Gut

Gut: The Inside Story of Our Most Underrated Organ. Giulia Enders. Illustrated by Jill Enders. 2014/2015. Greystone Books. 288 pages. [Source: Library]

Words to describe this one: Thrilling,  Informative, Fascinating.

Gut by Giulia Enders is a compelling, action-packed nonfiction read that I found almost impossible to put down. I read it in two sittings. And I found myself stopping only to share little bits of information with others. My goal: to try to get everyone to read this one! Why? Because I think people NEED to know how the body works, and how ESSENTIAL gut-health is for HEALTH.

Yes, primarily, the book is about "the gut" (digestion from start to finish), but, it is also about how the whole body functions or malfunctions.

 The last third of the book focuses on microbes, or gut flora. This section of the book is so absorbing and enlightening. And part of what makes it so exciting is how much is still not known, how NEW this research still is, and how promising it looks to be. There is still so much we don't know, don't understand, about how our bodies function, and what causes things like diseases and obesity. The link between gut microbes and obesity is certainly attention-grabbing.

From start to finish, I found Gut to be a great read. The jacket copy says that the narrative has "quirky charm" and I quite agree. You can watch this video as well.

Table of Contents:

Gut Feeling

• How Does Pooping Work? And Why That's An Important Question
• The Gateway to the Gut
• The Structure of the Gut
• What We Really Eat
• Allergies and Intolerances

The Nervous System of the Gut

• How Our Organs Transport Food
• Reflux
• Vomiting
• Constipation
• The Brain and the Gut

The World of Microbes

• I Am An Ecosystem
• The Immune System and Our Bacteria
• The Development of the Gut Flora
• The Adult Gut Population
• The Role of the Gut Flora
• The Bad Guys--Harmful Bacteria and Parasites
• Of Cleanliness and Good Bacteria

© 2015 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews