What is the main message of Gut?

The main message of Gut is the remarkable intelligence and importance of our digestive system.

How long does it take to read Gut?

The reading time for Gut varies depending on the reader's speed. However, the Blinkist summary can be read in just 15 minutes.

Who is the author of Gut?

The author of Gut is Giulia Enders.

Health & Nutrition

Gut Book Summary - Gut Book explained in key points

Listen to the Intro

00:00

Gut summary

Name: Gut
Rating: 4.3 (159 reviews)
Author: Giulia Enders

Giulia Enders

The Inside Story of Our Body’s Most Underrated Organ

4.3 (159 ratings)

22 mins

Brief summary

"Gut" by Giulia Enders is a fascinating and informative read that emphasizes the crucial role of our digestive system in overall health, offering practical insights and advice on taking care of our gut.

Topics

General Knowledge Diet

Table of Contents

Gut
Summary of 10 key ideas

Audio & text in the Blinkist app

Key idea 1 of 10

What’s in it for me? Have some guts!

How would you react if someone at a dinner party started talking about their gut and their latest bowel movement? You’d probably be pretty disgusted. After all, the digestive system isn’t a topic for polite conversation.

But maybe it should be! As it turns out, our gut is much more fascinating than it is gross. In fact, it’s one of the most complex and most astonishing organs we have.

If you’re one of those people who get disgusted whenever someone mentions anything associated with digestion, prepare to rethink your assumptions – because these blinks will help you learn to stomach your own stomach! We’ll follow a piece of cake on its journey through the body, and learn things about the gut that you never thought possible.

In these blinks, you’ll also learn

what lactose intolerance really is;
how depression can be healed in mice; and
how microbes influence our consciousness.

The gut is a unique and impressive organ – nothing to be ashamed of!

We usually don’t talk about the inner workings of our digestive system. Indeed, many find the topic downright gross. However, the complex functions of the gut are more fascinating than disgusting and, as far as organs go, the gut is extremely underrated. Furthermore, all of us would benefit from knowing a bit more about what happens when we eat.

Most people know nothing about exactly what goes on in our gut, which, in more scientific language, is called the gastrointestinal tract. Yes, we have all flushed away the unpleasant final product that ends up in the toilet, but few of us are familiar with the important work that led to that product.

Of course, there is one part of digestion that we do focus on. That would be the initial part, when we chew up and savor the taste of our food. But we’re only concerned with the rest of the process if there’s a problem like indigestion.

That’s because, once we swallow, the food enters an area of smooth muscle tissue that is outside of our consciousness.

In fact, our digestive system has a nervous system of its very own, allowing our digestive system to independently perform all of its functions. The work it does takes place without the involvement of our conscious mind, which makes the gut a very unique human organ.

Another incredible fact about our gut is the mind-boggling amount of bacteria living inside of it. Our entire digestive system contains up to 100 billion bacteria. This accounts for 99 percent of all microorganisms in our entire body! Of course, these bacteria exit the body, too: there are more bacteria in one gram of excrement than there are people on the planet.

But this is nothing to be ashamed of. It’s part of the important and incredible work the gut does every day. We take it for granted – but what our gut does for our mind and body is something we should be very grateful for.

Food’s journey through our bodies begins with our outer senses.

Let’s admire the work our gut does by tracking a piece of cake as it journeys through the digestive system. This journey actually begins before your first bite. In this case, it begins while you’re standing outside the bakery, and you first lay eyes on that cake.

As you stare at the cake through the shop window, you begin to imagine the sweet aroma and taste, and your mouth begins to water. Unable to resist, you decide to buy it.

From the esophagus, our food enters the gut and the small intestine.

Imagine thousands of fans at a sports stadium, all doing the wave. Your esophagus moves in a similar way, with an undulatory motion that eases food from one end to the other. This work is performed automatically and autonomously: once that piece of cake is one-third of the way down your esophagus, you have no control over the muscles that push the food along its journey.

Even if you were to do a handstand, the esophagus would continue moving the food toward the stomach. This is work that your esophagus has mastered: it’s been doing it since you were a baby in your mother’s womb, swallowing half a liter of amniotic fluid every day.

From the esophagus, the piece of cake descends into the stomach. There, the food is processed for about two hours, until it is fully broken up by gastric fluid. At this point, the cake has been broken into pieces approximately 0.2 millimeters in size.

The real digestion takes place in the small intestine.

The small intestine is in constant movement. Inside, the walls are made up of intestinal villi, tiny finger-like protrusions that move and manipulate the food as it continues its journey. Each millimeter of the small intestine contains about 30 villi – and they only know one direction: forward!

Tiny electric shocks cause the intestinal muscles to contract in a rhythmical motion, pushing the food along. During this process, digestive fluid, which has extracted the nutrients of the food, is absorbed into the body. One piece of cake would last about an hour in the small intestine before entering the large intestine.

