The Sensitive Gut

DO YOU EXPERIENCE FREQUENT STOMACHACHES

OR EXCESSIVE GAS AFTER EATING?

DOES EATING A SIMPLE MEAL LEAVE YOU

WITH A FEELING OF HEARTBURN?

DO CONSTIPATION AND DIARRHEA PLAGUE YOUR LIFE?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, you might be suffering from a gastrointestinal disorder. As many as one in four people experience these troublesome symptoms, and they don't get the problem adequately diagnosed and treated.

In The Sensitive Gut, readers will learn that the root causes of these symptoms are often a group of disorders — reflux disease, dyspepsia, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), food allergies, or other conditions. The causes of these disorders are not fully understood, but their effects are quite real.

This valuable guide explains each of these disorders and, more important, describes how they are diagnosed and treated. You will learn:

• how heartburn is exacerbated by high-fat foods, onions, garlic, alcohol, and coffee
• how cauliflower and chewing gum can trigger IBS
• how to determine whether you have dyspepsia or an ulcer
• which oral laxatives seem to be the most effective and produce the fewest side effects
• and much more...

Besides suggesting eating plans to soothe and minimize symptoms, The Sensitive Gut also evaluates new alternative approaches such as relaxation response training, hypnosis, and biofeedback. Finally, lists of questions are included to help readers make the most of their time with their doctors.

A reassuring and practical guide to managing common intestinal distress, The Sensitive Gut can improve the quality of life for millions of Americans.

DO YOU EXPERIENCE FREQUENT STOMACHACHES OR EXCESSIVE GAS AFTER EATING?
DOES EATING A SIMPLE MEAL LEAVE YOU WITH A FEELING OF HEARTBURN?
DO CONSTIPATION AND DIARRHEA PLAGUE YOUR LIFE?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, you might be suffering from a gastrointestinal disorder. As many as one in four people experience these troublesome symptoms, and they don't get the problem adequately diagnosed and treated.

In The Sensitive Gut, readers will learn that the root causes of these symptoms are often a group of disorders -- reflux disease, dyspepsia, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), food allergies, or other conditions. The causes of these disorders are not fully understood, but their effects are quite real.

This valuable guide explains each of these disorders and, more important, describes how they are diagnosed and treated. You will learn:

• how heartburn is exacerbated by high-fat foods, onions, garlic, alcohol, and coffee

• how cauliflower and chewing gum can trigger IBS

• how to determine whether you have dyspepsia or an ulcer

• which oral laxatives seem to be the most effective and produce the fewest side effects

• and much more...

Besides suggesting eating plans to soothe and minimize symptoms, The Sensitive Gut also evaluates new alternative approaches such as relaxation response training, hypnosis, and biofeedback. Finally, lists of questions are included to help readers make the most of their time with their doctors.

A reassuring and practical guide to managing common intestinal distress, The Sensitive Gut can improve the quality of life for millions of Americans.

Library Journal

With the help of medical doctor Neimark, Salt has updated and improved his excellent book on Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) (LJ 10/15/97). This second edition preserves Salt's clear writing and lively illustrations while completely revising the format. Instead of eight steps on learning to live with IBS, now there are seven steps, which put greater emphasis on choices and action. A nice addition is a chapter on journaling as a mind/spirit health tool, and helpful symbols scattered throughout indicate that more detailed information on a subject is available on the publisher's web site. This book is essential, even for libraries that own the first edition. The Sensitive Gut also deals with irritable bowel syndrome, but it includes other functional gastrointestinal disorders as well: heartburn, dyspepsia, excessive gas, and constipation. It carries the powerful creditability of Harvard Medical School, but its textbook-like format may scare off many potential readers. This is unfortunate, as the language is very clear and easy to understand. The book's conversational tone makes the explanation of the digestive system's mechanics one of the most entertaining yet concrete descriptions available. This guide also discusses the mind/gut connection and alternative medicine options, but since it covers a broader scope than Salt's book, there is less depth in most areas. This is a nice addition to larger collections but is not an essential purchase. KellyJo Houtz Griffin, Eatonville, WA Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.

Harvard Medical School is a center of medical expertise composed of dozens of affiliated hospitals, clinics, research foundations, and publication centers. Throughout its history, Harvard's doctors have made important medical breakthroughs, including the discovery of anesthesia, the first human organ tranplantation (Nobel Prize), and the discovery of the polio virus (Nobel Prize).