Plant Powered Plus Review: The Missing Science Behind Why Your Ferments Actually Work

Dr. Bulsiewicz's Fiber Fueled sequel finally explains the gut-immune-inflammation connection that fermenters have been experiencing for years—and what it means for your healing journey.

Meta Description: Honest Plant Powered Plus review from a fermenter's perspective. Dr. Bulsiewicz's new book explains why fermented foods reduce inflammation—and how to apply it to your gut healing journey.

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#Quick Take: Who This Book Is Actually For

Plant Powered Plus is Dr. Will Bulsiewicz's follow-up to Fiber Fueled, and it's not another "eat more vegetables" book. It's a 412-page deep dive into the gut-immune connection that explains why fermented foods reduce inflammation throughout your body—not just in your gut.

This book is for you if:

• You've been fermenting for months and noticed real changes but can't explain the science
• You're dealing with chronic inflammation (autoimmune conditions, skin issues, fibromyalgia, metabolic problems)
• You want to understand mechanisms, not just protocols
• You're ready for something with actual scientific depth (1,000+ references)

It's probably not for you if:

• You want fermentation recipes (it doesn't teach you how to ferment)
• You're looking for a quick weekend read
• You prefer simple "do this, get that" instructions without the why

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#My Problem With Most Gut Health Books

I've been making L. reuteri yogurt daily for over a year now. My psoriasis has cleared dramatically. The fibromyalgia pain that used to paralyze me? Manageable. My inflammation markers have dropped. I lost significant weight without trying.

And for most of that time, I couldn't really explain why.

I knew fermented foods helped. I knew probiotics mattered. I knew gut health was connected to inflammation. But the actual mechanisms? The specific pathways? Why some people respond dramatically while others see modest improvements? That stuff remained fuzzy.

Most gut health books either dumb things down too much ("eat more fiber!") or get so lost in academic jargon that you can't translate it to actual practice. I wanted something in between—something that respected my intelligence but also gave me actionable understanding.

Plant Powered Plus is that book.

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#What Dr. B Actually Covers (Beyond the Marketing Blurbs)

Dr. Will Bulsiewicz—Dr. B as everyone calls him—is a board-certified gastroenterologist who's seen over 100,000 patients. He's not a wellness influencer who read some studies. He's trained at Vanderbilt, Georgetown, Northwestern, and UNC. His research has been cited over 5,000 times. The guy knows what he's talking about.

Here's what Dr. Bulsiewicz's new book actually delivers:

#The Three-Layer Defense System

This was the most useful framework for me. Dr. B explains that your body has three interconnected layers of defense against inflammation:

1. Your gut microbiome – the trillions of bacteria that process what you eat
2. Your gut barrier – the physical wall that decides what gets into your bloodstream
3. Your immune system – 70% of which lives in your gut

When one layer fails, the others compensate—until they can't anymore. And that's when chronic inflammation becomes chronic disease.

What clicked for me: this explains why healing isn't linear. Some weeks my psoriasis flares even though I'm doing everything right. The three-layer model explains why—stress might compromise my gut barrier even when my microbiome is thriving, creating temporary inflammation spikes.

#The Gut-Immune Connection

Here's the insight that changed how I think about my daily SIBO yogurt ritual:

Your gut microbiome doesn't just digest food. It trains your immune system. Specific bacterial strains produce metabolites—like short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) including butyrate—that literally teach your immune cells how to respond to threats.

When your microbiome is depleted (thanks, antibiotics and processed food), your immune system becomes dysregulated. It starts attacking things it shouldn't—your own tissues, harmless foods, environmental particles. This is the root of autoimmune conditions, allergies, and chronic inflammatory diseases. It's also what researchers now call "leaky gut"—when the gut barrier breaks down and allows inflammatory compounds into the bloodstream.

Fermented foods help by reintroducing beneficial bacteria that produce anti-inflammatory compounds and retrain your confused immune system. This is why I'm meticulous about my probiotic starter cultures—the strains matter.

#Chronotherapy: The When Matters Too

This section surprised me. Dr. B dedicates significant attention to when you eat, not just what you eat.

Your gut microbiome has its own circadian rhythm. Different bacterial populations dominate at different times of day. Your intestinal permeability changes throughout your sleep-wake cycle. Even your immune responses follow predictable patterns.

