Gut Reaction Hot

I bought this book to review for the site after having read a glowing recommendation on a blog which had some good content.

I have to say overall I am very disappointed with Gut Reaction. The emphasis on getting back to basics by urging readers to chew food properly and eat in a relaxed environment, amongst other things, is commendable. As is the fact the author prefers not to rely on nutritional supplements.

However, everything is covered very quickly and in very little detail. The role of digestion and diet in health is given a brief summary before tips such as those for improving eating habits are described. The author then provides tailored dietary plans for a host of illnesses with little discussion of rationale before skimming over nutrients, nutritional supplements and a few other topics at the end of the book.

The credibility of some of the recommendations is also questionable, particularly with regard to pH balancing. It is said that drinking lemon and olive oil "counteract[s] acidity in the stomach, making the system more alkaline, and clears undigested food particles." For starters lemon juice itself is acidic and only has an alkalizing effect on the body once it is absorbed and metabolised. Secondly, I'm unsure why anyone would want to counteract acidity in the stomach - it is acidic for a reason which is because it needs to be to properly digest protein. Partially digested proteins increase the risk of food allergy and intolerance, as well as small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO).

This aside, the bulk of the tips for healthy eating habits are useful and the lay reader new to the subject of nutrition may find this book a good read. For those looking for something a little more in depth and scientifically sound I would recommend Digestive Wellness by Lipski or Optimum Digestion by Nichols and Faass (eds).