How to Enhance Your Gut Microbiome for Brain & Overall Health

2022-02-28

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In this episode, I discuss the profound effect the gut has on the nervous system. I cover the structure and function of the gut-brain axis and the role of the gut microbiome in the brain and overall health. I describe how the gut controls hunger or satiety by affecting neurons in our brain. I also contrast the many pathways by which the gut influences the brain: direct vs. indirect pathways, chemical vs. mechanical, and fast vs. slow signaling. Additionally, I discuss what defines a healthy microbiome and how your lifestyle impacts the gut microbiome, including the effects of stress, fasting, antibiotics, pets, environment, prebiotics and probiotics. I address how different foods shape the gut microbiome, in particular, the emerging data that fermented foods can increase the diversity of healthy gut microbiota. Throughout the episode, I explain peer-reviewed and textbook findings that reveal the critical role of the gut microbiome in supporting mental and physical health and I outline simple tools that anyone can use in order to enhance their gut microbiome health.

For the full show notes, visit hubermanlab.com.

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Timestamps

(00:00:00) Gut Microbiome

(00:03:19) Sponsors: AG1, LMNT

(00:06:55) Your Gut-Brain Axis

(00:09:44) Gut-Brain Anatomy

(00:15:32) Microbiota vs. Gut Microbiome