The Gut-Immune Connection: How Understanding the Connection Between Food and Immunity Can Help Us Regain Our Health – Groundbreaking Microbiome Research on Epidemic and Chronic Disease

by Emeran Mayer

From one of today’s leading experts on the emerging science of the microbiome comes a ground-breaking book that offers, for the first time, evidence that the gut-microbiome plays a pivotal role in the health crises of the twenty-first century.In his acclaimed book, The Mind-Gut Connection, physician, UCLA professor, and researcher Dr. Emeran Mayer offered groundbreaking evidence of the critical role of the microbiome in neurological and cognitive health, proving once and for all the power and legitimacy of the “mind-body connection.” Now, in The Gut-Immune Connection, Dr. Mayer proposes an even more radical paradigm that the gut microbiome is at the center of virtually every disease that defines our 21st-century public health crisis.

Cutting-edge research continues to advance our understanding of the function and impact of the billions of organisms that live in the GI tract, and in Dr. Mayer’s own research, he has amassed evidence that the “conversation” that takes place between these microbes and our various organs and bodily systems is critical to human health. When that conversation goes awry, we suffer, often becoming seriously ill.

Combining clinical experience with up-to-the-minute science, The Gut-Immune Connection offers a comprehensive look at the link between alterations to the gut microbiome and the development chronic diseases like diabetes, heart disease, and cancer, as well as susceptibility to infectious diseases like Covid-19. Dr. Mayer argues that it’s essential we understand the profound and far-reaching effects of gut health and offers clear-cut strategies to reverse the steady upward rise of these illnesses, including a model for nutrition to support the microbiome. 

But time is running a plague of antimicrobial resistance is only a few decades away if we don’t make critical changes to our food supply, including returning to sustainable practices that maintain the microbial diversity of the soil. To turn the tide of chronic and infectious disease tomorrow, we must shift the way we live today.

Genres: Health, Nonfiction, Science, Food, Nutrition, Audiobook, Neuroscience

320 pages, Paperback

Published June 8, 2021

About the author

Emeran Mayer was born in a small town in Bavaria where his family ran a Confectionary business since 1873. After an agonizing decision against taking over the family business, he finished Medical School at the Ludwig Maximilian’s University in Munich, completed his residency training at the Vancouver General Hospital in Vancouver, Canada before moving to Los Angeles.

There he worked under the late John H. Walsh to study the role of gut brain interactions and with James Meyer on the role of stomach emptying at the prestigious Center for Ulcer Research and Education and completed his specialty training in Gastroenterology at UCLA.

Mayer has had a passion for adventures, moutaineering and documentary film making throughout his life starting in high school. During his college years, he participated in several professional film expeditions, including stays with the Yanomamis in Venezuela, and the Asmat and Dani people in Irian Jaya, Indonesia. He climbed some of the highest mountains in the US (Denali), South America (Aconcagua in Argentina, Cimborazzo in Ecuador, Pico de Orizaba in Mexico), and Mont Blanc in Europe. In 2015, he was an associated producer in a documentary film about a new ecological view of health and disease, In Search of Balance.

Throughout his career – both in his research and clinical practice, Mayer has pursued a Buddhist philosophy of interconnectedness, balance and compassion. He has explored ancient healing practices of primal people around the world, of Native Americans and those in the Traditional Chinese and Aryuvedic tradition and has always strived to integrate the wisdom of these traditions with the discoveries of modern science.

Reviews

[Wanda Pedersen · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

It is a matter of great satisfaction to me that there are now so many informative and helpful books on the microbiome available. This one is more scientific, a little less readable than some of the others that I've read, but I do enjoy it when I see a number of authors converging with their advice.

I was fascinated by the links between gut health and mental health. If you've ever been concerned about dementia or Alzheimer's, this is a good starting point. The advice is consistent with other authors: FIBER, a plant-based diet, avoidance of processed foods, exercise. The healthy benefits of eating lots of plants is undeniable.

