"We cannot fathom the marvelous complexity of an organic being...Each living creature must be looked at as a microcosm -- a little universe, formed of a host of self-propagating organisms, inconceivably minute and as numerous as the stars in heaven." -- Charles Darwin, 1850

The gut microbiome is currently one of the hottest topics in the health and medical industry, as researchers continue to uncover surprising connections between the gut microbiome and many aspects of health. In fact, the gut microbiome could be considered a completely separate organ in the body since it contains a vast ecosystem of bacteria, viruses, fungi and protozoa. But this delicate ecosystem can be thrown out of balance, and may worsen or lead to many chronic diseases, such as heart disease, diabetes and cancer. Some diseases may actually be microbiome diseases, including obesity, Parkinson's disease, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), mood disorders, liver disease, and, of course, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

A more diverse gut microbiome leads to a more robust, adaptable immune system. The good news is that a wide variety of bacterial strains are already found in your gut. In fact, these protective bacteria were passed down, in part, from your mother at childbirth. Antibiotics, diet, infections and other factors may reduce their abundance, but these bacteria are usually not completely eradicated. It is important to nurture and reinforce a healthy gut microbiome.

If you come away with only one thing from this book, let it be optimism. If you have Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), you can get better, and, you are not alone. And if you are among the millions who have small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO), a debilitating condition that occurs when bacteria that normally grow in other parts of the gut start growing in the small intestine, we share our expertise and unique SIBO diet and treatment plan to help ease your symptoms.