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What Every Woman Needs to Know About Her Gut

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* Digestive problems
* Bloating
* Diarrhea
* Constipation
* Pain

Do you identify with these symptoms? Does your digestive system feel like your enemy? Is your unpredictable gut a source of embarrassment, shame or fear?

If you're a woman who's answered ' yes ' to any of the above, you're not alone. Two-thirds of people with gut issues, including IBS, are female. And your needs are very specific.

YOU Clear, accessible information about and insight into what female hormones can do to gut health
YOU Expert guidance from a consultant gastroenterologist and a dietician and clinical nutritionist
YOU Stepped, manageable strategies to take control of your troublesome gut
YOU A diet plan that focuses on your specific requirements, which is flexible, achievable and sustainable
YOU Easy-to-follow recipes that are gut-friendly, delicious and restore your digestive health

YOU NEED THIS BOOK!

288 pages, Paperback

Published August 23, 2022

54 people are currently reading
2806 people want to read

About the author

Barbara Ryan

20 books3 followers

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5 stars
38 (33%)
4 stars
53 (46%)
3 stars
18 (15%)
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3 (2%)
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2 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews
Profile Image for Reading_ Tamishly.
5,309 reviews3,480 followers
July 31, 2022
Surely not a one-time read guidebook, I just want to read this book from time to time as it will be really helpful as I grow older and older (damn. It's inevitable we are going to have health issues specially about the guts!).

Usually I don't go for any guidebook that would say flat bellies (believe me this one isn't that) or anything of that kind however I wanted to know more about how our digestive system gets affected by different things we cannot avoid or can't do without, more specifically the things we do that our gut system does not appreciate.

And this guidebook provides with all the information most of us women need to know and I really appreciate this.

Six main sections with focus on understanding our gut as introduction, most common digestive problems of women, the diet we generally take, how to fix the most common problems, an introduction to FLAT gut Dietary Program and the most common doubts/questions all of us have being answered.

The book ends with references which are reliable and can be looked up for further reading in this topic.

I like the presentation so much! It's so easy to read and the guide given looks really promising and practical enough.

I wish the cover was better though. But again the content is what matters the most.

Thank you, Sheldon Press, for the advance reading copy.
Profile Image for Ana.
108 reviews14 followers
August 6, 2022
Like most people that will pick up this book, I have digestive issues that have made my life a lot harder in the last couple of years. I have read many articles, tried many tricks and have avoided googling my symptoms too much for my own mental health.
That's why while I was excited about reading this book, I was also a bit apprehensive. But I have to say that I found it very helpful and a great source of information.

The main thing I like about the book is that it doesn't promise any magic results if you follow what they say. And I appreciate that a lot.
The focus on how being a woman affects digestive issues is what made me pick the book in the first place. Studies based on the differences between sexes and/or races are more common now, but there are not enough.
The information given was a bit much at some points, especially for a brain like mine which isn't used to all the medical terms, but reading slowly is always an option and definitely what I recommend for this. There is no need to hurry.
I look forward to trying some of the changes suggested to help with my symptoms and seeing which ones work for me.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an early copy of this book.
Profile Image for Stephanie .
1,198 reviews51 followers
September 3, 2022
Written by Professor Barbara Ryan, M.D. (a gastroenterologist and Professor at Trinity College, Dublin) and her colleague Elaine McGowan, R.D., a clinical dietitian), What Every Woman Needs to Know About Her Gut is “...the go-to guide for women living with bloating, Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) and other digestive problems who want step-by-step medical, dietary, and lifestyle solutions.”

Ten percent of the world’s population has symptoms of IBS and, of those, 65-75% are women. Dr. Ryan believes that too any women with “gut conditions” are following highly restrictive diets, trying to manage the symptoms – and Dr. Ryan thinks that doesn’t need to be the case.

