‘Digestible’ new book aims to help people own their gut health, debunk common myths

In a Healio video exclusive, Austin L. Chiang, MD, MPH, discusses his new book, “Gut: An Owner’s Guide,” which he hopes will help readers become “more empowered and better informed” about their gastrointestinal health.

“It’s a guide for the general public on how to take care of your gut health,” Chiang, an interventional gastroenterologist at Jefferson Health in Philadelphia and chief medical officer for endoscopy business at Medtronic, told Healio. “What sets it apart from other gut health books that you might find on the market is that it’s illustrated in color and it’s written in a way that’s digestible.”

The book is the latest installment in the publisher’s Body Literacy Library series, which includes literature on heart and breast health, and details the history of gastroenterology and common procedures performed at a GI clinic or hospital. Chiang said he hopes the book will ease feelings of intimidation patients may experience during a visit.

“There’s a lot of misinformation out there on the internet, and to have a book with a good overview will help our patients be more empowered and better informed so that we can have a productive conversation with them,” Chiang said.

The book also aims to “put to rest” popular GI myths circulating on social media by providing the latest information from evidence-based guidelines at the end of each chapter.

“There are a lot of common things we hear about cancer screening, colonoscopy and the gut microbiota that I wanted to clarify with this [book],” Chiang said.

“I tried my best to put myself in the shoes of the patient when writing this book, so that they can relate to our field a little bit and not get too caught up in all the medical jargon that we often throw around.”

“Gut: An Owner’s Guide” will be available April 9 as a hardcover, eBook and audiobook narrated by Chiang.

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