21-Day Tummy Diet: A Revolutionary Plan that Soothes and Shrinks Any Belly Fast

by Liz Vaccariello, Kate RD Scarlata (Primary Contributor)

The New York Times best seller is now in paperback. As seen on The Doctors, and Dr. Oz Show, 21-Day Tummy Diet, is based on the latest science, that targets excess weight and belly fat while addressing the most common digestive disorders.
Relieve digestive issues and shrink your waistline with the new, sensitive stomach meal plan from Liz Vaccariello, the New York Times(R) best-selling author of "The Digest Diet" and "Flat Belly Diet Series."
Lose the Belly Bloat and feel better fast "21-Day Tummy Diet" is designed specifically for people with temperamental tummies. You'll whittle your middle and discover which foods protect you from the main causes of digestive discomfort.
Say good-bye to your grumbling belly and start feeling good again. Let the "21-Day Tummy" show you how!
Inside you'll find: An easy-to-follow 21-day eating plan that minimizes shocking Belly Bully foods that cause discomfort and weight gain, while piling on soothing Belly Buddy foods.
more than 50 scrumptious recipes such as Tomato-Ginger Flank Steak, Chunky Chicken Couscous, Twice-Baked Potato with Pepper Hash, and Almost-Pumpkin Mini Pies.
inspirational stories and advice from real readers who tried the plan--one lost 19 pounds, another 4 1/2 belly inches, and everyone improved their digestive symptoms in just 3 weeks!
an optional equipment-free workout plan that helps to both sculpt and sooth your stomach with a mix of core strengthening, walking, and yoga."21-Day Tummy" is a fun, easy guide to healthy eating that will have a smaller, healthier you feeling better than, well, possibly ever!

Genres: Health, Nonfiction, Cookbooks

320 pages, Paperback

First published December 26, 2013

Reviews

[Robin · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars for possibly changing my life; 4 stars for incomplete content.

I picked this up not because I needed to lose my belly (although it did help with losing those nagging 4 lbs) but because I wanted to see if I could cure the stomach issues I've battled for a number of years, mainly GERD and discomfort. I had read GUT BLISS but determined it was way too complicated for my lifestyle but the FODMAP information seemed to have not only a good base in science but the allowed foods were very doable, and after two weeks of no gluten, limited lactose, and low sugar/sweeteners, it seems to be helping. The only time I felt deprived was the first couple of days in phase 1 but that lasts for only 5 days, and now I am totally comfortable in what I'm doing and determined to see it to the end. After three weeks I will allow a few extra things in my diet (hello, chocolate!) and see how it goes. If it keeps me from having to inhale acid reducers every day, I will keep my five star rating.

The lack of one star for content is because the allowable food lists don't seem to be completely comprehensive (is that a redundant phrase?).

The above was written in early March 2014.

UPDATE: May 6, 2014 - It took a little time but this diet seemed to take care of my problems. I'm still a little leery and careful of eating a few things such as garlic, deep-fried foods, and anything with a lot of seasoning, and I'm still sticking to low-lactose and light gluten foods, but I haven't had discomfort for a month, and even ate a Krispy Kreme donut the other day without having to take a Tums! Now *that's* progress!

[Karielle · Rating 4 out of 5]

What I love about 21-Day Tummy is that it isn't just a book on weight loss and diet management; it's unique in that it also places importance on the digestive tract. Many of the recipes and theories revolve around the bodily chemistry regarding certain foods and exercises, so this diet plan is one that targets both shedding pounds and metabolizing your digestive system.

If you suffer from weight gain due to digestive slowdown, this is the perfect book for you. It is well backed and well explained, so anyone can follow and understand the logistics of the diet—even if you have minimal experience with dieting. That's what I love about Vaccariello's diet guides; they're so accessible!

The recipes, as expected, are amazing. Just looking at the photographs makes my mouth water, and I love how each ingredient is elaborated upon. There are helpful lists of digestive do's and don't's throughout the book, which are entertaining and useful for the kitchen. Other helpful tools include measurement conversion charts, grocery shopping lists, green lights and red lights of foods (regarding how they'll treat your stomach), and myths about certain foods busted or confirmed.

I find it really helpful that the regimen's goal is to not only flatten tummies, but also regulate the inner workings of the body. It takes the focus off the scale and tape measures, and places it onto feeling and being HEALTHY.

