Review of Restoring Your Disgestive Health

[Guest guest]

Dear friends,

 

I am reproducing the review of a book read recently, which may be of

interest to some of you.

 

With best wishes,

 

Swamy

 

Holistic Healer, Editor and Book Reviewer

 

--

 

 

Title: Restoring Your Digestive Health

 

Sub-title: How the Guts and Glory Program Can Transform Your Life

 

Authors: Jordan S.Rubin, N.M.D. and Joseph Brasco, M.D.

 

ISBN: 0-7582-0282-2

 

Number of Pages: 380

 

Category: Non-Fiction, Self-Help

 

Publisher: Twin Streams, Kensington Publishing Corp.

 

Price: US$15.00

 

Available from: Amazon (www.amazon.com)

 

 

Key Words: Health, Digestion, GI, HSO, Food, Nutrition, Digestive

Disorders

 

 

" Restoring Your Digestive Health - How the Guts and Glory Program Can

Transform Your Life " by Jordan S.Rubin and Joseph Brasco is a good

resource book for all sufferers of digestive disorders. In a very

detailed and fairly simple, easy-to-understand style, the authors, a

naturopathic doctor who was an ex-patient and a Board-certified

Gastroenterologist, explain the reasons for poor digestion and the

resultant problems.

 

The book deals with a variety of GI problems such as IBS, Crohn's

Disease, Ulcerative Colitis, Dyspepsia, Candidiasis etc., and the

role of intestinal flora in optimal maintenance of health. They offer

a number of useful suggestions and very specific dietary protocols

for each problem.

 

The experience of Jordan S. Rubin who was diagnosed with Crohn's

Disease - a very serious 'incurable' disease and who tried a number

of doctors and treatments adds credibility to the book. The critical

role played by various foods in maintenace of intestinal flora, i.e.

the various bacteria which help in optimal food digestion and

absorption is brought out well. The authors explain how HSOs

(Homeostatic Soil Organsims) play a major role in improving and

nurturing the intestinal environment. The treatment regimen given in

the book is based mostly on what worked for Rubin, modified over

years by the combined wisdom of Rubin and Brasco who claim to have

helped thousands of sufferers over the past few years.

 

The book is specifically aimed at the US and Canadian readers, but

the general principles are applicable to all. Thus for understanding

the types and causes of various stomach ailments, this book will be

found to be useful for all English speaking readers. I found it very

interesting and useful to understand the general principles of good

GI health.

 

The book would have better value if suitable illustrations

accompanied the detailed explanations about the role of various

organs in Alimentary Canal or GI tract as it is called. The dietary

program given will not be appropriate to people with different

religious beliefs. Thus all non-vegetarians will not be able to

accept pork or beef etc. And the program is certainly not suitable

for vegetarians, though some of the insights will help lacto-

vegetarians too.

 

The opinions expressed by the authors about the other testing and

treatment options may not be acceptable to all readers, esp. those

who benefited from them in earlier instances. The opinions do come

across as rather subjective and self-serving at places. In my

opinion, that chapter could have been written better by the authors.

 

The book would also have benefited from better editing and proof-

reading. Chapter 10, 'Protocols' could have been shorter since mostly

same matter is repeated under each condition. Alternatively, that

chapter could have been bound in tear-off sheet style, so that

sufferers can tear out specific sections for day-to-day reference or

may be paste to their refrigerator/kitchen cabinet. Typographic

errors and style errors are present, which however, do not prevent

our understanding and appreciation of the subject.

 

These minor shortcomings not withstanding, I strongly recommend this

book to those who need to better understand the Digestive Disorders

in themselves or their relatives and friends etc. A good buy.