A few years ago, I made the decision to go back to school. I had always had a passion for food and nutrition, so I enrolled in Bauman College, a holistic nutrition and culinary arts school. Laura Knoff, NC was one of my nutrition teachers for the two-year program. She introduced herself on the first day and I was very impressed by her personal struggle against her health issues – a struggle that led to her becoming an expert in digestive disorders.

Today I work part-time with clients who frequently complain of abdominal pain, feelings of bloat, gas, bouts of alternating constipation and diarrhea, and other common symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Some of these chronic symptoms can be disabling for a great many people. Now I finally have a book that I can recommend to my clients that highlights the important dietary recommendations we learned in nutrition school. Like me, many of you may be tired of over-the-counter drugs and don’t want to be dependent on prescription medication for the rest of your life. You may want to make changes to your diet but just don’t know where to start. If you or someone you care about suffers from IBS, this is the book for you!

The Whole-Food Guide to Overcoming Irritable Bowel Syndrome offers helpful and nutritious guidelines for what to eat and what to avoid to prevent IBS symptoms, as well as supplements for healthy digestion and tips on lifestyle changes, stress reduction, and exercise. The best part is the recipe section. Among my favorites, the book’s mouth-watering recipes include: chicken breakfast patties; gluten-free golden carrot pancakes; liver pâté; Japanese-style fish soup; and sweet potato pie. They’re all delicious and easy to prepare, and even better, they don’t require too many ingredients. Savor and enjoy good food and good health!

review by Wendy Millstine, NC - associate acquisitions editor