Did you know the trillions of microbes in your gut might shape everything from your immune system to your mental health—and even how you recover after an infection? 🌱

In this episode of the UnabridgedMD Podcast, Dr. Isabelle Amigues welcomes Dr. Katrina Coulter, infectious disease specialist, to explore the fascinating world of the microbiome. Together, they dive into the overlap between infectious disease and rheumatology, the hidden consequences of antibiotic use, and the complex challenges of post-Lyme disease, chronic fatigue, and long COVID.

This conversation blends cutting-edge science, clinical wisdom, and practical advice—from why fiber is the #1 nutrient most of us are missing, to how farming practices affect our gut health, to why listening to patients is still the most powerful diagnostic tool.

If you’ve ever wondered whether your gut health could hold the key to remission and resilience, this episode is for you.

👉 Watch/Subscribe: UnabridgedMD YouTube Channel
👉 Learn more about Dr. Katrina Coulter: https://www.katrinacoultermd.com/ 

What You’ll Learn in This Episode

• 🌿 What the microbiome really is—beyond the gut, including skin, lungs, and reproductive tracts
• 🚜 How industrial farming practices mirror what’s happening to the human microbiome
• 💊 Antibiotics: when they’re life-saving, when they’re harmful, and why shorter courses often work best
• 🥗 The truth about probiotics—pills vs. probiotic foods (sauerkraut, kombucha, miso, fermented veggies)
• 🧼 Are we too clean? The “sandbox effect,” farm kids, and why exposure to microbes builds resilience
• 🧠 Post-infectious syndromes explained: post-Lyme, long COVID, and why the immune system—not infection—drives symptoms
• 🧾 Why “finishing the full course” of antibiotics is outdated advice
• 🥦 Fiber as medicine: the easiest, most impactful step for microbiome health
• 💡 The importance of physicians listening deeply and addressing nutrition—even when the system isn’t built for it