Intro

This chapter delves into the contrasting microbiomes of males and females, focusing on changes during puberty and menopause. It also covers the effects of gut health on mood and fertility, and offers practical tips for enhancing gut health through fermented foods.

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Your gut isn't just about what you eat.

It’s about how you live, love, feel, and breathe.

In this episode of Live Well Be Well, I sit down with Emily Leeming, PhD, gut-brain researcher at King's College London and registered nutritionist whose work bridges the gap between cutting-edge microbiome science and practical wellness, to uncover the hidden forces shaping your microbiome. We go far beyond food and supplements to explore how hormones, intimacy, stress, and human connection are quietly reshaping your gut health every single day.

Emily reveals why men and women have fundamentally different gut microbiomes, how a 10-second kiss transfers 80 million microbes between partners, and why stress, trauma, and even loneliness might impact your gut health more than any probiotic.

This isn't about achieving perfect gut health. It's about understanding that your microbiome is alive, responsive, and deeply interconnected with how you feel, relate, and move through the world.

In this conversation, we explore:

• Why men and women experience gut health differently

• How estrogen fluctuations and menopause alter women's gut diversity

• Why testosterone and sperm quality are linked to gut health in men

• The surprising ways sex and cohabitation change your microbiome

• How stress, loneliness, and trauma can shrink your microbiome

• The emerging connections between ADHD, autism, and gut-brain signaling

• Why breathwork is one of the most underrated tools for gut health

• The truth about commercial gut testing versus listening to your body

• What stool reveals that gut tests don’t

• The role of polyphenols, fibre & fermented foods in microbial diversity

• How gardening, touch, and community naturally diversify your microbes

You'll leave with a completely reframed understanding of gut health. One that honors the emotional, social, and hormonal dimensions of wellness alongside the nutritional ones.

Love,

Sarah Ann 💛

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If you enjoyed this episode, you might also like:

How to Heal IBS, Improve Gut Health & Fix Digestive Issues | Sarah Macklin⁠

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VC2KP3FaZZk⁠

The Gut-Mind Doctor: The Mind & Food Strategies That Can Heal Your Gut Microbiome | Dr. Emeran Mayer

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yL5ZtoJAUBs

The No.1 Oral Microbiome Expert: How Your Mouth Could Be Causing Infertility! | Dr. Katie Lee

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J3BCy4e5co4

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Science Simplified, Health Humanised. Join thousands in exploring actionable insights that prioritise compassion, clarity, and real-life impact. https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/

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Highlights:

Introduction (0:00:00)

Do Men and Women Have Different Microbiomes? (0:00:39)

How Menopause Reshapes The Gut (0:03:31)

Gut Health, Testosterone & Sperm: What Men Should Know (0:09:17)

Can Sex and Intimacy Change Your Microbiome? (0:15:27)

How Loneliness and Stress Affect Gut Health (0:21:41)

Are Gut Tests Worth It? What Your Stool Can Tell You (0:27:26)

Neurodiversity, ADHD & the Gut-Brain Axis (0:37:01)

How Food, Mood & Microbes Interact (0:47:27)

5 Science-Backed Tips for a Healthier Gut (0:52:33)