Pros
Methodical, biologically sound approaches to dieting and improving the digestive system // Lots of tried-and-true recipes that are worth testing // Real-life testimonies and weight loss plans and interviews of successful dieters included

Cons
Some recipes don't include pictures and are difficult to follow // I'm skeptical of the timeline. Although the book doesn't necessarily claim to change lives drastically in 21 days, it keeps dieters on a schedule that seems a bit too rigid

Verdict
I personally was not really able to follow this diet book because it deals a lot with digestive issues rather than just wholesome, healthy eating, but I appreciate how specific the regimen is. It isn't something I could actually stick with—in fact, it doesn't seem very lenient—but I recommend Vaccariello's newest diet book for those who struggle with acid reflux and eating the right way due digestive problems. With the perfect amount of motivation and realistic, delicious-looking recipes, 21-Day Tummy helps you look and feel your best by using a targeted approach of not only eating well, but also taking care of what's on the inside.

Rating: 7 out of 10 hearts (4 stars): Not perfect, but overall enjoyable; borrow, don't buy!

Source
Complimentary copy provided by publicist in exchange for an honest and unbiased review (thank you, FSB Media!).

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

21-Day Tummy not only aims to help you lose stubborn belly fat, it also is designed to help people deal with the stomach problems that plague so many people- gas and bloating, heartburn and acid reflux, constipation, diarrhea and Irritable Bowel Syndrome.

Millions of Americans suffer from these stomach issues, and this book, written by Liz Vaccariello from Reader's Digest, along with Kate Scarlata, a registered dietician, share the science behind their methods in easy-to-understand language, and if you are one the people who suffer from any of the above stomach problems, this book is more than worth your time.

Vaccariello recruited eleven people to try the diet with her (she lost 10 pounds in 21 days) and their stories are interspersed throughout the book. They lost of a total of 90 pounds in the three weeks, with the participating men losing slightly more than the women.

The book's main goal is to balance gut flora (bacteria in the GI tract) and reduce inflammation by eating more magnesium-rich foods and anti-inflammatory fats and reducing carb-dense foods and carbs that ferment rapidly.

They describe foods to avoid, called Belly Bullies, which include such surprising foods as garlic, onions, apples, asparagus and the popular agave sweetener, which contains fructose, a big no-no. Belly Buddies, foods that you should eat, include fiber-rich foods magnesium-rich foods like spinach, kale, peanut butter, bananas, blueberries, quinoa, whole oats, almonds, chia and pumpkin seeds and Greek yogurt.

The book lays our the three-week meal plan, divided into three phases. Each day has its own page with a breakfast, lunch, snack and dinner menu. All of the meals seem very doable, with no crazy food supplements or ingredients that you have to shop for at specialty stores.

Recipes follow the menu plan, and there are several I would like to try, including

Scrambled Egg Quesadilla
Mini Quiche
Hearty Roasted Vegetable Soup
Grilled Turkey Cutlets with Grape Salsa

There is also a week-by-week shopping list, which is very helpful, and a simple exercise plan, with an interval walking workout and core routine laid out clearly and simply for the reader, with illustrations of the each exercise.

With so many diets out there, including the Paleo Diet and Mediterranean Diet, the 21-Day Tummy Diet seems to be a sound, scientific way to lose belly fat and help people with their myriad digestive problems. The eleven people who tried the diet shared interesting results, including being able to eliminate prescription heartburn medication completely in one case.

The website for the 21-Day Tummy contains more information, and there you can try the book free for 14 days to see if it can help you.

[Sandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

It works (at least so far), it explains things pretty well, and the food is good. This diet is based on the FODMAP-elimination program (there's lots on the internet about it), which has identified "a collection of short-chain carbohydrates and sugar alcohols . . . [which] include fructose (when in excess of glucose), fructans, galacto-oligosaccharides (GOS) lactose and polyols (eg sorbitol and manitol)" (all that is according to The Internet).

I haven't gotten to the re-introduction part, but this "diet" is really aimed at settling down digestive problems such as IBS. So the dieter eliminates what looks like a random bunch of things (honey and agave, but not white sugar or maple syrup; all grains for awhile; dairy except yogurt and lactose-free milk); apples, pears, mushrooms, asparagus, cauliflowers, peaches, blackberries -- but raspberries and broccoli and almost all other vegetables and fruit are OK, and then begins reintroducing them one at a time 21 days later. Give or take. In my case, give.

I'm still on the first week 20 days later, but that's because I cook the meals and then I have leftovers for awhile. Oh, and we won't count today -- when I completely "fell off the wagon" and ate junk. Serious junk. The Hershey's with almonds was the healthy part of the junk. We won't talk about the Reese's Peanut Butter Cup or the Pop Tarts (yeah, 2 of 'em -- what could I do? that's how they come in the package!).

The author assures us that nobody is intolerant of all the FODMAP foods, which is why we need the reintroduction phase. It's different for everybody, apparently.

I have actually lost 4-5 pounds (despite a few hiatuses for a church retreat and our homecoming picnic, for instance), and when I've followed the guidelines my stomach feels vastly better.

The only reason it doesn't get five stars is because some of the "recipes" are seriously lacking: cook some pork chops in the oven and then put some mustard on them -- nothing about temp, how long, etc. Or sear pork chops. Huh? Raw pork? Hmmm . . . . So I've done some modification of the recipes. But they have almost all tasted really good. Not the pork chop with Dijon on it, but everything else.

I don't usually stick with diets, but because this is aimed at fixing some serious issues, I am far more motivated.

Good program, and I'd recommend it. There are lots of other low-FODMAP programs out there, and it's a little frustrating that some allow things that others forbid (avocado, coconut, other stuff), so I just decided to stick with this one and see if it works, and then I can do more fine tuning.

[Jeannie Zelos · Rating 5 out of 5]

21-Day Tummy. The Revolutionary Diet that Shrinks and Soothes Any Belly Fast. Liz Vaccariello with Kate Scarlata.
Review from Jeannie Zelos Book Reviews.

Like so many people I’m always conscious of my weight and especially my tummy :( Now I’m a wheelchair user that's even more noticeable, so this book had me hooked just from the title! I'm reading it on kindle though – I love my kindle but have learned that some books such as this one are simply better in traditional format, where its easier to flick through and browse for what interests you.
Its packed with useful information on many common ailments – those where we're not always ill, but where the effects of diet make us feel below par. Of course there's practical tips too for those who have problems such as arthritis, diabetes, irritable bowel, indigestion, all the illnesses that can be helped by a proper diet. Our portions have increased vastly over the years from what we actually need to eat, and add to that the way we eat so much processed food its no wonder our stomach and health is so often suffering.
I found it really interesting reading. I like to think I’m quite aware of food and the healthy eating we need and yet...there were issues that hadn't occurred to m,e and were good to know. The recipes were practical and easy to follow even for a Brit reader – I love the US way of weighing using cups – though a stick of butter.... ? that needs looking up, likewise some foods: arugula, scallions, cilantro – google is my friend for telling what the UK name is :) Added to that there are some simple, easy to follow exercises that can be fitted into everyday life. Again some like the walking/standing ones are out for me, but the sitting/lying ones I’ll certainly try. After Xmas of course!! Jan always signals my resolve to get more healthy and maybe this year with the help of this book I’ll actually do it!
All in all this is a really useful book for people looking to make the best of their bodies, to help them run at maximum efficiency and to make us not only look slimmer but to be slimmer.
Stars: five. Excellent all round book, though buy the traditional format rather than ebook for easiest research .

ARC supplied via Netgalley

[Jessiy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I won this book through goodreads giveaways. Although this book does have some interesting information I did not find any of it to be something that has not been discussed in other health/diet books. Good for a first time read in those subjects, although I would recommend other books over this one.

[Linda Atkinson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I took some good ideas and a few recipes from this book. Thankfully, my tummy doesn't require long term soothing.

[Fran Dombrosky · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don’t really know how to rate this. 3? 4? Apparently I can’t do star fractions. We’ll see if the diet works whether I need to scale it up or down.

A friend insisted that I read this book and leant it to me. She probably took one look at my “menopause muffin” and was like “guuuurl, read this.” I certainly wasn’t complaining about GI issues to her so that’s the only thing I can think of. I am doubtful she did the 21 day diet but she does eat somewhat accordingly to the book and is rather slender.

My friend leant me the book a while ago. I’m planning to see her soon and I’d like to give it back so gave it a go. I was originally reluctant about the book’s advice, particularly since it instructs you to cut garlic and onions from your diet, among other healthy foods. I couldn’t imagine my life without these foods but didn’t realize that it’s just for three weeks, unless your body has an issue with them. I was, however, pleased to see that a Registered Dietitian helped out with the book. Having studied nutrition in college, taking nutritional advice from. RD or RDN vs a nutritionist is important to me and I probably would’ve skipped the book completely if this wasn’t a factor of the book. Anyone can claim to be a nutritionist but becoming a RD or RDN requires extensive schooling, rotations, and an exam to become credentialed. I was also pleased to see mentions of the Dietary Guidelines.

