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11 min 27 sec
Available in:English

Love Yourself Well: An Empowering Wellness Guide to Supporting Your Gut, Brain, and Vagina

Shows how gut, brain and vaginal health affect each other, how to get doctors to take your symptoms seriously, and how a repeatable five-week food and sleep reset can calm bloating, fog and infections.

Table of Content

Years of bloating, exhaustion, panic attacks and repeat infections can leave you feeling like a nuisance in every doctor’s office. Lo Bosworth lived that, and in Love Yourself Well she argues that symptoms she was told came from heartbreak had a physical root: a disturbed link between the gut, the brain and the vagina, which she calls the GBV axis.

When bacteria in the gut tip out of balance, she explains, the trouble can travel to the other two organs. Her case is easy to state. Trust what your body tells you, understand how these three organs affect each other, and care for their bacteria day after day, and many of these symptoms can ease.

What follows is her practical version of that case: how to be heard by a doctor, how the three organs talk to each other, what to eat and what to avoid, and a five-week reset you can return to every few months.

Bosworth spent years being told her pain and exhaustion came from a breakup. The tools that finally made her case hard to ignore cost nothing and fit in a notebook.

Three organs that seem to have nothing in common may be sharing the same problem. Bosworth’s model explains why fixing one symptom alone so often fails.

Your morning coffee reaches your brain for a reason, and so can things you would rather keep out. The same hidden traffic helps explain infections that keep returning.

Bosworth calls the goal body bliss, and admits it sounds unrealistic. Her route there runs through the kitchen, the bathroom cabinet and even the underwear drawer.

Most health kicks fade after a season. Bosworth’s plan avoids calorie counting entirely, and its final week turns your favorite foods into a test only your own body can grade.

Bosworth’s story begins in doctors’ offices where she was told her body was fine and her heart was the problem. The book’s answer is that she was right to keep asking. Her symptoms made sense once she saw the gut, the brain and the vagina as one system, with the gut’s bacteria at its base and the other two organs reacting to every change.

That changes your role. You become the person who keeps the record, makes the connections and runs the experiments, while doctors become partners you are allowed to question. The habits that follow are modest. Keep a journal of symptoms, meals and medicines, and bring it, with your questions in order, to the next appointment. Add a plant food that feeds good bacteria and a fermented food to your week. When you feel ready, choose a start date for the five weeks, and pay closest attention at the end, when old favorites return and your body gives its verdict.

Bosworth reduces it all to trust, understanding and steady effort. A symptom written on paper is harder to dismiss than one recalled from memory, and that is where being heard begins.

About this book

What is this book about?

For years Lo Bosworth lived with depression, constant bloating, deep fatigue, panic attacks and infections that kept coming back. Doctors and friends told her it was the emotional fallout of a breakup. She was sure the cause was physical, and she kept looking until she found an explanation that made sense to her: the gut, the brain and the vagina work as one linked system, which she calls the GBV axis. In Bosworth's account, when the bacteria in the gut fall out of balance, the trouble can spread to the brain as fog and low mood and to the vagina as yeast and urinary infections. She explains how the three organs talk to each other, what foods and habits feed the good bacteria, and which everyday products and choices work against them. Readers get a method for being heard in the doctor's office, built on a symptom journal and the confidence to push back. They also get a five-week reset to repeat every few months, moving from cutting irritants to adding nourishing foods and finally testing which old favorites the body still accepts.

Book Information

Rating:

Genre:

Health & Nutrition

Topics:

Microbiome, Nutrition, Women’s Health

Publisher:

HarperCollins

Language:

English

Narrator:

Ethan

First published:

December 27, 2022

Pages:

272

Length:

11 min 27 sec

Get the book:

Amazon

Who it's for

  • Women with dismissed symptoms

    Women whose bloating, fatigue or repeat infections keep getting dismissed as stress or hormones.

  • Suspecting food affects mood

    Anyone with brain fog or low mood who suspects their diet plays a part and wants a structured plan.

  • Wanting a gentle reset

    Busy people who want a gentle, repeatable reset rather than a strict diet.

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About the Author

Lo Bosworth

Lauren "Lo" Bosworth first became known on MTV's Laguna Beach and its follow-up, The Hills. In 2016, after health problems that drugstore products and prescriptions failed to fix, she founded the body care brand Love Wellness, which she leads as CEO and which now covers vaginal health, gut health and ingestible beauty. She studied at the University of California, Los Angeles, and holds a culinary arts qualification from The International Culinary Institute.

