
Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet or computer – no Kindle device required.
Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.
Using your mobile phone camera, scan the code below and download the Kindle app.
The Gut-Immune Connection: How Understanding the Connection Between Food and Immunity Can Help Us Regain Our Health Hardcover – Import, 8 June 2021
Save Extra with 4 offers
7 days Replacement
Replacement Reason | Replacement Period | Replacement Policy |
---|---|---|
Physical Damage, Defective, Wrong and Missing Item | 7 days from delivery | Replacement |
Replacement Instructions

Read full returns policy
Purchase options and add-ons
From one of today’s leading experts on the emerging science of the microbiome comes a ground-breaking book that offers, for the first time, evidence that the gut-microbiome plays a pivotal role in the health crises of the twenty-first century.
In his acclaimed book, The Mind-Gut Connection, physician, UCLA professor, and researcher Dr. Emeran Mayer offered groundbreaking evidence of the critical role of the microbiome in neurological and cognitive health, proving once and for all the power and legitimacy of the “mind-body connection.” Now, in The Gut-Immune Connection, Dr. Mayer proposes an even more radical paradigm shift: that the gut microbiome is at the center of virtually every disease that defines our 21st-century public health crisis.
Cutting-edge research continues to advance our understanding of the function and impact of the billions of organisms that live in the GI tract, and in Dr. Mayer’s own research, he has amassed evidence that the “conversation” that takes place between these microbes and our various organs and bodily systems is critical to human health. When that conversation goes awry, we suffer, often becoming seriously ill.
Combining clinical experience with up-to-the-minute science, The Gut-Immune Connection offers a comprehensive look at the link between alterations to the gut microbiome and the development chronic diseases like diabetes, heart disease, and cancer, as well as susceptibility to infectious diseases like Covid-19. Dr. Mayer argues that it’s essential we understand the profound and far-reaching effects of gut health and offers clear-cut strategies to reverse the steady upward rise of these illnesses, including a model for nutrition to support the microbiome.
But time is running out: a plague of antimicrobial resistance is only a few decades away if we don’t make critical changes to our food supply, including returning to sustainable practices that maintain the microbial diversity of the soil. To turn the tide of chronic and infectious disease tomorrow, we must shift the way we live today.
- Print length304 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- PublisherHarper
- Publication date8 June 2021
- Dimensions15.24 x 2.57 x 22.86 cm
- ISBN-100063014785
- ISBN-13978-0063014787

Explore your book, then jump right back to where you left off with Page Flip.
View high quality images that let you zoom in to take a closer look.
Enjoy features only possible in digital – start reading right away, carry your library with you, adjust the font, create shareable notes and highlights, and more.
Discover additional details about the events, people, and places in your book, with Wikipedia integration.
Frequently bought together

What other items do customers buy after viewing this item?
- Diversity is also the main determinant of two other hallmarks of gut-microbiome health: resistance and resilience.Highlighted by 138 Kindle readers
- Researchers have found that high diversity of the gut microbiome is generally associated with health and stability over time.7 Conversely, a lack of diversity makes the gut more vulnerable to infections and is apparent in many diseases, including obesity, inflammatory bowel disease, and type 1 and 2 diabetes.Highlighted by 118 Kindle readers
- For instance, alterations in gut microbial networks caused by diet can alter brain networks, leading to behavioral changes in social interactions, which then affect brain networks again, ultimately resulting in more changes at the level of gene expression in microbiome networks.Highlighted by 114 Kindle readers
Product description
Review
“Dr. Mayer will not only open your eyes to the critical importance of the variety of microbes that inhabit our gut, but also to the broader picture of how food choices that support biodiversity can save lives, shield us from novel infections, and protect the planet. It is fascinating how choices to improve our personal health are connected to the preservation and creation of fertile soils, clean waterways and ultimately our mothership, Earth and our progeny." — Joel Fuhrman, M.D., seven-time New York Times bestselling author
“In Medicine, the ‘Holy Trinity’ means something different: the brain, the gut, and the immune system. Each contributes to health through its effects on the others. We’re lucky, because Emeran Mayer is an expert in each. And he knows the only way to fix all three at once is to fix the food.” — Robert Lustig, MD., author of Fat Chance and The Hacking of the American Mind
