Aglaée Jacob M.S. R.D. - Digestive Health with REAL Food : a practical guide to an anti-inflammatory, low-irritant, nutrient-dense diet for IBS & other digestive issues

First Published in 2013 by Paleo Media Group LLC

www.paleomediagroup.com

Copyright 2013 Aglae Jacob

All rights reserved

No part of this publication may be reproduced or distributed in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, or stored in a database or retrieval system, without prior written permission from the publisher.

ISBN 13: 978-0-9887172-0-6

The information in this book is not intended to treat, diagnose, cure, or prevent any disease, including digestive problems, and is provided for educational purposes only. The approach proposed in this book is not sponsored, approved, recommended, or endorsed by the FDA, USDA, NIH, or the AND. Always seek the advice of your physician with any questions you have regarding a medical condition, and before undertaking any diet, exercise, or other health program. The author has made her best effort to produce a high-quality, informative, and helpful book, but she makes no representation or warranties of any kind with regard to the completeness or accuracy of the contents of the book. The author accepts no liability of any kind for any losses or damages caused or alleged to be caused, directly or indirectly, from using the information contained in this book. No part of this publication may be stored in a retrieval system, transmitted, or reproduced in any way, including but not limited to digital copying and printing.

Book design by Kate Miller, Kate Miller Design

Food photography by Savannah Wishart

Illustrations by Aglae Jacob

Printed in USA

To everyone suffering from digestive issues and feeling abandoned by conventional medicine.

First, I am truly grateful for my health struggles. As strange as it may seem, I now see the positive side of what this challenging period of my life has brought me. Although I have been through some rough times, my personal health issues have opened the door to a new field of holistic health and nutrition for me, now allowing me to help other people dealing with similar struggles. My own health issues made me a more understanding and knowledgeable health care provider.

I want to thank all the health and nutrition experts in the REAL food community. There are too many to name here, but leaders of the Paleo community, Weston A. Price Foundation and the experts behind the GAPS, SCD, and low-FODMAP diets have each taught me so much. You have allowed me to further my education, heal myself, and develop a nutritional approach to help others.

A special acknowledgement to Cain Credicott, editor of Paleo Magazine, for believing in me and enthusiastically working for the publication of this book. I also thank Ray Sylvester, editor of this book, Kate Miller, graphic designer and Savannah Wishart, food photographer, for your hard work. You all played essential roles in the arduous but so rewarding process of making this book come to life.

I am grateful for the thousands of people who have supported me in the last years, visiting my website, sharing their stories, and helping me continue to learn more every day.

Merci ma famille, mes parents Hlne et Gilles et mon frre Ludovic, pour toujours me supporter dans toutes mes folles aventures. Vous avoir derrire moi me donne la force de continuer de foncer chaque jour.

Finally, an enormous heartfelt MERCI to my always loving and supportive husband, Jonathan. I would not be here without you. Je taime tellement!

The roots of optimal health lie in your intestines. You simply cant be healthy if your digestion isnt working properly. Its in the gut that your body extracts the nutrients it requires while keeping out harmful compounds. Its also where most of your immune system resides. Bloating, constipation, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and excessive flatulence are all warning signs that something has gone wrong in your gut. Inflammatory bowel disease (IBS) symptoms shouldnt be a diagnosis, but a clue that you need to look for more answers.

It can be discouraging when doctors tell you what you eat has nothing to do with your digestive problems or to follow an everything in moderation path. There are many books about irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) claiming that a gluten-free or low-FODMAP diet is the solution. Others promote high-fiber foods, a vegetarian approach, or a low-fat diet. Unfortunately, all of these diets are reductionist, isolating specific, potentially problematic compounds without looking at the whole picture. Many of these diets also fail to emphasize the importance of healing your gut to not only manage your symptoms but to allow you to improve your food tolerance and recover your optimal digestive health.

Nobody knows what you should eat, but your body will tell you if you learn how to listen. This book provides a practical, step-by-step guide to a REAL-food-based approach help you recover your digestive health naturally. The protocol described in this book is the most comprehensive approach to building your personal optimal diet.

The approach I propose is effective because it shows you how to eliminate all processed and fake foods, which often contain irritants, allergens, and inflammatory and hard-to-digest ingredients that can contribute to digestive problems. You might be surprised at how many of these processed foods are already in your meals, even if you think youre already eating healthfully.

The first step of the nutritional protocol in this book will help you reset your digestive systemlike putting it in a cast for a few weeks to allow it to heal so it can better signal you when eating specific foods. Afterward, youll be able to figure out whether grains (with or without gluten), dairy, cruciferous vegetables, and other foods are right for you. And by creating your own optimal diet in the final phase, youll regain control of your symptoms, your gut will be able to heal, and your quality of life and health should reach a new level.

Its critical to tackle your digestive issues from as many angles as possible. A holistic approach isnt necessarily easy, but it will help you get the best results. You may have tried other dietary modifications in the past without success. Unlike narrow diets that tell you what to eat and what not to eat, this book explains why certain foods are problematic for some people and how to determine if they are problematic for you. Unlike other diets you may have followed, this plan will help you discover and build your own optimal diet.

This book presents everything I wish I had known when I started experiencing my own digestive issues, and represents everything I have learned in the last several years of intensively researching the topic of digestive health and assisting many fellow sufferers to get their symptoms under control.

, well discuss the many ways your digestion can go wrong. Youll learn more about non-celiac gluten sensitivity, SIBO, and FODMAP intolerance, along with many other digestive disorders.

Food can either compromise your gut health or help it function more optimally, and will cover different foods and food groups to help you understand what you should and shouldnt eat. Everyone is different and individual tolerance varies, but understanding the foods that are more likely to be problematic can help you better understand how your digestive system reacts to what you eat.