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Looking to learn everything you can on gut health? These are the best books on gut health to consider.

I’m wanting to share a ton of gut health tips today, and also some of the best books on gut health.

I believe that community thoughts, ideas, and information are some of the best ways to about practical advice when it comes to healing the gut.

This is because those who have both been in your shoes and then those who also write books to help you formulate your own opinions can give the blueprint for the best practical guide.

Therefore, I thought it would be fun to put this all in one place for you; podcast episode + the list. 

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Best Books on Gut Health (Episode 96, Bites #34)

Click HERE to save this post on the best books on gut health for later.

In no particular order, here is more about the 21 best books on gut health.

1. Gut and Psychology Syndrome by Dr. Natasha Campbell-McBride

This was the first book I ever​ read that took me into the world of gut healing.

I believe that Gut and Psychology Syndrome is a must-read book for anyone who is interested in gut health books from a holistic health standpoint. It completely changed the trajectory of my healing and how I’d go about the journey.

In fact, later she would go on to publish Gut and Physiology Syndrome, which is another, hands down best read!

2. Healthy Gut, Healthy You by Dr. Michael Ruscio

In Healthy Gut, Healthy You, clinician and researcher Dr. Michael Ruscio shows how modern lifestyle changes and the widespread use of antibiotics have made our guts more vulnerable than ever before.

The book addresses depression, fatigue, thyroid imbalances, joint pain, insomnia, brain fog, inflammation and autoimmunity, among other things.

Dr. Ruscio’s premise is, “the good news is that almost any ailment can be healed.”

3. A Gutsy Girl’s Bible: a 21-day approach to healing the gut

Shameless, but yes, of course​ I included my own book on this list namely because it’s an easy read, but also addresses good gut health by empowering you to take control of your health; both physical health and understanding the huge impact lifestyle changes can make towards a happy gut.

You’ll start making positive changes without complex meal plans by including delicious recipes that I encourage you to customize for your own journey.

4. Breaking the Vicious Cycle by Elain Gottschall

​This was a book that I read right after Gut and Psychology Syndrome because Dr. Natasha Campbell-McBride refers to it in her own book.

It’s a book which focuses on the Specific Carbohydrate Diet.

The Specific Carbohydrate Diet (SCD) has helped thousands of people worldwide who suffer from the debilitating effects of intestinal disease such as Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, diverticulitis, celiac disease, cystic fibrosis of the pancreas, and other forms of chronic diarrhea.

The book explains the science behind the disease process and how the SCD offers a healthy, balanced, and safe approach to stop disease progression and help the body to heal.

5. Eat Dirt: Why Leaky Gut May Be the Root Cause of Your Health Problems and 5 Surprising Steps to Cure It by Dr. Josh Axe

In his book, Dr Axe offers diagnostic quizzes to help readers assess their gut type, then provides simple regimes designed to heal the gut and eliminate digestive and autoimmune problems. 

From reducing antibiotic use to eating seasonally, spending more time outdoors, managing stress, and incorporating probiotic-rich foods into your diet, Dr. Axe’s program can help anyone restore gut health and feel their best.

6. Fiber Fueled: The Plant-Based Gut Health Program for Losing Weight, Restoring Your Health, and Optimizing Your Microbiome by Dr Will Bulsiewicz 

In his book, Fiber Fueled, Dr B makes the case for more fiber in order to boost our metabolism, balance our hormones, and tame the inflammation that causes a host of diseases. 

And the scientifically proven way to fuel our guts is with dietary fiber from an abundant variety of colorful plants.

The book also includes a 28-day plan with menus and more than 65 recipes, along with essential advice on food sensitivities.

7. The Microbiome Diet: The Scientifically Proven Way to Restore Your Gut Health and Achieve Permanent Weight Loss by Raphael Kellman MD

This book consists of a groundbreaking program that connects the microbiome and gut health to healthy weight loss, complete with a three-phase plan and recipes.

It makes the case via cutting-edge science which shows the microbiome is the key to overall mental and physical health — and the secret behind healthy, sustainable weight loss. 

Drawing on nearly two decades of experience as a specialist in functional medicine and intestinal health, Dr. Raphael Kellman has developed the first diet based on these scientific breakthroughs.