What I found delightful was close to the end of this book. The links that the author draws between the human microbiome and the soil microbiome. I know from other sources that the soil is where researchers are looking for the next generation of antibiotics and healthy soil gives us nutritious food. I loved the connections between environmental health, soil/plant health, and human health, to give us world health. It makes so much sense. For soil and plant health, it's best if manure gets used as fertilizer, as it brings microbes as well as minerals besides the nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus in artificial fertilizers. Our grocery store food may look lovely, but it has fewer nutrients because it has been grown on depleted soil. You’ve tasted it—woody carrots, mealy apples, tasteless tomatoes.

So the next microbial research horizon (soil microbes) is clear and I'll read about it with pleasure. Meanwhile, I have my eye on a selection of Mediterranean cookbooks, one of the cooking styles that gets this author's seal of approval. Because, like so many of these books by scientists, I found the recipes included to be most unexciting.

If you are interested in these subjects, I would recommend Fiber Fueled: The Plant-Based Gut Health Program for Losing Weight, Restoring Your Health, and Optimizing Your Microbiome (food & your microbiome) and Animal, Vegetable, Junk: A History of Food, from Sustainable to Suicidal (agricultural practices).

[Linden · Rating 3 out of 5]

The author, a physician and professor at UCLA, discusses how the gut microbiota influence our immune system and interact with the brain. He says that “the human body is a closely interconnected network in which the brain, the gut, and the microbiome are the major hubs.” The composition of each individual’s microbiome is greatly influenced by diet, and should be considered as a factor in cases of Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, and ASD. Regular exercise, coupled with Mediterranean and plant-based diets can ostensibly help to restore and maintain gut health. Some of the book is technical, but not beyond reach of the average interested reader. Recipes are included. Thanks to Edelweiss and the publisher for the ARC.

[Happyreader · Rating 2 out of 5]

If you don’t feed your gut bacteria fibers and other nutrients from whole plant foods, they’ll eat your gut lining for food. And an unhealthy gut = an unhealthy immune system. Other than that, despite the author’s insistence on following the science, most of the stories are anecdotal. Patients turn up asking for advice to resolve gut issues, he mentions some possible options from the literature – and we never discover follow-up outcomes with any of the patients. The one time we get a hint of an outcome is his experiment on time-restricted eating with an n of 2 (him and his wife) limiting their eating time during the pandemic, losing a couple of pounds and keeping it off for a whole two months. Someone has not been reading his intermittent fasting or clearly any weight loss literature if a two month outcome seems reportable. The title alone promised more. Reads like his publisher said “let’s write something about immunity during a global pandemic” and what we get are GI musings on totally random GI topics while stuck at home and enjoying wine and cheese during a global pandemic. No surprise that the adverse effects of alcohol on the gut microbiome are not mentioned since what’s a pandemic without wine.

[Amy Barrette · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another really insightful piece by Dr. Mayer. We definitely need more research/books on this topic.

[Diego · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has completely changed how I view what I eat and how I treat my gut. There are just too many notes to include but I had a lot of takeaways. And it isn’t about any fad dieting (cough cough Keto); it’s eating the right way based on biological science, not belief or word-of-mouth. Ex. Keto can help you lose weight but it destroys your gut and leaves you vulnerable to diseases and complications later in life, it is not healthy. You are not getting the nutrients your body, gut and immune system needs.

Your gut is second only to the brain and just as valuable; it’s the 2nd largest immune system. All the shit we eat from Western foods destroy our gut and causes our bodies to react in very negative ways; then we rely on medicine to keep us going while we continue killing ourselves slowly. It’s idiotic. We are our own solution to preventing diseases, living longer and being happy. Protect your gut microbiome; it’s a living eco system that protects you.

[AJ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this was well written, the author did his research on the topic, and focused on the necessary elements of building the connection between the gut and immune system. Granted, he used a lot of anecdotal research, which didn’t entirely satisfy me, but this is a topic area that still doesn’t get the funding or attention it deserves. I absolutely believe that our health is primarily a product of what we put into our bodies and that nutrition plays a pivotal role in our health as well as public health. The book was sort of a dense read as the author did get very scientific and used a lot of medical jargon that I was unfamiliar with but I sort of appreciated that. I think this has been one of the better books I’ve read on microbial gut health. Recommend to anyone interested in this topic.

