Extend Podcast with Darshan Shah, MD

81. Dr. Zain Kassam: How Your Gut Bacteria Control Your Brain, Weight, and Longevity


Listen Later

What if I told you there's an organ in your body with more cells than the Milky Way has stars—and most doctors barely think about it? In this episode of Extend, I sit down with Dr. Zain Kassam, a gastroenterologist turned microbiome researcher who's pioneering how we understand the trillions of organisms living in and on us. 

We dive into why your gut bacteria aren't just bystanders—they're actively producing molecules that affect your mood, metabolism, immune system, and even longevity. We also explore the gut-brain connection, why not all probiotics are created equal, and how the microbiome influences everything from depression to skin health. 

Dr. Zain Kassam is a gastroenterologist, microbiome researcher, and Chief Medical Officer at Seed Health. He trained at McMaster University, Harvard, and MIT, where he pioneered clinical applications of microbiome science. He's led groundbreaking research on fecal transplants and develops evidence-based probiotic therapies.

 

We Also Discuss:

  • The Microbiome Revolution: From Forgotten to Life-Saving

  • Why Your Gut Has More Cells Than the Milky Way Has Stars

  • How Gut Bacteria Control Your Brain and Mood

  • The Butyrate Connection: Your Microbiome's Master Molecule

  • Why Most Probiotics Are Marketing Hype (And How to Choose Better)

  • The 4D Framework: Diversity, Delivery, Do-Gooders, and Data

  • Microbiome Testing: Crystal Ball or Expensive Guesswork?

  • From C. Diff to Cancer: When Gut Health Becomes Life or Death

  • The GLP-1 Secret: How Your Gut Makes Its Own Ozempic

  • Post-Antibiotic Recovery: Rebuilding After the Nuclear Bomb

 

Thank You for Our Sponsors:

Pendulum: Use code DARSHAN or use the link https://pendulumlife.com/discount/DARSHAN to get 20% off  

IM8: Try IM8 today with a 30-day money back guarantee. You can get 20% off your first order with code DRSHAH at https://im8health.com/discount/DRSHAH

 

Learn more about Dr. Shah:

Website: https://www.drshah.com/

Clinic: https://www.next-health.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/darshanshahmd/

 

 

Learn more about Dr. Zain Kassam:

X: https://x.com/DrZainSays/ 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/seed/

Get 25% off DS-01 with code EXTEND25 at Seed.com

 

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

Extend Podcast with Darshan Shah, MDBy Darshan Shah, MD

  • 5
  • 5
  • 5
  • 5
  • 5

5

42 ratings


More shows like Extend Podcast with Darshan Shah, MD

View all
Revolution Health Radio by Chris Kresser

Revolution Health Radio

1,590 Listeners

The Model Health Show by Shawn Stevenson

The Model Health Show

7,332 Listeners

The Jesse Chappus Show by Jesse Chappus

The Jesse Chappus Show

1,544 Listeners

The mindbodygreen Podcast by mindbodygreen

The mindbodygreen Podcast

2,075 Listeners

The Genius Life by Max Lugavere

The Genius Life

4,813 Listeners

Dhru Purohit Show by Dhru Purohit

Dhru Purohit Show

3,532 Listeners

The Dr. Hyman Show by Dr. Mark Hyman

The Dr. Hyman Show

9,367 Listeners

The Dr. Gundry Podcast by PodcastOne

The Dr. Gundry Podcast

1,815 Listeners

Better! with Dr. Stephanie by Dr. Stephanie Estima

Better! with Dr. Stephanie

593 Listeners

The Resetter Podcast with Dr. Mindy by Dr. Mindy Pelz

The Resetter Podcast with Dr. Mindy

1,356 Listeners

SuperLife with Darin Olien by Darin Olien

SuperLife with Darin Olien

1,277 Listeners

The Art of Being Well by Dear Media, Will Cole

The Art of Being Well

1,437 Listeners

LEVELS – Metabolic Insights by Levels

LEVELS – Metabolic Insights

75 Listeners

LEVELS – A Whole New Level by Levels

LEVELS – A Whole New Level

243 Listeners

The Mel Robbins Podcast by Mel Robbins

The Mel Robbins Podcast

20,604 Listeners