The book starts out reading like a textbook, which is annoying to me. I’d prefer case studies (or in this case testimonials) to be at the beginning or end of the chapter and the sidebars and blurbs to be interjected at an easy point to take a break between paragraphs and read them rather than have them randomly plopped in the middle of chapters and paragraphs. The book was a quick read, though, especially as one could skim over the daily plans, recipes, and exercises until needed. I knew a lot of the nutrition part too but for those whose eyes might glaze over reading that part, one could skim over those parts too. I did learn a thing or two though.

I’m going to try out the diet although I hate cooking and the thought of making multiple meals a day seems like more than I want to do. Also, my shopping trips typically result in fresh, local, seasonal foods as well as what looks good, what I’m not allergic to, and what’s on sale. For one example, living in NJ, I typically buy local blueberries in July and August and not in December from some foreign country. I can’t remember the last time I bought bananas. But hey, it’s only three weeks (unless other food issues are discovered) so I think I’ll survive. I just plan on starting in a couple of weeks so I can eat up some of the food I have on hand that I won’t be able to eat on the diet and after a vacation that will involve visiting breweries. The diet timeline will be right before my five year colonoscopy and also before Thanksgiving and the holiday season so I guess it all works out.

There’s a couple of caveats I had with the book:

-I appreciate the menu that was put together and in a weird way, I’m looking forward to trying it. I just wish that there was more than a handful of foods listed for each of the categories. I guess I’ll have to do some additional research on some more foods to add to the list for after the 3 weeks is over.

-There was some discussion on how some food intolerances could be mistaken. For example, when eating pizza, some people may think they are lactose intolerant but actually have a problem with the fructans in the crust. I know firsthand about misdiagnosis as I was diagnosed with an allergy to propylene glycol (and polyethylene glycol) in 2011. Propylene glycol is in thousands of foods and beverages for a variety of reasons. It can be found in non-organic milk, commercial ice cream, lunch meats, artificial flavors and colors, salad dressings, sauces, and so much more and often times not even listed as an ingredient. Apparently if it’s industry wide standard to use it, it doesn’t have to be listed or it can be an ingredient within an ingredient. So at the end of the book where introducing foods back into the diet is discussed to see if there’s any problems, it is possible it’s a lot more complicated than explained. For example, like the pizza example from earlier in the book, many people might have problems drinking non-organic milk and think they may be lactose intolerant when the real issue is an allergy or even sensitivity to propylene glycol. Additionally, think of propylene glycol’s cousin, polyethylene glycol, as being the main ingredient in MiraLAX! Propylene glycol is a GRAS (generally recognized as safe) ingredient so I’m not inferring that everyone has an issue with it but many times our foods are no longer foods but chemical concoctions, even plain foods, and I don’t think enough attention is paid to people possibly having issues with food additives. High fructose corn syrup and artificial sweeteners were discussed in the book but there’s plenty more food additives besides those and propylene glycol: carrageenan,
soy lecithin, MSG, polysorbate, etc. that people could potentially have issues with. I mean the book was published in 2013 so maybe not as much was known about these kinds of things or maybe it can be compared to showing the top allergens (I spent decades being allergic to raw tree fruits but that was never a category like peanut butter, shellfish, and soy were in any allergen list). However, it should be considered when adding foods back into your diet that if there’s any issues, it might be something more than lactose intolerance or issues with gluten.

I already know my issues with propylene glycol and polyethylene glycol so if anything else shows up as an intolerance in my transition back to a regular diet, it will be interesting to see. It will also be interesting to see if my belly shrinks and my digestion improves in the 21 days.

I like that the book emphasizes the importance of diet and exercise (vs some “miracle cure”). And especially how gut health ties into all that!

