Andrea speaks to Dr. Amy Killen about why sexual health is the "canary in the coal mine" for larger issues. They discuss the importance of nitric oxide and how what's happening in your mouth directly impacts not only the gut, but also what's going on between the sheets.  This episode is powered by the book, Total Gut Balance by Dr. Mahmoud Ghannoum, now available for Amazon pre-order. 

Dr. Jolene Brighten is on the show for an eye-opening conversation about how birth control, something women have been told is harmless, has far-reaching implications on the microbiome, overall health and future fertility. Along with discussing common issues, Dr. Brighten explains why birth control impacts our microbial communities and gives tips for what to do to minimize symptoms if you’re not ready to stop taking birth control.  Toward the end of the discussion, she switches gears to talk about the microbiome during pregnancy, specifically as it concerns pathogenic strains, such as GBS.  To learn more about Dr. Brighten, visit her website at drbrighten.com This episode of The Microbiome Report is powered by DrMicrobiome.com.  

Nicolas Pineault is the author of the #1 bestselling book The Non-Tinfoil Guide to EMFs and an advocate for safe technologies. On this episode, he talks to Andrea about the buzz around electromagnetic frequencies and whether our technology has the power to impact our microbiome and our overall health.  This episode of The Microbiome Report is powered by BIOHM Health.  

The alcohol in hand sanitizer kills germs, but does that nightly glass of wine or celebratory shot of tequila have the same killer impact on our gut microbes? On this episode, Andrea talks with Ruari Fairbairns, co-founder of One Year No Beer and Biohm resident scientist, Dr. Mahmoud Ghannoum, about the impact of alcohol on the microbiome. This episode is powered by DrMicrobiome.com.  

On this episode, Andrea talks with Dr. Keesha Ewers about a hidden root cause of autoimmune disease: trauma. Dr. Keesha breaks down the difference between little “t” trauma and big “T” trauma, then lays out a path for how to move toward healing from either one. She also gives Andrea insight into why low libido is a huge red flag for deeper issues for the patients she sees and covers the microbiome’s role in libido and desire.   This episode of The Microbiome Report is brought to you by DrMicrobiome.com. 

Are there tangible health benefits to positive thinking? What’s up with the placebo effect? And can simply thinking about being well lead to real wellness? Our guest today, Sandi Scheinbaum, says yes.  A licensed clinical psychologist for over 35 years, Sandi founded of the Functional Medicine Coaching Academy in collaboration with The Institute for Functional Medicine where she trains health coaches on how to use positive psychology to reverse chronic illness. On today’s episode, Andrea talks to Sandi about how we can use our thoughts to drive real physiological changes, such as decreasing inflammation and soothing our guts -- and how our thoughts can also turn against us. They also discuss the placebo effect and the common symptoms that Sandi sees from toxic, negative thinking. Sandi also answers one of Andrea’s burning questions: Do positive mantras work if we don’t believe them? This episode is powered by BIOHM Health.

On this episode, Andrea talks to Dr. Nicole Beurkens, an expert in evaluating and treating a wide range of developmental and mental health issues in children.  They discuss how the majority of patients she sees are dealing with gut issues - even if they’re not exhibiting gut-related symptoms and she seamlessly breaks down how the gut and brain are intricately connected, plus what parents can do to facilitate a healthy gut in their kids.  This episode of The Microbiome Report is powered by drmicrobiome.com, the website of microbiome researcher Dr. Mahmoud Ghannoum. 

On this episode, Andrea talks to Dr. Rachel Fresco, the founder, CEO and chief formulator for Bio-Botanical Research about how herbs provide support for localized and systemic microbial challenges. In this important and winding discussion, they touch on a number of important points, from how to protect yourself against microbial invasions like Lyme disease to how the gut helps with the body’s detoxification and the role of dental health in gut health. This episode of The Microbiome Report is powered by BIOHM Health, a wellness company designed to help you optimize your gut. 

Health insurance and health care in America is expensive and broken. For those of us who are taking care of ourselves and staying out of the doctor’s office, it can feel like we’re paying huge deductibles and premiums…for not much in return. On this episode, James Maskell, founder of Knew Health, talks to Andrea about why functional care isn’t covered, how to get rewarded instead of penalized for taking care of yourself and how you can legally beat the health insurance system while saving thousands of dollars a year. This episode of The Microbiome Report is powered by drmicrobiome.com, a new website featuring the research and advice of microbiome researcher, Dr. Mahmoud Ghannoum. 

Shocking estimates by the American Autoimmune Related Disease Association now say that 20 percent of Americans - that’s 1 in 5 - have an autoimmune disease. But why are these conditions that were once obsolete suddenly so prevalent?  On today’s episode, Andrea sits down with clinical nutritionist Josh Gitalis to talk about what autoimmune disease is, why we’re seeing increases across the board, and how we can prevent autoimmune disease before it takes hold. This episode of The Microbiome Report is powered by BIOHM Health, a wellness company aimed at optimizing your gut health.