Happy Gut: The Cleansing Program to Help You Lose Weight, Gain Energy, and Eliminate Pain

Dr. David Perlmutter talks with Dr. Vincent Pedre

Dr. David Perlmutter is the New York Times number-one-bestselling author of Grain Brain and Brain Maker.

Dr. David Perlmutter (DP): What inspired you to write Happy Gut?

Dr. Vincent Pedre (VP): Growing up I had a 'weak' stomach and was more susceptible to respiratory infections, contracting bronchitis or sinusitis at least three to four times a year. Without being aware, I was eating foods that I was sensitive to, which wore out my immune system, leaving me susceptible to infections. Over the years, I improved my health through diet. However, it wasn't until I studied Functional Medicine that I realized what an important and central role the gut plays in overall health.

When I incorporated Functional Medicine into my practice, my success with patients' digestive disorders exploded. Their guts got better, and so did secondary conditions related to their gut disharmony—like fatigue, weight gain, allergies, asthma, mental fog, and migraines. It made sense that what I once considered a crux—growing up with a sensitive digestive system—was actually the gift that led me to help others heal their gut issues.

DP: How is Happy Gut different from other books on gut health?

VP: Happy Gut offers a whole foods–based cleanse, guided by my Gut C.A.R.E. Program, to rebalance a disordered digestive system—the gateway to total wellness. But it's not just about changing what you eat. It's about changing the way you live—incorporating daily gratitude, slowing down to appreciate and chew your food, and making time for movement and meditation. It also brings attention to the importance of drinking clean water, cooking on non-toxic surfaces, and using green utensils. Total-body wellness is achieved through this 360-degree approach to our well-being.

DP: Why is the Functional Medicine approach most successful, especially regarding digestive issues?

VP: The problem with the Western model, when it comes to digestive issues, is that it is symptom-centered. But symptoms are often misleading. Functional Medicine is the opposite—all-encompassing. It looks at the body as a system, much like a conductor views his orchestra. If the violins are on the wrong key, and the drums off beat, then the orchestra as a whole does not produce harmony. If systems in the body are out of tune, then the body as a whole will not function optimally. By understanding and identifying multiple imbalances happening simultaneously and providing the treatments that will help the digestive system reboot itself, Functional Medicine allows a patient's body to reach a state of harmony.

DP: What can readers expect to learn from Happy Gut?

VP: Readers will learn why the gut is so central to our well-being. Gut health is connected to weight gain—eliminating food sensitivities on the Happy Gut Diet results in markedly reduced bloating and increased weight loss. Through my Gut C.A.R.E. Program, readers will make a four-week commitment to wellness and be guided through a twenty-eight–day cleanse. Recipes that appeal to all types of dietary preferences and meal plans are provided, in addition to yoga poses for gut health, meditation instruction, and breathing exercises. For those who need to look deeper, an entire chapter is devoted to uncovering the root causes of common and not-so-common gut ailments, providing suggested tests and treatment strategies. Happy Gut is a roadmap leading readers to total body wellness, providing tools to get back on course when your gut health gets off track.