ETA: (10/08/2025): I completed nearly three weeks of this diet. First of all I understand the book is more about GI health and food tolerances than weight loss but there were many testimonials about losing weight and inches. I could not follow the diet exactly as 1) some of the foods were difficult to get. I often went to 2-3 stores to gather the ingredients. I couldn’t find Bok choy, even at Whole Foods. I never found shelled and unsalted peanuts. At times, the fish didn’t look fresh at the seafood counter. All examples. And 2) I just don’t eat that much food. Four small meals a day is a bit much for me. However, I didn’t really stray out of the foods listed or the portion sizes. I did a lot of switching around of the meal suggestions but never out of the next phases. I drank the smoothies almost every day. I had to end the diet a couple of days early as I had a colonoscopy scheduled and had to switch to a low fiber diet three days before the procedure. And the result was that I didn’t really lose any weight or inches. I hovered around the same weight, gaining weight and losing weight throughout. Ultimately I might’ve lost two pounds but surely it was put back on by the next day. I believe my weight issues are more about hormones than a healthy gut. I would say, though, that my GI issues (while not terrible to begin with) did improve somewhat.

What I liked about the book: 1) While I eat a lot of fruits and vegetables to begin with, this really got me eating more, especially fruits. I may have previously mentioned that I eat seasonally…2) There was a good amount of calcium from dairy products which is good for someone my age. 3) This forced me to focus more on portion sizes. Previously eating just a small handful of nuts may have been difficult. And 4) the recipes were really good. My husband, who wasn’t on the diet, thought they were pretty tasty too. I’ll keep the rating the same just for that.

[Vanessa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought this book was good. I liked the theory and what she was saying about figuring out what might be bothering your body and avoiding those foods. I also like the easy exercises she suggests. The part that was super confusing was the meal plan. I could not figure out what to eat and when. Many of the meals had ingredients that we don't like and it was hard to figure out which recipes could be substituted. I probably could've figured it out, but it felt really overwhelming, so I gave up. Hopefully I can start the exercises soon.

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like this book because it breaks down the biochemical components of most foods- not just lump them into generic categories ("carbs" "fruit" "vegetables" etc). The recipes look tasty!

[Deborah Bridges · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some very good tips for eating and excellent recipes.

[Online Eccentric Librarian · Rating 4 out of 5]

More reviews (and no fluff) on the blog http://surrealtalvi.wordpress.com/

21 Day Tummy is a glossy, well presented diet guide that focuses on the digestive tract: a lot of the recommendations are to relieve bloating, gas, diarrhea, and other gastric issues that make the tummy larger. The authors have clearly done their homework and everything the dieter needs is included. However, this does focus on the tummy area - there's good advice in here but a lot of it is about helping to identify and fix gastric issues that make the tummy look larger/bloat/cause discomfort. E.g., in this diet you remove garlic and onions to help keep away gas.

The main concerns of the book are: gas/bloating, heartburn/acid reflux, constipation, diarrhea, IBS. By working to alleviate/lesson those issues, the result is also weight loss while following the 21 day program. This helps people who have a history of stomach problems to identify and isolate the foods causing the problem and therefore forego medications and running health risks.

The book is broken down as follows: history of stomach issues, basics of the gastric process, using diet to help your digestive tract be healthy and happy, foods/drinks that may cause upset in your disgestive system and foods/drinks that help, 21 day meal plan, the recipes, easy workout/exercises, and recipe indexes/shopping lists.

The book has a lot of pullouts and sidebar tips, making reading easy and efficient. The voice is very friendly - sort of like having a nutritionist as a best friend. Along with the several 'test case' examples among the author's coworkers at Readers Digest, it does a nice job of encouraging and motivating.

The recipes are simple and fairly easy to create. There are photographs for several of the recipes and a shopping list at the end, broken down by week, to make getting started even easier.

Of note, since this really does concentrate on helping stomach/gastric issues, there are interesting items that the author suggests you remove from your diet: artichokes, milk, asparagus, apples, cherries, watermelon, etc. Several items, like the asparagus, beans, and artichokes, are considered superior choices in other diets but problematic in this one.

The diet is extremely easy to follow and I feel it is ideal for those who need to only lose a few pounds (belly poof) or who have a history of gastric issues that they would like to finally tackle without medication. For obese individuals, the diet might be too restrictive and focused. received as an ARC from the publisher.

[Miriam Downey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read my full blog posting here: http://mimi-cyberlibrarian.blogspot.c...

Liz Vaccariello is the editor of the Reader's Digest books and the author of the Digest Diet which I looked over last year and wrote a blog piece about. 21-Day Tummy follows a similar format. It is big, attractive, and has a lot of good ideas and recipes. Its goal is to attack some specific dietary problems that cause people lots of problems.