Ratings & Reviews

Ratings at a glance

3.5

Overall score based on 21 ratings.

What people think

Listeners find that the author’s honest and charming delivery simplifies complicated health subjects, especially for individuals just starting to explore women’s wellness. Although views differ regarding the scientific depth of certain nutritional suggestions, many listeners value how the text clarifies the relationship among the gut, brain, and hormones. Furthermore, they appreciate the practical five-week strategy and nutritious recipes, as one listener pointed out that the guide at last explained the connection between their digestive and hormonal issues. Listeners also highlight the motivating spirit of the work, describing it as a helpful introduction for anyone seeking to adopt an anti-inflammatory way of life.

Top reviews

Watcharin

Finally got around to reading Lo's book and I’m so glad I did because it finally connected the dots between my gut issues and my monthly hormonal breakouts. The way she explains the gut-brain-body connection is super accessible for someone who isn’t a science whiz. I’ve always found medical jargon intimidating, but her candid voice made the five-week plan feel like something I could actually tackle without losing my mind. The recipes are surprisingly tasty and don't require a million obscure ingredients. While some might find the lifestyle changes intense, I felt incredibly empowered by the idea that I have some control over my inflammatory responses. It’s not just about looking good; it’s about feeling functional and vibrant from the inside out. Truly a great manual for women's wellness.

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Tanyaporn

As someone who has grappled with PCOS for years, seeing the link between my gut and my hormones explained so simply was a total revelation for my daily routine. I’ve read a lot of wellness books, but Lo’s candid approach makes everything feel much more attainable. The anti-inflammatory diet she suggests isn't just a list of 'don'ts'—it’s a holistic way of looking at how we fuel ourselves. I especially loved the section on how our brain health is tied to our digestion; it explains so much about my own brain fog! Truth is, I started the five-week plan last month and I’ve already noticed a massive shift in my mood and skin clarity. It’s a beautiful, empowering guide that actually gives you the tools to take your health into your own hands.

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Kwan

Wow, I didn't expect to feel so seen by a wellness guide written by a former reality star, but Lo really delivered here. One of my favorite lines was, “No one else can or should love you as well as you love yourself,” and that sentiment really echoes through every chapter. After years of struggling with undiagnosed digestive issues, this book gave me the vocabulary to finally understand what was happening to my body. The five-week guide is practical and the science-based foundation—while simplified—is a great starting point for anyone feeling lost in the health world. It’s empowering, informative, and honestly, just a really beautiful book to have on your shelf. I’ve already recommended it to my mom and sister because we share so many of the same health struggles.

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Fang

This book provides such a clear roadmap for anyone struggling with those mysterious 'low energy' days that doctors often dismiss as just being part of being a woman. Personally, I found the 5-week guide to be a total game-changer for my digestive health. The specific focus on how our hormones are influenced by what we eat was eye-opening, and I appreciated the focus on functional self-care. I did find the sections on cutting out caffeine and gluten a bit daunting—who really wants to give up their morning latte? However, the recipes provided actually make the transition easier than I expected. Lo’s perspective is refreshing because she’s been through the ringer with her own health, which makes her advice feel more like a recommendation from a friend than a lecture from a doctor.

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Mattanee

Lo Bosworth writes with a candid, relatable energy that makes you feel like you’re just chatting with a friend over a green juice. I enjoyed how she broke down the complex relationship between the gut and the brain, making it feel less like a biology textbook and more like a lifestyle manual. The 5-week plan is quite structured, which I found helpful, though the suggestion for cold showers was a bridge too far for me! I’m still working through the recipes, but so far, everything has been delicious and relatively simple to prepare. My only real gripe is that I wish there was a bit more information about how she developed her own brand's products, as I was curious about her specific involvement in those formulations.

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Varinee

Ever wonder why you feel so bloated and tired despite 'eating healthy' according to the standard food pyramid? This book answers those questions by diving deep into the science of inflammation and how it affects the female body specifically. It’s an informative primer for those looking to implement a more holistic lifestyle. The instructions are clear, and the tone is incredibly encouraging throughout. In my experience, most wellness books are either too dry or too fluffy, but Lo finds a nice middle ground here. I did find the 5-week plan a bit overwhelming to implement all at once, so I’ve been taking it one step at a time. The connection between digestive issues and hormonal health is something we don't talk about enough, and I’m glad this book shines a light on it.

