Kimberly A. Tessmer - Your nutrition solution to a healthy gut : a meal-based plan to help prevent and treat constipation, diverticulitis, ulcers, and other common digestive problems

Praise for Your Nutrition Solution to a Healthy Gut:

Sound nutrition advice from a nutrition expert. Filled with practical nutrition tips and tidbits for optimizing gut health, Ms. Tessmers book is a terrific manual for anyone with or without digestive troubles who is interested in eating their way to optimal health.

Colleen D. Webb, MS, RDN, CLT

Your Nutrition Solution to a Healthy Gut contains a wealth of information that will improve your gut health, written in an easy to understand and easy to follow format. Kimberlys food lists and suggestions are practical and easy to incorporate into daily living and her nutrition solution tidbits throughout the book help to drive the message home. This is a must read for anyone who has suffered from poor gut health or wants to continue maintaining a healthy gut.

Lisa Davis, RDN, Clinical Dietitian, Henrico Doctors Hospital

Kim has used a basic, easy-to-read and -understand approach to educate the reader on gut health. Her food choices and meal plan suggestions are clearly outlined and easy to follow.

Johanna Donnenfield, BSc, Phm, MS, RD

Your Nutrition Solution to a Healthy Gut has the answers to all your gut health questions. From explaining what the gut actually is, to understanding the various conditions/diseases associated with the gut through how to eat and shop for foods that support a healthy gut, Kim Tessmer has outdone herself with this book. It is written in an easy to understand fashion with actionable steps to get you started right away. The 14-day menu and shopping guide will make implementation easy, without overwhelm.

Bonnie R. Giller, MS, RD, CDN, CDE

Wish you knew all your dietitian did about eating for gut health? If so, this book is for you. Apply whats here and save yourself a lot of money and misery. Gut Health is a complex topic, but its nicely covered, in layman language with many expert suggestions you can apply today.

Jan Patenaude, RD, CLT

a meal-based plan to help prevent and treat constipation, diverticulitis, ulcers, and other common digestive problems

kimberly a. tessmer, RDN, LD

Copyright 2015 by Kimberly A. Tessmer, RDN, LD

All rights reserved under the Pan-American and International Copyright Conventions. This book may not be reproduced, in whole or in part, in any form or by any means electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system now known or hereafter invented, without written permission from the publisher, The Career Press.

YOUR NUTRITION SOLUTION TO A HEALTHY GUT

EDITED BY KIRSTEN DALLEY

Cover design by Joanna Williams

Printed in the U.S.A.

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Tessmer, Kimberly A.

Your nutrition solution to a healthy gut : a meal-based plan to help prevent and treat constipation, diverticulitis, ulcers, and other common digestive problems / by Kimberly Tessmer, RDN, LD.

pages cm

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN 978-1-60163-368-2 (paperback) -- ISBN 978-1-60163-384-2 (ebook) 1. Gastrointestinal system--Diseases--Nutritional aspects-Popular works. 2. Gastrointestinal system--Diseases--Diet therapy-Recipes. I. Title.

RC806.T47 2015

616.330654--dc23

2015010093

At the time this book was written all information in this book was believed by the author to be correct and accurate. Information on gut health changes frequently as more research is being completed. Always keep yourself up-to-date by reading reputable, peer-reviewed, current publications and speaking with your healthcare provider. The author shall have no liability of any kind for damages of any nature, however caused. The author will not accept any responsibility for any omissions, misinterpretations, or misstatements that may exist within this book. The author does not endorse any product or company listed in this book. Always consult with your healthcare provider for medical advice as well as recommendations on any type of drug, supplement, or herbal supplement you plan on taking. The author is not engaged in rendering medical services, and this book should not be construed as medical advice; nor should it take the place of being properly diagnosed and monitored by your regular healthcare provider.

Dedicated to all of the people who suffer with debilitating gut issues on a daily basis. And to my dear Dad (Doc) and my late Mom, whom I miss dearly. I have learned so much from them, and continue to learn the power of human compassion from my Dad. I love you both.

As always, a big, loving thank you to my wonderful husband, Greg, who supports me and works so hard, which allows me to do what I love. And to my beautiful daughter, Tori, who is always patient and understands when Mommy has to work, even if it is at home. I would like to thank all of my fellow RDs who gave me their expert input and advice on this subject. A special thank you to Jan Patenaude, RD, CLT, who is always such a great sounding-board and someone who can always answer my questions. And thank you to all of the dietitians who took time out of their busy schedules to review my book and provide endorsements.

The term gut-related disorders is really just a catchier, more idiomatic name for digestive or gastrointestinal (GI) issues. Gut-related disorders can range from minor to chronic in nature and include all types of health issues, from constipation and peptic ulcers to diverticulitis, just to name a few. Droves of people suffer from these kinds of issues, and because symptoms can be embarrassing, they often refrain from talking about them, sometimes even to their doctor. Instead Americans spend billions of their hard-earned dollars trying to relieve their GI distress by popping over-the-counter medications that are aimed at relieving their symptoms. Though these medications may provide much-needed relief in the short term, they fall short of getting to the root of the problem and treating symptoms over the long term.

Taking preventative steps to ensure a healthier gut can help decrease your risk of developing gut-related disorders, not to mention help manage the ones you might already be dealing with. The gut houses countless numbers of bacteria, some being beneficial and others negatively impacting your health. Choosing the right foods, avoiding the culprits, and adopting healthier lifestyle habits can help to swing the number of favorable bacteria in your favor, thus creating a healthier gut and decreasing your risk for gut-related disorders and their symptoms. The whole idea is not to mask your symptoms with medication but to determine what is causing them and then treating the issue accordingly.

If you suffer from any of the disorders I discuss in this book, you already know first-hand just how downright irritating and uncomfortable they can be. The key is prevention; taking steps now to foster a healthier gut is vital in preventing future issues. This book provides both a treatment and preventative nutritional plan that you can live with for a lifetime. It will guide you by providing useful information in an easy-to-understand format as well as tools to help you modify your diet and your lifestyle in order to help free you from a lifetime of medication, discomfort, pain, and/or long-term health problems.