Let's Gut Real - Easy to Digest Nutrition Science

This week I interview Renee Simons, RMT on her massage and visceral manipulation work with patients with digestive disorders. In particular, we highlight a discussion around polyvagal theory, that can be applied to massage practice to enhance patient wellbeing and symptoms, especially in functional gut disorders. Renee's interest in human kinetics and functional muscle movement began with Kinesiology studies at Simon Fraser University (SFU). In 2004, she graduated from Okanagan Valley College of Massage Therapy completing a 3000hr program and is a member of the College of Massage Therapists of BC and the Canadian Massage and Osteopathic Therapists of Alberta. Since becoming a Registered Massage Therapist, Renee has focused her post-graduate training and clinical practice around Myofascial Release and Visceral Manipulation techniques and is committed to providing patients with individualized treatments to discover and resolve the underlying reasons why they may have pain and dysfunction in their bodies. Her practice has a strong connection to women's health, GI dysfunctions and the Gut-Brain Axis. Renee's treatment paradigm follows a biopsychosocial model and Stephen Porges Polyvagal Theory. Teaching is a way for Renee to pay it forward and share her passion about massage therapy and mentor the next generation of therapists. She currently teaches for Alberta College of Massage Therapy. Renee and I talk about: How does massage fit within digestive disorders? What is visceral manipulation & myofascial release? How do physical restrictions contribute to pain in digestive disorders? Who is visceral manipulation suited for? What can you expect when going for massage therapy that is focused on visceral manipulation and myofascial release? What is polyvagal theory? What role does the vagus nerve play in digestion? Regulating vagus nerve function Tips on how to shift your nervous system into ventral vagus in order to improve/assist digestion and digestive symptoms like constipation. Ways to stimulate the vagus nerve to increase vagal tone. Sign up for Spectrum Therapeutics newsletter by visiting Renee's website and we will send you a daily practice to stimulate your vagus nerve!

Are all fermented foods probiotics? Learn the important difference, and how to include them in your diet! In this episode of Let's Gut Real, I interview Bob Hutkins, PhD and Mary Ellen Sanders, PhD on the important difference between fermented foods and probiotics. We also talk about: What are fermented foods? What are probiotics? How fermented foods and probiotics differ and why it's important to define a difference? Why do we need to be precise with conversations on probiotics? Discuss the new AGA's Clinical Practice Guidelines for Probiotics Where evidence exists to support the use of probiotics Bacterial persistence – if they don't join our microbes why do they benefit us? How one would use fermented foods versus probiotics A bit about the history of fermented foods & our health Why including fermented foods in our diet is a good idea Is the research strong enough to recommend fermented foods in the diet? What evidence exists? You can find up to date information on ISAPP by visiting https://isappscience.org or, if you listen to this before July 1st, you can sign up to their upcoming webinar 'Fermented Food – Separating Hype from Facts.' At 1pm BST (6 am MST).

I interview Dr Suzanne Devkota on her research on the gut microbiota and inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn's and colitis) and the role our diet plays in fostering a healthy microbiome, and possibly reducing the incidence of IBD. We also discuss how microbial changes have been implicated in the pathogenesis of IBD. Dr. Devkota is a gut microbiome researcher who has been studying the effect of diet on the gut microbiome and inflammatory diseases for the past 12 years. She is the Director of Microbiome Research at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles and assistant professor at UCLA. She serves on several national microbiome initiatives including the American Gastroenterological Association's Center for Gut Microbiome Research and Education, as well as the Human Gut Cell Atlas, and has recently spoken on expert panels at the Nobel Prize Dialogues in Berlin and Tokyo. She is a Branco Weiss fellow, and former Lindau Nobel fellow. Dr. Devkota earned her Ph.D from The University of Chicago, and did her post-doctoral training at Harvard Medical School. Dr. Devkota and I discuss: how diet has changed our gut microbiome since moving to a Westernized diet are microbes involved in the development of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) populations at risk of inflammatory bowel disease how diet may play a role in the prevention or management of IBD environmental influences on the gut microbiota + the development of IBD how fat influences changes in the microbiome and subsequent development of IBD how diets and bile acids influence your gut microbiome and may be implicated in IBD microbial extinction – speculations and disease development through the generations where is the research going to prevent negative changes in the gut microbiome Pre, pro and post biotics future research (we could touch on whatever you like, diet, FMT, etc.) Suzanne's experience of intermittent fasting & how it may impact the microbiome Want to learn more from Dr. Suzanne Devkota? Follow her on Instagram!