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Monthon

Picked this up because I’ve been dealing with digestive issues and wanted a holistic perspective that didn't feel too clinical. Lo’s candid style is perfect for this; she doesn't pretend to be a doctor, but she shares what worked for her in a way that’s very compelling. The link between the gut, brain, and hormones is fascinating and she breaks it down into actionable steps. Not gonna lie, the five-week plan is a commitment, and you definitely have to be ready to change your lifestyle. I’m still on week three, but I’m already feeling more balanced. The recipes are a great bonus, and I love that they actually taste good. It’s a solid, engaging read for anyone looking to understand their body better.

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Daranee

The chapter on the microbiome was definitely the highlight for me, but the rest felt a bit repetitive if you already follow wellness influencers. To be fair, I already listen to a ton of podcasts on this topic and subscribe to Sakara, so I might not be the target audience for this primer. Lo Bosworth is clearly passionate, and her writing style is engaging, yet I felt some of the advice relied a bit too much on certain controversial figures like Mark Hyman. There is some good stuff in here regarding an anti-inflammatory lifestyle, but you have to be able to parse out the hard facts from the more 'woo-woo' suggestions. It’s a decent introductory guide for those new to the scene, but seasoned wellness junkies won't find anything groundbreaking or revolutionary here.

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Gift

Look, I’m an aspiring dietitian, so some of the gluten-shaming in here really rubbed me the wrong way during my reading session. For most people, gluten isn't the enemy, and labeling it as such can lead to some pretty disordered eating habits. That being said, there are some great recipes in the back and the general advice on reducing processed sugars is solid. Lo’s voice is engaging, and she’s clearly done a lot of her own research into functional medicine. I just wish she had consulted with more traditional medical experts to balance out the naturopathic perspectives. If you can take the dietary 'rules' with a grain of salt, there’s some interesting information about the gut-brain axis that is worth exploring. Just don't feel like you have to follow it 100% to see results.

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Grace

Not what I expected from someone I’ve followed since the Laguna Beach days, and frankly, I was disappointed by the lack of scientific rigor. While I appreciate Lo’s vulnerability about her own health journey, the reliance on naturopathic doctors and sources like the EWG felt a bit shaky to me. What really bothered me were the comments regarding pregnancy and diet; telling women that 'junk' food will ruin their baby or that supplements are a magic fix for conception issues feels borderline irresponsible. It creates so much unnecessary guilt for mothers. There are some okay tips about hydration and sleep, but they are buried under layers of pseudoscience and restrictive dietary advice that just isn't sustainable for most people. I’d suggest skipping this one and talking to a registered dietitian instead.

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Questions about this book

GBV stands for gut, brain and vagina. Lo Bosworth argues these three organs are linked through the nervous, immune and endocrine systems, so each does well only when the others are in order. She sees the gut’s bacteria as the foundation. When they fall out of balance, she says, the gut becomes porous, the blood-brain barrier can weaken, and signals between gut and vaginal bacteria can set off yeast overgrowth and infections.

She recommends observing your body closely and reading about your symptoms before visits, bringing any supporting research. Keep a written symptom journal and list your questions in order of importance. Feel free to disagree, and ask for a specialist when a test is refused. If you are called hormonal or overthinking, ask for more information right away, and if the dismissal continues, look for another doctor.

It is a gentle reset to repeat every few months, without calorie counting. Week one cuts back caffeine and sets regular meals, sleep, supplements, exercise and daily cold showers. Week two removes gluten, alcohol and ultra-processed food. Week three adds colorful plant foods and gut-friendly carbohydrates. Week four focuses on anti-inflammatory fats and proteins. Week five brings back small amounts of caffeine and sugar to see what your body tolerates.

Bosworth points to prebiotic foods that feed good bacteria, such as asparagus, bananas, dandelion greens, leeks and garlic, and to probiotic fermented foods such as kimchi, kefir, miso and sauerkraut. She also suggests more fiber and water, organic produce where possible, and fewer parabens and microplastics. In her reset, white carbohydrates like whole potatoes, rice, bananas and white beans are chosen because they feed good bacteria.

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