8. SIBO Made Simple: 90 Healing Recipes and Practical Strategies to Rebalance Your Gut for Good by Phoebe Lapine

Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO) is a common cause of unwanted bloating, abdominal pain, weight fluctuations, and GI distress. In this guide for achieving long-term healing, health advocate, chef, and SIBO sufferer Phoebe Lapine covers everything you need to know about SIBO and how to thrive in spite of it.

Lapine answers all your questions, from what SIBO is (and what it isn’t) to related conditions (Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, Celiac disease, and more) to practical strategies for on-going prevention.

Phoebe’s book is filled with useful information for the SIBO community.

9. The Cellular Wellness Solution by Dr. Bill Rawls

​If you care about the gut microbiome, then you’ll also be interested in a deep dive on cellular health.

This is exactly what Dr. Bill Rawls’ book focuses on. 

The groundbreaking book is massive, and in addition to understanding why minimizing cellular stress and containing our dormant microbiome is crucial to avoiding chronic symptoms and illnesses, there is also a robust reference chart of over 200 herbs along with general information on how herbs play into good health.

10. The Food Mood Connection by Dr. Uma Naidoo

​The premise of Dr. Uma’s book is this, “When it comes to diet, most people’s concerns involve weight loss, fitness, cardiac health, and longevity. But what we eat affects more than our bodies; it also affects our brains. And recent studies have shown that diet can have a profound impact on mental health conditions ranging from ADHD to depression, anxiety, sleep disorders, OCD, dementia and beyond.”

Dr. Uma provides fascinating science, actionable nutritional recommendations, and delicious, brain-healthy recipes.

11. The Histamine Reset Plan by Dr. Becky Campbell 

Dr. Becky is one of my faves! Because she knows that millions of people suffer from allergies, migraines, skin issues, sleep disturbances, digestive ailments or anxiety due to undiagnosed histamine intolerance, she wrote a book to help you uncover why your body is not processing histamine correctly.

The book also includes a step-by-step program to heal your body for good.

12. The Paleo Cure: Eat Right for Your Genes, Body Type, and Personal Health Needs — Prevent and Reverse Disease, Lose Weight Effortlessly, and Look and Feel Better than Ever – Chris Kresser

An older book (2014), but an awesome one that was a national best seller.

In Your Personal Paleo Code, Chris Kresser uses the Paleo diet as a baseline from which you can tailor the ideal three-step program-Reset, Rebuild, Revive-to fit your lifestyle, body type, genetic blueprint, and individual needs.

13. The Leaky Gut Meal Plan: 4 Weeks to Detox and Improve Digestive Health 

This is another book I wrote, and it’s all about leaky gut syndrome with 75 recipes to accompany it.

While the book was written in 2019, the leaky gut idea has received much attention in recent years.

I still maintain my stance that you cannot have a healthy body if the gut is leaky. This book explains why, how you get leaky gut syndrome, and how to address it.

14. The Acid Watcher Diet: A 28-Day Reflux Prevention and Healing Program by Jonathan Aviv MD

A fantastic book for those with acid reflux.

In the book, Dr. Aviv guides readers through healthy dietary choices with targeted recipes, helping them balance their bodies and minds for optimal health and break acid-generating habits for good.

15. Love Your Gut: Supercharge Your Digestive Health and Transform Your Well-Being from the Inside Out by Dr Megan Rossi 

This is a plant-based eating book that is geared towards helping you craft a personal action plan and treat common problems: Learn to manage IBS, bloating, constipation, heartburn, SIBO, and stress—with evidence-based diet strategies, gut-directed yoga flows, sleep hygiene protocols, bowel massage techniques, and more.

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

Combining cutting-edge neuroscience with the latest discoveries on the human microbiome, a practical guide in the tradition of Wheat Belly and Grain Brain (also great books!) that conclusively demonstrates the inextricable, biological link between mind and body.

He provides several strategies for mental well-being by way of food (plant-based) and focusing on the importance of gut health to generate a happier mindset and reduce fatigue, moodiness, anxiety, and depression.

17. Gut: The Inside Story of Our Body’s Most Underrated Organ by Giulia Enders

​With quirky charm, science star and medical doctor Giulia Enders explains the gut’s magic, answering questions like: What’s really up with gluten and lactose intolerance? How does the gut affect obesity? What’s the connection between our microbiome and mental health? Why does acid reflux happen?

18. The Good Gut: Taking Control of Your Weight, Your Mood, and Your Long-term Health by Justin Sonnenburg and Erica Sonnenburg

This book provides a lot of hard science. In it, the Sonnenburgs argue that the microbiota determines in no small part whether we’re sick or healthy, fit or obese, sunny or moody—and that the microbiota has always been with us, coevolving with humans and entwining its functions with ours. 

