The New Science of Gut Health and Peak Performance with Dr Megan Rossi

Sleep, travel, and the gut are performance variables, not just wellness trends. In this episode, gut-health scientist and clinician Dr Megan Rossi, (The Gut Health Doctor), joins Georgie to connect the gut–brain axis to training quality, recovery, and race-day consistency. We dig into why even two or three nights of poor sleep can shift the microbiome and how supporting your gut can, in turn, improve sleep, cognition, and decision-making under pressure.

For athletes and high performers on the move, Megan, who leads research at King’s College London investigating nutrition-based therapies, breaks down the “Mile-High IBS Club”: why cabin pressure amplifies gas and bloating, how to adjust fibre/FODMAP load 24–48 hours pre-flight, what to choose in-flight, and the post-landing reset (movement, breathwork, sleep hygiene). She flags red-flags you mustn’t ignore (Bristol stool changes, blood, persistent new bloating), the rise of bowel cancer in younger adults, and why early checks protect long careers.

We separate signal from noise on trending hacks: “internal shower” drinks vs evidence-backed psyllium, freezing bread for resistant starch, dark chocolate polyphenols for brain blood flow, and smart “fibre-maxing” that won’t derail training. Plus: IBS vs coeliac (why to keep gluten in before testing), the estrobolome and midlife body-composition shifts (with a nod to strength training and protein distribution), and antibiotics—when they’re essential, how they disrupt the gut, and guideline-based ways to protect and then rebuild with diverse whole foods (Megan’s Super Six).

Actionable science for better training, travel, and recovery.

Resources:

The FODMAP Diet

https://theguthealthdoctor.com/the-lowdown-on-the-low-fodmap-diet

The Bristol Stool Form Scale

https://theguthealthdoctor.com/dont-be-fooled-by-your-stool-how-to-check-in-with-your-poop

________________________________

The ainslie + ainslie Performance People podcast talks to high-performers in the world of sport and beyond, to bring defining moments, hard-earned insights and expert advice to everyday performance. New episodes every Tuesday.

ainslie + ainslie NIGHT POWDER, winner of Best Sleep Supplement in the GQ Sleep Awards 2025.

We love performance, which is why we’ve launched ainslie + ainslie – the first supplement brand to be developed inside elite sport. Now available for everyone. Find out more at www.ainslieainslie.com

________________________________

Connect with Performance People

Hit subscribe today for the latest. 

🎧 Spotify/Apple Music

http://www.performancepeoplepodcast.com/

https://www.instagram.com/performance.people/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.