“Our entire world – the soil, the plants, even us humans – are bound together by networks of invisible microbes. In The Gut-Immune Connection, Dr. Emeran Mayer is a microbiome magician pulling back the veil on our interconnected world and then showing us how to harness nature’s healing energy. This is a life changing book by one of the great scientists of our generation. “ — Will Bulsiewicz, New York Times bestselling author of Fiber Fueled
“We live in an environment dominated by ultra-processed, fast food, which is fueling disease and hurting the planet. In The Gut-Immune Connection, Dr. Emeran Mayer, draws important connections between the gut microbiome and our immune system, describing how individuals can take action to harness this powerful force to promote well-being. It is a must read for those searching for a path to better human and planetary health.” — Erica Sonnenburg, PhD, co-author of The Good Gut
"Now more than ever we need to understand the critical connection between what we put in our body, and our resistance to disease. Focusing on the three foundational pillars of the gut endocrine system, immune system, and nervous system, Dr. Mayer breaks down the science and lays out a clear and attainable path to reclaim immunity, vitality, and health." — Robynne Chutkan, MD, FASG, author of Gutbliss, The Microbiome Solution & The Bloat Cure
“In his new book, Dr. Mayer beautifully points out the close interconnectedness between our own health, and the health of the soil and the environment, and the crucial role that the trillions of microbes play in this planetary network. The book is both a unique collection of information, as well as an urgent call to action for everybody concerned about the deteriorating state of our universal health. “ — Yvon Chouinard, founder and owner of Patagonia, Inc.
“Finally, a book that treats gut health, human health, and ecological health as one subject. A revelatory read from a doctor, writer and thinker we all need to hear from, now more than ever.” — Dan Barber, NYT Bestselling author of The Third Plate and chef of the 2 Michelin star restaurant Blue Hill and Blue Hill at Stone Barns
“Dr. Mayer takes a fascinating deep dive into the microbial world that links the health of our bodies with the health of our environment, revealing the deep interconnections between the planet’s life support systems and our own.” — Liz Carlisle, PhD., author of Lentil Underground
About the Author
Emeran Mayer, MD, has studied brain-body interactions for the last forty years. He is the executive director of the G. Oppenheimer Center for Neurobiology of Stress and Resilience and the codirector of the Digestive Diseases Research Center at the University of California at Los Angeles. His research has been supported by the National Institutes of Health for the past twenty-five years, and he is considered a pioneer and world leader in the area of brain-gut microbiome interactions.
Product details
- Publisher : Harper (8 June 2021)
- Language : English
- Hardcover : 304 pages
- ISBN-10 : 0063014785
- ISBN-13 : 978-0063014787
- Item Weight : 454 g
- Dimensions : 15.24 x 2.57 x 22.86 cm
- Best Sellers Rank: #302,182 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #4,026 in Health, Fitness & Nutrition
- #10,303 in Healthy Living & Wellness
- #26,124 in Society & Social Sciences
- Customer Reviews:
About the author

Emeran A. Mayer, MD, (emeranmayer.com), has studied mind brain body interactions for the last 40 years, with a particular emphasis on bidirectional communication between the brain, the gut and its microbiome. He is the executive director of the Oppenheimer Center for Stress and Resilience (uclacns.org) and the Co-director of the Digestive Diseases Research Center at the University of California at Los Angeles. He is the author of more than 300 scientific publications and several books, and his research has been supported by the National Institutes of Health for the past 25 years. He is considered a pioneer and world leader in the areas of brain gut microbiome interactions, chronic visceral pain and functional gastrointestinal disorders, and is the recipient of the prestigious 2016 Paul D. MacLean Award from the American Psychosomatic Society.
Mayer also has a longstanding interest in ancient healing traditions and has been involved as camera assistant in documentary film productions about the Yanomami people in the Orinoco region of Venezuela, the Asmat people in Irian Jaya, and most recently was Associate Producer of the award winning documentary "In Search of Balance". He is Producer and co-Director of the upcoming documentary film "Interconnected Planet".
He has appeared on National Public Radio (NPR), on Public Broadcasting System (PBS) and the documentary "In Search of Balance." His work has been written about in the Atlantic, Scientific American, Time Magazine, the New York Times, the Guardian, and major European media outlets. He lives in Los Angeles.
Customer reviews
Top reviews from India
There was a problem filtering reviews. Please reload the page.
- Reviewed in India on 21 October 2022Verified PurchaseI like the narration, content and the untold stories about the major role of the second brain.