[Tonya · Rating 5 out of 5]

Checked this out at my library for an e-version as soon as it was available and read everything I could about how the gut gets messed up, and more importantly all the ways we can fix it. Technical information is presented in an user friendly manner so it is not too heavy. Very informative look at what has gone on in our world that makes it so hard to stay health...and easy ways to make changes.
Plenty of yummy recipes in the back too! Highly recommend because once we understand the connection our gut has to the rest of our body and how everything interacts, it seems much easier to make the choices I need to be healthier!!! Highly recommend!!

[VvTired (Lauren) · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have a couple issues with this book.

For one this book is overly long and the important info can basically be summed up as “most people would benefit from a Mediterranean diet”.

Secondly, the author has a very old fashion view of ASD. I’m not autistic but the the way the author talks about ASD as basically something that needs to be cured made me uncomfortable. The diagnostic process for ASD and general understanding of the condition has changed over time and so I think talking about it within the mindset of it being this new and harmful thing is a little uneducated.

I could go on but I’ll just say that I wouldn’t recommend this book.

[Trina · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars. It is choppy and surprisingly surface-level at times, but also neat to hear how science is beginning to better understand the gut. As a person labelled as having IBS (a very annoying catch all diagnosis given to millions) I am always curious about what studies are happening and what ideas have been proven and disproven. Ultimately, I know I need to eat a greater variety and amount of fruits and vegetables (Michael Pollan concurs) and I need to eat less sugar. Thus, reading a book like this is a reminder of where I can be kinder to my body.

[Kasia Kulma · Rating 2 out of 5]

A bit disappointing read given a promising title! The book hardly touches on the gut-immune connection to start with: Mayer is a specialist in gut-mental and brain health connection and that's what the book covered 95% of the time. I suspect the title was supposed to stand out from his previous books while disguising very similar content. If you read anything about the gut microbiome before, you'll likely find very little new information here.

[Noel · Rating 2 out of 5]

I grew frustrated as time after time a patient would bring this dr detailed information from tests only to have the dr throw it out saying the science is too new. Not impressed by the book or the author :/

[Luke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Super good book I would recommend to anyone interested in general health. It’s a great look into your immune system and gut health

[Suebee · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not for laypeople….too much technical jargon made me lose interest fast and I ended up skimming. Repetitive and not concise enough.

[Valerie Koh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love it! As I am pretty new to this whole microbiome science / gut health journey. This book was really eye-opening for me. It’s a relatively short read filled with loads of personal anecdotes and scientific research on the links between our gut (and our diet) and our immune system.

It really furthered my motivation to revamp and relook at my diet.

Great takeaways:

1) Focus on time restricted eating & whole foods (Mediterranean diet, or Asian Diet) with healthy oils! And eat a VARIETY of plants and way less meat than we are used to in the developed world.

As covered in the first chapter, we (those in the developed countries) are living longer but also getting sicker. The rise and prevalence of chronic diseases is very much linked to the diet & quality of food (due to modern agricultural practices) and the missing link is our gut bacteria.

2) The gut is responsible for so much more than digestion, it helps send signals to your brain and immune system (and vice versa) to decide how your body intends to deal with inflammation. If the gut needs to keep dealing with chronic inflammation, we start developing the whole host of modern day metabolic diseases like diabetes.

As discussed in chapter 2, rather than viewing our body as a system comprising separate and distinct systems, it’s all in connected. The development of network science can help us better understand our body systems.

3) We need to feed the microbes!! We have to give the body good stuff so we have a healthy ecosystem of good bacteria that can balance the bad bacteria. Sugar / fat / salt alone is not bad - but it must be paired with (soluble and soluble) fiber to keep the diversity of the gut micro biome.

4) stress and the environment also play a role but what we eat and when we eat can do much for our health and it’s nice to know that there’s a world of scientific knowledge that can explain the likely causal pathways of why and how a good diet affects us (even though it’s common sense)

I rmb my grandma telling me to eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a middle-income man and dinner like a pauper. Age-old wisdom usually has some scientific grounds to them!

Great book - esp for ppl who often have digestive issues which is probably most of us living in a city and eating a typical “westernised” diet (including our two meat one veg Cai fan in SG)

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I suspected that this book was re-iterating a lot of the things that Emeran Mayer already said in his previous book, The Mind-Gut Connection, but it didn't bother me because ultimately I didn't read his first book.

