Originally published in hardcover in 2016

Part 1. Our body, the intelligent supercomputer. The mind-body connection is real ; How the mind communicates with the gut ; How your gut talks to your brain ; Microbe-speak: a key component of the gut-brain dialogue
Part 2. Intuition and gut feelings. Unhealthy memories: the effects of early life experience on the gut-brain dialogue ; A new understanding of emotions ; Understanding intuitive decision making
Part 3. How to optimize brain-gut health. The role of food: lessons from hunter-gatherers ; The onslaught of the North American diet: what evolution did not foresee ; The simple road toward wellness and optimal health

While the dialogue between the gut and the brain has been recognized by ancient healing traditions, including Ayurvedic and Chinese medicine, Western medicine has failed to appreciate the complexity of how the brain, gut, and more recently, the microbiome (the microorganisms that live inside us) communicate with one another. Dr. Emeran Mayer offers a revolutionary look at this developing science, teaching us how to harness the power of the mind-gut connection to take charge of our health. The Mind-Gut Connection shows how to keep the brain-gut communication clear and balanced to: heal the gut by focusing on a plant-based diet; balance the microbiome by consuming fermented foods and probiotics, fasting, and cutting out sugar and processed foods; promote weight loss by detoxifying and creating healthy digestion and maximum nutrient absorption; boost immunity and prevent the onset of neurological diseases such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's; generate a happier mindset and reduce fatigue, moodiness, anxiety, and depression; prevent and heal GI disorders such as leaky gut syndrome, food sensitivities and allergies, and IBS, as well as digestive discomfort such as heartburn and bloating