Help Yourself: A Guide to Gut Health for People Who Love Delicious Food

Recipe developer and writer Lindsay Maitland (Healthyish), who long struggled with digestive issues, takes a deep dive into digestive wellness and shares 125 gut-healthy recipes in this sensible approach to healthy eating. Stating that her book is not a weight loss guide or prescribed diet, Hunt expertly illustrates that diners are able to maintain good health by eating more plant-based foods (such as vegetables, nuts, beans, and legumes) in order to maintain a healthy balance of gut microorganisms. Tempting recipes include caramelized baked apples with yogurt and granola; swordfish with a simple grilled pineapple salsa; coconut chicken and rice stew; and a must-try potato salad with chive-bacon vinaigrette and sauerkraut. Hunt’s recipes use easy-to-source ingredients, and her directions are clear, ensuring confidence as well as success. While nutritional information isn’t provided, readers will appreciate the icons used to identify recipes that are quick, vegetarian, and “good for sensitive guts,” as well as suggestions for complementary dishes to round out a meal (e.g. smoky roasted fennel can be served with lamb meatballs or baked white fish). This is a lightning bolt of lucidity in a crowded and jargon-laden field of often impractical and unsustainable dietary approaches. (Aug.)