The practical implication: timing your fermented food consumption can amplify or diminish its effects. Eating your probiotic-rich foods at consistent times may help optimize their impact on microbiome diversity.

I've started being more intentional about when I eat my L. reuteri yogurt (morning, with my muesli base), and while I can't prove causation, things feel more... stable.

#The Four Pillars of Anti-Inflammatory Eating

Dr. B identifies four foundational components of a plant-based anti-inflammatory diet:

1. Fiber – fuel for beneficial bacteria to produce short-chain fatty acids
2. Polyphenols – compounds in colorful plants that reduce oxidative stress
3. Healthy fats – omega-3s that modulate inflammatory pathways
4. Fermented foods – live microorganisms that diversify your microbiome

None of this is revolutionary if you've been paying attention. But what is valuable is how he explains the interactions between these pillars. Polyphenols from vegetables become more bioavailable when your fiber-fed bacteria help process them. Healthy fats support the gut barrier that fermented foods are trying to heal.

It's systems thinking, not single-ingredient reductionism.

#Community and Connection

This section caught me off guard in a gut health book.

Dr. B presents research showing that social isolation produces inflammatory responses comparable to physical injury. Loneliness activates the same immune pathways as infection. Connection and community—including shared meals and food traditions—aren't just nice-to-haves; they're biological necessities for controlling inflammation.

It made me think about why Fermentfulness exists at all. There's something about sharing this journey—the wins, the failures, the "is this supposed to smell like that?" moments—that matters beyond just exchanging information.

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#How Plant Powered Plus Compares to Fiber Fueled

Since this is the Fiber Fueled sequel, you might wonder how the two books differ:

If you haven't read Fiber Fueled, you can start with Plant Powered Plus—but the first book provides helpful foundational context. If you've already read Fiber Fueled and want to go deeper into the inflammation-immune connection, this sequel delivers.

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#What the Book Does Really Well

#It's Not Dumbed Down

Dr. B respects your intelligence. He explains actual biochemistry—how short-chain fatty acids like butyrate signal to immune cells, how the mucus layer interacts with bacterial populations, how specific bacterial strains produce specific anti-inflammatory metabolites.

But he does it accessibly. You don't need a biology degree. You need curiosity and patience.

#The P3 Protocol Is Customizable

The book's three-phase protocol (hence "P3") isn't a rigid prescription. It's designed to be adapted based on your specific situation:

• Phase 1: Understand yourself, gently initiate healing, establish sustainable habits
• Phase 2: Balanced dietary expansion, addressing deficiencies, progress over perfection
• Phase 3: Gut-immune optimization, empowered gut health, building resilience

Each phase includes adjustable guidelines, weekly meal plans, and daily checklists. You're not following someone else's protocol—you're building your own based on the principles.

#Evidence Density

1,000+ scientific references. This isn't speculation dressed up as science. When Dr. B makes a claim, there's research behind it.

That matters because the gut health space is full of confident claims with weak evidence. Plant Powered Plus is refreshingly rigorous.

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#What It Doesn't Do

#No Fermentation Techniques

If you want to learn how to make sauerkraut, kimchi, or L. reuteri yogurt, this book won't teach you. It explains why these foods matter for inflammation, not how to produce them.

That's not a criticism—it's just a scope limitation. Think of this as the science companion to your fermentation practice, not a replacement for technique-focused resources.

#Plant-Focused Approach

Dr. B advocates for plant-forward eating. If you're committed to a primarily animal-based approach, some of the dietary recommendations may not align with your framework.

That said, the inflammation science applies regardless of your dietary philosophy. Understanding how your gut modulates immune function is useful even if you'd implement it differently.

#It's a Commitment

412 pages of substantive content. This isn't a book you finish in a weekend. I've been working through it for weeks, and I'm still finding sections I want to revisit.

For some people, that's a feature. For others, it's a barrier. Know what you're signing up for.

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#How Plant Powered Plus Changed My Thinking

#I Finally Understand Why Fermentation Works

For three years, I've been making fermented foods because they seemed to help. Now I understand the mechanisms—how bacteriocins from L. reuteri create antimicrobial effects, how diverse bacterial populations produce metabolites that signal to immune cells, how the gut barrier's integrity determines systemic inflammation levels.

