Review: The Mind-Gut Connection

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

Emeran Mayer, M.D.

Hardcover, 320 pages

Harper Wave

A review copy of this book was provided through TLC Book Tours

The Mind-Gut Connection is a fascinating study of the connection between the brain and the gut (also called the "second brain"). The intimate relationship between our brain and our gut (or to be more specific, the microbiota that live in our gut) is something that has only recently become recognized. I guess it makes sense that the "mind-body connection" has its roots in our biology.

There is a lot of science and scientific explanation in this book, and at times I wished for more visuals (like medical illustrations, for instance) to help make clear the science between the mind-gut connection. Dr. Mayer shows how the gut microbes and the brain are in constant communication, and how the health of your digestive system can impact your overall health.

For me the most important part of the book is the explanation of the role of stress in our health, and the role of intuition in decision-making. As anyone who has experienced long periods of prolonged stress knows, it can have a dramatic impact on your health. For me, understanding this dynamic, and how stress affects health at the microbial level was a major reason I was drawn to this book. Mayer goes into great detail about this relationship.

The final section of the book offers specific suggestions for improving health and wellness. Overall, I found this book to be extremely informative and helpful. If you are interested in mind-body wellness, the science of our microbiota, and what you can do do improve your health, then this book will probably offer an informative and important reading experience for you.