by Giulia Enders

For too long, the gut has been the body’s most ignored and least appreciated organ, but it turns out that it’s responsible for more than just dirty work: our gut is (literally and figuratively) at the core of who we are.

The book starts with a voyage through our full digestive tract, discussing the pain-killing powers of our saliva, the shape and structure of our intestines, and the best position to sit on the toilet.

The second part discusses the nervous system of the gut, why we vomit, why we have acid reflux and what causes constipation or diarrhea.

In the final part it discusses what was for me the most important/relevant part, which is the microbiome in our gut, which has more effect on our lives than we could imagine.

The book was easy to read, did not contain too much jargon and tried to keep things light.

Eat some prebiotic foods such as artichokes, asparagus, green banana, garlic, onions, parsnips, whole wheat, rye, oats or leeks.

You feel much better when you help your bacteria process the food you eat every day. Therefore, better grab the whole-grain bread instead of that baguette.