The book is designed to diet away digestive disasters such as gas and bloating, heartburn and acid reflux, constipation, diarrhea, and irritable bowel syndrome. Yes, you can take medicine for all of those things, but Vaccariello suggests that many of these issues can be solved by diet. She names several belly buddies which will aid in losing weight but also in solving gastrointestinal problems. They include fiber, magnesium, and anti-inflammatory fats. The system includes:
· high-fiber and antioxidant-rich vegetables
· balanced-fructose fruits
· Low-FODMAP, high-fiber grains
· Nuts and nut butters
· Seeds
· Healthy fats
· Lean protein
· Greek yogurt
· Coconut milk
· ginger
· turmeric
· maple syrup.

After defining all of these things, Vaccariello and dietitian Kate Scarlata promote a 21-day eating plan which will help those who follow the plan lose weight and solve digestive problems. 21-Day Tummy is simple to understand and the dietary advice appears to be easy to follow. The recipes are appealing. Publisher's Weekly says, "With lively writing, inviting four-color format, pull-outs, sidebars, nine personal success stories (including the author’s), and enticing photography, this book is a winner."


Give it a try. See if it helps.

Here is promotional material from Reader's Digest: http://www.rd.com/health/diet-weight-...
The brief review in Publisher's Weekly: http://www.publishersweekly.com/978-1...

[Narita · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is more than a diet book. It is also a cookbook, a workout book, and a problem solving book for common digestive and stomach problems people suffer from. Science is finding more and more that over all good health begins with a healthy gut. This book guides you in working toward that. I really like the fact that it isn’t just about being slim but being healthy too.
Two chapters share about food that can cause stomach issues and those that help you have a well tummy and a slim one too. I like the 21 day meal plan, because I have a strategy lined out for almost a month, therefore I am less likely to fail and just eat what is available. I also liked the recipes. They are tasty and easy to make with all the ingredients available at your local grocery store. There were lots of vegetables included in the ingredients, an area I am severely lacking in right now. I enjoyed the pages showing individuals that have tried the diet and their experiences. It was very encouraging! The book high quality material and is user friendly. Another great book from Ms. Vaccariello!
I received a copy of this book free from FBS Associates. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

[Cathleen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received an ARC from the publisher and author through Net Galley in exchange for my honest review.

21-Day Tummy is a book that is solely a tool designed to help people deal with the stomach problems that plague so many---gas and bloating, heartburn and acid reflux, constipation, diarrhea and Irritable Bowel Syndrome.

What I liked the most about this book is Liz Vaccariello recruited 11 people to work this eating plan with her. Liz lost 10 pounds in 21 days. Reading the individual stories from the other 11 people involved in this trial was very interesting.

The sole purpose of this book is to provide the reader with enough knowledge so they can balance gut flora and reduce inflammation. The reader is provided with a list of foods to avoid at all times as well as a list of gut friendly foods that the reader should be eating.

This book also provides the reader with a 3 week meal plan broken into 3 phases. There are also recipes that sound delicious. I will definitely try: Hearty Roasted Vegetable Soup and Mini quiche. To make it even easier for the reader there is also a shopping list as well as an exercise plan.

[Killian · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book throws a lot of information at you about how your body digests food, and I'll be honest and say that I didn't grasp all of it. Or even, like, half of it. And I haven't done any due diligence and checked out the science they back this book with.

The recipes are a bit unrealistic since they call for a bunch of things we just don't normally stock like chia seeds (where do you even buy those?), coconut milk, and garam masala (which I should keep around, but I don't :/). On the plus side though, a lot of those off-beat ingredients are used in multiple recipes, and since the diet plan seems pretty rigid that's a good thing. The recipes also don't use a lot of ingredients themselves, which I believe goes along with not overloading your stomach.

Overall, this might be worth it to try if you have digestive issues that you want to clear up. I don't know about the sustainability of this diet over a more balanced diet in general, though.

Copy courtesy of Reader's Digest, via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Michael Crawford · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was hoping for diet and exercise, but this book only takes the diet to the lab. No exercise and the diet doesn't look like some I could do for 21 days. One maybe. The food does look kinda good, but there has got to be a better way. They lost me at the smoothie. I like food too much to go that far with a diet. Maybe if I had a broken jaw I could do this diet. Knock on wood.
The one take away I got was the quality of the potato. See, they have less dense carbs which are better for your belly. Breads wreak havoc and are more dense. Fruits and veggies are less dense because they contain so much water and are better for your digestive track. The diet also prescribes lots of nuts and berries, seeds and roots. Maybe if I'm lost in the woods for 21 days, I'll come out and have a flat, fit and comfortable belly. But on day 22, I'm eating a Big Mac, or two. The goal I want is to be able to eat this diet long term. This book gave me some pointers, but I'm not going into the woods for 21 days. Totally not sustainable.

