Cultivating Your Microbiome: Ayurvedic and Chinese Practices for a Healthy Gut and a Clear Mind

This is the second book that the author has written on health, combining the principles of Chinese and Ayurveda systems of medicine. This particular book focuses on healing the entire digestive system.Not only is the book a fascinating read, but the guidance for building health from the cellular level on up is terrific. The author touches on practices of ancient medicine that began with Hippocrates who stated that all disease begins in the gut. Hippocrates also coined the phrase, "Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food". A main emphasis of the book is using food as medicine.A large section of the text is devoted to cleansing and healing the digestive system with practical methods on how to do so. There is an emphasis on balance and harmony with the elements and how important it is to achieve glowing health. The cleanse that she suggests is easy to do and the recipes are delicious.After reading this book, you will be more informed regarding the health of the entire body. I highly recommend this book for health professionals and anyone interested in taking responsibility for their own health.

"Cultivating Your Microbiome" and "Chinese Medicine and Ayurveda" have been very helpful in understanding my lifelong digestive problems. (30 + years) I have sought Western medicine and have even had surgery but still have problems. These two books have given me Hope. Changing my food habits and understanding the relationship between my gut microbiome and my lifelong struggle with digestive issues may now be improved because of these informative books. I have the paperback and kindle version and today learned there was a audible version. I immediately ordered it. I used the Glossary frequently to help understand and absorb the meaning of the terms in the book.

An excellent book with a great deal of practical information for cultivating a healthy gut along with emotional well being. A great book to have handy on the shelf as there are easy to refer to recipes as well. I found the information very helpful for myself. In putting the detox program in place with each seasonal change, I feel better in my body and have unexpectedly lost weight without even trying! Thank you Bridgette!

This book is a waste of money and time!Lets look at Ch. 6 "Food for Vitalizing Mind & Body: General Guidlines for Health". For starters, I wanted more than just general guidlines for health. I purchased this book wanting specific information for microbiome health, hoping for even more indepth insight into Ayurvedic and Chinese Health Practices. There are sections about "eat more fiber" and "minimize refined sugar." Really?!The section that motivated me to write this review is about processed oils. The author wastes three pages talking about different types of bad processed oils, including an irrelevant personal story about eating potatoe chips Olestra oil in the 1990s.Three pages about bad processed oils and not one mention of good oils to eat! No info on good oils and how they affect one's microbiome. Let alone, how Ayurvedic and Chinese Practices might compare-contrast on usage of beneficial oils.This book is just awful.

The author engages and inspires the reader to live a healthier and therefore happier life. She does in a conversational and humorous way. My spouse and I read the entire book to each other, commenting on what we were learning about the "little critters" in our guts and how they and our food choices affect the functioning of our entire bodies. We learned a lot about Ayurvedic and Chinese thought and practices. The book concludes with guidelines and specific recipes for resetting the body and living a healthier life. Thank you Bridgette Shea!

Perfect Timing! Especially in the age of COVID, it is particularly important to maintain good gut hygiene, so as to encourage optimal overall health and wellbeing. The author's combined expertise in both Chinese and Ayurvedic Medicine practices brings a unique and refreshing perspective to other more mainstream concepts that most people are already familiar with. She offers recommendations that are practical, and easy to implement into your daily life. This book is ideal for the layperson, as well as the seasoned practitioner, and I highly recommend it for anyone looking to make a positive change to their overall health and wellbeing.

The author provides a wealth of information on not just the microbiome but our entire systems and organs. After reading I found myself becoming more and more aware and curious as to how my entire body and nervous system was now responding, or not, to different foods I ingested. As a somatic psychotherapist who is always teaching folks about embodiment, this book provides the reader with another, deeper and less explored area of embodiment. I highly recommend the read.

Shea provides a clear understanding of how our systems in the body work. Once you have that understanding, you can map out your path to healing. She provides clear, concise information that you can use right now to make smart changes for improved health. Listen to my interview with her on Get Over It! Podcast.

This book is a great guide for those that want to change your diet lifestyle and improve your health.