Dr. Armin Alaedini is a faculty member of the Department of Medicine at Columbia University and is on the adjunct faculty of New York Medical College. He is also a faculty member and graduate mentor at the Institute of Human Nutrition at Columbia University. For 20 years his research has focused on the gut ecosystem, host-microbe interaction, and inflammation in the context of complex disorders. Dr. Alaedini has been awarded research grants from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the U.S. Department of Defense, and private foundations, and has served as chair and reviewer on multiple NIH grant study sections. His expert commentaries have appeared in various media outlets, including the New York Times, BBC, U.S. News & World Report, Associated Press, Reuters, NBC News, Science, and Nature. He is a recipient of the 2014 Idea Award from the Department of Defense and the 2016 Tsunoda Senior Fellow Award from Columbia University. He previously served on the Executive Board of the Society for the Study of Celiac Disease and is on the Scientific Advisory Board of several organizations. Dr. Alaedini and I discuss: The difference between celiac and NCWS How to diagnose NCWS Symptoms of NCWS What components in wheat may contribute to this food sensitivity (Gluten as a dietary antigen vs other components in wheat) What could contribute to a loss of tolerance in recognizing these components as safe? Possible rates of occurrence or populations that may be at higher risk of NCWS Could there be a biomarker available soon? How will this contribute to therapies for NCWS in the future? How does the gut microbiota play a role in the development of NCWS? How the gut-immune-brain axis may play a role in NCWS Extra-intestinal symptoms & the gut-immune-brain axis in NCWS How do we take care of patients with NCWS?

This episode, you get Andrea Hardy, Canada's Gut Health Dietitian (me!) to talk about which diet is best for your gut microbiota. A bit about me: I'm a registered dietitian and owner of Ignite Nutrition in Calgary Alberta. This week I give you the update on: The role nutrition plays in your gut microbiota Your gut barrier - why it's important and how good nutrition helps maintain it I rank each diet on its impact on the gut microbiota and: The paleo diet The keto diet A vegetarian and vegan diet The Mediterranean diet And give you my top tips to take care of the gut microbiota. Interested in working on your gut health? My team of dietitians are here to help. Visit Ignite Nutrition to book an appointment!

Justine Dowd and I chat about Her experience with celiac disease and fertility How her experience shaped her approach to a wholistic approach to care - focusing not just on disease treatment but the role mindset plays How to connect the mind & body through mindfulness How 'making friends' with your digestive health problem can change the outlook of your disease and help aide in getting better Self-compassion to help with management of digestive struggles Her published research in this area looks at how self-compassion directly (and indirectly) predicts better quality of life and adherence to the gluten free diet among adults with celiac disease Gut-brain connection - the science of how the vagus nerve influences digestion, and how self-compassion & mindfulness can help How exercise influences our digestive disorders - Justine's research in this area (published, in press/under review) – MOVE-C was a 12 week HIIT exercise training program that found improved resting heart rate, changes in the gut microbiota, quality of life, gut symptoms, and self-compassion Practical nutrition tips to manage digestive disorders & how self compassion plays a role (especially during COVID) Sleep & digestive disorders Her books: You've Got This Mama, Too & You've Got This, Healthy Mama Justine is running a FREE coping with COVID 4 week workshop launching May 11th, 2020 for those with digestive disorders. To join, email Justine at guthealthyyc@gmail.com

Dr. Parnell is an Associate Professor at Mount Royal University in the Department of Health and Physical Education. She obtained her PhD in medical sciences at the University of Calgary researching novel nutritional therapies for obesity and associated co-morbidities. Presently, she maintains an active research portfolio in the field of performance nutrition, and works with youth athletes, Paralympic athletes, and endurance runners. Her research focuses on diet quality, ergogenic aids, and exercise induced gastrointestinal symptoms. Dr. Parnell & I talk about: What runner's diarrhea/runner's gut is How runner's gut influences motility of the gut How exercise stress influences gut symptoms How the gut microbiota changes gut function in runner's gut How patients with IBS may be more prone towards gut symptoms during exercise The link between cortisol, high intensity physical activity, and gut symptoms Nutrition tips to reduce runner's gut Timing Food consistency & digestibility Food choices/types of foods The role of FODMAPs in exercise & the gut Getting more specific on recommendations so diets don't need to be so restrictive How choosing the right concentration of carbohydrate can be helpful How caffeine is an ergogenic (performance enhancing) aide but to be aware of how it influences the gut How to better absorb hydration Ideas around food first carbohydrates during events Training the gut for events How your gut microbiota influences your ability to perform in sport