This book, which I read in audio form, is a timely look into some of the most difficult health issues anyone living in the modern era can face. It's about how we as a species have slowly been failing our own health - by coming up with more processed, efficient ways to gain our calories, and by changing our agricultural techniques to focus on what is bigger and better. The problem is, it isn't necessarily healthy for us.

In the context of a global pandemic, this book is interesting because it addresses underlying problems - health problems that have probably made us more susceptible to disease in general. It addresses the ongoing difficulties we have as a species - with everything from our mental health to healthy ageing. We are in a health crisis, Mayer says, because we have been neglecting what's really important.

Mayer talks about the scientific reality of our Gut-Immune-Brain network. He talks about how the best diet for your overall body and mind is the mediterranean diet, with protein and fermented foods. He talks about the reality of organic food, and the viability of "intermittent fasting". He gives real-world examples, both scientific and anecdotal, to back up his points. He acknowledges where science doesn't actually know the answer, and he makes you feel up-to-date. I came out of this book very grateful for the parts I'd remembered, and I decided to make small, ongoing changes as much as I could.

This book, and this area of science in general, intrigued me. I think this is a book I'll recommend highly to others interested in understanding health choices, and an author whose works I will follow closely.

[Stefanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm so glad this is the first book I read in 2022, because this will change my life. As a person with an autoimmune disease (multiple sclerosis) and a victim of unexplained stomach problems for 2.5 years, this book not only explained so much but gave me hope I can reverse my symptoms. For me, the shift from thinking about eating as a way to nourish my body to thinking about eating as a way to grow the right gut organisms (almost like farming them) so they can keep my mind and body healthy was huge. I can't wait to see where these new realizations take me!

[Anelie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an interesting book to read but it is kind of in the middle of the story. There is still so much to learn and the author can't, because of that, be super clear on the connections. He does make a good argument that there are connections that are vital to restore and maintain for us and our planet to have good health.

[Shannon McGarvey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty interesting book. He talks about studies on ASD, Alzheimer’s, and Parkinson’s that were pretty cool. He pushes a mediterranean or vegetarian diet pretty hard, and while I can get behind most of that, I’m not sure I can really believe that legumes and grains are apart of a healthy diet.

[Georgette · Rating 2 out of 5]

This seems like a lot of retread from other books I've read on the microbiome, etc.

[Jac · Rating 2 out of 5]

Bit repetitive. Personal anecdotes outweigh the scientific info.

[Healthypedia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Find out how to optimise your physical and mental by enhancing your gut microbiome diversity with the book 'The Gut-Immune Connection.'

In today’s world, numerous gut-related problems, such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and other gastrointestinal disorders, have become increasingly prevalent. Recognising the need to address these issues, Emeran Mayer, a renowned author and expert in the field, has written a book titled ‘The Gut-Immune Connection.‘ Mayer’s extensive background in medicine and his own personal experiences have uniquely positioned him to explore the intricate relationship between gut health and overall well-being.


Author’s background

Emeran Mayer, MD, is an accomplished medical professional and researcher who has dedicated his career to studying the intricate connections between the mind, brain, and body, with a special focus on the bidirectional communication between the brain, the gut, and its microbiome.

He currently serves as the executive director of the Oppenheimer Center for Stress and Resilience and the Co-director of the Digestive Diseases Research Center at the University of California, Los Angeles.

With over 40 years of experience, Dr. Mayer has authored numerous scientific publications and books. His contributions and expertise have been featured in various media outlets, including NPR, PBS, the Atlantic, Scientific American, and the New York Times. Dr. Mayer currently resides in Los Angeles.

Dr. Mayer’s work has been recognised and honoured with prestigious awards, including the 2016 Paul D. MacLean Award from the American Psychosomatic Society.


What is the book about?

In his groundbreaking book, ‘The Gut-Immune Connection,’ esteemed microbiome expert Dr. Emeran A. Mayer presents a compelling argument for the critical role of the gut microbiome in the health crises of the 21st century. Dr. Mayer explores the profound impact of diet- and lifestyle-induced changes in the gut microbiome on neurological, emotional, and cognitive health.

Dr. Mayer’s extensive research and evidence reveal that the intricate connections taking place between the trillions of microorganisms in our gut and our various organs and bodily systems are fundamental to human well-being.

