The Gut Health Podcast

• Sorting Fact from Fad: What to Do When Science Isn't Settled

  This year on The Gut Health Podcast, we dug deeper than ever into the science that shapes our bodies, the myths that confuse us, and the everyday habits that actually move the needle. We challenged probiotic controversies, rethought alcohol culture, explored resilience from gravity to mindset, and turned stress management into practical, usable skills. We broached the topic of vagus nerve stimulation and the potential role of psychedelics and the gut-brain connection!The theme in 2025 was connection: the conversation between food and microbes, the way those microbes steer our mood and gut motility, the posture-driven shifts in biology, and the everyday choices that ignite changes across the whole body.It’s not just gut health—it’s a map of how we think, feel, move, and live. And we’re just getting started.Key topics in this episode include:• the evolving research with gut science and why personalization matters• facts vs fads on probiotics, ferments, and “leaky gut syndrome”• lifestyle foundations that beat quick fixes• alcohol reduction strategies and social swaps• food–mood links, excess fructose, and serotonin• stress prescriptions such as adding diaphragmatic breathing into your daily routine• how to build gravity resilience • what's happening in the psilocybin research landscape and safety considerations• practical habit stacking for hydration, movement, and sleep• communicating with providers when evidence conflicts to help you navigate your personal gut health needs.Looking to boost overall wellbeing with meditation, breathing exercises or better sleep? Calm has you covered with 40% off a premium subscription. Visit http://calm.com/guthealthpod. Learn more about Kate and Dr. Riehl:Website: www.katescarlata.com and www.drriehl.comInstagram: @katescarlata @drriehl and @theguthealthpodcastOrder Kate and Dr. Riehl's book, Mind Your Gut: The Science-Based, Whole-body Guide to Living Well with IBS. The information included in this podcast is not a substitute for professional medical advice, examination, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health care provider before starting any new treatment or making changes to existing treatment.

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• Mind-Body Medicine: Psilocybin and the Gut

  A growing number of patients with stubborn IBS symptoms are asking: if the gut and brain are wired together, could changing one transform the other? In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Emeran Mayer and Dr. Erin Mauney to explore what the emerging field of psychedelic-assisted therapy could mean for gut-brain health, beyond the headlines and hype. In this episode we cover:Why traditional IBS treatments often fall short.How psilocybin opens a neuroplastic “window” for processing pain, stress, and interoception.The therapeutic process: preparation, guided dosing, and integration.Early study results: symptom relief, reduced visceral sensitivity, and improved self-illness separation.Safety, variability, and practical questions about access and candidacy.If you’re curious about neuroplasticity, the brain-gut axis, psilocybin, and the future of IBS care, this episode offers a grounded, hopeful, and responsible guide to what’s known, and what’s next. This episode is sponsored by GI Psychology. Disclaimer: Participation in the research study mentioned in this podcast is entirely voluntary and independent of The Gut Health Podcast. Please review all study details before deciding to take part. The Gut Health Podcast does not endorse or verify the research, its sponsors or its findings. Direct any questions to the study organizers using their official contact information.References: Psychedelic-assisted therapy: An overview for the internistBarnett BS, Mauney EE, King F 4th. Psychedelic-assisted therapy: An overview for the internist. Cleve Clin J Med. 2025;92(3):171-180. Published 2025 Mar 3. doi:10.3949/ccjm.92a.24032Psychedelic-assisted Therapy as a Promising Treatment for Irritable Bowel SyndromeMauney, Erin MD*; King, Franklin IV MD†; Burton-Murray, Helen PhD‡; Kuo, Braden MD‡. Psychedelic-assisted Therapy as a Promising Treatment for Irritable Bowel Syndrome. Journal of Clinical Gastroenterology 59(5):p 385-392, May/June 2025. | DOI: 10.1097/MCG.0000000000002149 Psilocybin and IBS treatment: First psychedelic study in gastroenterologyLearn more about the MGH study with Dr. Erin Mauney and colleagues here.Learn more about Kate and Dr. Riehl:Website: www.katescarlata.com and www.drriehl.comInstagram: @katescarlata @drriehl and @theguthealthpodcastOrder Kate and Dr. Riehl's book, Mind Your Gut: The Science-Based, Whole-body Guide to Living Well with IBS. The information included in this podcast is not a substitute for professional medical advice, examination, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health care provider before starting any new treatment or making changes to existing treatment.

