Fibre Fuelled

Excellent book, read it, you will not regret it. Dr Will gives loads of solid information on gut health and plant based eating..I have added in a wider variety of plants into my meals after reading his book and listening to him on podcasts. Be careful of imposter books out there (even using the same title), all trying to scam people.

This book advocates a high-fiber (i.e. plant-based) approach to eating. The book pairs a pop-sci dimension (explaining the science of why more fiber and plant-based foods would benefit most readers,) with a self-help dimension that supplies readers with a program by which they can pursue such a diet. The book explains how the body’s microbiome breaks down fiber, producing Short-Chain Fatty Acids (SCFAs,) and discusses all the great things these molecules do for us. Speaking of the body’s microbiome, the book discusses how to keep it operating at its best, explaining all you need to know about prebiotics, probiotics, and postbiotics. It also explores the benefits of fermented foods, and the pros and cons of a range of other foods. I liked that the book, by-and-large, takes both a scientific / pragmatic approach. For example, Bulsiewicz rejects the hype that everyone needs to abandon gluten (not just those with Celiac Disease.) I can’t say that the book is perfectly scientifically-objective. It does advocate that everyone quit dairy products. The author does present some of the evidence of benefits of dairy, but dismisses these as studies that must be supported by the dairy industry. [While I’m sure the dairy industry does fund studies, I doubt that they have a lock on the scholarly debate, nor that they are unique.] I didn’t find the dietary plan (Ch. 10) to be useful. While I eat a high-fiber / plant-dominant diet, I don’t take the extreme position that all non-plant food must be eliminated. That stance makes some of the recipes impractical. One needs a neighborhood Whole Foods to get some of the ingredients. That said, the book offers a great explanation of why one should eat more foods that feed one’s microbiome, and it’s an excellent resource for those wishing to learning more.

Forget what you have been taught and applying on your day to day meals. Forget even what most doctors suggest when they are practising old school medicine. With a daughter suffering with Crohn’s and myself with IBS, fiber was the bad ingredient that caused flare ups of the disease.Dr B presents the science in this book that revolutionise the diet facts in a simple and applicable in everyday life manner.After following his advise for some months now,My daughter can eat 40 different plants a week(40 plants challenge) with no symptoms, NO medication and enjoys delicious nutritious food and life. It is all in the Book!I am studying nutrition

I listened to a podcast by the author on repairing food intolerances and as the book was mentioned, assumed it covered similar topics, which seemed relevant to my work with eating disorders. If I had realised it advocated a restrictive vegan diet I would not have bought it, but if I noticed 'plant-based' on the cover I naively thought that meant 'predominantly plant' not exclusively. That this is a book for vegans should be made more explicit. Increasing fibre, improving the microbiome and reintroducing foods thought to provoke intolerance are all liable to improve health, but I'm not convinced a diet that excludes all dairy, meat and fish is either psychologically or physiologically beneficial. Other dietary research seems to contradict some of the advice here, especially relating to the benefits of full fat dairy, kefir, yoghurt and cheese. The evangelical tone is rather irritating at times - a more moderate approach might make this book valuable to a greater number of readers.