‘The Gut-Immune Connection’ sheds light on the link between alterations in the gut microbiome and the development of chronic diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, brain disorders, cancer, and even susceptibility to infectious diseases like COVID-19. Moreover, Dr. Mayer emphasises the interconnectedness of the gut microbiome, food production practices, and the health of our planet.

The book covers a wide range of topics, including:

Exploring the impact of stress on gut health and its potential transmission from one generation to another.

• Unveiling the effects of stress during pregnancy on gut function.
• Examining the intriguing connection between gut microbes and brain health.
• Delving into the role of the microbiota in relation to depression.
• Understanding the influence of stress on gut health.
• Uncovering the significance of positive emotions in overall well-being.
• Investigating the allure of comfort foods and their impact on the gut.
• Strategies to enhance and maximise gut microbial diversity for improved health.

Dr. Mayer provides strategies to reverse the alarming rise of these illnesses, including a nutrition model that prioritises the health of the microbiome. The book also includes a delightful section of recipes, offering a variety of options. While Dr. Mayer generally recommends a plant-based diet, there are also recipes for chicken and salmon dishes.


Key takeaways from ‘The Gut-Immune Connection’

1. Imbalance in gut microbiota can lead to poor mental health and depression

The gut microbiota plays a vital role in mental well-being, specifically its influence on serotonin production. A surprising 90% of serotonin is produced by enterochromaffin cells in the gut, and the remaining 10% by brain cells.

Serotonin, responsible for regulating optimism and happiness, is primarily produced in the gut. Consequently, an imbalanced gut microbiome can contribute to depression, alongside other factors like genetics and environmental stress. Research on rats indicates that altering the gut microbiota to an unfavourable composition can result in depressed behaviours, emphasising the importance of maintaining a healthy gut for optimal mental health.

The book highlights the crucial role of gut microbes in various aspects of our health, including mental well-being. It emphasises that imbalances in gut bacteria can contribute to conditions like depression, anxiety, and neurodegenerative diseases. Understanding and nurturing the gut-brain connection is essential for overall health.

2. There is a potential connection between gut health and Alzheimer’s disease

The book states that there is a potential link between gut health and the development of Alzheimer’s disease. Chronic activation of immune cells in the gut lining can lead to the release of inflammatory molecules.

Research suggests that the presence of certain types of bacteria, such as Gram-negative bacteria, particularly in abundance due to a high-fat animal diet, can trigger immune cells and cause the release of cytokines, which are inflammation molecules. These molecules can travel through the bloodstream and reach the brain, activating glial cells and contributing to the production of inflammation molecules within the brain. This process can lead to the deterioration of brain cells associated with Alzheimer’s disease.

3. It is vital to pay attention to gut microbiota development from the earliest stages of life

Throughout the book, Dr. Mayer emphasises the importance of prioritising the establishment of a healthy microbial community in children from birth to age three. Human gut microbe diversity reaches a stable state by the time a child turns three years old. Beyond this age, it becomes challenging for adults to significantly increase microbial diversity through probiotic supplementation.

Dr. Mayer gives several recommendations that can help to develop diverse microbiota in children. For instance, natural delivery allows for the transfer of beneficial bacteria from the mother’s vagina to the baby, establishing a favourable starting point for the infant’s gut. Breastfeeding until the age of three, if possible, provides the child with the mother’s milk containing prebiotics known as HMOs, which support the growth of beneficial bacteria and aid in healthy brain development. Additionally, chronic stress in childhood can disrupt the balance of the gut microbiome, creating an environment for pathogenic bacteria to thrive and potentially leading to gastrointestinal issues in adulthood.


Strengths and weaknesses, according to readers’ reviews

Strengths:
• Provides accessible information about the functioning of the digestive system and its relationship with the brain, making it suitable for general readers interested in physical and mental health.
• Offers practical suggestions and lifestyle recommendations to improve gut health. It provides dietary guidelines, stress management techniques, and tips for fostering a healthy gut microbiome, making it accessible for readers looking to implement changes in their lives.
• Addresses a topic that is often overlooked but culturally recognised, bridging the gap between cultural beliefs and scientific understanding of the gut-brain connection.
• Resonates with readers who have digestive issues, offering potential explanations for immune system problems and practical solutions for self-help, leading to improved health and functionality.