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• Gravity Resilience: The Gut-Brain-Diet Connection with Brennan Spiegel, MD

  Dr. Brennan Spiegel, author of Pull: How Gravity Shapes Your Body, Steadies the Mind, and Guides Our Health, reveals how gravity shapes everything from our digestive health to our emotional wellbeing in this fascinating exploration of "biogravitational medicine." He presents the revolutionary concept that conditions like IBS and depression may be tied to how well our body resists gravity.• Gravity resilience refers to how well your body manages Earth's gravitational force• People with hypermobility conditions like Ehlers-Danlos syndrome often experience gut issues when their internal suspension systems are compromised•  The gut hangs from a suspension system like ‘ornaments on a Christmas tree,’ and if it weakens, the intestines can sag, leading to digestive issues • Our language around emotions reflects our relationship with gravity – we feel "down" when sad and "up" when happy• Most serotonin (90–95%) is made in the gut with help from our microbiome, where it helps regulate muscles and systems that manage our body’s relationship with gravity • Strategies to strengthen gravity resilience • Hypopressive exercises that draw the belly upward can improve internal organ support• The STACK TEN diet focuses on tryptophan-rich foods to support serotonin production• Mental and physical resilience share similar concepts - the ability to "bend without breaking"Check out Dr. Spiegel's new book "Pull" releasing October 7th, which explores how gravity affects human health and how building gravity resilience can help us find balance, stand stronger, and live longer.References and Resources:The Gravity Doctors Podcast LinkBrennan Spiegel MD’s book, Pull (This is an affiliate link. We may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you and only recommend products we trust.)Effect of diet on serotonergic neurotransmission in depression. Neurochem Int. 2013;62(3):324-329.Tryptophan-rich diet is negatively associated with depression and positively linked to social cognition. Nutr Res. 2021;85:14-20.J. Wurtman: Brain serotonin, carbohydrate-craving, obesity and depression. Obes Res. 1995;3 Suppl 4:477S-480S.Research on sleep & tryptophan Sleep and Diet: Mounting Evidence of a Cyclical Relationship. Annu Rev Nutr. 2021 Oct 11;41:309-332.Amy Cuddy's paper on "The Power Pose" highlights how adopting confident postures can boost mood, increase self-assurance, and positively influence how others perceive you!Learn more about Kate and Dr. Riehl:Website: www.katescarlata.com and www.drriehl.comInstagram: @katescarlata @drriehl and @theguthealthpodcastOrder Kate and Dr. Riehl's book, Mind Your Gut: The Science-Based, Whole-body Guide to Living Well with IBS. The information included in this podcast is not a substitute for professional medical advice, examination, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health care provider before starting any new treatment or making changes to existing treatment.

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• The Gut Dictionary: Probiotics, Prebiotics and Postbiotics Explained.

