Review: An IBS Sufferer’s Perspective
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 03 9, 2014
(Full disclosure: I received a free electronic copy of this book for review through Library Thing’s Member Giveaway program.)As a longtime sufferer of IBS (or at least I think so; diagnosis is mostly by process of elimination), I eagerly snatched up a copy of Anil Minocha’s DR. M’S SEVEN-X PLAN FOR DIGESTIVE HEALTH when it was offered for review through Library Thing. Initially, I expected to jump straight to the chapter on IBS and skim through a few of the other sections at best. Instead, I found myself reading it nearly cover to cover (minus the chapters on problems and diseases not specific to me, of course).The book – which weighs in at an impressive 506 pages (estimated) and 56 chapters – begins with a lengthy discussion of the digestive system, as well as various factors that affect its performance: diet, stress, bacterial imbalance, inflammation, porousness (i.e., “leaky” gut), etc., before even getting to various problems and disorders: belching, bloating and indigestion, morning sickness and nausea, intestinal gas, hemorrhoids and anal fissures, gastroparesis, ulcers, IBS, constipation, ulcerative colitis, and Chrohn’s disease. The result is a rather comprehensive introduction to the gut, and the many troubles that can plague it.The pros:•  While I’m not a doctor, nutritionist, or other expert and thus cannot comment on the veracity of the information in DR. M’S SEVEN-X PLAN FOR DIGESTIVE HEALTH, many of Minocha’s conclusions seem to be in line with what I’ve previously read about IBS. (The author is a practicing gastroenterologist, a nutritionist, and a self-proclaimed “physician scientist.”)•  I thought I’d heard it all when it comes to IBS, but I came away from DR. M’S SEVEN-X PLAN FOR DIGESTIVE HEALTH with several new ideas for managing my symptoms (namely peppermint oil, artichoke leaf, and an herbal concoction called STW5). His discussion of probiotics is especially informative. For example, although there are multiple species and strains of probiotics, many studies treat them as interchangeable, thus resulting in conflicting findings. Minocha looks to the research to identify which strains are effective in treating specific digestive disorders (for IBS, b. infantis looks most promising).•  Minocha takes a holistic approach to managing and treating digestive orders, integrating diet, medication, supplements, exercise, meditation, therapy, and behavior modification into his recommendations and treatment plans. He recognizes that there usually isn’t a “one size fits all” solution, and tailors his advice accordingly. He also doesn’t shy away from “alternative” treatments, or at least when the available evidence suggests that these treatments are effective: “Ultimately, there is only one medicine – medicine that works.”•  Similarly, the author touches upon the possible links between digestive problems and other disorders, including depression, eczema, autism, psoriasis, fibromyalgia, asthma, and more.•  Minocha is supportive of the Paleo diet – or one half of it, anyhow. He recommends looking to the Paleo diet not as an example of what we should eat (meat), but what we should avoid (grains). He endorses a vegetarian diet both for digestive disorders and cancer prevention, and acknowledges that both vegetarian and vegan diets can be nutritionally sound.•  Throughout the book, Minocha appears empathetic to patients’ needs and frustrations (digestive disorders can be both difficult to diagnose and seemingly impossible to treat), and critical of the for-profit healthcare system.•  Each chapter begins with a series of key “talking points,” providing structure and making the discussion easier to follow.•  Additionally, each chapter contains at least a few references, many of them from the past ten years. (One Amazon critic of Minocha’s 2008 book on heartburn complained that his references were out of date, but this isn’t the case here.)The cons:•  The references are recent, but not as abundant as you might think. Nor are there any footnotes, so that the source of a specific claim isn’t always immediately obvious.•  Minocha tries to address such a breadth of information in one book that it sometimes feels as though certain topics don’t receive adequate attention. For example, the chapter on organic food is just a few pages long, and only addresses a single study. Likewise, the chapter on prebiotics (e.g., fiber) could be longer and more helpful. And I’d love to know more about using biofeedback to learn how to manipulate one’s stomach muscles at will!•  Though he tries to inject some humor and levity into the discussion (“Probiotics: Poop for Thought”), the material here can be very dry. This definitely isn’t a “read in one sitting” kind of book.•  The side notes are almost impossibly small and hard-to-read. I gave up after the first dozen.•  Early on and in passing, he mentions melatonin for IBS (presumably inasmuch as it helps to stabilize the sleep cycle), but doesn’t return to the idea on the chapter dedicated to IBS. Consequently, I’m unsure whether this might be for me.•  While Minocha is supportive of vegetarian and vegan diets, he confuses much of the terminology. For example, he states that *some* vegans choose to forgo honey. Honey is an animal product; by definition, vegans do not consume animal products. Therefor, vegans don’t eat honey. He also employs the rather laughable term “semi-vegetarian.” (We already have a word for people who consume meat, eggs, milk, and plant foods: omnivores! Sorry if it’s not trendy enough for you.) Finally, he acknowledges a difference between vegans who omit animal products from their diet vs. vegans who eschew animal products altogether, without employing the proper terms for each (dietary vs. ethical vegans).•  Similarly, the author is critical of milk (more specifically, the lifelong consumption of milk meant for the babies of another species), but doesn’t go so far as to advocate a vegan diet. Nor does he delve into the many nondairy milk (and yogurt!) products available, or the possible health benefits of choosing these over their non-vegan counterparts.Overall, DR. M’S SEVEN-X PLAN FOR DIGESTIVE HEALTH is a solid resource for those looking to learn more about the digestive system and digestive disorders. If there’s a specific disorder you’re especially interested in, this book probably won’t be your final destination – but as far as a starting point goes, it’s relatively well-researched and informative. 3.5 stars, rounded up to 4 on Amazon.