Let's Gut Real - Easy to Digest Nutrition Science

In this episode of Let's Gut Real, I interview Colin Hill Ph.D on how our microbiome develops, the role it plays in our health, current research limitations and mistakes we make when looking at the gut microbiome, and things we can get excited about for future research. Colin Hill has a Ph.D in molecular microbiology and is Professor of Microbiology at University College Cork, Ireland. His main interests are in infectious disease, particularly in the role of the gut microbiome in protecting against microbial infections. He is also a Principal Investigator in APC Microbiome Ireland in Cork, a large Science Foundation Ireland supported research centre working with industry devoted to the study of the role of the gut microbiota in health and disease. In 2005 Prof. Hill was awarded a Doctor of Science by the National University of Ireland in recognition of his contributions to research. In 2009 he was elected to the Royal Irish Academy and in 2010 he received the Metchnikoff Prize in Microbiology and was elected to the American Academy of Microbiology. More than 75 students have done their PhD's in his laboratory. He has published more than 550 papers and holds 25 patents. We talk about The evolution of humans and microbes Why you 'get the microbiome you deserve' How will we define a healthy microbiome, what are the limitations? Thoughts on commercial kits – can we really interpret them in individual care? Getting back to what Mother Nature has given us as a form of drug therapy by way of using microbes and microbial chemicals to treat disease To learn more about Colin Hill, see his research at University College Cork or follow him on Twitter

Bile acid diarrhea is a common cause of diarrhea in patients with IBS and IBD. Currently, our diagnostic tools are unaccessible and often, therapeutic trials with bile acid sequestrants are used in the diagnosis. Dr Robert Battat shares his research with a new diagnostic marker, C4, in the diagnosis and management of B.A.D., leading to more targeted care for patients. Robert J. Battat, M.D. is an expert in inflammatory bowel disease specializing in Crohn's Disease and Ulcerative Colitis. He is an Assistant Attending Physician at the New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medicine and the Jill Roberts Center for Inflammatory Bowel Disease. Dr. Battat obtained his medical degree and completed both his internal medicine residency training and clinical gastroenterology fellowship at McGill University in Montreal, Canada. He subsequently completed a clinical and research fellowship in inflammatory bowel disease at the University of California, San Diego and at Robarts Clinical Trials under Dr. William Sandborn and Dr. Brian Feagan. He has a major interest in personalized medicine in inflammatory bowel disease and has extensively published scientific articles on this topic. This includes the development of a serum tess to diagnose bile acid malabsorption -which leads well into our topic today! Dr Battat and I discuss: What is bile acid diarrhea? How does bile acid diarrhea develop? How is it diagnosed? SEHCAT Test Therapeutic trial C4 Testing as a measurement for precursor to bile acids Is it a common cause of unexplained diarrhea in your practice? How is BAD managed? Do you often see an overlap between BAD and IBS? IBD & BAD? Where the research is going with BAD diagnosis and management and what can patients and health care providers expect? You can read Dr. Battat's research here: Battat, R., Duijvestein, M., Casteele, N. V., Singh, S., Dulai, P. S., Valasek, M. A., ... & Jain, A. (2019). Serum Concentrations of 7α-hydroxy-4-cholesten-3-one are Associated with Bile Acid Diarrhea in Patients with Crohn's Disease. Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology, 17(13), 2722-2730.

EDS is a rare connective tissue disorder that can drive many digestive symptoms. Hannah discusses her journey with digestive dysfunction, how it lead to developing an eating disorder as a way to control her symptoms, finally being diagnosed with EDS, and how she came to practice in cognitive hypnotherapy through her own personal journey when she had exhausted all medical management options. Hannah is a Cognitive Hypnotherapist and works with women all over the world to overcome struggles with food, their emotions and the fear of not being good enough. She has a BSc Biological Sciences, MSc Psychology, Cognitive Hypnotherapy and Neuro-linguistic Programming (NLP). She has a special interest in the link between food issues and digestive problems and combines mind and body approaches to support her clients holisitically in their journeys. We discuss: - How Hannah's GI issues led to an eating disorder - What is Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS) - What are the symptoms of EDS? - How is it diagnosed? - How she journeyed from ED, to EDS, to the field of cognitive hypnotherapy - What is cognitive hypnotherapy? - How does accessing our subconscious influence our body's reactions to food & symptoms - How does cognitive hypnotherapy help digestive disorders? You can find Hannah on Instagram @hani_living_unleashed

Did you know? Your skin has its own microbiome that influences this important organs overall health. While less populous than the gut, the skin microbiota plays an important role in our health. This week we talk about what we currently know about the skin microbiome, the gut-skin axis, and future research with microbiologist Elie Knaizeh. Elie Knaizeh is a microbiologist with a speciality in antimicrobial resistance who became skincare obsessed. He decided to use his training in scientific investigation to explain the science behind skincare and the skin, in a fun and approachable manner on his Instagram @skinsciencezaddy. His goal is to empower people to make informed decisions about their skin health. In this episode we discuss: How a microbiologist became interested in skin health What is the skin microbiome? How does the skin microbiome influence our skin health Probiotics, prebiotics & postbiotics in skin care Variance in the regions of our skin (interpersonal and intrapersonal differences) Skin care products catered to taking care of our skin microbes – helpful or hype? What is the gut-skin axis? Internal probiotics and skin health His #1 tip for taking care of the skin You can follow Elie @skinsciencezaddy on Instagram!

