Ep 130: Anti-Viral Gut with Dr. Robynne Chutkan
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Ep 130: Anti-Viral Gut with Dr. Robynne Chutkan
Episode 130: Show Notes
The topic of gut health and the importance of our gut microbiome have been gaining more and more traction in the last decade or so. Before that, there was very little attention paid to the way in which our diet and healthy bacteria impacted all the others parts of our body and mind.
This is the area that Dr. Robynne Chutkan has dedicated herself to exploring and illuminating, something she has done through her patient practice, as well as in a number of books that she has published.
In today's chat with the gastroenterological expert, we get to go deep into the human digestive system, with Dr. Chutkan talking about pooping, bloat, sleep, sickness, immune systems, and much more.
She also explains why certain products and medications should be avoided when possible, and how small changes to our eating habits can make a huge difference. The passion and energy that Dr. Chutkan possesses for this subject is truly inspiring, and so desperately needed if we are to really make progress in the important area of human health.
Key Points From This Episode:
Remembering the mindbodygreen event at which Dr. Chutkan and Light met.
Some of Dr. Chutkan's family history and roots in Jamaica.
The values of education and medicine that were present in Dr. Chutkan's home.
Early memories of school and moving to the Bahamas and then Europe.
The different medical fields that attracted Dr. Chutkan before she settled on gastroenterology.
Dr. Chutkan talks about the transition she made from academic medicine into private practice.
Explaining the Gi tract and colon; Dr. Chutkan shares some of the major gut health issues.
Why the small intestine is actually really beautiful!
Issues that have plagued the gut health field and the strides that have been made recently.
The story of Dr. Chutkan's patient who used her diet to conquer Crohn's disease!
Dr. Chutkan's c-section and her thoughts on why the procedure should be avoided if possible.
The steps that Dr. Chutkan took when writing her book and finding publisher.
Politics and nutritional research; what it means to make a controversial argument today.
A round of rapid-fire gut questions with Dr. Chutkan!
Identifying actual issues with the gut microbiome; when should we seek help?
A few eliminatory steps that can be taken to find the causes of indigestion.
How stress impacts our gut microbiome; what the research teaches us.
Black cultural values around cleanliness.
Some of the ideas and projects that Dr. Chutkan is interested in exploring in the future.
Tweetables:
“We spent a lot of time on the farm, running around, dirty, swimming in this lake.” — @DrChutkan [0:13:08]
“I counted up and saw that she'd been on over 20 courses of antibiotics, and she wasn't yet in preschool. I realized that there was a clear link between the antibiotics and her inability to recover, and her susceptibility to just getting sick all the time.” — @DrChutkan [0:56:23]
“You've got to have a dialogue, you've got to figure out a way to engage the doctor, and get them to see your point of view, and figure out how to meet in the middle.” — @DrChutkan [1:04:26]
“I come at the food through a medical lens, not through an ethical, or environmental lens. I'm a gastroenterologist, I'm not a climate change expert, I'm not an ethicist.” — @DrChutkan [1:08:25]
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: