The scientific proof is now overwhelming: our gut health is crucial to our overall wellbeing. Not only does a healthy gut microbiome support digestion and boost energy levels, it also plays a role in preventing neurological diseases such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s. Just as importantly, our gut health impacts our mental wellbeing – influencing our mood, behaviour, and even decision-making.
Whether you're already familiar with this growing area of science or you're just beginning to explore it, there's a wealth of books about gut health that break down the benefits in clear, practical ways. From health best sellers to cookbooks, here are the best titles to help you set the facts – and your microbiome – straight.
In a nutshell: It's a guide to how your gut and brain communicate and the implications for your health.
The subtitle of this book – How the Hidden Conversation Within Our Bodies Impacts Our Mood, Our Choices, and Our Overall Health – pretty much says it all: our gut health is not specific to one region, but has a huge impact on multiple aspects of physical health, and even on our behaviours. Combining cutting-edge neuroscience with the latest discoveries on the human microbiome, The Mind Gut Connection is a practical guide to eating well, keeping good health, and even staving off the onset of neurological diseases.
In a nutshell: This witty, illustrated book brings the wonders of the gut to life.
As funny as it is deeply informative, Giulia Enders’ book Gut: The Inside Story of Our Body’s Most Under-rated Organ is an entertaining but straightforward confrontation of a part of our health that, because of ignorance and a sizeable dose of embarrassment, has taken far too long to understand. If you’re looking to understand microbiomes with a macro slice of humour, Gut is the gut health book for you.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best book about gut health?
Some of the best books on gut health include Giulia Enders' Gut for a scientifically sound, detailed look at the gut's inner workings, and Emeran Mayer's The Mind-Gut Connection, which focuses on the link between the brain and gut health through diet. For practical advice and recipes you can make at home, don’t miss Megan Rossi's Eat More, Live Well and Tim Spector’s The Food for Life Cookbook.
Who is the leading expert on gut health?
While no one person holds the title of the leading expert, Dr Megan Rossi (The Gut Health Doctor) is widely recognised thanks to her evidence-based advice, books and clinic. Other key experts include Professor Tim Spector, known for his research into microbiome diversity and personalised nutrition, and Dr James Kinross, a surgeon and microbiome researcher at Imperial College London.
