Let's Gut Real - Easy to Digest Nutrition Science

Diary is a highly debated food. Does it contain hormones? Does it cause inflammation? This week I interview RD Lauren Twigge on how dairy is shaped by media perception and what the research shows. Lauren Twigge is a Dallas based registered and licensed Dietitian with a Master's degree in Clinical Nutrition and a bachelor's degree in Animal Science. She works in corporate wellness and counsels private clients by day and runs her growing Instagram account by night. Lauren was born and raised in a family of farmers located in central California and is an outspoken supporter of the agricultural industry. Growing up on a dairy and being raised around farming her whole life has given Lauren a unique perspective on food and her passion is to work at the crux of agriculture and human nutrition to fight misinformation and give consumers back their food confidence. We talk about: How Lauren became interested in the field of dietetics Where the fear of dairy comes from Misinformation around agriculture The difference between a dairy intolerance vs allergy Why do we consume dairy / is it good for us? Does dairy cause inflammation? Does dairy cause autoimmune conditions like IBD? Do the hormones in dairy affect my hormones? Does the type of milk I choose matter? (organic, non-GMO, grass fed, etc.) The safety and nutrition of different types of milk on the market Organic vs. conventional dairy Are there antibiotics in milk? Connect with Lauren on Instagram @nutrition.at.its.roots or on her website laurentwiggenutrition.com

Stress has a profound impact on our bodies. It impacts our nervous system by way of altering the gut-brain connection. Some people experience stress in the form of hypermotility (as seen with IBS-D) and other people experience it as hypomotility (as seen with IBS-C). Learning to manage our mindset is a helpful tool which can help improve how we cope with IBS and other digestive symptoms. This week I interview Dr. Parastoo Jangouk on the gut-brain connection and the ways that our mindset perspective influences our intestinal health. Dr Parastoo Jangouk is dual board certified in Gastroenterology, Internal Medicine and a life coach. She has particular interest in gut health, brain-gut interaction, gut microbiome, fitness, weight loss and mindset work. Dr Jangouk incorporates her coaching skills in promoting gut health, weight loss and treating patients with functional gastrointestinal disorders. She authored numerous peer-reviewed publications in prestigious medical journals. She is currently living in Austin, TX where she practices Gastroenterology. We talk about: How Dr. Jangouk became interested in the field of gastroenterology The gut-brain connection The role that hormones play in digestion How our gut microbiome interacts with our gut Where the main source of serotonin production is in our bodies What influences our digestive health and how it impacts our gut microbiome The interaction between our gut and our immune system How stress, what we think about food, and our symptoms influence digestive disorders The difference between circumstances and thoughts How to deal with stressful situations How shifting our thoughts influences our symptom perception and builds resiliency How to shift our mindset perspective and strategies to help resolve unhelpful thoughts Connect with Parastoo on her website at mindgutfitmd.com on Instagram @mindgutfitmd or on Twitter or on her Facebook here as well!

We discuss how under-nourishing, which can arise from restricted eating can lead to slower digestion, exacerbate gut symptoms and lead to further restricted eating patterns. This week I interview Rachael Hartley, fellow digestive health dietician on the intersection between IBS and eating disorders. Rachael Hartley, RD, LD, is a Columbia, SC-based nutrition therapist, certified intuitive eating counselor and nationally-recognized food and nutrition expert who is passionate about helping others rediscover the joy of eating and foster a healthier relationship with food. She is the founder of Rachael Hartley Nutrition, a weight-inclusive practice where she specializes in disordered eating and healing from chronic dieting, IBS and other digestive disorders, and women's health. She also runs the popular blog The Joy of Eating, where she shares practical intuitive eating advice and non-diet recipes and is featured regularly in national media outlets. Rachael also presents regularly about intuitive eating and non-diet nutrition to professional audiences and the general public. We talk about: How Rachael became interested in the field of eating disorders The prevalence of digestive symptoms in eating disorders/disordered eating Some screening/red flags to consider when working with clients with IBS How to treat digestive symptoms in a patient with eating disorders What role does the gut-brain connection play in cases of IBS and eating disorders? What other interventions we can implement that doesn't require restricted eating What is the link between feeling stressed about eating and the reaction our gut experiences as a result of that? Who is a good candidate for low-FODMAP diet? What are the risks of the low-FODMAP diet? Pathologizing bloating What about gut directed hypnotherapy? Does medication have a place in IBS management? Connect with Rachael at https://www.rachaelhartleynutrition.com/my-book-gentle-nutrition or on instagram @rachaelhartleyrd or on her Facebook here as well!

