Super Gut: A Four-Week Plan to Reprogram Your Microbiome, Restore Health, and Lose Weight

I am big on supplements, always have been. But one thing I rarely bothered with has been probiotics. I just figured I didnt need them as my poops(I have dogs, I love that word) have been fine. I get lots of fiber.But at some point within this year i began sniffing around probiotic supplements. I was drawn to them after trying to figure out some health stuff. I eventually made my way over to this book. I have learned A LOT. Between this book, and watching a lot of YT videos, I have come away with a greater understanding of just how important probiotics are, that there are different types of probiotics and different strains of each. That probiotics NEED prebiotics to feed from. That probiotics are truly the foundation to our overall health and sense of wellness. AND THAT, if no other supplements it is PROBIOTICS I should be focusing on. They moved to the top of my list. Forget (nearly) all else unless my body microbiome is in good shape.I KNEW THIS on some level, but did not fully put the pieces together. Between mental health and physical health, the microbiome-- all the critters that live in us-- seems to be steering the ship. We treat them well, and they do wonderful things for us. I knew all health begins in the gut, but this info just made it make sense and put it into explanations that helped me see the how and why. I was like, AH HA, I was onto something and now I have solid info to work from.Now when I think of everything wrong with me, everything right with me, and I learn of others ailments and such. I wonder.. how is their microbiome? Drink that kombucha, eat FERMENTED foods, make your own yogurt (easy peasy), pop those capsules!Now all that being said, I dont drop everything that I am doing and just follow what one person says. I have not adopted the "wheat belly" protocol of his (Have yet to read but understand it enough), nor have I made any major changes. Diet and activity level are the same (but more on that later). I just started increasing consumption of probiotics (all sorts, various strains, daily), prebiotics (foods, supplements), and started dabbling in fermented foods and making my own yogurt (L. reuteri). I have only barely begin with making my own yogurt, uh hem, cultured dairy product.. but I am all in. Just search for videos on this particular probiotic, and it will likely make you want to take these probiotics and maybe make your own super charged yogurt. I also really like akkermansia, gasseri, and a few others.In the relatively short period of time that i have been consistently taking a variety of probiotics, there have been changes to my microbiome. I know it because I have a couple of measurable factors. One is which is my oral flora. SOMETHING has changed because I went from life long issues (despite OCD level hygiene) to having entirely normal dental situation. DECADES of always at or on the cusp of bad things. So much so that I get checked out by dentist every 3-4 months since i was a teen (now late 40s). My last visit we scheduled a "deep cleaning" (mega scraping deep under gums). So, just after that, maybe within a month, I happened to start probiotics. Mostly Previtalize and Provitalize plus I added in Akkermansia, and my beloved reuteri, and sometimes others. I actually STOPPED using listerine, and flouride toothpastes (im not against flouride, it does different things than what I am looking for at this time), and swapped to hydroxapatite based toothpaste (I had used that before, so Know just that changes hasnt made the impact). I did stop the other two things because I wanted to give my mouth a break from antibacterial type products. I wanted something that would help good bacteria and not wipe it out. But that has been VERY recent so again, not enough impact, yet probably helped. Then I just had my appointment. EXCEPT, as they began their exam the changes were so noticeable (through imaging, tools, and visual hands on) that the "deep clean" wasAborted. NO tartar (can you imagine?), not even plaque. Healthy gums, tight gums. They said, "I'm looking at someone with a very healthy mouth". Then proceeded to ask what I was doing different. I had to bring up intense intentional probiotic use. They were on board with my holistic approach.OK, other changes. I feel more alive, and less--Anxious.Energy? definitely a lift. Not bouncing off the walls, but not flat out on the couch. I have a little more oomph. That'll take time, especially as I am severely overweight. Oddly, I am already fairly active and eat well. I just eat a lot.Speaking of, I didnt set out to lose weight, and so I have no measurable data for that. But I see a change in my belly. It has deflated some. I can see it in my face too.Maybe that is what sort of started this all. I see all this GLP-1 use, and I dont want to look like how some of my friends do after being on it for some time (shots). They are thinner, but they are haggard. Like the life is being suckedOut of them with each pound. Very startling. Then I learned that GLP-1 naturally occurs in body and that there are ways to support it, to help it make more. There are many things, but one of those happen to be the PROBIOTIC akkermansia. From there on out I just sought to learn more and more. Which the algorithm of YT brought me content from and about Dr Davis. Very accessible, very straightforward, feel like I could have a great convo with him as he seems that approachable and affable.Few spots I question, but otherwise has been good info for me. I intially read this through Kindle Unlimited, then found myself wanting a hard copy to refer back to. So I bought it and here I am.Maybe I will add more info as I experience more. Good bad or not.But really, read the book but perhaps watch a bunch of YT vids to see if it is something of interest (it should be!). Marys Nest has a great interview with him.