As someone with WAY too much experience with digestive problems, this book sounded GREAT. And – IT IS! As soon as I saw that it included information about FODMAPs, I was optimistic that it would not be just a rehash of old advice. It does perhaps go a bit TMI on the gut itself (which I’m sure is of great interest to the authors), but the practical advice, diet planning tips and menu suggestions make it a terrific book for anyone interested in this problem. Four stars, only because of the TMI, I confess I skimmed a bit to get to the “good stuff.”
Profile Image for Kelly Burke.
89 reviews1 follower
September 11, 2022
This book was a pretty exhaustive and educational book about gut health and going in depth about their proposed diet. Most readers are probably already familiar with the biology, as most of us have been dealing with gut issues for years, otherwise we wouldn't be interested in this book. So a lot of it you may already know. But in case not, it goes nicely into detail about the biology of the gut, how it works, and how certain issues arise because of the biology. It offers a good overview. And then focuses on IBS and functional dyspepsia. It touches a bit on SIBO, but it's important to note that this does not really address that specifically. Their proposed FLAT gut diet has a healthy approach in the sense that it's not about eliminating everything but about moderation and especially learning how to read your own body and define your tolerances. But it still encourages paying attention to and counting up everything that you eat, which can be a trigger for anyone with orthorexia, so be careful. It was written in an easy to read manner, with lots of case examples and in an empathetic way: that every person's body is different and must be appreciated as such.
Profile Image for C G.
109 reviews6 followers
August 18, 2022
Fantastic resource for women to build a better foundation in understanding their gut and what factors influence their gut health. I like that this book focuses on a female's gut biome. Many differences exist between men and women and it's important to understand the female side of gut health. This is definitely a book to keep on hand and reference over and over again. It's incredibly detailed and I look forward to referring back to this book often. Thank you to NetGalley, Sheldon Press, and Drs. Ryan and McGowan for the advanced copy.
Profile Image for Sandra.
418 reviews1 follower
February 19, 2023
Thank you Netgalley and Sheldon Press for allow me to read this book in exchange of my honest opinion.
This book is full of information to get to know your gut a little better. I loved the part about the effect of female hormones on the gut and the problems that are more likely to occur in women, and how easy is to follow it even without any previous knowledge about the disgestive system.
In my opinion it is too focused on IBS, I was looking for general information, and it was too specific to this disease.
There are good recipes, and I think an interesting diet and very useful tips if you suffer from IBS or any other digestive problem, but my recommendation is to always go to your doctor to have your progress monitored by a professional.
This book is recommended if you want to know a bit more about the biology behind the female digestive system and its most common diseases in women.
141 reviews1 follower
July 30, 2022
I found this book to have a great insight to all the different types of gut issues, including the causes, symptoms and ways to cure. I especially liked the whole section on medications used for each condition. No digestive books I have ever read had this much detail. I can see me referencing this book many times in the future.
Profile Image for Vicky.
Author 26 books70 followers
October 4, 2022
As someone who has struggled with digestive issues all my life, I found this book interesting and informative—sometimes a little too informative. There is a lot of information here, some of it really technical and with anatomical pictures. It’s also a British book so Americans may have trouble deciphering spelling, definitions, and measurements. For instance what the heck is an aubergine? (It’s an eggplant) But, if there’s something you want to know about gut health, this is the place to look. They discuss IBS, Celiac, FODMAP, intolerances, allergies, and more. And the problems many have are not “all in your head” as we are so often told.

They include what they call a “FLAT Diet” with sample meal plans, shopping lists, etc. that you follow in order to help alleviate symptoms. But they stress, not everything works for everyone. The FLAT diet follows a point system making it adjustable to your circumstances and the authors stress multiple times that getting better has to be unique to each individual.

Recommendation: If you have been struggling with digestive issues, I suggest you pick this up as a place to start and discuss it with your GI. Maybe you’ll be one of the lucky ones who finds relief.

Disclaimer: Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing this ARC in hopes of receiving a review. All opinions are my own and not solicited by anyone.

Profile Image for Online Eccentric Librarian.
3,400 reviews5 followers
September 10, 2022
More reviews at the Online Eccentric Librarian http://surrealtalvi.wordpress.com/

More reviews (and no fluff) on the blog http://surrealtalvi.wordpress.com/

This is a very thorough guide to understanding issues women have with their digestive system. The focus is on IBS (and symptoms that masquerade as IBS) and really a reaction to the frustration many women have had when trying to diagnose their problem and to get their health care practitioners to understand/fix the issues.

There is a lot of technical information here about your system - you can choose to read throughout it or skip it without affecting the content. Everything from bloating, diarrhea, nausea, brain fog, aches, chronic fatigue, food allergies, food intolerance to constipation are discussed in detail so readers can identify the issues they are trying to deal with and fix. There is even a whole chapter devoted to probiotics.

The second half of the book introduces a diet plan that serves two purposes: to help identify what you might be eating that is causing the problem and then to fix it so normalcy can be achieved again. The meals are easy to prepare and use and there is nothing exotic in there. Usual candidates are addressed: nuts, tomatoes, etc. to be removed from the diet.

In all, there is a lot here and in great detail to ensure you can identify and also begin fixing issues with your digestive system. The book has many illustrations and charts to assist the text. Reviewed from an advance reader copy provided by the publisher.