Now more than ever, mental health and behavioral health are important. Working with a GI psychologist is typically short-term, but significantly helpful in improving your quality of life, coping with stress and decreasing the severity of your GI condition. Today, I interview Dr. Megan Riehl who is a GI psychologist who specializes in psychogastroenterology and anxiety related-disorders. She is the Clinical Director of the GI behavioral health program at the University of Michigan and Director of Behavioral Health Services and Support for Gastro Girl, INC., a co-parent owner of GI OnDemand. Dr. Riehl's clinical research focuses on the delivery of GI behavioral health treatment for patients with disorders of the gut-brain and IBD. Dr. Riehl participates on several national committees dedicated to research and education to enhance the psychosocial functioning of patients with gastrointestinal problems. We talk about: how Megan became interested in gastroenterology as a psychologist what is psychogastroenterology? why does psychogastroenterology help digestive disorders? what is the brain-gut connection? how does the brain-gut connection play a role in digestive disorders? how does psychotherapy alter the brain-gut connection? different types of therapy proven to help those with IBS what is the difference between gut-directed hypnotherapy and mindfulness? how does food fears drive symptoms? How does psychogastroenterology help reduce food fears? To learn more, you can follow Megan on twitter @DrRiehl or on Instagram @DrRiehl

IBS doesn't just effect the child, but the whole family. Diet is one tool to help manage this condition in kids, and many times we see the Low FODMAP diet as a first line approach. But should we be using the Low FODMAP diet in kids? Julia Celestini, RD and I discuss how and when to properly use the Low FODMAP diet in paediatrics. Julia is a Registered Dietitian in Ontario, Canada. Julia completed her dietetic training at SickKids hospital in Toronto, Ontario in 2019. SickKids hospital is one of the largest pediatric centres in Canada and uniquely offers a pediatric-focused dietetic internship. Julia is also trained in the low FODMAP diet for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) through Monash University. Following her internship Julia started her own private practice combing her 2 greatest passions - pediatric nutrition and digestive health. She provides family-centred care to infants, children and teenagers with complex gastrointestinal conditions across (most of) the country. She supports her patients in their journey to finding symptom relief and developing a positive relationship with food. Julia and I discuss: IBS in kids – what is the prevalence and impact What is a FODMAP & the low FODMAP diet? Is the low FODMAP diet appropriate in kids? What to consider before the low FODMAP diet in kids? How to implement the low FODMAP diet for kids? Can we use a modified low FODMAP diet in kids with success? What other non-food things can we do to manage IBS in kids without using the low FODMAP diet? How can practitioners talk about digestive symptoms with kids & teens? Where are kids getting nutrition information from? Why is helping children develop a healthy relationship with food in gut disorders important? Connect with Julia at https://juliacelestini.com or on Instagram @happybelliesnutrition. You can join Julia's Low FODMAP for Kids Facebook Group here as well!

Dr Megan Rossi, also known as The Gut Health Doctor, is a Registered Dietitian and Nutritionist with an award-winning PhD in gut health, as well as the author of Love Your Gut, an easy-to-digest lifestyle guide to gut health and beyond, coming out in the US in January 2021. Megan is considered one of the most influential gut health specialists internationally and her PhD was recognised for its contribution to science receiving the Dean's Award for outstanding research. As a leading Research Fellow at King's College London, Megan is currently investigating nutrition-based therapies in gut health, including prebiotics, probiotics, dietary fibres, plant-based diversity, the low-FODMAP diet and food additives, as well as having set up The Gut Health Clinic, where she leads a team of gut-specialist dietitians to make an evidence-based approach more accessible. More recently, Megan has created her own gut health food company, Bio&Me, to bridge the gap between science and food industry. Frustrated that her research findings weren't reaching the public, and instead seeing fad and potentially dangerous misinformation on gut health being spread, Megan took to social media to share credible information and science-based advice, building an active community with over 245,000 of people so far. Megan has also been recognised as Business Insider's Top 100 Coolest People in Food & Drink and was named Young Australian Achiever of the Year in the UK 2020. Megan and I discuss: How she became interested in digestive health and the gut microbiome Probiotics – when should I take them? Fermented foods and our health Is sugar bad for gut health? What does candida do in our gut? Is it bad for us? Her top tips for a healthy gut Connect with Megan at www.theguthealthdoctor.com. Or on Instagram or Facebook @TheGutHealthDoctor