The small intestine likes to keep things tidy. After performing its duty, it goes about cleaning itself up. As it tidies up, it growls.

The origin of allergies and lactose intolerance are assumed to reside in the gut.

When you think of allergies, what’s the first part of the body you think of? You probably imagine red, itchy eyes, skin rashes or a runny nose. The gut probably isn’t the first place that comes to mind. Well, this blink might change that.

There’s an interesting theory about the role your gut plays in the allergies you experience.

It begins with how proteins are broken up during the digestive process. Sometimes this doesn’t go as smoothly as it should. Hazelnuts, for example, can leave behind small pieces of protein that don’t get absorbed into the bloodstream when the small intestine is doing its work.

Surprise, surprise: the gut can influence our brain!

Have you ever been accused of thinking with your stomach? Well, as it turns out, this saying isn’t as far-fetched as it sounds.

As we’ve learned, our gut has its own nervous system that allows it to work on its own, instinctually. This is called the enteric nervous system, or intrinsic nervous system, and it’s made up of around 500 million neurons. And compared to the rest of the organs in our body, the variety of neurons that make up this system is only surpassed by the brain itself.

The gut contains a rich and vital world of microbes.

As well as having its own nervous system, the gut also accounts for 80 percent of our immune system. Considering that most of the dangerous bacteria and pathogenic germs enter our body through our mouth, however, this fact might not come as a surprise.

But not all of the bacteria our bodies are exposed to is dangerous. In fact, our health is dependent upon the work of microorganisms.

It seems that microbes in the gut can influence our consciousness.

Yes, it would seem that even after three million years of evolution, we are still learning about the importance of the many microorganisms in our gut. There are as many as 100 trillion microorganisms in our digestive tract, a community called the gut flora. And they may have an intimate relationship with our brain.

Consider this question: Is it possible that microbes in our gut tell our brain what kind of food we’re craving?

Instead of feeling disgusted by microbes, we should learn to integrate them into our lives

The example of Toxoplasma gondii shows that some microorganisms taking up residence in our gut are bad news. But we certainly shouldn’t write off all microbes – after all, we spend our entire lives with them, no matter how much disinfectant we use!

Our attitude toward microbes has evolved over time; at the turn of the twentieth century, for instance, there were two opposing views.

All’s well that ends well: Defecation is a complex interplay between the conscious and unconscious.

Well, we’ve reached the last stop on our journey through the gut: the large intestine, also known as the colon.

As your food enters the large intestine, the digestion process has been finished. Any remaining water is reabsorbed and the feces is prepared for defecation. At the end of this process, the food waste reaches the rectum, which is where our sphincter muscles reside.

Want to see all full key ideas from Gut?

Key ideas in Gut

More knowledge in less time

Read or listen

Get the key ideas from nonfiction bestsellers in minutes, not hours.

Find your next read

Get book lists curated by experts and personalized recommendations.

Shortcasts ^New

We’ve teamed up with podcast creators to bring you key insights from podcasts.

What is Gut about?

Gut (2015) takes an entertaining yet scientific look at an organ that is just as interesting and important as the brain – the gut. By tracking a piece of cake as it works its way through the digestive system, you’ll come to appreciate the gut for the sophisticated and impressive ecosystem that it is.

Gut Review

Gut (2014) by Giulia Enders is an eye-opening exploration of the human digestive system that will change the way you think about your body. Here's why this book is worth reading:

Packed with fascinating scientific insights, it reveals how the gut impacts our overall health and well-being, from digestion to mental health.
With its humorous and relatable anecdotes, the book breaks down complex concepts into digestible nuggets of information.
It empowers readers to make informed decisions about their diet and lifestyle, offering practical tips and advice for a healthier gut and life.

Best quote from Gut

Your jaw is your strongest muscle. It can create a pressure of approximately 175 pounds.

—Giulia Enders

Who should read Gut?

People who want to learn more about how their body works
Anyone with stomach problems

About the Author

Giulia Enders holds a PhD from the Institute for Microbiology and Hygiene of Hospitals in Frankfurt am Main, Germany. In 2012, her theories on the human gut won a science slam in Karlsruhe and Berlin.

Categories with Gut

Health & Nutrition Science

Book summaries like Gut

The Vitamin Solution

Romy Block and Arielle Levitan

Two Doctors Clear the Confusion about Vitamins and Your Health

16 min

3.8

Brain Maker

Dr. David Perlmutter with Kristin Loberg

The Power of Gut Microbes to Heal and Protect your Brain – for Life

Healing the Shame-Fueled Relationship Between What You Eat and How You Feel

The Plant-Based Gut Health Program for Losing Weight, Restoring Your Health, and Optimizing Your Microbiome

Detox Your Mind for Clearer Thinking, Deeper Relationships, and Lasting Happiness

