necessary to achieve a healthy digestive system, sustainable well-being, and vibrant longevity.

Genres: Nonfiction

272 pages, Paperback

First published January 7, 2020

About the author

Kristin Grayce McGary
LAc., MAc., CFMP®, CSTcert, CLP
Health and lifestyle expert Kristin Grayce McGary is an internationally recognized author and speaker. She is an authority on autoimmunity, functional blood chemistry analysis, thyroid & gut health, alleviating pain, family wellness, extreme exhaustion, resolving blocks to healing, and food as medicine. Kristin Grayce specializes in integrating mind, body and spirit in healthcare through a uniquely individualized approach.

She offers more than two decades of education, clinical experience, and wisdom to her patients; weaving dozens of modalities together to compassionately meet you where you are and guide you to vibrant health.

Renowned for her health detective work, she helps successful high achievers under stress; taking the guesswork out of healthcare, working to resolve patients' root imbalances, helping them to regain lasting energy and live with more vitality. She empowers patients to revitalize and reconnect to their most brilliant self, and to fulfill the mission of sharing their gifts with the world.

She is the author of 'Holistic Keto for Gut Health: A Program for Resetting your Metabolism' and upcoming book 'Know Your Blood, Know Your Health: Prevent Disease and Enjoy vibrant health Through Functional Blood Chemistry Analysis'
KristinGrayceMcGray.com

Reviews

[Jay Pruitt · Rating 2 out of 5]

The book describes what is essentially the Standard Keto Diet (SKD), generally comprised of 75% fat, 20% protein and 5% carbs, as what is needed to achieve our "natural state" (homeostasis) that evolved during the Paleolithic and Neolithic eras of human existence. Fat is stored when food sources are abundant from hunting and gathering and is burned when food sources are scarce. Bottom line, our digestive tracts have not had enough time to evolve in order that we may properly digest diets of the agrarian world in which we now live.

In order to repair our gut, addicted to refined carbs and sugar, and burdened by years of ingesting toxins, heavy metals, preservatives, pesticides, etc., the author recommends a 60-90 day adoption of the SKD. However, the gut repair diet also removes all dairy, eggs and nuts. The book describes recommended supplements (vitamins minerals, etc.) and presents recipes that fit the proposed diet.

The book describes a dietary program which is generally available via searching the internet, but provides additional information pertaining to why certain other foods should be removed from the diet, at least until the repair of our gut has occurred. A bit dry to read, but I suspect some would find the recipes to be helpful

Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to provide my unbiased review.

[Diane Hernandez · Rating 2 out of 5]

Hmmm, Holistic Keto for Gut Health prescribes a keto-like diet for those with gut issues. It sounds much harder to follow than a regular Keto diet since all dairy, eggs and soy are no-no’s as well as most carbs. However, the book does allow a few limited carbs like potatoes and carrots in moderation. That might be enough for you if your stomach issues are severe enough to make the sacrifice worth it.

I’m not sure that it is enough for me. I’ve been gluten-free for a few years. Just cutting out gluten seems to work to remove most of my gut issues. However, sometimes it is very difficult to see what contains gluten because only wheat is called out on food labeling. So I was looking for another method to follow that might be easier. However, this is too extreme for me. I can’t see myself, or most people, following such a strict diet for a long period. It might be okay for a week or two.

If your gut issues are intense, you might find this book, Holistic Keto for Gut Health, useful. I don’t think it is good for most people who just want to lose weight quickly or who haven’t already tried a elimination diet first. 2 stars.

Thanks to Inner Traditions, Findhorn Health, and NetGalley for a copy in exchange for my honest review.

[AcademicEditor · Rating 1 out of 5]

I wanted to check out this book in search of recipes, but I never even made it to those (they start on page 152). The book immediately irritated me with its sweeping dismissal of "Western" MDs and fetishization of "Asian medicine." Every country in the West (however you choose to define it), and every local area for that matter, has different levels of quality in healthcare, and so does every country and region in Asia. Some have top-notch care and people live to a grand old age; others have the plague.

Anyway, it seemed like a good time to look at citations, whereupon I noticed:

+ The author cites a 2004 article from the journal Medical Hypotheses. Funny story, that was a non-peer-reviewed, self-regulated journal until they published some AIDS denialist articles that destroyed their credibility. So the parent company forced them to start doing better reviews in 2010. Anything before that is read-at-your-own-risk.

+ The author cites a book with LULU as the publisher. LULU is the self-publishing site where I used to have calendars printed.

+ The author repeatedly cites articles on the personal website of a chiropractor named Dr. Auer, who treats all kinds of non-chiropractic complaints through what is sometimes called "functional medicine" and other times "integrative medicine." Whatever it is, it costs $75 per 15 minutes and insurance doesn't pay for it. And he also sells supplements.

That is not to say the author doesn't cite reputable sources as well. But there's enough speculation and anecdata in the first hundred pages to be a dealbreaker for me. There are plenty of other keto/low-carb cookbooks out there.

