The Mind-Gut Connection: How the Hidden Conversation Within Our Bodies Impacts Our Mood, Our Choices, and Our Overall Health

I really felt the need to write a review after seeing the comments posted by one of the other rather poorly supported opinionistic revieres. Ok so firstly NO this book isn't full of anecdotal information whatsoever most of the comments are grounded in factual research and if you have any kind of knowledge of this particular subject you will quickly find yourself at home with the subject matter that is covered. My main gripe with this book is that the information although factual does not pull from the newest research available nor is the work referenced (which can be frustrating if your interested in further reading). Opinions are given throughout the book but are formulated intelligently and given plentry of scientific grounding. Will you be blown away with the latest research in this book... probably not! However, will you gain a very unique perspective offered by the author surrounding most of the viable research that is available out there... most definitely! Would I recommend reading this book? If your interested in the subject of how our microbiota affects our psyche, then yes it's really worth a read.

I found so many answers to my health problems. Very useful information for both beginners and more experienced people in this field. Beautifully written. I will buy it as a gift for my daughters. Unfortunately they struggle with the same problems as me.

This book sophisticated my knowledge about how important our gut health actually is- the fact that 95% of your serotonin is produced in your gut, along with 70-80% of your immune system cells should make this clear enough. The gut is much more complex and powerful than you would have assumed, in many ways rivalling the brain. The author Dr Emerand Mayer is one of the World’s leading experts on the Gut and the Brain-Gut Axis, with over 40 years of experience, so as you can imagine learning from him has proven invaluable. He is in many ways ahead of his time, as research over the last 10 years into the gut has increased dramatically, as the science world is finally coming to understand the true importance of our gut microbiome and its health. Also reminds us how little we know as people, and how science is still behind on many forefronts. Much more will be learned & discovered about the Gut in the next 100 years. I highly doubt most people would make it to the end of this book. Its largely written in a scientific manner, and could be hard to follow at times- its definitely not for people with beginner level knowledge, but for the more seasoned readers and those with a decent level of understanding. Overall, im glad I read this book, and I will focus on optimising my gut microbiome to aid me on my journey of becoming the best version of myself.

Fascinating book, explores a whole range of ideas on gut and mind health and the links between the two. Essential reading for anyone interested in learning more about our bodies and minds. Particularly enlightening for those who’ve suffered from (especially seemingly unexplained) gut issues, or who know someone who has. A lot of the content I had not come across before, neither had the many people I introduced the book to afterwards. It highlighted how poorly understood the area is and how critically lacking care in this space as a result. Includes practical advice as well as well explained information and critical insights.

If your thinking of buying this book I would its very informative.

Loved this book. Well written and based on solid science with empirical evidence. Felt the last part of the book slid off into subjective conjecture, but apart from thar, a must read for anyone who wants to understand this interaction between gut and mind.

Anyone with gut issues should read this, although it does tend to go into detail regarding scientific explanations but it's worth it.

Some information worth knowing included and perhaps worth a read if you are interested in the subject, however this isn't the best book on the microbiome I've read, and there wasn't much I hadn't come across before. I probably wouldn't recommend it if you're only going to read one book on the subject (of the books I've read I'd recommend 10% Human by Alanna Collen). This book felt padded and unfocused to me, as it contains a lot of anecdotal stories about the author's patients and experiences, and is somewhat meandering and disjointed, which dilutes the information that is included, and it has odd shifts in tone, at one point being very (to the point of being depressing if you had shoddy parents) doom and gloom about the effects of the choices our caregivers make when we are children that are outside of our control, but then later on, almost excusing parents who are not making the best choices for their children, which considering the amount of influence caregivers have over the children is their care is irresponsible and came across as pandering to a group that needs to take responsibility. Usable advice is scant, and overall I found it an unsatisfying and shallow read, but that might be because I'm already somewhat familiar with the subject. I bought it for £7.99, and it is definitely overpriced.

leading a more healthy lifestyle.

本書の内容は「自閉症、アルツハイマー病、パーキンソン病、統合失調症（いわゆる精神分裂症）、喘息その他の自己免疫疾患、うつ病、肥満、ある種の糖尿病は、実は腸の病気？」という驚くべきものであるが、記載は非常に中立かつ慎重で、「胎教」、「内臓病は心の病気」等の民間知見を丁寧に科学的に跡付けたものである。著者は、精神と身体の関係を追求すべく、スイスの田舎の老舗菓子店の息子という安定した地位を捨てて、当時、当該学問の聖地であったカルフォルニアに移住した高名な研究者である。 特に重要な指摘は、いわゆる「胎教」の科学的説明の部分であり、「母親の精神状態が荒廃していると、胎児は生れ出る世界は荒廃した世界で有害な病原体や油断できない競争者に満ちていると解釈し、それに備えて、体と心を鎧で包んで生まれてくるのである」すなわち、免疫系はピリピリ、精神はイガイガ、周りは全部敵ばかりという具合である。 また、パーキンソン病の初期症状は、発症の２０年も前に腸に現れるのである。 さらに、腸の細菌叢は柔軟で「数か月以内にダイエットシュガーを一般の糖に分解する能力を獲得する」という主張は、驚くべきもので、言い換えると「長期的に言うと、ダイエットシュガーは体の中で、普通の糖分よりも多くの糖分に分解される」のである。そうするとダイエットシュガーて、いったい何でしょうか？ということになりますね。

There is sure no shortage of trade books on the microbiome and the list of books is bound to proliferate given the popularity of the topic. This book separates itself from the pack in a number of ways. First, Dr Mayer is one of the select group of scientists worldwide whose work has helped fuel research into what we know about the microbiome and its importance to our health. While other scientists saw painful medical disorders like irritable bowel syndrome as a “psychiatric disorder” Dr Mayer was conducting research showing that the brain has a far more powerful and complex role in tipping the balance between health and illness than just governing our mental wellbeing. Because he knows what he is talking about, the reader can feel confident that the material is accurate, trust worthy, and backed by evidence tested in rigorous laboratory settings. This is no small feat among the growing number of books chock full of half-truths, exaggerations, and outright inaccuracies that make it hard for the reader to separate fact from fiction. Second, Dr Mayer emphasizes the importance not only of how our mood, behaviors like our activity level and what we eat and drink, and mindset can impact the collection of microbes that colonize the human body but how our microbiome can in turn impact the brain. There is no other book available that covers so much terrain with such expertise and precision. Third, the book is an easy read, written in such an engaging and non-technical manner that even the person whose last science book was in 10th grade bio class will find this book a pleasure to read, making it far and away the best microbiome book out there for general audience. Finally, as a gifted clinician, Dr Mayer concludes the book with some “nuts and bolts” strategies for how to make simple lifestyle changes that put in practice what microbiome research tells us about how to optimize our health. A+: Recommend wholeheartedly -- Dr Jeffrey Lackner, Behavioral Medicine Clinic, University at Buffalo, SUNY

Spannendes und informatives Buch über den Darm mit auch gut fundierten Quellenangaben

Excellent reading. Lots of interesting information, it blew me away. Highly recommended. Definitely will read a second time in the near future.