The Energy Balance Podcast EB 2: Gut and Digestion Part 1: Our Gut and Energy Balance
Apr 6, 2020
The podcast delves into ideal gut function for humans, differences between human and ape guts, harmful compounds in foods, and the impact of plant compounds on gut health. It also discusses why conventionally 'healthy' foods may be detrimental to our guts, offering insights on maintaining gut health for overall well-being and energy balance.
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Fast, Efficient Gut Conserves Energy
- Human gut aims for fast digestion, rapid absorption, and quick elimination to conserve energy for other organs.
- A slow, energy-intensive gut from hard-to-digest foods reduces whole-body energy availability.
Stomach Acidity Suggests Meat Adaptation
- Human stomach acidity resembles scavengers/carnivores and helps digest protein and kill microbes.
- This acidic trait differs from great apes and implies capacity for animal foods.
Fermentation Fats Power Many Mammals
- Small intestine handles absorption; large intestine specializes in fermentation into short-chain fatty acids.
- Even herbivorous mammals get much of their calories from fermentation-derived fats.