[Jan Fore · Rating 4 out of 5]

Holistic Keto For Gut Health
Kristin Grayce McGary
January 20, 2020

It is extremely difficult growing up with stomach issues. Here I am at 68 years old and up until March I have had the worst gut issues. As a kid I ate the food my mother cooked, some days I was uncomfortable, gassy, and I knew I had only eaten what was on the table. As a child I saw the family doctor and he reminded both my mother and I that not all people can digest food the same. All my life food was an issue. I gained weight easily, bloated up and became so gassy. It was ugly and embarrassing throughout most of my life. I always thought it was just me and I had to live with it. Two years ago I saw a specialist and he suggested that I was very sensitive to gluten. It helped to go off of it but then my son introduced me to the Keto Diet.
I have read a few books about Keto, then my husband and I started to live the diet. I was concerned how my stomach would react. After 2 weeks we had both started losing weight and my gut was behaving itself. We have stayed on it now for 6 months and are still losing weight. On occasion I have eaten broccoli or cooked cauliflower and yes I get gas but not to the extremes of before.
In reading Ms. McGary’s book I began to understand why my digestion is so much better. Why weight is not the issue it was before. After 6 months I have lost 55 pounds. It doesn’t come off as quickly as before but that is OK. If I find a food that bothers my digestive system, I don’t eat it again.
Much of her journal was technical and over my head but because I have stuck out the cravings and made it through. It is wonderful to not have digestive issues on a daily basis. Since I began the diet it is a rarity. For those of you who might wonder if your digestive system can deal with the Keto diet, give it a try. Holistic Keto for Gut Health by Kristin Grayce McGary will be published by find horn press on January 20, 2020.

[roxi Net · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was interested in reviewing this book given some dietary/health issues I've had despite being an active and food-conscious person for years. Everything I'd done before (lifting, cardio, low-fat diet) to maintain a healthy lifestyle all of a sudden stopped working. I gained weight even though I was working out everyday and my diet hadn't changed. After going to multiple doctors, having gall-bladder surgery, I decided to try keto out of desperation. I haven't seen a significant change, however I began to feel so much better (sigh). Ms. McGary in her book describes so much of what I had gone through that it made me as if I'm on the right track. The book goes into a lot of detail and explanations that I'm not ready for at this point, some ingredients I'm unfamiliar with where to purchase (mesquite flour, psyllum husks, etc.), there aren't enough photos (color) for me to feel that this is a recipe book but it's full of so much information that I will be referring to the book over the course of my keto experiment.

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book came into my life just in time. I've been experimenting with keto and intermittent fasting, but would feel sick following some of the protocols suggested. The more I see keto hit the mainstream, the more I see it diluted into a gimmick used to sell products. I was feeling very confused and frustrated.

This book answered all of my questions around balancing a keto diet so it doesn't throw the rest of me off course. The science is solid and the guidance on HOW to actually eat (and how to determine what's best for you) was extremely helpful.

I love recipes and even more when they come with an explanation of how the ingredients are part of an overall health strategy. I highly recommend this book. I am definitely getting the hard copy when it comes out in January.

P.S. any negative reviews should be completely ignored. I don't even think those people read the same book I did! It's a solid book and I'd recommend it to anyone serious about their health and well being.

[Laney Estel · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was a very interesting read. There was a lot of background as to why the author was an expert. However, one of the issues, which still wasn't really explained very well, is how to make these recipes more accessible to picky eaters. I am not a fan of certain foods, fish, meat... so I am practically a vegetarian. This book has lots of good recipes, but I had trouble pinpointing ones I thought I could make and be happy with in this new lifestyle. I was happy for all the info though, and if Keto is a lifestyle this would be helpful for you.

[Witch-at-Heart · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am a recent keto and pre diabetic cook. I have been going through dozens of cookbooks trying to find the right balance if not only healthy nutrition but food my family will enjoy as I cut sugar and bread our if the picture. This book is a wonderful choice as I merge a combination of family friendly foods that meet my desire to be keto with my husbands needs to address being prediabetic we have struggled to find what we both like or can eat. I love this cookbook it has been a gold mine if meals we can both eat. Delicious and easy. I received this book from Netgalley for an honest review.

[Helena#bookdreamer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you netgalley for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I thought this book had lots of useful information regarding autoimmune diseases and the importance of gut health. The author digs deep on possible causes of the rise in autoimmune illnesses, breaking down the systems of gut ailments and what we can do to improve it. The author suggest diets you can use but doesn't go over if the keto diet let's say, is appropriate for type 1 diabetes.
The author also provides recipes as the end.
Overall a very well thought out book with plenty of good information and ideas.

[Shauna · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was informative and comprehensive. I was skeptical of some of the science and conclusions but the book was well-researched. There were some editing issues with paragraphs that end in the middle of a sentence and a lot of repetition but overall there was a lot of good information. The section on supplements and the A to Z food guide were particularly helpful and there are a few recipes I'm interested in trying out. This program may be too aggressive for most people but there's plenty of useful information that anyone can use.