The phrase “Go with your gut,” or “Have a gut feeling” might be more true than we realize. Today we talk about gut health and its importance in all aspects of proactive wellness. Over time researchers have discovered that the gut and the brain communicate with each other through small molecules secreted by gut bacteria that travel to the brain and influence its function. This is why the gut, or microbiome, is sometimes referred to as the second brain. Research has found that individuals will gain or lose weight based on the microbiome they have inside their gut according to studies done on mice where microbiomes were switched and directly influenced the weight gain or loss in these mice. It has also been shown to be affected by sleep amounts and schedules, and is even a big factor in brain degenerative diseases. There are 2 ways we can improve our gut health. 1) Through nutrition and taking healthy things into our bodies. 2) Exercise, which has the ability to increase the concentration of good bacteria in our gut.

What destroys a microbiome? 3:15
Effects on birth 6:53
Effects of sleep 8:18
Elite athletes 12:05
Prebiotics 12:58
Probiotics 13:49
Exercise 14:50

“Bad bacteria in the gut have been shown to be closely linked with intestinal health issues like Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Crohn’s Disease, Colitis, and C Difficile Infections. It was found that consumption of bacteria in the gut is directly related to the health and strength of our immune system.” 6:14

Today we will find out if the Paleolithic diet is a myth and a fad, or if there is good science showing that it can help you lose weight, keep it off, and be healthy long term. The whole premise of the Paleo diet is that we should eat the same foods as our paleolithic ancestors ate before the advent of modern agriculture roughly 10,000 years ago. The Paleo diet is high in fat, which is good for someone who is very physically active, but not good for someone who spends their time mostly sedentary. It can also have various effects on women, including positively affecting pregnancy by providing needed iron and reducing the risk of gestational diabetes with the reduced amount of sugar, but it can also prevent a woman from receiving the correct amounts of calcium. A study was done and found that this diet can increase certain compounds a person takes in, raising the risk for cardiovascular disease and other cardiac disorders.

Paleo and pregnancy 4:48
The effects of the Paleo diet on gut health 7:48
Common foods to avoid 10:38
Insulin and yoyo dieting 11:53
The most important principle in weight loss 12:49
Can I take supplements while on the Paleo diet? 13:57

“Scientific research clearly shows that it is not the Paleo diet that is causing the observed short term health benefits, but rather it is the basic principles of healthy eating, like avoiding added sugars, excess amounts of processed meats and salty foods. Staying away from these foods as part of a long term regimen is what will bring health.” 12:28

In this episode, I tell you about who I am and why I’m qualified to discuss the topics that we will cover over the course of the show. Growing up, I experimented with a chemistry set my grandfather gave me and would even formulate different compounds in my mother’s kitchen. I received my bachelor’s degree from Brigham Young University in Biochemistry and received a Ph.D. at Colorado State in Organic Chemistry, which school is in the top 10 of the country for Organic Chemistry. I later became a professor at a small liberal arts university and had the top instructor ratings for 2 years straight. I have formulated over 70 nutritional supplements that grow over 500 million in sales annually and I have developed and patented useful tools for the medical community. Several years ago I was overweight and unhealthy, talking to people about how to be healthy, but not being healthy myself. I had a moment of realization, came up with a diet and exercise plan for myself, and lost 75 lbs in the course of 12 months, and I’ve kept that weight off for over 6 years.

Welcome to the Discover with Dr. Dan podcast where we will be exploring the discoveries in the world of health and science. We will investigate subjects such as losing weight, dieting, exercise, lowering cholesterol, growing hair, and so on by reviewing the most reputable sources of information on the planet. Dr. Dan will be tackling tough health topics and presenting accurate information in the following categories: 1) Myth-busting about hot health trends. 2) Health topics of general interest. 3) Areas of expertise based on research done by scientists at Brilliant. 4) Dr. Dan’s plant hunting and discovery exploits. Listen in each week to the Discover with Dr. Dan podcast.