This isn't just intellectual satisfaction. It helps me troubleshoot when things aren't working. If my inflammation spikes despite consistent fermentation, I can think through which layer of defense might be compromised and adjust accordingly.

#The Connection Between Everything Makes More Sense

Psoriasis. Fibromyalgia. SIBO. Histamine intolerance. These seemed like separate problems requiring separate solutions. Dr. B's framework shows how they all connect through gut-immune dysfunction.

This doesn't mean one approach fixes everything. But it does mean addressing root causes—gut health, microbiome diversity, gut barrier function—can create cascading improvements across seemingly unrelated conditions.

#I'm More Patient With My Healing

Understanding the three-layer defense system taught me that healing isn't linear because biology isn't linear. Setbacks don't mean failure; they mean one layer is under stress while others compensate.

This has made me less reactive to bad days and more consistent with long-term practices. The science supports persistence.

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#Who Dr. B Is (For Context)

In case you're unfamiliar: Dr. Will Bulsiewicz is a gastroenterologist, not a diet guru. He:

• Graduated from Georgetown University School of Medicine
• Completed chief residency at Northwestern Memorial Hospital
• Was chief gastroenterology fellow at UNC
• Has published 25+ peer-reviewed papers in journals like Gastroenterology and Nature Medicine
• Is the New York Times bestselling author of Fiber Fueled and The Fiber Fueled Cookbook
• Co-founded 38TERA to develop microbiome-supportive supplements

He's credentialed in ways that matter. This isn't someone who watched a documentary and started a podcast.

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#My Honest Assessment

#What I Loved

• The depth. Finally, a gut health book that doesn't patronize readers.
• The framework. The three-layer defense system is genuinely useful for understanding why things work (or don't).
• The integration. It connects diet, lifestyle, community, and biology in ways that feel true to lived experience.
• The evidence. 1,000+ references means you can verify claims yourself if you're skeptical.

#What I Would Have Liked

• More on specific fermented foods. Given the book's emphasis on fermentation as one of four pillars, I wanted more detail on which fermented foods produce which specific benefits.
• More case studies. Dr. B references his clinical experience, but concrete patient stories would have made the science more vivid.
• A shorter companion guide. For people who want the essentials without the full 412-page commitment.

#Bottom Line

If you're serious about understanding the gut-inflammation connection and you're willing to invest real time in learning, Plant Powered Plus is one of the best resources available. It's the scientific backbone for the fermentation practice you're already building.

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#How This Fits Into Your Fermentation Journey

Reading Plant Powered Plus made me appreciate what we're doing here at Fermentfulness in a new way.

When I make my daily L. reuteri yogurt, I'm not just following a protocol—I'm nurturing a specific bacterial strain that produces histamine through H2 receptor pathways (which, paradoxically, reduces inflammation). I'm boosting oxytocin production, which supports muscle maintenance and wound healing. I'm contributing to the bacterial diversity that trains my immune system.

When I eat long-fermented sauerkraut from my E-Jen container, I'm introducing diverse lactobacillus strains that produce bacteriocins and short-chain fatty acids. I'm feeding my gut barrier the compounds it needs to stay intact. I'm adding polyphenols that become more bioavailable through bacterial processing.

The fermentation isn't random. It's targeted intervention for a biological system I now understand better.

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#Equipment and Supplements That Support This Approach

If Dr. B's framework resonates with you, here's what I use to implement it:

#For L. Reuteri Yogurt (Probiotic Foundation)

• Anova Precision Cooker Pro – Precise 36-hour temperature control is essential for L. reuteri
• BioGaia Gastrus – Contains both key L. reuteri strains (DSM 17938 + ATCC PTA 6475)

#For Vegetable Ferments (Microbial Diversity)

• E-Jen Fermentation Container – Inner press plate keeps vegetables submerged for consistent fermentation

#Supporting Supplements (From My Current Protocol)

These align with Dr. B's four pillars and supplement stack guidance:

