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Copyright 2013 by Robynne Chutkan
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Recipes courtesy of Elise Museles of Kale and Chocolate (www.kaleandchocolate.com). Reprinted with permission.
courtesy of Emily Perlman, MS, BCB. Adapted from Richard Gevirtz and Paul Lehrer.
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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Chutkan, Robynne.
Gutbliss : a 10-day plan to ban bloat, flush toxins, and dump your
digestive baggage / Robynne Chutkan, MD, FASGE.
p. cm.
ISBN 978-1-101-60772-5
1. Gastrointestinal systemDiseasesDiet therapy. 2. Digestive organsDiseasesPopular works. 3. WomenHealth and hygienePopular works. 4. Cooking for the sick. I. Title.
RC816.C48 2013 2013024823
616.3'30654dc23
Neither the publisher nor the author is engaged in rendering professional advice or services to the individual reader. The ideas, procedures, and suggestions contained in this book are not intended as a substitute for consulting with your physician. All matters regarding your health require medical supervision. Neither the author nor the publisher shall be liable or responsible for any loss or damage allegedly arising from any information or suggestion in this book.
The recipes contained in this book have been created for the ingredients and techniques indicated. The publisher is not responsible for your specific health or allergy needs that may require supervision. Nor is the publisher responsible for any adverse reactions you may have to the recipes contained in the book, whether you follow them as written or modify them to suit your personal dietary needs or tastes.
While the author has made every effort to provide accurate telephone numbers, Internet addresses, and other contact information at the time of publication, neither the publisher nor the author assumes any responsibility for errors, or for changes that occur after publication. Further, the publisher does not have any control over and does not assume any responsibility for author or third-party websites or their content.
To my darling Sydney:
May you find everything you need for abundantly good health in the garden and on the mat.
All disease begins in the gut.
HIPPOCRATES
Contents
Acknowledgments
Gutbliss started out as a book about food. I was alarmed by what I was seeing in peoples digestive tracts and the growing prevalence of bloating and other gastrointestinal complaints. To me, food was the obvious but frequently overlooked connection. So I set out to write a book about how our food was making us sick. Along the way, I had the incredible good fortune to meet Howard Yoon, my literary agent, who helped me mold my passion about food and the gut into a broader conversation that included the obstacles to digestive wellness and how to go about removing them. Whether you like this book or not (and I hope you do!), it is undoubtedly a much better one because of Howards wisdom, patience, and belief that I had something important to say. And for the opportunity to say it, I am eternally grateful to Lucia Watson and Bill Shinker at Gotham/Avery, to Gabrielle Campo, who guided me through the entire process, and to Toni Sciarra Poynter, who provided invaluable editorial assistance.
To my husband, Eric, who at this point knows far more than he ever imagined he would about bowel movements and gut bacteria, and whose support never wavered as I abandoned my post for several months at a time to focus on completing this book. Without his encouragement and overall picking up of the slack at home this book would never have been possible. And to my amazing daughter, Sydney, who loves to talk about bowel movements and gut bacteria, and who spent so many hours keeping me company in my study while this manuscript was being written. You are a constant source of inspiration.
Bette Greenhause and I have been keeping company since my first day on the job at Georgetown in 1997. Without her, the Digestive Center for Women would never have come to fruition. I do not think I could practice medicine without her. To the late Dr. Henry Janowitz and Dr. Jerry Waye, who taught me much about both the art and the science of gastroenterology. To Gena Hamshaw, whose journey from editor to doctor I am honored to be a part of. To all my friends who put up with canceled dinners and no-shows while I wrote this book and cheered me on toward the finish line. A special thank-you to Dr. Ida Bergstrom, Alicia Sokol, Jill Hudson, and Elise Museles. Vernon Jordan, Doug Heater, and Robert Raben are my three wise men. I am grateful to them for always pointing me in the right direction. To my parents, for teaching me the invaluable lesson that with good living comes mostly good health.
A huge thank-you to Dr. Mehmet Oz, for giving me the opportunity to share my passion for digestive wellness with America. And most of all, to the many patients along the way, who have taught me so much. It has been an honor and a privilege.
Introduction
BIG, BLOATED, AND BOGGED DOWN: FINDING YOUR GUTBLISS (AND MINE, TOO)
Why am I so bloated? Thats a question I hear nearly every day in my gastroenterology practice. Over the course of my medical career, Ive gone from helping a handful of women a week with bloating, sluggish fullness, and constipation to feeling like Im dealing with a full-on epidemic. For many, the symptoms are daily, relentless, and life altering, but even when theyre not that severe, theyre always annoying.
The causes of bloating vary tremendously, from common benign conditions to rare, life-threatening illnesses. Some may be connected to behaviors you dont even think about. (Do you talk with your mouth full? You could be swallowing enough air to go up a dress size!) Some you may have heard of but need more information and arent quite sure whether you should be worried. (Is celiac disease the same as gluten intolerance?) Some may surprise you. (Taking antacids to settle your stomach can make your jeans un-zippable!) In this book youll learn about these issues and many more, including how to tell if your bloating is serious... or if youre just seriously bloated.
Your Inner Doctor
The information in this book incorporates aspects of both conventional and alternative medicine to create an intuitive, commonsense approach to digestive wellness. The goal is not to scare you into having an unnecessary procedure or taking a pill you dont need, but to encourage you to explore the cause of your symptoms and to implement some useful basic strategies, many of which are already in your toolbox.