Weaknesses:
• Contains filler writing, repetitive information and a layout that is hard to follow.
• Lacks proper referencing and quotations, making it challenging to track the sources of the author’s claims.


Best quotes from ‘The Gut-Immune Connection’

"The longitudinal studies on breast-fed infants have shown the longer an infant is breast-fed, the larger his brain is, a trait associated with improved cognitive development."

"What we experienced first-hand in our few days of living in this environment showed that the close interdependence of historical, spiritual, environmental, and biological factors contributes significantly to the impressive health benefits of the Mediterranean diet."

“Traditionally, a large part of our healthcare system – a more appropriate name for it would be our disease care system – has focused almost exclusively on treating the symptoms of the chronic disease, maximizing its efforts on expensive screening diagnostics and equally expensive long-term pharmacological treatments.”


Final takeaway

Overall, ‘The Gut-Immune Connection’ provides valuable insights into the relatively new field of research on the impact of gut health on overall well-being. As Dr. Mayer highlights, scientists are only scratching the surface of understanding these complex interactions. This informative book serves as a stepping stone for further exploration.

People seeking a deeper understanding of gut health and its impact on various aspects of well-being would definitely enjoy reading it. It is particularly valuable for those dealing with gut-related problems such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and gastrointestinal disorders.

[George · Rating 4 out of 5]

This work is probably an extension to his previous work . For me the 3rd and 4th chapters which brought out the connectome from receptors along the vegas nerve to those same seratonin receptors in the brain was of primary insight; since from other sources i was already aware that seratonin does NOT (only it's precursors [tryptopahan]) travel the BBB (blood brain barrier).

Further the ECC (enterochromaffin cells that create gut seratonin) create a homeostasis of short chain fatty acids (SCFA shortage relates to provotella decline); Brought about when the gut is stimulated with fiber. One intermediate molecule produced from tryptophan would be kyurenine affected by the lactobacillus population [subcategory of Firmicutes]. The overlap of this with other neurodegerative disorders [pg 64] might be explained in 2 brain regions locus coeruleus [responsible for norephinephrine], and nucleus tractus solaritus [where vagus nerve meets brain ?]

The overlap of depression with Alzheimers and Parkinsons is thoughtfully explored in relation to gut microbiome changes and human -> rodent fecal implantaion studies.

The remainder of the book was of less interest, since it discussed mostly the economy of food suppiies and their descent via food/soil ecologies. The idea of NPK fertilizers [pg 162] was to bring up once more the ECC cell anatomy around polyphenols. The idea that unused tryptophan creates indoles that might facilitate ASD (pg 161 autistic spectrum disorder) recovery is intriguing. The chapter on restoring the gut micro biome is where he introduces polyphenols in relation to the rhizosphere. This leads to the discussion of Microbioto Accessable Carbohydrates. It is the EGCG (epigallocatecgub-g-galate) that explains the efficacy of L-theanine (green tea 3% caffine 2% and EGCG 42% by weight)

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars. This book is probably fine for health-conscious but generally-well readers who are concerned about the Standard American Diet and generally-accepted but likely-problematic toxic exposures. As someone with an immune disease expressed through many body systems but especially the gut... people like me are not the target audience for this book.

The author spends a lot of time explaining how contemporary food habits have created a number of bad health outcomes. He specifies at one point that he's not victim-blaming, and it's certainly true that at least some of the basis for my health issues can be attributed to what my mother and grandmother ate, and what they fed me when I was small, but the narrative sure feels like an explanation of why my problems are my own dang fault.

The author further makes the case that the modern way of eating is responsible for a whole host of diseases, including Alzheimer's and autism. His arguments are compelling, so please be wary of how this book is suggested or used-- diet modification cannot be the only "treatment" for real illnesses!

The author uses as examples from his practice. The patients have a huge variety of illness or problems, but all receive a huge and immediate benefit from essentially the same treatment. The author makes an off-hand remark about books with miracle cure promises but overlooks how his is more of the same.