- Reviewed in India on 29 May 2022Verified PurchaseI was really hoping this book to be more scientific with a simple narrative. But it is a cookbook. I think I am better off reading research papers.
- Reviewed in India on 2 June 2022Verified PurchaseLike Great book . Book quality is good & packing is Very safely
- Reviewed in India on 26 October 2021Verified PurchaseI think most of us knows the problem in the food we eat... I was looking at the solution in the book... not much has been mentioned about the solution.
Top reviews from other countries
- CReviewed in the United States on 21 June 2021
5.0 out of 5 stars How your gut affects your overall health, plus some recipes at the end
Verified PurchaseThis is the latest book from Dr. Emeran A. Mayer, gut and microbiome expert, and author of “The Mind-Gut Connection.” In this book, Dr. Mayer goes deeper into the complex interactions between the brain, the gut, and the endocrine and immune systems; and also provides some nice recipes at the end.
There were several interesting facts that I learned even in the first chapter, like the fact that 70 percent of immune cells are located in the gut wall; or that there are hormonal, metabolic, and endocrine effects after bariatric surgery.
Dr. Mayer also makes the point that there is some evidence that cases of non communicable chronic diseases such as metabolic syndrome, diabetes, and even depression and Alzheimer's, are rising in correlation with a change in diet and lifestyle. The fact that similar medical trends show up in developing countries a few years later than the US; once those countries have reached a level of prosperity that allows for a diet and lifestyle similar to the US, further suggests that diet and lifestyle are key factors in the prevalence of these diseases.
Dr. Mayer covers many topics in this book, including microbial diversity, diet, stress levels, exercise, sleep, time restricted eating, and even protecting the environment.
Starting on page 186, the last 50 pages or so of the book are filled with recipes. There are many different recipes, and although Dr. Mayer recommends a mostly plant-based diet in general, there are a few recipes for chicken and salmon dishes here too.
Overall, this was a very informative book, that provides some insights into the relatively new scientific information on the effects of your gut on your overall health. As the author points out, this is such a new field of study, that scientists are only just beginning to understand some of these complicated interactions. I'm looking forward to learning more about this topic in the future.
CHow your gut affects your overall health, plus some recipes at the end
Reviewed in the United States on 21 June 2021
There were several interesting facts that I learned even in the first chapter, like the fact that 70 percent of immune cells are located in the gut wall; or that there are hormonal, metabolic, and endocrine effects after bariatric surgery.
Dr. Mayer also makes the point that there is some evidence that cases of non communicable chronic diseases such as metabolic syndrome, diabetes, and even depression and Alzheimer's, are rising in correlation with a change in diet and lifestyle. The fact that similar medical trends show up in developing countries a few years later than the US; once those countries have reached a level of prosperity that allows for a diet and lifestyle similar to the US, further suggests that diet and lifestyle are key factors in the prevalence of these diseases.
Dr. Mayer covers many topics in this book, including microbial diversity, diet, stress levels, exercise, sleep, time restricted eating, and even protecting the environment.
Starting on page 186, the last 50 pages or so of the book are filled with recipes. There are many different recipes, and although Dr. Mayer recommends a mostly plant-based diet in general, there are a few recipes for chicken and salmon dishes here too.
Overall, this was a very informative book, that provides some insights into the relatively new scientific information on the effects of your gut on your overall health. As the author points out, this is such a new field of study, that scientists are only just beginning to understand some of these complicated interactions. I'm looking forward to learning more about this topic in the future.
Images in this review
- Eric DeckerReviewed in Canada on 29 September 2024
5.0 out of 5 stars This isa MUST
Verified PurchaseIf you want a life that is free of ANY and ALL diseases, this book will educate you to that possibility.
Your good health is in YOUR hands. Install this into your brain, that is learning.
PS. Be careful of what you learn as it is impossible to unlearn.
Be Healthy
- CarolineReviewed in the United States on 2 March 2025
4.0 out of 5 stars very informative but I didn't expect that it turned to a cookbook in the end
Verified PurchaseThe author gave a very informative explanation why Americans or people in developed countries who consumed a Western diet had lots of chronic illnesses and health issues. The book made me aware that I have a lot of bad eating habits that I need to correct. This is one of the few useful books that gave me actual advices on changing my bad habits. I appreciate that a lot and I can't wait to try it out. However, I am surprised the last 50+ pages turned into a cookbook. Overall, I enjoyed and learned a lot from this book.