Gut Health Explained

Conventional Viewpoint

The course “Gut Health Explained” was disappointing for me. The first four lectures hammered home the fact that “we know nothing”. It would be nice if the entire medical profession admitted that it knows almost nothing, this course seriously downplays the experience that many practitioners have gained over the past two decades.

Yes, as far as precision information goes, our microbiota are still a major mystery. But in the past twenty years, experience has taught many of us a lot.

It's a real shame to throw out a massive amount of experience and practical interventions that do work, with the standard dismissal of "more research is needed". Of course, we always want more research. The benefits of probiotics, prebiotics (fiber) and lifestyle are well known. Also we know very well just how catastrophically damaging the usage of antibiotics can be.

This course can be considered with two viewpoints:

1) Yes, there are a lot of conflicting and bogus claims out there which are used to sell junk products and procedures. Definitely "buyer beware".

2) Our microbiota are critically important and if you want to be truly healthy, it's important to pay attention to your gut health.

One viewpoint the course makes, that I agree on, is that allergy testing is useless and misleading. Many people make unhealthy, major changes to their diet based on being told they are “allergic” to a certain food. Note: don’t mistake major, life threatening allergies like peanut allergies with the “food sensitivity” testing done by well meaning practitioners to improve your health or resolve some digestive issues you may be experiencing.

A very interesting topic that this course did briefly touch on is the “calories in vs calories out” concept of weight gain or loss.

Calories In vs Calories Out – this widely believed concept of dieting and weight gain fails to account for the calories used by your gut microbiome. Those little guys outnumber your human cells and can consume a lot of calories. They also can convert things like fiber into short chain fatty acids which your body can then use for energy. Thus your microbiome may work for you or against you when trying to lose weight. Different people (different microbiomes) will have different results!

Another factor is transit time. When you consume food, if there is a fast transit time you tend to absorb less. Thus you can eat the same amount of calories, yet absorb a different amount of calories depending on the status of your digestive system.

Another study throws doubt on the calories in vs calories out theory. In a carefully controlled study, in a lab, in a chamber for super precise measurements, groups of people consumed a typical diet vs a natural diet, then switched. Consuming a natural diet, vs the typical “SAD” modern diet, is definitely beneficial even though the calories consumed and expended were identical.

This course recommends 25 to 40 grams of fiber per day. One issue I have, is that if we attempt to follow all the recommendations that are published, it’s nearly impossible to do while keeping your calorie intake low or moderate!

Exercise appears to be dependent upon dietary fiber. Not enough fiber and your exercise efforts may be of less benefit.

A subtle concept that is touched on is the sterilized world that many people attempt to live in. Exposure to more microbes (“playing in the dirt”) is quite healthy. An excessive fear of infection might actually lead you to being susceptible to more illness!

The professor is “pro” artificial sweeteners and pro GMOs, claiming they have been proven to be safe. While these substances may not be as toxic as the alternative world portrays them to be, I firmly believe that both artificial sweeteners and GMO foods are unhealthy.

A course like this demonstrates how valuable it is to consider topics from different viewpoints.

What do you do to keep your microbiome healthy?