Engaging ... [ Dark Matter] stands out in revealing the microbiome through the eyes of a clinician who sees each patient not just as a human, but as a human entwined with a complex, dynamic ecosystem New Scientist

Dark Matter by James Kinross - Penguin Books Australia Dark Matter by James Kinross - Penguin Books Australia

This is a really nuanced and difficult thing to talk about, because of course, sometimes we have to take medicines,” says Dr Kinross. “I don’t want people to think that if your GP recommends antibiotics you shouldn’t take them.” Yet it is only now, as we are beginning to discover the microbiome's enormous potential, that we are realising it is in grave danger, being irrevocably destroyed through the globalisation of our diets, the war on bugs and the industrialised world. Spector hopes his tests – which don’t just test for microbes, but also assess blood fat and blood glucose responses to specific foods – will change this. “We’re just starting to get to the point where we can suggest individualised foods. This is not just isolated microbiome testing,” he says. “We have trials in place to quantify this, but the initial results are exciting, with nearly everyone reporting weight loss and improved energy levels without any calorie counting or traditional weight loss methods. Previous microbiome tests have been sub-optimal [but the] ZOE approach is completely different: using state of the art sequencing allows us to detect species and strains and find strong associations between these microbes and both foods and health.” In his new book Dark Matter: The New Science of the Microbiome, Dr James Kinross lays bare the mind-boggling world of what lies in our guts: the delicate ecosystem of trillions of microbial life forms that live within us all. Without us even realising, our gut’s unique ecosystem is the missing link in modern medicine and what’s more, is heavily influenced by our environment.A fountain of knowledge and sense in an overwhelming world of science. * Rhiannon Lambert, Registered Nutritionist and Sunday Times Bestselling Author * For breakfast, he has high-fibre bran flakes, sometimes supplemented with inulin, a prebiotic fibre. He has that with fruit. “We have overwhelming epidemiological and experimental evidence that says if you can increase your fibre, your risk of heart disease, diabetes, obesity, and cancer, will all go down and you will be healthier.” ‘There are lots of confusing pieces of dietary advice for people as to what to eat,’ says Dr James Kinross (Photo: Westend61/Getty) Do eat fermented food every day Kinross specialises in the detection of colon cancer and benign conditions of the gut. In his 18-year career, he has researched gut microbiome extensively and is the author of Dark Matter: The New Science of the Microbiome. He has learned that “lifestyle is overwhelmingly important for the gut”. The scale of the task is huge: there is 1.5kg of bacteria in our guts.’ Illustration: Lisa Sheehan/The Observer

Dark Matter by James Kinross | Goodreads

A totally addictive and illuminating read. Compelling from beginning to end Dr Saliha Mahmood Ahmed, gastroenterologist and bestselling author of The Kitchen Prescription

In 2023, looking after the gut has become a popular pastime for the health-conscious. And for good reason. According to Cancer Research, Bowel cancer is now the fourth most common cancer in the UK, yet 54 per cent of cases are preventable. A spellbinding explanation of microbiology that will help you get to the bottom of health and happiness John Vincent, Co-Founder of Leon I've long been interested in the microbiome, and have been eagerly awaiting a book that might uncover some of its mysteries. This is that book Heston Blumenthal