Resistant starch is something we get a lot less of in the diet, but plays an important role as a prebiotic, as well as exerting benefits to our health by way of the gut microbiota. This week I interview Solnul's Jason Leibert and Dr. Jason Bush on their research around resistant starch. Dr. Jason Bush is an investigator of the microbiome. As the Chief Scientific Officer at MSP Starch Products Inc., he has led two clinical trials, which unlocked numerous clues explaining how resistant starch is utilized in the gut microbiome to influence human health. Jason Leibert is a resistant starch advocate and storyteller. He has a successful track recorded of business development within the life sciences sector and, as the Chief Growth Officer at MSP Starch Products Inc., leads the business trajectory of SolnulTM and strategic growth for the company. Over the last several years, he's built an internal team and an international village of believers to help bring back the ancestral story of prebiotic potato fiber and preach the resistant starch benefits. In this episode we discuss: A bit about Solnul from Winnipeg MB What is resistant starch? How much resistant starch do we get in the diet? How were ancestral diets rich in resistant starch in comparison with modern diets? How does resistant starch fuel bacteria in the gut microbiota How resistant starch stimulates changes in the metabolism of humans How resistant starch improves insulin resistance How resistant starch improves IBS-like symptoms at a 7 gram dose, and still has prebiotic like effects without increasing gassiness You can learn more about Solnul(tm) at their website here.

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

Today I have Kara Siedman here to chat with us about sucrase isomaltase deficiency (CSID) and discuss overlap with IBS presentation. Once thought of as extremely rare and only diagnosed in paediatrics, CSID is being found to be more prevalent than we once thought. With symptoms overlapping with IBS, learn how the conditions are similar, and how to move through helping patients find the right diagnosis. Kara Siedman is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist, Certified Diabetes Educator, and the Manager of a well-established nutrition practice within a large gastroenterology clinic in Colorado. Kara is also a certified yoga teacher whose nutrition philosophy embraces real food, integrative medicine and mindfulness. Kara's goal is to help patients reach their maximum potential in health and wellness through a whole foods, individual and functional approach. In her spare time, you can find Kara on the yoga mat or kickboxing at home and playing in the woods with her husband and fur baby. Kara and I chat about: What sucrose intolerance (congenital sucrase isomaltase deficiency or CSID) is What are the symptoms? Who is at risk? How is it diagnosed? What sorts of foods do people have to avoid or limit? How diet plays a role in managing symptoms, and considerations with overlap in IBS patients What medication options are there? You can learn more about Kara's practice at www.rmgnutrition.com

Today I interview Dr. Kelly Peterson on the role pelvic floor, abdominal muscles, and diaphragm play in digestion and digestive comfort - an often under recognized contributor to digestive symptoms! Dr. Kelly Peterson is a Doctor of Physical Therapy and specializes in visceral and pelvic Physical Therapy. She currently practices at an outpatient clinic in Huntington Beach, California. She created her own online business providing Telehealth and in-person treatments for pelvic and visceral physical therapy as the "Belly Whisperer". She also works part-time as a home health physical therapist through out Orange County, California. Her mission as a visceral and pelvic Physical Therapist is to help educate patients about their body (especially the intimate parts!) and provide a safe environment to discuss and treat abdominopelvic issues at all ages. Her goal is to provide an outlet for patients to seek medical treatment and advise on issues that often go undiagnosed or may not be effectively treated with current, widely practiced management strategies. She followed in my mother's footsteps as a physical therapist and strive every day to serve those not only in need of skilled medical treatment, but more importantly compassion and understanding. Dr. Peterson and I discuss: What manual therapy is How normal movement of the viscera contributes to digestive wellness The different systems that influence digestion including the diaphragm, abdominal wall, and pelvic floor The vagus nerve and its influence on digestion What is diaphragmatic breathing How diaphragmatic breathing influences nervous system function, and proper muscle tone influencing digestion How normal versus maximal inhalation influences movement of the organs How to get back to basics to have a good foundation to strengthen your core Want to learn more about physical therapy for digestive issues? Follow Kelly on Instagram @BellyWhisperer

Today I interview Dr. Kumkum Sarkar Patel on gut motility in functional gut disorders, what normal motility is, and how and why this changes in pregnancy. Dr. Patel explains: what gut motility is what the timing for normal motility is types of tests to diagnose motility disorders & dysfunction reasons why gut motility changes self management of gut motility issues and why a diagnosis is so important why do disturbances in motility occur IBS and other functional gut disorders how does pregnancy influence motility in the gut common gut symptoms in pregnancy what to do during and after pregnancy to manage digestive symptoms the overlap between pregnancy and an IBS diagnosis You can follow Dr. Patel on Instagram @dr.gut_motility

Joanna and I talk about how food chemical sensitivity often presents like IBS but is unresolved with typical IBS interventions. In addition, these patients also have extra-intestinal symptoms. We discuss salicylates, glutamates, and amines as well as other sources of food chemicals, and gaps in the current literature around food chemical sensitivity. Joanna Baker is an accredited practicing dietitian and registered nurse from Victoria, Australia. Her passion is to help others eat well, be well and feel great, without giving up the foods that they love. She founded a private practice called Every Day nutrition in 2013. Due to her medical background, Joanna is particularly adept at managing complex medical conditions like diabetes and heart disease alongside gut health issues Joanna has also suffered with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) and food intolerance her entire life. She knows first-hand what it's like to live with unpredictable gut upsets and dietary restrictions. At Everyday Nutrition, she aims to help people to pinpoint their food triggers, enabling them to identify what foods they can enjoy while keeping their gut happy at the same time. We discuss: What is food chemical sensitivity & how does it differ from IBS? What are symptoms of a food chemical sensitivity When would you consider food chemical sensitivity instead of IBS? What we think happens in patients who have a food chemical sensitivity to cause symptoms? What is a low food chemical diet? Food sources of salicylates, glutamates, amines and other food chemicals What are current limitations in the research with food chemical sensitivity and where should research go? Where can people find information on food chemical sensitivity? Follow Joanna at www.everydaynutrition.com or on Facebook or Instagram.