With the weather improving and the summer holidays just around the corner, I have been enjoying sitting outside in my garden and doing absolutely nothing but reading a good book. I haven’t done book reviews on here for ages (well, with the exception of my own book, which I’d give 5/5 of course) and thought it was high time that changed! So I’ve decided that each month, I’ll aim to share at least one (hopefully more) book review- all linked to gut health and wellness. Hopefully, you’ll get involved too- I’m looking for recommendations and for you to share your opinions! So, let’s begin. This month’s balanced belly book club review is….. The Good Gut Guide by Liz Earle.
The Good Gut Guide by Liz Earle
What is it?
The Good Gut Guide is written by skincare guru Liz Earle (think that seems a bit random? Well it’s not really. I’ve blogged before about how our skin is very much connected to our gut) It really is a guide in every sense of the word- it offers sections on the science of our gut microbiome, practical how-to guides (with everything from a probiotic face mask to fermenting foods for dummies), a week by week programme and, of course, lots of recipes.
What I Liked About
I apologise for the gushing and can assure you that not every book review will be littered with over the top praise, but this is truly one of the best books I’ve read about gut health. I get through lots of health books but rarely do I stumble across something that I just know I’ll be coming back to time and time again. I liked that the science part was relevant but not too technical- a great introduction for those new to the world of gut health (and just enough without boring us). The practical how-to suggestions were fantastic and I came away brimming with ideas (it covers yoga, making your own herbal tea, natural skin care, fermenting, apple cider vinegar and much much more) Finally, the recipes were all things that focused on everyday ingredients and straightforward relying on a handful of ingredients and natural gut boosting foods like kefir and turmeric.
What I Didn’t Like About It
I’ve just had another flick through the book as we speak to see if there’s anything at all I didn’t enjoy about it! The only thing I can really think of is there’s quite a lot of information in the first half of the book. It’s divided into weeks but it might be helpful to have a series of subheadings so I could dip in and out. I think the book is designed to read in stages (which is a great way to introduce you to gut health) but I am a bit of an impatient reader so that part didn’t work for me!
Overall Verdict
If you are looking for some practical, useful suggestions about improving your gut health- without wanting to have a massive life overhaul and introduce loads of new expensive foods, then this book really is a must buy. There are so many books about gut health out there but this is the only one that I think manages to combine theory+real-life practical tips. 10/10
TYou can buy Liz Earle’s Good Gut Guide on Amazon here.
Next month, I’ll be taking on ‘The Gut Makeover’ which landed on my doormat a week or so ago. I’ve not managed to delve into it yet so I shall keep you posted. Are there any other books you’d like me to review next month? Please do let me know below!
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Thanks for posting this review! I am lactose intolerant (and I’m sure there’s something else going on too) and my husband has Crohn’s disease so I’m always looking for healthier recipes that will be good for happy tummys! I’ve added this book to my amazon wishlist (it’s a bit dear at the moment) and will add it to my basket when the price is right! I’ve also followed you on twitter, so I’ll keep an eye out for further reviews from you. Thank you!
This sounds like such an interesting and valuable book club feature. Gut health has become such an important wellness topic, but it can often feel overwhelming or overly scientific, so I really appreciated the approachable and balanced discussion here. The focus on understanding digestion, nutrition, and overall well-being in a practical way makes the topic feel much more accessible for everyday readers. I also love the idea of combining wellness learning with a book club format — it creates such an engaging way to explore healthy living topics together.