Not recommended: other books on the same general topic for mostly-well people are already available and have less potential to do less harm.

eARC from NetGalley that I didn't get to years ago, so I listed to the eAudiobook through hoopla courtesy of my local public library. The audiobook narrator was unobtrusive and unobjectionable, no notes.

[Romy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had to really concentrate to follow and understand many parts in this book. Lots of long scientific words and complex concepts, but still glad that I read it.

[Lovelymisanthrope · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book expands upon the ideas that Emeran Mayer presented in "The Mind-Gut Connection" and further explores how our gut health directly impacts more aspects of our health, such as immunity. Emeran Mayer wrote this book post COVID, so there are some mentions of the COVID pandemic, as well as his take on why certain people were hit harder than others.
Although this book does mention concepts from "The Mind-Gut Connection" I would not say it is necessary to read that book first. Emeran Mayer more so highlights that mental health and gut health are connected, and if you want to learn more about the specific topic, you should read his first book. I was very intrigued to learn more about how gut health impacts weight and a person's general immunity to sickness. Emeran Mayer states that COVID hurt those that had a poor health to begin with because their body was not equipped to handle such a sickness. He also cautions that diseases like this will continue to spread because of how we source our meat. The meat industry in general is a death threat, and if you are a meat eater you can make better choices to source a higher quality meat. Not only will this improve your health, but it also helps to improve the health of the environment.
Like in "The Mind-Gut Connection", Emeran Mayer utilizes personal anecdotes as well as his patients' testimonies that paying attention to your gut health will help to improve your life overall. My two biggest takeaways from this book are: intermittent fasting is natural and great for your gut health and flooding your body with probiotics does not make up for a poor diet.

[Efren Silva · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating.
The book provides a modest technical dive into the enteric nervous system and the microbiome of the gut. The author did a great job of describing the physiological processes that make the connections between the brain and gut possible. Additionally, the description of how Network Science is playing a role in understanding the digestive system was eye-opening. Network Science, which encompasses graph theory, is also playing a role in the future of Functional Neurosurgery as well. This is known as “the connectome”.

Because I work with movement disorder patients (Deep Brain Stimulation), the chapter on Parkinson’s Disease was spot on! There appears to be a pivotal link between the brain and the gut regarding the initial symptomology of Parkinson's disease. Additionally, I enjoyed understanding just how powerful the vagus nerve is to brain and gut health. The vagus nerve is a big part of a series of FDA-approved Neuromodulation therapies for treating depression and epilepsy. Finally, the chapter I found most fascinating was the physiological role of Serotonin and how that impacts the brain and gut which, in turn, has an impact on Depression.

[CathyAyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is very interesting information & I will be paying attention to future research in the area.

It’s very sciency. There is a lot of data & nomenclature. If you’re writing a paper on the subject you’ll want to pay close attention to detail because there’s a lot. However if you’re like me & just want a cursory overview of this newish frontier in medical science, it’s very possible to “listen lightly “ & gain a reasonably good understanding of what the author is presenting.

I think the author is pretty balanced in discussing this subject, i.e. he acknowledges that there IS a gut-brain connection & that it seems clear there are significant contributions from our diet & microbiome to our body systems beyond the gut, AND he acknowledges where our current science is & is not, and that we still are a ways off from applying this information prescriptively.

[Megan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I felt this was fairly informative and intriguing on the role of the gut microbiome and how what we eat affects our health. My only qualm was with the recipes. If you're upper middle class or higher, then you would probably have no issues getting the ingredients for all the recipes, but the recipes seem to cater to a certain income level which begets the problem briefly mentioned in the book: those with means are healthier because they can afford it, while those without get many chronic illnesses and issues.

[Sheila · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. The author makes a persuasive case for the argument that most, if not all, of chronic illness today is caused by poor gut health. 70% of our immune cells are in our gut and our modern diet, along with the rise of modern industrial agriculture, has deteriorated our gut lining, leading to a dramatic rise in autoimmune conditions, obesity, and metabolic syndrome, just to name a few. Heavy on the science and statistics, which makes it a dense but worthwhile read.

[April · Rating 3 out of 5]

The gut microbiome is important to so much more than gut health. It has implications for dementia, depression and immune system.
The author concludes that a plant based diet that is part of a restricted to 12 hours a day eating schedule will have the best results for all sorts of conditions and for the best health.