Simone Withecomb is a clinical research coordinator in GI currently working on the IMAGINE study – which is looking at the interactions between the inflammation, microbiome, diet and mental health in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Through her personal struggles with IBS, she became passionate about how she could help patients who are diagnosed with gut disorders. Hear her story about her IBS journey, and how she joined the IMAGINE study (Inflammation, Microbiome, and Alimentation: Gastro-Intestinal and Neuropsychiatric Effects) How she uses story telling & sharing supports patients with digestive disorders What the IMAGINE study is Why this research is important to discover all the different factors that influence IBS & IBD symptoms and quality of life How patients are getting involved in the IMAGINE study How their study is looking at diet, probiotics & treatment options for IBS & IBD The microbiota-gut-brain axis – the link between depression & the gut microbiota Mental health and the gut microbiota – how fibre plays a role Do you have IBS or IBD and live in Canada? You can participate in the IMAGINE study! Get involved in the IMAGINE study at – imaginespor.com – there's over 20 sites across Canada!

*the podcast will be changing to every other week during the COVID-19 outbreak due to my interviewees busy schedules* Jessie is a registered dietitian with a PhD in nutritional sciences. Her graduate work researched the effects of nutritional components and environmental factors on gut health and cardiovascular disease. She has a passion for educating individuals about nutrition and the power of nourishing body and mind. Jessie's overall goal is to make nutrition science attainable. From breaking down nutrition science to busting myths that are so prevalent in today's society, she strives to empower individuals to become responsible consumers of social media content and experts on their own bodies. Jessie & I talk about: in animal models, how pollutants interact with the microbiome & overall host health polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB's) as a persistent pollutant how we are exposed to PCB's (primarily fish, fatty meats, & fatty dairy products) how PCB's influence the mouse microbiota how PCB's influenced inflammation and 'leaky gut' (gut permeability) how dietary fibre (inulin) helped to attenuate these changes in the gut microbiota inulin increased good bacteria Jessies big take-away message for humans & PCB's why humans are NOT rats, but what we can change in our diet to have positive health outcomes pesticides & the gut microbiota conventional versus organic produce - what should you choose? Want to learn more from Jessie? Follow her on Instagram at @jessiehoffman_phd

I've been getting an overwhelming amount of questions about COVID-19 and probiotics, IBD, IBS, and immunity. I wanted to take some time to answer these in a simple way for our listeners. The information was recorded March 19th and therefore, statistics and recommendations may change - always check with your doctor. We cover: What is COVID-19? Why is COVID-19 a concern? Who is most at risk? GI Symptoms and COVID-19 - should I be concerned? "I have IBD and am worried about getting COVID - what do I need to know?" Your gut and your immune system How nutrition plays a role in your immune system Probiotics & COVID-19 How to take care of your health during this challenging time Citations Gao, Q. Y., Chen, Y. X., & Fang, J. Y. (2020). 2019 novel coronavirus infection and gastrointestinal tract. Journal of Digestive Diseases. Mao, R., Liang, J., Shen, J., Ghosh, S., Zhu, L. R., Yang, H., ... & Chen, M. H. (2020). Implications of COVID-19 for patients with pre-existing digestive diseases. The Lancet Gastroenterology & Hepatology. Gu, J., Han, B., & Wang, J. (2020). COVID-19: Gastrointestinal manifestations and potential fecal-oral transmission. Gastroenterology. Xiao, F., Tang, M., Zheng, X., Li, C., He, J., Hong, Z., ... & Lai, R. (2020). Evidence for gastrointestinal infection of SARS-CoV-2. medRxiv. Resources for IBD Healthcare Professionals: 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19). (2020, March 17). Retrieved March 18, 2020, from https://www.crohnscolitisfoundation.org/coronavirus/professional-resources Mizumoto K, Chowell G. Estimating risk for death from 2019 novel coronavirus disease, China, January–February 2020. Emerg Infect Dis. 2020 Jun [Retreived March 18, 2020]. https://doi.org/10.3201/eid2606.200233