Brain Maker

Fascinating science & suggestions for diet changes

STORY (science/health) - I think most anyone interested in maintaining or improving their health could benefit from the ideas in this book. The ideas are totally new to me, but Dr. Perlmutter has been implementing them in his practice for quite some time. Basically, he professes that the microbes in your gut control your health more than you would think, and this book specifically addresses their effect on your brain. I was very impressed with the theories, and the scientific studies that backed them up were absolutely fascinating...to a point. After a while I was just thinking, "Okay, I get it, I get it. Stop!" I was anxious to get to the diet suggestions so that I could get on with making some changes.

Much of the diet suggestions are things we all already know we should be doing, like eating more fresh vegetables, less processed foods, etc., but some of them are more specific, like consuming more fermented foods, probiotics, prebiotics and specific supplements. He also presents an argument for a gluten-free diet that finally has grabbed my attention. At any rate, I plan to make some of the diet changes, but definitely not all of them. Dr. Perlmutter has a website with resources that I plan to investigate as well.

PERFORMANCE - Where has Peter Ganim been and why haven't I heard him before? He narrates lots of books, but I've been missing out. OMG, I love his voice. He literally sounds sexy reading scientific data!!

OVERALL - Recommended for everyone, especially if someone you care about suffers from stomach/bowel issues or has autism, ADHD, Alzheimer's or other brain-related conditions, as those problems are addressed in detail. I am only interested in maintaining good health and a healthy brain, and I bookmarked multiple portions that I plan to refer to often.

77 of 78 people found this review helpful

The Gut--Your Second Brain--Who Knew!

Terrific book about brain health and its relationship to the health and integrity of your gastrointestinal tract. Dr Perlmutter is a practicing MD, neurologist and nutritionist. The information presented is grounded in scientific research and peer reviewed literature. Much of Dr Perlmutter's approach is cutting edge and offers a new way to view how the brain is affected by the diet you eat. Practical and easily applicable advise on how to improve your health and make a real change in the way you feel each day.

Be aware that the book is complicated with numerous scientific references cited. It can be slow going and I occasionally needed to listen to several sections more than once. That said, the book is excellent and filled with life changing information. Worth the effort and highly recommended listening.

112 of 116 people found this review helpful

If you buy one health book, this should be it

Where was this information 15 years ago? Even 5...how different my life could have been.
I've struggled my whole life with a myriad of health issues, unexplainable weight gains, constipation, brain fog, depression. Thyroid tests come back normal, blood work always fine.
Then, in my mid 30's I began travelling to other countries for 3 - 9 months a year and Every time I came back to North America, gained 15 - 30 lbs within two MONTHs.
No one could explain this to me, and I felt helpless and alone. I felt upset and tired.
Was this because I left my beloved travels behind? I was not over eating, what was going on? I did not know.
What I did know is within 2 days of getting back I had pain in my stomach and constipation that would not let up no matter what I did. I knew that our "perfect" tap water made me feel like throwing up. I knew that I did Not eat more - but I gained 20 lbs seemly overnight. My moods fell to say the least. This happened Five Times.
I now know where ALL of this stems from. Starting with the C-section that brought me into this world, the frequent antibiotics I've been on, and a grain rich North American diet. Recipe for disaster.
Understanding your gut, how to keep it balanced and healthy, the importance of what to eliminate and what to bring in - is Imperative for all of us.
Well filtered water, glutamine, good quality probiotics, fermented foods, proper vitamin supplementation....all this knowledge is here for us all and you deserve to be informed.
Now living back in Canada once again, and less than 2 months into the changes suggested by this and other similar "gut" books, I am dropping weight, sleeping better, feeling happier and more alert.
Get this book and listen to every word. If you hate it, return it.
But I really think it can help many of us, regardless of the health issue that has driven you to look at the reviews. Cutting the grains and sugars, and re-balancing your gut health will change your life.
On a final note - science is now proving that our gut cells fire more neurones as a form of communication, than our brains. Gut feelings? They are real. Keeping this part of us healthy really matters on so many levels.
Good luck all :)

156 of 163 people found this review helpful

Greater emphasis on the problems than the solution

I almost gave up on this book, but I did make it to the end.

I think that the author spent far too much time in the book telling us (often redundantly), how many ways our lifestyle or our mother's lifestyle can mess up our gut biome. The solutions suggestions came very near the end, and not all of them are easily accomplished (fecal transplant).

Thanks to this book, I now understand the effects on the gut biome of breast-feeding and birth via vaginal delivery. I don't dispute the accuracy or truth of the information. However, Perhaps I'm over-sensitive because I had an emergency c-section, but I bristled every time the author mentioned how my child had been denied the microbial benefits of a vaginal delivery. I kept listening to the book because I thought that if I could get through the current discussion, preachy as it seemed, that I'd get to more useful information. Unfortunately, the c-section dialogue is peppered throughout the book. It's especially annoying since there are post-birth dietary considerations that can ameliorate the circumstances of one's birth.

The narrator did a fine job.

29 of 30 people found this review helpful

This book will change my life!

I have learned so much from this book. All of the healthy eating struggles and health obstacles of the past will be no more. I have aquired a second chance for me and my family...to alter our future and prevent all the brain diseases that we assumed were set in stone due to genetics. Absolutely astonishing information.

13 of 13 people found this review helpful

Cutting Edge Information

Extremely important information. I have been using probiotics in our practice for more than 20 years. I have seen amazing results with IBS and other inflammatory diseases. It is exciting to see continued progress in this field of study. Dr. Bemis

21 of 22 people found this review helpful

Good book, reader could stand to improve

As a scientist who used to work on the human microbiome project, I found it hard not to cringe at the multiple mis-pronounciations. It's silly to say such a thing, but this is the first book that really bothered me in this way, and I've listened to multiple science-based audiobooks. None the less, it is still a good insightful book, and worth the listen or read.

7 of 7 people found this review helpful

A giant 'chicken little' rumor mill

Any additional comments?

I am perplexed that the book got so many positive reviews. Too many unsubstantiated claims. The author does not seem to appreciate the difference between causation and correlation.

As a PhD biologist with many years of research experience, I felt compelled to check some of the references in the book. Most of them were pointing to "low-level evidence" like cell culture studies or just correlations. On top of that, the author cherry picks studies that support his assertions and ignores the vast body of literature that does not.

For example, there were multiple reviews that demonstrated that normal glyphosate use does not cause any harm to human health caused. None of them are mentioned in the book. The connection between autism and microbiome is plausible, but, at this point, there is no scientific proof that poor gut microbiome can cause autism.

78 of 93 people found this review helpful

Absolutely amazing book! Full of connections!

This book was thoroughly packed with scientific information, actual stories, and so many connections between the state of our gut and a range of aspects of our overall health and well-being. Additionally, there is so much information about ways to improve your own gut microbiome including recipes and a 7 day reboot menu to get on track. I recommend this book to everyone, but especially to those dealing with health issues for which they cannot find an answer.

26 of 31 people found this review helpful

Worth listening to again and again

There is just too much vital information to trust your mind to sort through in a single read (listen) so I recommend you plan on revisiting this book several times.

29 of 35 people found this review helpful