The Probiotics Revolution: The Definitive Guide to Safe, Natural Health Solutions Using Probiotic and Prebiotic Foods and Supplements (Hardcover)

by Gary B. Huffnagle (Author), Sarah Wernick (Author)
Key Phrases: allergic diseases, dietary phenols, prebiotic content, United States, Glimpse of the Future, Choosing Probiotic Supplements (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
Holding antibiotics and poor diet responsible for any number of autoimmune disorders-allergies, asthma, skin problems and chronic inflammation-renowned immunology specialist Huffnagle presents, with infectious enthusiasm, the cure for a trigger-happy immune system: probiotics, the good microbes found in fermented foods like yogurt, aged cheese, kefir and kimchi. Once probiotics are introduced to the system, they begin killing off potentially harmful bugs by competing for resources; the resulting balance, Huffnagle shows, will restore proper immunologic function. Huffnagle covers a wide range of territory-including a thorough breakdown both of the immune system and antibiotics-in plenty of detail, but never crosses into textbook-style droning thanks to freelance writer Wernick, who keeps Huffnagle's research friendly and condescension-free. Quizzes, illustrations and personal testimony break up Huffnagle's assertions and the scientific studies that support it, and numerous charts on sources, supplements and substitutions make the shift to a probiotic-rich diet simple. There's no wonder product touted here, just good honest food, some of which-like yogurt, miso and sauerkraut-have likely been used for thousands of years to maintain proper health. Demystifying the digestive and immune systems, the authors present a convincing health plan that's easy to understand and to follow.
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Review
“Our culture has gone way too far in its war on germs. The end result is bacterial imbalances that are implicated in everything from allergies and asthma to chronic fatigue and heart disease. The Probiotics Revolution is must reading for everyone who is interested in achieving or maintaining vibrant health.”—Christiane Northrup, M.D., author of Women’s Bodies, Women’s Wisdom and The Wisdom of Menopause

“Probiotics represent the next wave of health and healing. Whether you are concerned about your immune system, digestion, hormones, allergies, or skin, The Probiotics Revolution provides cutting-edge research with down home and practical solutions.”—Ann Louise Gittleman, Ph.D., C.N.S., author of The Fat Flush Plan




From the Hardcover edition. --This text refers to the Kindle Edition edition.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 432 pages
• Publisher: Bantam; 1 edition (May 29, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0553804928
• ISBN-13: 978-0553804928
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 6.3 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #519,982 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

35 of 35 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Hope without the Hype, August 4, 2007

By	Elissa Wurf (Bethlehem, Pennsylvania) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Huffnagle's "Probiotics Revolution" is written by a reputable scholar and scientist in an approachable but not overly simplified manner. The book is organized in 3 sections:

Part 1: The Promise of Probiotics (4 chapters) gives the scientific background for by the book by describing immune system functioning, the effects of antibiotics, and the relationship between immune system functioning and inflammation, which is at the basis of so many diseases. A key idea is that, for optimal functioning, we need to populate our gut with "good bacteria" to crowd out and make life inhospitable for "bad bacteria."

Part 2: Preventing and Treating Disease (5 chapters) deals with particular diseases that are benefitted by the use of probiotics, particularly digestive and urogenital diseases and allergic responses, plus discussion of the general use of probiotics for health and more speculative discussion of the potential for probiotic benefits for other inflammation-based disorders such as cancer and cardiovascular disease.

Part 3: Promoting Microbial Blanace: What You Can Do (7 chapters) discusses food and supplement sources of probiotics and "prebiotics" (foods such as fruits, veggies, and whole grains) that provide nutritional support for the probiotics. (Although there is no separate chapter, another key term from the book is "metabiotics," the metabolic products of probiotics, which provide some benefit even when the bacteria themselves have died--this is why cooked foods such as pasteurized yogurt or sourdough bread can still show some benefit.) Detailed charts discussing the particular species content of different supplements and indicating which species have been scientifically demonstrated to benefit which disorders are included. The book concludes with a general food plan, a discussion of how to get kids to eat more healthfully (illustrated with amusing anecdotes with his own children), and some recipes, focused mostly on recipes for those with a busy lifestyle who do not want to spend a lot of time on food preparation.

I highly recommend the book for its scientific basis and accessible presentation. My one criticism is that I thought that the recipes section was a little paltry, particularly with regards to its selection of main dishes (only two, one of which was nachos, not something I normally think of as a main dish). Overall, an excellent and practical resource.

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best book on the topic of probiotics, July 11, 2007

By	Sarah (pennslyvania) - See all my reviews

I have read many books on the topic of probiotics. This was the best one by far. It tells you the latest studies on the subject and discusses all it can do for you. It includes diet as well as supplements. It was enjoyable learning about this topic. It doesn't claim things that are not proven yet. The best part was the wonderful recipes at the end.

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Understand Your Immune System and Get Healthy, November 16, 2007

By	K. S. Karshna (Minneapolis, MN United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I bought this book in conjunction with purchasing a home yogurt-maker. It's written in an easy-to-understand style and makes a great argument for including probiotics in your daily diet. With all of the antibiotics in our medicine, food and soap, it's important to know how to replenish the good bacteria in our bodies.