60% of women suffer from chronic GI issues.
But few people talk about our culture’s final taboo: the bowels.
A must-have book for anyone who’s ever struggled with their gut health, with information you need to get from two women who’ve been through it all
Your doctor gives you medical advice. Your nutritionist suggests dietary changes. But who actually knows what you’re going through?
Your girlfriends, of course—at least, the ones who’ve been through it all with gut health issues. In The Girlfriend’s Guide to Guts, NBC correspondent Chloe Melas and New York Times bestselling author Judy Batalion, two women with ulcerative colitis, talk to you in the way only a best friend can. Speaking to millions of their fellow sufferers, they share life stories, wisdom, and all the necessary, scientifically-backed information you need when facing a bowel disease diagnosis.
Chloe and Judy share tips and tricks on how to live your best life with bowel disease, such as…
• “Dinner and a movie?” No! “A movie then dinner.” Eating can make you gassy and bloated, so it’s best to eat after other activities (and/or intimacies).
• Protein rich meals, no nuts! Order grilled chicken or fish when eating out, especially during flares. The simpler the dish, the less likely it is that you’ll need to run for the nearest bathroom.
• Aisle seats only! On a flight, there should be nothing between you and the toilet! (Except for 15 rows, a line of people waiting, and turbulence.)
• Brush off the judgement. Your disease is not your fault. You’ve got gut health issues, but girl, you’ve also got guts.
• And more!
From advice on probiotics to acupuncture to colonoscopies, healing your gut can be downright confusing! For practical tips—woman to woman—or just a reassuring voice to turn to when times get tough, this straight-talking guide will show you what to really expect when your bowels are going berserk.
Author
Chloe Melas
Chloe Melas is an entertainment correspondent at NBC News appearing on the Today show, Nightly News, and NBC News Now. She previously worked at CNN where she broke numerous high-profile stories during the Me Too era and co-hosted CNN’s New Year’s Eve show alongside Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen. In 2023, Chloe worked to publish her late grandfather’s memoir, Luck of the Draw, which became a New York Times bestseller. Chloe is the co-founder of the gut health brand Bio.me. She lives in New York with her two sons, four pets, and husband.
Learn More about Chloe MelasAuthor
Judy Batalion
Judy Batalion is a New York Times bestselling author of award-winning nonfiction and fiction. Her essays have appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, and Vogue, among others. Judy has a BA in the History of Science from Harvard, a PhD from the University of London, and has worked as a museum curator and university lecturer. She lives in New York City with her husband and three children.
Learn More about Judy Batalion