The Surprising Truth About Wheat, Carbs, and Sugar – Your Brain’s Silent Killers

21 min

4.3

The Wealth Money Can't Buy

Robin Sharma

The 8 Hidden Habits to Live Your Richest Life

Bringing your Boldest Self to your Biggest Challenges

23 min

4.3

Neha Sangwan

From Burned Out to Fully Charged at Work and in Life

The Surprising Connection Between Metabolism and Limitless Health

18 min

4.2

Coach Yourself Confident

Julie Smith

Ditch the self-doubt tax, unlock humble confidence

Enjoy Your Favourite Food and Boost Your Gut Health with The Diversity Diet

18 min

4.4

13 Things Mentally Strong People Don't Do

Amy Morin

Take Back Your Power, Embrace Change, Face Your Fears and Train Your Brain for Happiness and Success

40 min

4.6

Mastering Leadership

Robert J. Anderson and William A. Adams

An Integrated Framework for Breakthrough Performance and Extraordinary Business Results

18 min

4.3

The Courage to Be Disliked

Ichiro Kishimi & Fumitake Koga

The Japanese Phenomenon That Shows You How to Change Your Life and Achieve Real Happiness

The New Science of Sunlight and How it Shapes Our Bodies and Minds

17 min

4.3

Leadership Strategy

Powerful Business Solutions

The Art & Science of Decision-Making

Unleash the Power of Your Microbiome to Reverse Disease and Transform Your Mental, Physical, and Emotional Health

Enhance Your Performance at Work with Mindfulness

18 min

The Power of Unwavering Focus

Dandapani

How to Live the Life You Want

The Mind-Gut Connection

Emeran Mayer

How the Hidden Conversation Within Our Bodies Impacts Our Mood, Our Choices, and Our Overall Health

Dive Into a Classic Vision of the Ideal World and Its Challenges

19 min

Body by Science

Doug McGuff

A Research Based Program for Strength Training, Body Building, and Complete Fitness in 12 Minutes a Week

Uncover Key Ethical Questions Shaping Our Actions and Choices

20 min

4.2

The Silent Language of Leaders

Carol Kinsey Goman

How Body Language Can Help – or Hurt – How You Lead

16 min

4.1

Building Your Money Machine with ChatGPT

Larry Wheeler

Use AI to Generate Ideas, Automate Marketing, and Build Profits

Why Something We Never Evolved to Do Is Healthy and Rewarding

What Ancient Philosophers Teach Us about How to Live

Make Easier Decisions, Stop Second-Guessing, and Bring More Joy to Your Life

How to Start Conversations that Get Results

15 min

4.3

How to Stop Breaking Your Own Heart

Meggan Roxanne

Stop People-Pleasing, Set Boundaries, and Heal from Self-Sabotage

How the Psychology of Sports Can Enhance your Performance in Management and Work

19 min

4.0

When the Body Says No

Gabor Maté

The Cost of Hidden Stress

26 min

4.6

ADHD 2.0

Edward M. Hallowell and John J. Ratey

New Science and Essential Strategies for Thriving with Distraction – from Childhood through Adulthood

The Evolution and Future of the Human Animal

18 min

4.4

The Shortest History of Economics

Andrew Leigh

Explore Key Economic Moments and Their Impact on Today’s World

Simple Principles for an Extraordinary Life

15 min

4.0

Clean

Alejandro Junger and Amely Greeven

The Revolutionary Program to Restore the Body’s Natural Ability to Heal Itself

17 min

3.7

The Hidden Habits of Genius

Craig Wright

Beyond Talent, IQ, and Grit – Unlocking the Secrets of Greatness

21 min

4.4

The Science and Technology of Growing Young

Sergey Young

An Insider's Guide to the Breakthroughs That Will Dramatically Extend Our Lifespan . . . and What You Can Do Right Now

Be Authentic, Boost Connections, and Make Bold Bets on Yourself

15 min

4.0

How to Enjoy Your Life and Your Job

Dale Carnegie

Increase your understanding of human nature to live more fully

27 min

4.6

How to Day Trade for a Living

The Art of Clear Thinking

Hasard Lee

A Stealth Fighter Pilot's Timeless Rules for Making Tough Decisions

Past, Present and Future

9 Lessons for Living Longer From the People Who’ve Lived Longest

13 min

4.4

Reinventing Your Life

Jeffrey E. Young and Janet S. Klosko

The Breakthrough Program to End Negative Behaviour...and Feel Great Again

People ❤️ Blinkist

Sven O.

It's highly addictive to get core insights on personally relevant topics without repetition or triviality. Added to that the apps ability to suggest kindred interests opens up a foundation of knowledge.

Thi Viet Quynh N.

Great app. Good selection of book summaries you can read or listen to while commuting. Instead of scrolling through your social media news feed, this is a much better way to spend your spare time in my opinion.

Jonathan A.

Life changing. The concept of being able to grasp a book's main point in such a short time truly opens multiple opportunities to grow every area of your life at a faster rate.

Renee D.

Great app. Addicting. Perfect for wait times, morning coffee, evening before bed. Extremely well written, thorough, easy to use.