• Sports Research Triple Strength Omega-3 – Anti-inflammatory foundation (triglyceride form for better absorption)
• Solaray Vitamin D3 + K2 – Immune system regulation (vitamin D deficiency is common in chronic inflammatory conditions)
• Doctor's Best Magnesium Glycinate – Supports over 300 enzymatic reactions including those involved in inflammation
• NOW Foods L-Glutamine – Gut barrier support (the enterocytes that line your intestine use glutamine as their primary fuel)

#Additional Gut Support Worth Considering

Dr. B emphasizes that supplementation should complement—not replace—a diverse, fiber-rich diet. That said, a few additional options align well with his framework:

• Jarrow Formulas Prebiotic Inulin FOS – Prebiotic fiber that feeds beneficial bacteria (the "fiber" pillar in supplement form)
• California Gold Nutrition Curcumin C3 Complex – A polyphenol powerhouse with BioPerine for absorption (supports the "polyphenols" pillar)
• Thorne Zinc Picolinate – Essential for gut barrier integrity and immune function

For my complete current protocol, see: What Actually Worked for My Psoriasis & Fibromyalgia in 2025

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#Get the Book

If this review resonated, Plant Powered Plus is available now:

👉 Plant Powered Plus – Hardcover on Amazon

👉 Plant Powered Plus – Kindle Edition on Amazon

The Kindle version is $18.99. Hardcover is more expensive but worth it if you're the type who highlights and dog-ears pages (I am).

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#Frequently Asked Questions

#What is Plant Powered Plus about?

Plant Powered Plus is Dr. Will Bulsiewicz's book explaining the gut-immune connection and how to reduce chronic inflammation through diet, fermented foods, and lifestyle changes using his three-phase P3 Protocol. It focuses on the science behind why gut health affects systemic inflammation.

#Is Plant Powered Plus different from Fiber Fueled?

Yes. While Fiber Fueled focused on fiber and gut microbiome basics, Plant Powered Plus goes deeper into the inflammation-immune connection, chronotherapy (meal timing), supplement stacks, and includes a more advanced three-phase protocol for people dealing with chronic inflammatory conditions.

#Does Plant Powered Plus include recipes?

Yes, it contains 52 recipes developed by registered dietitian EA Stewart, who specializes in nutrition for digestive health and autoimmune disease. The recipes are designed specifically for anti-inflammatory eating and gut healing.

#Who should read Plant Powered Plus?

Anyone dealing with chronic inflammation, autoimmune conditions, skin issues (like psoriasis or eczema), fibromyalgia, IBS, or other gut-related health problems who wants to understand the science—not just follow a protocol blindly. It's also excellent for fermenters who want to understand why their practice works.

#Does the book cover fermented foods?

Fermented foods are one of Dr. B's four pillars of anti-inflammatory eating, and he explains the science behind why they reduce inflammation. However, the book doesn't teach fermentation techniques—for that, you'll need separate resources (like the guides here on Fermentfulness).

#What is the P3 Protocol?

The P3 Protocol is Dr. B's three-phase approach to healing gut-immune dysfunction: Phase 1 focuses on understanding yourself and establishing habits, Phase 2 on dietary expansion and addressing deficiencies, and Phase 3 on gut-immune optimization and building long-term resilience. Each phase is customizable to your specific situation.

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#Related Reading on Fermentfulness

If you're interested in the practical application of these concepts:

L. Reuteri & Gut Healing:

• The Yogurt Awakening: Dr. Davis's L. Reuteri Recipe
• Why Your L. Reuteri Yogurt Isn't Working: 8 Hidden Mistakes
• Dr. Davis SIBO Yogurt Recipe: Triple-Strain Guide

Inflammation & Chronic Conditions:

• DAO Enzymes & The SIBO-Histamine Connection
• What Actually Worked for My Psoriasis & Fibromyalgia in 2025
• The Histamine Paradox: Why L. Reuteri May Help Histamine Intolerance

Fermentation Equipment:

• Anova Sous Vide Comparison Guide
• E-Jen Fermentation Container Review

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Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase through these links, Fermentfulness may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. I only recommend products I personally use and believe in. The book review represents my genuine opinion—I bought my own copy.

Important Disclaimer: This article shares personal experience and publicly available research. It is not medical advice, nor is it intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Always consult with a qualified healthcare provider before making changes to your diet, supplement routine, or treatment plan.