NOT a scientific approach as he CHERRY PICKS studies to suit his agenda, completely unbalanced.I analysed it from the perspective of meat, to see whether there was any merit to what he said. He is certainly not keen on meat. Part of his agenda is to debunk diets such as Paleo and Keto.1. I said I would look at his research on the Paleo diet. I genuinely looked at the research with an open mind, willing to be convinced either way. I actually wanted, or at least hoped, Bulsiewicz would be proven correct. To add, I am neither for, nor against, the Paleo diet. But I said I would check out his claims. From my review, studies on Paleo are low in number and of the low number, have fairly low scientific merit due to lack of controls in some cases and low numbers of participants / are not lengthy in duration in all cases. However of the few studies, he points to one of the very few (and I mean very few) studies with adverse findings for the Paleo diet, a small 2019 study from the European Journal of Nutrition. Completely overlooking all the other studies pointing towards health benefits. So unbalanced. In fact that SAME year, the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition came to the opposite conclusion, that followers of the diet demonstrated improved biomarkers of insulin levels, blood pressure and lipid profiles. That is only the same year, many studies (of low scientific value) point towards Paleo improving biomarkers. A 2019 study of studies on Paleo published in the Nutrition Journal concludes that "The Palaeolithic diet may assist in controlling weight and waist circumference and in the management of chronic diseases. However, more randomized clinical studies with larger populations and duration are necessary to prove health benefits." But what does my friend Bulsiewicz do? Cherry picks a single weak study out many weak studies (that come to the opposite conclusion) to "prove" his point.2. He makes claims re the Hadza people, that they eat 600 different types of plants. He does also say they eat meat, but not in the context of the claim of 600 different types of plants, which is a remarkably high number. But a quick google shows his claim to be false re 600 different types of plants, they eat 600 different types of plants and animals, in particular birds. Even if you Google image search "Hadza", you will see no shortage of bows and arrows pics and meat slung over their shoulder, not quiet the avid plant eaters he makes them out to be!3. On the keto diet, he points to the following study (I have taken an except from the study):"Subjects on the animal-based diet ate eggs and bacon for breakfast, and cooked pork and beef for lunch. Dinner consisted of cured meats and a selection of four cheeses. Snacks on this diet included pork rinds, cheese, and salami"Cured meats, salami, pork rinds, cheese? Those aren't encouraged on the keto diet.Yes eggs are, but so too are salmon, nuts, olive oil, avocado, high fibre low starch vegetables such as broccoli, kale, celery etc. I mean I could easily pick a processed plant diet and get the same or even worse results. Like the paleo diet, I am neither for nor against keto, but how he can call that study useful as a fair reflection of a keto diet?! He again is notably silent on the many studies that come to the opposite conclusion on keto.I have fact checked a fair few other of his claims, they are simply manipulative or a biased look at diet.My own personal experience on the high fibre diet with reduced meat, over the course of three months, was:-Weight - very slight weight gain.Sleep - no discernible difference.Satiety - this was the worst, not good satiety. Felt hungry way more than usual.Gut - like he said there would be, some initial abdominal pain and flatulence but that went away after a few weeks, but was replaced with heartburn (something I never get), that didn't go away. Heartburn went away when I returned to my regular diet.Focus - no discernible difference.Mood - slightly more irritable.Heart - very, very minor heart palpitations once every few days. A thing I usually never feel.I agree with him on reducing processed foods and increasing fibre. I didn't need his book to prove that to me.In particular in my view we should reduce processed plants from our diet: soda, french fries, cookies, chocolate, white bread etc, and eliminate or significantly reduce plant drugs from our life: alcohol, marijuana, caffeine, tobacco etc.Where we disagree is meat. Manipulates data to suit his agenda.Oh and we disagree on caffeine. I think that plant extract is terrible for our health. It causes hypertension, insomnia, anxiety and all sorts of nasty things. He says that he is not opposed to caffeine, I am completely opposed to that drug. Google caffeine and health, there are hundreds of studies out there with very strong scientific merit on the adverse affects of this drug. But this Bulsiewicz guy wouldn't be against the drug caffeine. Why not? Because it's a plant of course!!

Love Dr. B and his way of explaining things simply having watched many of his talks. His message is so important. However I must admit the style of writing is driving me mad - too colloquial and overruse of hyperbole. He is a great guy and a great speaker but should collaborate with a good writer to get the writing style into a better flow and structure.Also, I was disappointed with the lack of detail on the science. This book is really for ordinary people wanting simple info, not people looking for a detailed look at the science. He gives his opinions on the research but it's all very much glossed over. Good for some people looking for an easy read, but I wanted the detail as I've already heard pretty much all this on his talks - which are brilliant.Also, I wasn't looking for a diet book with recipes. But hey, might be what some people want.

I bought this book as a Christmas present for myself with the idea "I'll start being healthy in the new year" (my yearly promise that never comes to fruition). It's Christmas Eve, I've read the whole thing because I couldn't put it down and I've lost 5lbs in the week before Christmas! I cannot believe it. I haven't wanted to eat all the rubbish I usually indulge in on the run up because of how excited I am to put the right stuff in my body after reading this. I do not find eating healthily easy; I love chocolate, red wine, pizza - all the bad stuff, in abundance. However, a week of following his advice and my 75 year old mum said to me yesterday that I was finally looking ok after looking rough for a while (thanks mum!). I feel instantly better, my skin is brighter after one week and I've got so much energy. I also follow this guy on Instagram and my 9 year old and 7 year old love his clips about healthy poo and diversity of foods - my fussy 7 year old tried green beans and kale this week after we all wrote lists of all of the plants we eat and how we might eat more. This doctor is talking a lot of sense, in a completely down to earth and easily accesible way. A well written and informative book that has had immediate impact on my life. In fact, I can honestly say that I have never read a book that has had such immediate impact on me, the adjustments I've made don't involve supplements, fads, fancy ingredients - it's been simple and brilliant and I cannot wait to see the effect in the new year if this is how good I feel after a week. Thanks Doc!