The amount of stigma there is around non-structural disease (like IBS) has a fair amount of history - dating all the way back to the 17th century! Dr. Drossman has led the field pioneering the Rome Foundation, and how we not only diagnose and treat disorders of the gut brain interaction (formally known as functional gut disorders), but more importantly, how we treat patients. Dr. Drossman received his M.D. degree at Albert Einstein College of Medicine and subspecialized in biopsychosocial medicine and Gastroenterology. He received his gastroenterology training at the University of North Carolina where he founded the UNC for Functional GI and Motility Disorders. Currently he is Professor Emeritus of Medicine and Psychiatry in Gastroenterology at UNC. He is a Fellow of the American College of Physicians, a Master of the American College of Gastroenterology, Past-President of the American Psychosomatic Society (1997) and Founder and President of the Rome Foundation for 29 years. In addition, he founded the Drossman Center for the Education and Practice of Biopsychosocial Care as an entity to help train physicians in relationship-centered biopsychosocial care with an emphasis on communication skills and enhancing the patient-doctor relationship. Dr. Drossman and I talk about: Dr. Drossman's background and how he became involved in neurogastroenterology why did we shift from 'functional gut disorders' to 'disorders of the gut-brain interaction' and why is this important? what is 'mind body dualism' and how has it influenced medicine and patient care? how has the field of neurogastroenterology evolved? how does this shift in approach help us to provide better care and interventions for patients & improving the patient doctor relationship? what types of therapies are evidence-based to help treat DGBI's Dr. Drossman's tips for health care providers improve relationships with their patients to provide good quality care You can learn more about Dr. Drossman and pick up a copy of his amazing new book, 'Gut Feelings- Disorders of the Gut Brain Interaction and the Patient-Doctor Relationship

Is dysbiosis fact or fiction? And can we use the information we have about the gut microbiome to diagnose and treat disease? In this episode of Let's Gut Real I interview Gabrielle Fundaro, PhD on more deeply understanding gut microbiome science, and how practitioners and clinicians need to communicate that science in a connective way for their patients. Gabrielle Fundaro holds a PhD in Human Nutrition, Foods, and Exercise from Virginia Tech as well as a BS in Exercise, Sport, and Health Education from Radford University. She is an ACE-certified Health Coach with both Monash Low-FODMAP and ISSN Sport Nutritionist certifications and provides client-centered coaching and consulting telehealth services via Vitamin PhD Nutrition that focus both on gastrointestinal disorders and health behavior change. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, reading, spending time with my dogs, and lifting weights. In this episode, Gabrielle and I chat about: Her research with the gut microbiome and lipopolysaccharides (LPS) How do we define gut health? Dysbiosis – what is it? Is there a diagnostic test? The problems with this? Why do you see patients gravitate towards gut microbiota tests and other gut health tests that aren't validated? How do we find the balance between discussing science and connecting with patients? Can the results of 1 study to provide health interventions? Red flags & green flags to watch out for when reading about the gut microbiome on the internet How health care providers need to do a better job at communicating and connecting with their patients -and how to do that! To learn more from Gabrielle, follow her on Instagram @vitaminphd or visit her website at www.vitaminphdnutrition.com

What are some conditions that look a lot like irritable bowel syndrome? Kate explores conditions that can masquerade as IBS and often lead to prolonged digestive symptoms! Kate Scarlata, MPH, RDN, LDN is a Boston-based dietitian with 30 years of experience. Kate's expertise is in gastrointestinal disorders and food intolerance, with a particular focus on the application of the low FODMAP diet for functional gut disorders. She was awarded the Outstanding Massachusetts Dietitian Award and recognized as Boston's Best Dietitian by Boston Magazine. Kate is the author of numerous books and articles on digestive health topics including the New York Times Best Seller, The 21 Day Tummy Diet. Her latest book is The Low FODMAP Diet Step by Step. Kate completed her postgraduate training at Brigham and Women's Hospital, a Harvard Medical School teaching affiliate. Kate and I talked about the conditions typically on the radar which include: Inflammatory bowel disease Celiac disease Colorectal Cancer Microscopic Colitis And then we get into conditions not typically on the radar, which include: GI infections Mast cell activation syndrome Milk protein intolerance SIBO Sucrase isomaltase deficiency (CSID) And also discuss the importance of recognizing that IBS is a very real condition that has several excellent management options too! If you don't already follow Kate, you should she is on Instagram @katescarlata and on Twitter @KateScarlata_RD: and can learn more at katescarlata.com

Food made in a lab using microbes? It's happening now! New tech can be scary and none of us are immune to being mislead or adopting a belief based on misinformation. In this episode Chana Davis, PhD and I discuss new and exciting food technology using microbes, and how improving scientific literacy can help to shape the conversation around food technology! We talk about: How Chana got involved in science communication What is a critical thinking mindset? How do you get one? How to find credible sources of information? What are the limitations of science? Why science isn't perfect How can we 'pressure test' the news? What is 'food tech'? How do microbes help us in making food and food ingredients? What's the future of our food? Plant based diets and the movement towards new food technology for sustainability and increasing options for different dietary patterns Why food technology isn't something to be afraid of Molecular diagnostics – what is it? To learn more about Chana, here are her social links! Website & Newsletter: https://fueledbyscience.com/ Social: Instagram, Twitter, Facebook (@fueledbyscience) Get Real Health Podcast & YouTube