They show us that humans are really composite organisms with microbial and human parts. 

19. The Microbiome Solution: A Radical New Way to Heal Your Body from the Inside Out by Dr Robynne Chutkan

​Dr. Robynne Chutkan explains how the standard Western diet and our super-sanitized lifestyle are starving our microbes, depleting the “good bugs” that are crucial for keeping us healthy, and encouraging overgrowth of exactly the wrong types of bacteria.

Like Eat Dirt, Dr Chutkan encourages readers to start living dirty and eating clean today to ward off disease and begin the path toward lifelong, vibrant health.

20. The GutSMART Protocol: Revitalize Your Health, Boost Your Energy, and Lose Weight in Just 14 Days with Your Personalized Gut-Healing Plan by Vincent Pedre

​Dr. Pedre has come on my podcast twice (link to the shows below). In addition to this book, he is also the author of Happy Gut, both of which are incredible books for understanding digestive disorders.

The GutSMART Protocol offers the GutSMART Quiz to evaluate your gut-related wellness and get a personalized 14-day meal plan and food lists based on your GutSMART Score.

21. The Paleo Approach: Reverse Autoimmune Disease and Heal Your Body by Sarah Ballantyne, Ph.D. 

​I feel like almost everyone has read this book or at the very least has it. 

If that’s not you, then consider grabbing it for your library. 

Sarah D. Ballantyne, PhD, draws upon current medical research and her own battle with an autoimmune disorder to show you how you can become completely symptom-free—the natural way.

This book offers complete food lists with strategies for the day-to-day—how stay within your food budget, where to shop for what you need, how to make the most out of your time in the kitchen, and how to eat out—take all the guesswork out of going Paleo.

Alright, moving on to some of the best gut health tips – provided by the community.

Best Gut Health Tips

Click HERE to save the best gut health tips for later.

I asked you to comment on an Instagram post with the best gut health tips you’ve ever received. 

So many people answered that I wanted to compile them all to share with the Gutsy community.

Note: there are some of the same answers, which I think is great – and telling – if something is said over-and-over, consider it for your own healing journey.