[Florence Aleman · Rating 5 out of 5]

An easy to follow plan to see if you have issues with FODMAPS. The recipes are well balanced meeting all your nutritional needs. I tried all the recipes and they were delicious. I was not hungry at all. Having been used to going out for dinners, the time it took to shop and prepare the food was not unreasonable, but took some forethought. I even learned some new cooking methods. Totally worth it! I lost 9lbs in the 21 days, and while I needed to lose weight, I am not obese. Oh, and I have hit the big 60, so I know how hard it can be to lose weight post menopause.

The plan follows up with a re-introduction to FODMAPS, one at a time, to see what, if any foods one may add back without problems.

[Laura Elizabeth · Rating 2 out of 5]

My other half has started this diet the last several months, and I thought this book looked like a more organized way to help him lose the weight.

First, I found it a little too heavy on the information, statistic wise. I found myself skimming past the scientific terms (because really, who has time to look up definitions while reading one paragraph forever?).

As for the recipes? I think to us, they seemed unrealistic for a normal household. Half the ingreidents, weren't ones we keep stocked, which meant an extra trip, and thats saying something when we live 30 minutes from town. Second, we keep healthy foods on stock.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found 21-Day Tummy to be extremely informational. I have suffered from both weight problems and GI issues for many years. I liked that this book focused on the health of the tummy while also explaining how this can help with the weight.

Due to both diet restrictions (I'm a vegetarian) and financial ones, I will be adjusting the diet to fit my personal needs. The best part is that there are plenty of foods allowed on this "diet" that one can easily find something that works for them.

I would recommend anyone with GI problems to give this a read.

*i received this free as a goodreads giveaway*

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Surprisingly informative and not gimmicky. This book does a very good job of explaining different gut-related ailments and the foods and ingredients to not only avoid, but also those that are food medicine. I found the 21 day plan more approachable than others I've come across, and admittedly I did eat some things that were not recommended and I still feel noticeably different after about 3 weeks. This book is also pleasingly laid out aesthetically and includes numerous recipes that looked delicious. Unfortunately, I had to return the book before cooking anything from it, but I'd be curious to try them out.

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won't be following the regimented diet suggested in this book, but the lists of food which could cause stomach discomfort and digestion problems is very thorough and explains why and how foods can cause tummy trouble. There are also extensive lists of foods that are typically soothing. I've been using the information about foods to change my diet, and subsequently have experienced reduced digestion discomfort and problems. This is an informative book to anyone who has occasional or frequent digestion issues.

[Sara Diane · Rating 3 out of 5]

I got this book through NetGalley, and I was excited to see what it had to say. And this book is full of good ideas on how to help those who have digestion issues. However, after taking the test in the book, I found out that I don't have digestion issues, so following the program wasn't really necessary for me. I do highly recommend checking this out if you suffer from a lot of digestive issues, as this might help you find not only some weight loss, but a happier stomach as well!

[sleeps9hours · Rating 2 out of 5]

Introduction to a diet that focuses on avoiding foods that trigger tummy troubles in some. I hadn't heard of FODMAPs before. I don't know enough about the science, but like to keep up with what's making the rounds in popular diet books. Any diet that restricts a large number of foods is likely to lead to weight loss.

[Nancy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Recommended to me as a weight loss book, but not really what I was looking for.

I don't have problems with any particular food, especially some of the fruits and vegetables that are on the no-no list. So cutting them out of my diet didn't make me feel better. On the plus side, lots of good recipes, including a great smoothie section.

[Crystal · Rating 4 out of 5]

It helped explain several reasons why you have problems with weight and how to eat better to lose weight along with helping your "tummy" feel better. Not sure it's for me but it should help other people. Written very well. I still might try the yoga work out.

[Shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I blogged about this book, including before and after photos. http://myheart4him.com/21-day-tummy-b...

[Maria Ginger Medina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love it

breaks down the complex issue into a subject that is easily understood. I have tried it and it works. thanks.

[Katherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Going to have to buy this one. Has shopping lists and recipes that are very helpful and yummy sounding.

[Victoria · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some interesting nutrition nuggets. Going to buy a copy for the great recipes!