Profile Image for Kelly Burke.
89 reviews1 follower
September 11, 2022
This book was a pretty exhaustive and educational book about gut health and going in depth about their proposed diet. Most readers are probably already familiar with the biology, as most of us have been dealing with gut issues for years, otherwise we wouldn't be interested in this book. So a lot of it you may already know. But in case not, it goes nicely into detail about the biology of the gut, how it works, and how certain issues arise because of the biology. It offers a good overview. And then focuses on IBS and functional dyspepsia. It touches a bit on SIBO, but it's important to note that this does not really address that specifically. Their proposed FLAT gut diet has a healthy approach in the sense that it's not about eliminating everything but about moderation and especially learning how to read your own body and define your tolerances. But it still encourages paying attention to and counting up everything that you eat, which can be a trigger for anyone with orthorexia, so be careful. It was written in an easy to read manner, with lots of case examples and in an empathetic way: that every person's body is different and must be appreciated as such.
Profile Image for Vicuña.
334 reviews3 followers
September 19, 2022
I’ve been looking for informed titles to gain a better understanding of gut activity and what happens when it goes wrong. My partner is undergoing a range of investigations for gut problems and there’s little practical help. This title is an absolute winner. I was interested in the background of the authors and having read of their qualifications and experience, I was content that they would write with knowledge and relevant expertise.

This really is a good gut bible. Everything is explained in easy to understand detail and as well as physiological explanations and diagrams, there’s heaps of practical advice for eating and the type of questions and investigations that may be undertaken to diagnose the cause of a gut problem. An excellent guide for the lay reader.

My thanks to the publisher for a review copy via Netgalley.
Profile Image for Mary.
428 reviews11 followers
December 31, 2022
This is an excellent resource for anyone who with a physical or functional gut disorder. The authors discuss the many conditions that affect the gut, why they cause the symptoms that make us slaves to our gut and the treatment and lifestyle options. I love the “bullet point” style in various chapter that made it easier for me to grasp the subject matter. The Low-FODMAP eating plan is described well in this book and the book describes the three higher risk FODMAP elements in IBS, which makes the eating plan less restrictive.
I see myself referring to this book now and the as I manage life with a chronic functional digestive disorder. I think that tips will be helpful and I’m also more educated on tests and treatment options to discuss with my physician. #netgalley #WhatEveryWomanNeedsToKnowAboutHerGut
Profile Image for Andrea Wenger.
Author 4 books39 followers
August 13, 2022
This is an important book for anyone with IBS symptoms. First, it stresses that IBS symptoms don't necessarily mean IBS. If you're having digestive issues, see a doctor and get a diagnosis. Don't suffer in silence. The problem might be something as simple as too much fiber in your diet.

Second, the book provides food planning suggestions and strategies for dealing with IBS. While the authors recommend starting with a low-FODMAP diet, they also believe low-FODMAP can be too limiting. It's a matter of figuring out what you personally can eat, and in what quantities. That way you can eat a healthier, more varied diet.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.
Profile Image for Zuleika.
46 reviews2 followers
October 15, 2022
Written by a gastroenterologist and a dietitian/clinical nutritionist who, together, have treated thousands of patients, their mission is to improve quality of life through better gut health. What Every Woman Needs to Know About Her Gut is like an encyclopedia of useful information to help women do just that--improve their quality of life. There is so much to take away from this book, including types digestive problems, looking at your diet, first steps to solving gut problems, and the authors' FLAT Gut Dietary Program (developed for managing IBS).

You are your own best advocate and this book serves as a springboard for taking action to improve your quality of life through better gut health.

Many thanks to Netgalley and Sheldon Press for the ARC. All opinions are my own.
Profile Image for C.
728 reviews16 followers
August 7, 2022
I picked up this novel out of curiosity. I do not have digestive issues however I have recently had a baby and have been keeping fit ever since (as everyone should do because it is good for your body)

This novel was all research and it felt like a textbook however it was very informative. However it was a little too informative for the average reader who is not familiar with constant medical terms.

I really enjoyed the discussions throughout which helped me understand my body more and everything it goes through and how IMPORTANT it is to nourish your body instead of not maintaining it with proper care.
Profile Image for Pip.
111 reviews1 follower
November 5, 2022
This books is a super intriguing deep dive into the gut and the various manners in which it can be dysfunctional. It gives some suggestions, including a diet plan to help with these dysfunctions. The main focus of the book is on IBS and Functional Dyspepsia, but the authors touch on many other subjects, including Celiac's and orthorexia. (shout out for acknowledging and mentioning endometriosis as well!). Definitely would recommend this book to anyone trying to understand their body and gut a little better.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance review copy - all opinions are my own and gladly given!
Profile Image for Nikki King.
100 reviews8 followers
February 16, 2023
I saw this title and was instantly sucked in. Gut Health and microbiome and flora of the gut is such an upcoming topic in healthcare that is showing to be connecting to so many other areas of health that are not limited to your stomach or intestines. This book was very knowledgeable and provided a ton of information and rationale for how to best protect and heal your gut from various incendiaries. I think so few research and authors spend time addressing women specific issues despite our unique hormonal concerns. Overall, a wonderful read for anyone interested in supporting their gut health.
Profile Image for Alina.
247 reviews29 followers
July 6, 2024
This is my first book on gut health. I decided to read this book to learn more about the connection between the brain and gut, as well as to understand different digestive issues and their origins. The book provided some valuable information on these topics. It is particularly helpful for individuals with IBS, offering guidance and reassurance. Favourite chapters are;-
- why we love fibre: superfood for your gut
- is it what you eating? Do you have a food allergy or a food intolerance?

