The Bottom Line
A good resource for anyone looking to keep their digestive system in good health and treat minor problems.
Pros
- Clean and easy to read text
- Helpful illustrations of the digestive tract
- Tables offer key information quickly
Cons
- Chronic disease chapters good, but not complete
- Information on new research will be dated quickly
Description
- Covers common complaints such as lactose intolerance, indigestion, IBS, gas, bloating and ulcers
- Opening chapters provide a comprehensive overview of the digestive system
- "Recipe for Healthy Digestion" chapter offers tips on keeping your digestive system healthy
- Sidebars provide easy access to 'Key Signs and Symptoms'
- Non-disease related topics include developing good eating habits, losing weight and exercise
- Information on common diagnostic tests such as x-rays, blood tests, and upper and lower endoscopy
Guide Review - Mayo Clinic on Digestive Health
This book may inititally grab attention because it is published by a respected medical institution -- the Mayo Clinic. Thankfully it's not a typical dry text written for patients by medical professionals. The opening chapters focus on the biology of digestion and how to keep it functioning properly. The book touches on concepts not normally covered such as meal portions, body mass index (BMI), and how much fiber to eat. A section on common tests includes even those less well known such as transit studies. Chapters on diseases such as IBD, pancreatitis, and cancer are good, but will not be comprehensive enough for people who have those diseases. However, this book is a good choice as a general "how to" manual and troubleshooting guide for the digestive tract.