57 Best Gut Health Tips

1. Probiotics & fermented foods. – @brischneider22
2. Gut healing tip bone broth. Make it with the feet!! #chickenfeet – @niki_marie13
3. The best tip I’ve received is to eliminate gluten, dairy, and sugar! It has saved me! Also drinking bone broth! – @natty_saurusrex
4. Kombuchaaaaaa – @beetsandbroth
5. Don’t be afraid of probiotics. – @bdoerfler2
6. Be patient and accept that the journey is going to be trial and error:) – @annakenn_fit
7. Drinking bone broth. – @owlhowl23
8. Coconut Probiotic yogurt!! – @mouthfulofplants
9.  Yoga – @walked_by_memphis 
10. Probiotics – @nikolejbg
11. One of the best gut healing tips I’ve ever received is to take probiotics and don’t eat close too bedtime. – @summerfabulous
12. Drinking lots of water. – @runner_kelly311
13. Follow a plant based diet. – @chuchi240
14. Find the right probiotic- everyone’s body is different! – @balancedbrightlife
15. The best tip is to rest the gut. We always focus on what we need to put into our bodies to fix it, and forget that our bodies can to some extent heal themselves. Rest and fast for 24 hours. Give your digestion a break and it can use less energy processing and more to heal itself. – @lavesq
16. Best healing gut tip I received was probiotics from my naturopath that i see for acupuncture she is wonderful don’t know where I’d be without her. – @kellibliss
17.  Best gut tip would be drinking water – @livingthroughfibromyalgia
18. Taking 3 deep breaths before eating my meal to promote relaxation and assure I don’t rush through my meal! – @colleens_fitjourney
19. A clean diet and a good probiotic. @mygirlys
20. Your 28 things to do for a sibo flare! For real! – @jenn8222
21. Let’s see… eat REAL food. Cut kombucha, bubbly drinks, eat from light to heavy… take HQ probiotics, reduce and eliminate inflammatory foods. Cut out dairy products— esp cow dairy. Say byeeeee to gluten and watch grains. Eat fruit alone or don’t touch it… test your body’s reaction to grains (watch out for corn esp gmo corn) and FOOD combine— support the liver with yoga twists and herbs and magnesium in the evenings. – @glow_detox
22. Add collagen to everything! – @katiekmajeste
23. No dairy, no grains, collagen and bone broth are amazing! – @kylanicole87
24. Best advise was to listen to your Gut during the healing process! – @tatumsmama
25. Homemade bone broth and that not all remedies work for each person. It takes TIME! – @jmcblum
26. Also, kombucha is a big part of gut healing! – @knburnam
27. Fellow holistic healing babe you’ll appreciate this just as much. *bonus tip for gut healing would be breathing and eating without distractions, elimination diet especially dairy and gluten and probiotics!!! Antiflammatory eating is gold. – @_melrosario_
28. Bone broth & Aloe Vera do magic when it comes to re-lining & healing your gut! – @glowing.simplicity
29. Bonus tip: Find the right strains of probiotics that work for your body, no sugar, grains, dairy, and add organ meat to your diet, 3oz once a week is enough. – @vicariouskatie
30.  Decrease stress! – @jackiethechan
31. The best advice I’ve received is to take my vitamins! That way I make sure I’m receiving all the nutrients I need even when I can’t eat all the food I’d like to! – @knowoski
32. The best I’ve gotten is to listen to your body! Just because something is marketed as healthy doesn’t mean it is or will agree with your body! – @wholeheartedlivingandwellness
33. The best advice I’ve received is that no ones body is the same and I should listen to mine and figure out what works. – @__greatbritton
34. Eat sum ‘gurt. – @oh_my_cutie_pie
35. Eat mangoes. – @msbrenda.stone
36. Best advice was do an elimination diet and avoid processed foods with added sugar! @hollys_bestlife
37. Best advice was keep a good journal because what works for one person might not for you. – @dmrdmr3
38. Warm lemon water and ACV every morning has done wonders for my digestion! – @colleens_fitjourney
39.  Def keep hydrated! – @hella.fvcking.lit
40. Iodine for the win. – @laurenjanemckillop
41. Digestive enzymes with my 2 highest fat meals! – @colleens_fitjourney
42. Probiotics. – @caitlynnpascua
43. Collagen powder, liver, kombucha and sauerkraut!! My face has never been clearer since I started having rosacea 3 years ago! – @be_healthy_4u
44. Drinking a glass of warm water with ACV 1st thing in the morning. – @amma6236
45. Sip bone broth instead of coffee. – @ajenniferyourthoughts
46. Have collagen daily. – @snackinspo
47. Exile gluten, soy & processed foods. Thank you for the chance to win. – @julian_nme
48. Avoid artificial sweeteners! – @crazyrilee
49. Other than eating foods with probiotics and drinking water, I like to take a walk at the beach- it gets everything moving and calms you down! – @delights_of_morgan
50. Don’t give up! Keep searching for answers! – @anngregory
51. Drink kombucha! (So I started making my own!) – @floatingbuble
52. Try a prebiotic to compliment a probiotic. – @beetsandbees
53. Eating fermented foods 3x/day has helped a ton. – @colleens_fitjourney
54. Drink lots of water. – @mshannon90
55. Drink enough water. – @health24fitness7
56. Don’t give up. – @mamamarlos
57. The best gut healing advice was to deal with stress. That means to cut out/avoid stress when you can, when you are stressed do something to fix it, and always be kind to yourself. Having gut issues alone is something to be stressed about, but practicing mindfulness and meditation have been a huge help so that I’m in control and IT isn’t in control of me! – @mrs.katemoss

What would YOU add to the best gut health tips list?

How to Heal Your Gut

But here’s the thing about these best books on gut health + list for the best gut health tips — they may or may not work for you.

Also, you may not agree with some of them.

And that’s OK!

While I believe that every single item on this list is high-quality and can work, I don’t believe that they all work for everyone at exactly the same time. It will completely and totally be dependent upon your current circumstances and body. 

To get started on your OWN gut healing journey with the foundations for actual healing, join Gut Healing: ELEVATED.

If you liked this post, you might also enjoy:

1. Small Changes add up
2. What’s the difference between Irritable Bowel Syndrome and Inflammatory Bowel Disease?
3. Printable Low-FODMAP Diet

Disclosure: All opinions started here are 100% my own. I appreciate your support, as this compensation helps with expenses to keep this website up and running, and for me to continue sharing all that I can with you. Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. 

Xox,
SKH