"Our mothers get us started on the great microbial adventure of our lives. First by passing through the birth canal and by breastfeeding and physical contact with Mom, newborns receive their mother's microbiome. Birth and early life therefore begins the process of populating an infant's body with microbes, part of the intimate and wonderful bond that mothers and their children share."Chapter 2, page 13, first paragraph.Nothing but division, rejection, abuse, escape between me and my mother...bitter bonding at best....womb life and Birth Imprint critical for life....I was a "difficult"pregnancy, "CONCEIVED IN R.A.P.E!!!.", treated with only God-knows-what endocrine disrupting, gender-bendering, physician prescribed pharmaceuticals in 1956, non-labor C-section delivered several weeks early, not breastfed, and "not held" as my mother confessed to my father when I started spiraling downward at early teenhood.Glad Dr. Davis has presented the ideal baby/mother situation as a precursor for a healthy, well-adjusted life....some of us just don't get this....then get bullied by the world because we are different.2 of my 4 siblings also delivered by this route, neither one breastfed, but probably held more than I was as an infant. They are both dead now, died much too early with very difficult lives.....they are all gone....the individual most bonded to my mother, the Golden Child who could do no wrong, the firstborn, was the only birth canal delivered baby to live....the rest of us were frustrating chopped liver to her....I think the medical professionals who have over intervened and caused way too much Iatrogenia in my family of origin, without educating themselves, then teaching mothers and families about how to make up for a medical birth, will burn in hell!!!Love my L-Reuteri/SIBO/SIFO cultured dairy....it'll cure what ails ya!!!!!

After seeing a YouTube interview of Dr. Davis, I thought I'd try the yogurt route. I ordered a machine via Amazon, and soon after I ordered this book. It seems as if it was originally written to be submitted to medical journals, and edited for the average reader. I was shocked at how many references were included to important studies which validate his results, how many sources were provided, and the history of how and why Americans are much less healthy that we are made to believe. I plan on re-reading this book many times over. Oh, and the 'yogurt' is not only delicious but has made quite a difference in our lives. Next up: Wheat Belly.

Every one needs this book as our entire health depends on the microbiome in the gut. Clearly explained, easy to understand. Our gut lacks this microbe that we need for health and taking antibiotics has killed it. L reuteri. Six of us are doing this program and have had wonderful results. This book is a life changer. No fluff. It is a microbe discovered by MIT that is changing peoples lives around the world. Look up and watch videos by Dr William Davis a cardiologist who wrote this book. Absolutely is going to change the way people look at and achieve better health.

I love that he addresses so many issues in a way that anyone can understand. There are some things that he might review however. Omega-3 fatty acids in supplement form can cause stroke or atrial fibrillation according to a 2021 study. And I found That it was the case for me. The day I stopped taking the omega 3 supplements was the day my heart felt a whole lot better and stopped fluttering. It’s such a complicated subject and I want to give the author kudos and thank him for addressing such complex issues in as simple a way as humanly possible. Living with SIBO is no fun. Thank you for presenting a way forward.