Facts that I didn’t know and was happy to learn:
- Approx. 95% of serotonin produced in the gut 🤯 I always thought it’s produced in the brain 🫣
-
Profile Image for Lucy Hampton.
57 reviews5 followers
August 11, 2022
This book is incredibly informative, and packed full with new information which I hadn't read in any magazines. I really like that the authors are so well placed and qualified to write this book. It feels like with Instagram anyone thinks they can be an expert in health, but these two women have so much experience and that really shows in the book.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of the book.
Profile Image for Lisa.
208 reviews
August 24, 2022
This book has a LOT of information in it. I think any woman with gut problems will find it valuable. It is, however, very British. This isn’t a problem, but deciphering some of the recipe ingredients may prove problematic to those of us in the US. For example, what type of oats are “porridge oats?”

Thank you to NetGalley and Sheldon Press for the opportunity to read and review this book.
Profile Image for Joselyn  Moreno.
878 reviews33 followers
December 2, 2022
This one is very useful more if you're suffering from IBS this one will be super helpful really.

I did take a few pointers on how to get help with my condition very broadly, I suffer from a hiatal hernia so it does help to know how not to irritate the stomach or the bowels so everything can be a little smoother.

So I will advise it to understand better and know what to ask of your doctor when you have symptoms in your digestive system.
Profile Image for Helen Latto.
230 reviews2 followers
April 3, 2023
This book took me a while to get through because it contains a lot of information, so prepare yourself to be educated and best to break it up and read a section or two at a time. It had alot of facts and info, some relevant to me and some not but interesting nonetheless. It also contains some great recipes and meal plans to try out.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for an advanced digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Dora Okeyo.
Author 25 books202 followers
December 28, 2023
A book on women, by women and for women? Well, there's something about it that piqued my interest and I have often read books about diet, movement and mindfulness but not so much on the gut- so seeing that this had something to say about: digestive problems, bloating, diarrhea, constipation and pain- I couldn't wait to read it and it's a great guide to check up on when experiencing any of those challenges.
Thanks Netgalley for the eARC.
141 reviews1 follower
July 30, 2022
I found this book to have a great insight to all the different types of gut issues, including the causes, symptoms and ways to cure. I especially liked the whole section on medications used for each condition. No digestive books I have ever read had this much detail. I can see me referencing this book many times in the future.
Profile Image for Jo Anne.
752 reviews8 followers
August 3, 2022
A very informative book addressing a number of gut related illnesses giving clear information on how our systems work, and ways to deal with and relieve symptoms. This book is something that will need to be reviewed multiple times to gain benefit of this research.

Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to read and give my honest opinion of this ARC.
Profile Image for Neida.
353 reviews19 followers
August 14, 2022
When you want to know what’s going on in your gut; the whats, the why, the dos and the donts; this would be a good read. It is not comprehensive to my expectations but good enough to to know the basics. There are recipes and how-tos in order to work your way to a better gut health particularly if you are suffering from IBS and FD.
Profile Image for Bee.
532 reviews23 followers
November 23, 2022
A fantastic resource for any woman to have on her bookshelf. It clearly explains common causes of gut imbalances and various approaches to dealing with them, from the unique biochemical perspective of the female body.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review this book.
Profile Image for Afterglow Earring Co.
149 reviews
December 13, 2022
I feel like the American Education system failed me in many ways. One major one being, I don’t know a single thing about my body. That’s why I appreciate books like this that talk about things I should know, specifically in women's health. I found this book easy to follow a long and nicely organized. Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to review this book!
Profile Image for Abbie Riddle.
1,240 reviews17 followers
January 3, 2023
I'm always interested in health and wellness. As a mom of ten children I want to be able to be healthy and active and participate in their lives. This book is perfectly suited for easy learning and application. Gut health is pivotal and this book addresses the issues that most women face and gives easy to follow solutions to the problems. New year - new resolutions - new health goals. Here we go
57 reviews
February 8, 2023
"What Every Woman Needs to Know About Her Gut" is chocked full of very helpful information to address issues women face in regard to their gut health as well as things to know to prevent issues with your gut from happening. This will be a book I keep on hand for reference ongoing.
Thank you NetGalley and Sheldon Press for the opportunity to read and review this book.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews

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