  Dr. Mary Ellen Sanders, an expert in probiotic microbiology, helps us decode the often confusing world of probiotics, prebiotics, and postbiotics by explaining their scientific definitions, evidence-based benefits, and practical applications for gut health (and beyond). This episode has been sponsored by Activia.• Probiotics are live microorganisms that confer health benefits when consumed in adequate amounts• For something to be called a probiotic, it must be alive, defined to the strain level, and tested in the research setting for health benefits• When selecting probiotics, look for products with strain designations and doses guaranteed through end of shelf life, not just "at time of manufacture"• The US Probiotic Guide (usprobioticguide.com) offers independent assessments of probiotic products and their evidence levels, including specific conditions or symptoms• Specific probiotic benefits include supporting gut function during antibiotic use, reducing respiratory infections, and decreasing crying in colicky babies• Prebiotics are substrates (often fibers, but also polyphenols) that feed beneficial gut bacteria• Research suggests about 5 grams of prebiotics daily may be beneficial• Postbiotics are beneficial preparations of dead microorganisms or their components, challenging the notion that microbes must be alive to benefit health• When trying probiotics, consult with your health care provider first, as there are some conditions in which they are contraindicated. • Multi-strain probiotics and synbiotics are commonly available but rarely tested in their exact formulationsReferences and resources: Clinical Guide to Probiotic Products Available in USA http://www.usprobioticguide.comResearch review: Is There Evidence to Support Probiotic Use for Healthy People? https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2161831324000991?via%3DihubInternational Scientific Association for Probiotics and Prebiotics www.ISAPPscience.org Perspectives on products combining functional ingredients without testing the product as formulated:Cunningham M, et al.. The influence of product formulation on the activity and clinical outcomes of probiotic and prebiotic products. Trends Food Sci Technol: 112, June 2021, Pages 495-506.Sanders ME, et al. 2014. Effects of genetic, processing, or product formulation changes on efficacy and safety of probiotics. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 1309(1):1-18.Probiotic product survey: Merenstein DJ, Guzzi J, Sanders ME. 2019. More Information Needed on Probiotic Supplement Product Labels. J Gen Intern Med. 34(12):27Learn more about Kate and Dr. Riehl:Website: www.katescarlata.com and www.drriehl.comInstagram: @katescarlata @drriehl and @theguthealthpodcastOrder Kate and Dr. Riehl's book, Mind Your Gut: The Science-Based, Whole-body Guide to Living Well with IBS. The information included in this podcast is not a substitute for professional medical advice, examination, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health care provider before starting any new treatment or making changes to existing treatment.

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• The Gut Microbiome + Dysbiosis with Dr. Mark Pimentel

  Dr. Mark Pimentel, Executive Director of the MAST program at Cedars-Sinai in Los Angeles, shares groundbreaking insights into the small intestinal microbiome that challenge long-held beliefs about gut bacteria. Findings from his team’s REIMAGINE study reveal that the small intestine is far from sterile, as previously thought—instead, it harbors substantial bacterial communities that play a critical role in health and disease, especially in conditions such as IBS and SIBO.• E. coli and Klebsiella act as aggressive "Ferrari" bacteria that outcompete other microbes and destroy microbial diversity when overgrown inducing a "apocalyptic" disruption of the small bowel microbiome.• Lactobacillus, commonly found in many probiotics, may act as a disruptor in the small intestine and new research correlates higher small intestinal levels with obesity and unhealthy aging (more research needed)• The PLACIDE trial found probiotics didn't reduce C. diff or antibiotic-associated diarrhea but did increase bloating• Food poisoning is the only proven cause-and-effect trigger for IBS, with stress acting as a modifier rather than initiator• Combining rifaximin with NAC works 10x better for SIBO by targeting bacteria in both intestinal fluid and mucus• A new compound (CS06) shows promise for reducing methane production and relieving constipation• Three distinct gas patterns (hydrogen, methane, hydrogen sulfide) correlate with different symptom patterns and respond to targeted treatmentsThis episode was sponsored by Salix Pharmaceuticals. Resources: DDW 2025 Abstracts by the Mast Program and Dr. PimentelA Novel Microbiome Therapy, CS-06 (MTD Blocker), Reduces Methane Production in Stool CultureReal World Study of Three-Gas Breath Testing Nationwide and The Association with SymptomsLearn more about Kate and Dr. Riehl:Website: www.katescarlata.com and www.drriehl.comInstagram: @katescarlata @drriehl and @theguthealthpodcastOrder Kate and Dr. Riehl's book, Mind Your Gut: The Science-Based, Whole-body Guide to Living Well with IBS. The information included in this podcast is not a substitute for professional medical advice, examination, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health care provider before starting any new treatment or making changes to existing treatment.

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