Meet Vincent M. Pedre the Medical Director of Pedre Integrative Health and President of Dr. Pedre Wellness. Dr. Pedre is a Board-Certified Internist and Functional Medicine Certified Practitioner in private practice in New York City since 2004. His philosophy and practices are a blend of both Western and Eastern medical traditions. He is a Clinical Instructor at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine, as well as certified in yoga and Medical Acupuncture.

Links for this episode:

Fermented-food diet increases microbiome diversity, decreases inflammatory proteins, study finds

The Importance of Food for Endotoxemia and an Inflammatory Response

GutSmartProtocol.com

The GutSMART Quiz

Instagram @drpedre

Episode Description

00:07:30 - The Gut-Skin Connection, 
The gut and skin originate from the same cells in embryology, making their connection significant. Patients with skin issues may benefit from a functional medicine approach that considers the connection between gut health and skin issues, like hives, acne, psoriasis, and dermatitis.

00:11:45 - Celiac Genetics and Gluten-Free Diets, 
Celiac genetics are prevalent in people of Irish descent, and eliminating gluten from the diet can alleviate hives and other skin issues. A functional medicine approach can provide a solution for patients who have seen dermatologists without any results.

00:13:35 - Good and Bad Bacteria in the Gut, 
The gut microbiome is a complex ecosystem that includes a set of bad bacteria that serve a purpose and keep the system in balance. Opportunistic bacteria can flourish in environments where the diet is not optimal, leading to gut-centric and non-gut-centric issues.

00:16:23 - The Gut Microbiome of Indigenous Tribes, 
Dr. Pedre discusses the gut microbiome of indigenous tribes and how it differs from Westerners. Indigenous tribes consume a high-fiber diet, and their gut microbiome has adapted to digest difficult-to-digest fibers. 

00:20:20 - The Importance of Gut Microbiome Adaptation, 
Dr. Pedre stresses the importance of slowly introducing changes to the gut microbiome. A sudden change can lead to bloating and discomfort. 

00:25:05 - The Gut-Airway Connection, 
Dr. Pedre explains how the gut microbiome is connected to upper respiratory infections. Antibiotics can disrupt the gut microbiome and immune system, leading to recurrent infections. Pregnancy can ramp up the immune system, but can also suppress certain parts to protect the baby.

00:29:35 - Lipopolysaccharides and Metabolism, 
Dr. Pedre explains that Lipopolysaccharides (LPs), also known as endotoxins, are released by gram-negative bacteria and can be absorbed into the body. LPs levels increase after meals high in fat, especially saturated and hydrogenated fats. LPs can affect metabolism and insulin sensitivity.

00:33:42 - Microbiome and Leaky Gut, 
Dr. Pedre explains how an unfavorable microbiome and leaky gut can lead to the absorption of lipopolysaccharides and cause many health issues, such as weight gain, muscle aches, fatigue, and depression. Keeping a food, mood and poop journal can help identify patterns and triggers.

00:35:34 - Timeline for Food Sensitivities, 
Dr. Estima and Dr. Pedre discuss the importance of keeping a food journal to identify patterns of food sensitivities. They explain how sensitivities can have a threshold effect, where one exposure may be fine, but a second exposure can cause symptoms. Other factors such as stress, sleep, and food combinations can also impact sensitivities.

00:39:35 - Stress and Gut Health, 
Dr. Pedre explains how stress can affect the gut microbiome, gut permeability, and vagal tone. High cortisol levels from stress can alter the gut ecosystem, leading to more yeast in the gut and sugar cravings. 

00:43:39 - Behavioral Changes Caused by Stress, 
Dr. Estima and Dr. Pedre discuss how stress can drive behavioral changes such as cravings for sugar and comfort foods. 

00:49:39 - The Power of Soil and Dirt, 
Dr. Pedre emphasizes the importance of soil and dirt for our microbiome. Exposure to organic soil without toxins can magnify our gut microbiome diversity, as seen in the Hadza tribe.

00:55:05 - Diversity vs. Eating the Rainbow, 
Dr. Pedre discusses a Stanford study that compared a high fiber diet to a high fermented foods diet. The high fiber diet did not show a significant increase in microbiome diversity, while the fermented foods diet did. Diversity is the holy grail, but it's not a one-size-fits-all approach.

00:59:00 - The Role of Fiber and Fermented Foods, 
The study found that fermented foods had a significant impact on microbiome diversity and reduced inflammation. While fiber had a smaller impact, it helped to regulate the immune system. 

01:03:27 - Gut Disruptors, 
Dr. Pedre notes that alcohol is a significant gut disruptor. Other factors, such as stress, lack of sleep, and processed foods, can also impact gut health. A personalized approach to healing the gut is necessary, with fermented foods and fiber as cornerstones, but with consideration of individual circumstances.

01:06:18 - Dairy and its impact on gut health, 
Dr. Pedre discusses the impact of dairy on gut health, highlighting that it can cause constipation and trigger food sensitivities due to lactose and dairy protein intolerance. 

01:07:35 - Fecal matter transplant, 
Dr. Estima and Dr. Pedre discuss fecal matter transplant as a possible treatment for gut-related conditions such as Crohn's colitis and ulcerative colitis. While it is not yet approved for many indications, it has shown promise in experimental treatments for food sensitivities and autism in the microbiome community.

01:11:06 - Protecting the microbiome, 
Dr. Estima and Dr. Pedre stress the importance of protecting the microbiome throughout life, from birth to adulthood and into old age. They discuss the negative impacts of persistent antibiotic use and emphasize the need to foster microbial diversity through diet, exposure to nature, and limiting exposure to mass agriculture.

01:13:32 - Seeking microbial diversity, 
Dr. Pedre encourages individuals to seek microbial diversity in their gut by avoiding antibiotics as much as possible, only using them when necessary. He advises fostering microbial diversity through a healthy diet, exposure to nature, and gardening. He notes that microbial diversity is a key factor in the health of centenarians.

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