Inflammation & The Gut Barrier with Desiree Nielsen, RD

The gut barrier plays a key role in our immune system and chronic inflammation. Desiree Nielsen, RD and I discuss how important nutrition and lifestyle factors influence our gut barrier and how elimination diets may be bad for our health.

Desiree Nielsen is a registered dietitian, author and host based in Vancouver, British Columbia. She runs a nutrition consulting practice with a focus on inflammation, digestion and plant-centred diets. Desiree is the host of the internationally syndicated cooking show The Urban Vegetarian and the author of a book on anti-inflammatory nutrition called Un-Junk Your Diet: How to shop, cook and eat to fight inflammation and feel better, forever and her new cookbook, Eat More Plants: 100 Anti-inflammatory Plant-centred Recipes for Vibrant Living is a #1 National Bestseller. She co-founded the world's first evidence-based self-management app for celiac disease, My Healthy Gut and is currently working on her third book, a culinary nutrition cookbook focused on gut health.

Desiree and I discuss:

• What is inflammation?
• Why is inflammation a problem?
• What can too much inflammation do to the body?
• What are causes of inflammation? And how is digestive health involved?
• What is the current evidence for diet in playing a role inflammation?
• How does our gut microbiota play a role?
• What is the gut barrier?
• What is leaky gut?
• What happens when it isn't working properly?
• How does this impact our immune system and immune function?
• What should people focus on doing to help reduce their risk of inflammation

You can learn more about Desiree on her website or follow her on Instagram @DesireeNielsenRD