Shann Jones - The Kefir Solution: Natural Healing for IBS, Depression and Anxiety

Finally, a holistic approach to health and vitality! Here is a no-nonsense view of the source of illness and dis-ease from the inside out, rather than the outside in. Shann Jones has given us a practical handbook for healthy living based on ancient wisdom and cutting-edge science. I only wish I read this book 20 years ago.

PETER MEYERS, CEO STAND & DELIVER GROUP, GLOBAL LEADERSHIP COMMUNICATION

I warmly recommend The Kefir Solution! Shann Jones has written a motivating and enjoyable book full of useful advice for people with digestive problems and other illnesses. And kefir is magical! I think everybody should introduce it into their lives.

DR NATASHA CAMPBELL-MCBRIDE, MD

This book provides a comprehensive, easy-to-read overview of the importance of the microbiome and the role it plays in your health. As a reader youll gain a clear understanding of how your gut goes beyond just digestive issues and can influence your brain, contributing to anxiety and depression. If youve ever wondered how powerful food can be in healing, look no further than the kefir solution with one drink youll change the trajectory of your health!

DR WILL COLE, LEADING FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE PRACTITIONER AND AUTHOR OF KETOTARIAN: THE (MOSTLY) PLANT-BASED DIET TO BURN FAT, BOOST YOUR ENERGY, CRUSH YOUR CRAVINGS, AND CALM INFLAMMATION

Published in the United Kingdom by:

Hay House UK Ltd, Astley House, 33 Notting Hill Gate, London W11 3JQ

Tel: +44 (0)20 3675 2450; Fax: +44 (0)20 3675 2451

www.hayhouse.co.uk

Published in the United States of America by:

Hay House Inc., PO Box 5100, Carlsbad, CA 92018-5100

Tel: (1) 760 431 7695 or (800) 654 5126

Fax: (1) 760 431 6948 or (800) 650 5115

www.hayhouse.com

Published in Australia by:

Hay House Australia Ltd, 18/36 Ralph St, Alexandria NSW 2015

Tel: (61) 2 9669 4299; Fax: (61) 2 9669 4144

www.hayhouse.com.au

Published in India by:

Hay House Publishers India, Muskaan Complex, Plot No.3, B-2, Vasant Kunj, New Delhi 110 070

Tel: (91) 11 4176 1620; Fax: (91) 11 4176 1630

www.hayhouse.co.in

Text Shann Nix Jones, 2018

The moral rights of the author have been asserted.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced by any mechanical, photographic or electronic process, or in the form of a phonographic recording; nor may it be stored in a retrieval system, transmitted or otherwise be copied for public or private use, other than for fair use as brief quotations embodied in articles and reviews, without prior written permission of the publisher.

The information given in this book should not be treated as a substitute for professional medical advice; always consult a medical practitioner. Any use of information in this book is at the readers discretion and risk. Neither the author nor the publisher can be held responsible for any loss, claim or damage arising out of the use, or misuse, of the suggestions made, the failure to take medical advice or for any material on third-party websites.

A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.

ISBN 978-1-78817-087-1 in print
ISBN 978-1-78817-092-5 in ePub format
ISBN 978-1-78817-093-2 in Kindle formats

Interior illustrations: 1, 45 Andrea Jones and Caitlin Tyler

This book is dedicated to all the lovely Chuckling Goat
clients who were brave enough to tell me their stories.
Your honesty inspired me to go looking for answers.
You are heroes, all!

Kefir is made with living organisms, so every brand of kefir has a unique bio-profile. The results described in the Kefir Solution success stories in this book were achieved using Chuckling Goat Kefir, and I cannot vouch for the actions of any kefir besides our own.

You may be wondering if you have Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), or you may be absolutely sure that you do. But one thing is certain:

Tummys. Not. Happy.

Whether or not youve been diagnosed with IBS, if you experience stomach pain, cramping, bloating, wind, diarrhoea and/or constipation on a regular basis perhaps accompanied by anxiety or depression this book is for you.

Youre probably feeling pretty overwhelmed at the moment. But heres my promise to you: by the time you reach the end of this book, youll understand exactly whats going on, and why its happening. And most important of all: what you can do about it.

IBS isnt a disease; rather, its a wide range of symptoms that occur together. There are no tests for IBS: the history of a patients symptoms helps a doctor establish a diagnosis.

Until recently, IBS wasnt fully understood, and doctors didnt really know how best to treat it. But the latest scientific research and discoveries have shed new light on this distressing disorder, and its underlying cause is now known. After reading this book, youll be up-to-date with all the current knowledge in this area.

Youll also have a practical plan that you can put into action in your everyday life: one that has relieved the discomfort experienced by thousands of people just like you.

For a long time, as well as putting up with the distress and embarrassment their symptoms caused, IBS sufferers had to deal with doctors who labelled them as hypochondriacs and told them their problems were all in their head. Nice, right?

Thankfully, these days were more enlightened, and since around 2010 its been widely accepted that IBS is a real disorder. IBS is typically diagnosed after a patient has experienced recurrent abdominal pain or discomfort for at least three days per month, in the previous three months, combined with a change in the frequency of their bowel movements or a change in the appearance of their stools.

IBS can occur at any age, but it often begins during the teens or in early adulthood. Its twice as common in women as in men. Studies have shown that people who have a first-degree relative with IBS are at increased risk.

If you have IBS, youre not alone. Simply put, IBS is the most common gastrointestinal disorder in the world. Researchers estimate that up to 15 to 20 per cent of people in the West suffer from it.

According to studies, IBS patients make more visits to their GP, undergo more diagnostic tests, are prescribed more medication, miss more work days, have lower work productivity, are hospitalized more frequently and account for greater overall direct healthcare costs than patients without IBS.

The burden of illness for IBS is significant: research suggests that the disorder can have such a severe impact on Health-Related Quality of Life, that its been linked to an increase in suicidal behaviour.

If youve been suffering from IBS for a while, youve probably visited your GP and maybe even been referred to a consultant at the hospital. If you were really unlucky, these medical professionals may have suggested you were imagining your symptoms.

If you were lucky and they believed you, you may have been prescribed antibiotics, antispasmodics, laxatives or antidepressants. These medications may have caused troubling side-effects, including nausea, insomnia, palpitations and decreased appetite. And they havent