♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ WE ARE WHAT WE EAT, OR PERHAPS MORE ACCURATELY OUR HEALTH IS DEPENDENT ON THE HEALTH AND VARIETY OF THE INTESTINAL BACTERIAL WITH WHOM WE SHARE OUR MEALS.

STAY WITH US AS Dr. SARA POLICE TELLS US HOW THE BACTERIA IN OUR GUT IS GOOD FOR OUR HEALTH.

>> "KENTUCKY HEALTH" IS FUNDED IN PART BY A GRANT FROM THE FOUNDATION FOR A HEALTHY KENTUCKY.

>> IN A PAPER ENTITLED THE GUTS OF OUR ANCESTORS, ANCIENT GUT MICROBIOMES MAY HOLD CLUES FOR MODERN DISEASES.

ERIC BENDER REFERENCES Dr. ALEXANDER KOSTIC WHO NOTED THAT THOSE CHILDREN IN INDUSTRIALIZED REGIONS WHO WERE MUCH MORE LIKELY TO DEVELOP TYPE ONE DIABETES THAN THOSE IN NON-INDUSTRIALIZED AREAS ALSO HAD VERY DIFFERENT GUT MICROBIOMES.

OUR MICROBIOMES, THE BACTERIA WITHIN OUR GUTS, HAVE EVOLVED AND CHANGED AS WE HAVE EVOLVED.

AND OUR DIETS HAVE CHANGED AS WELL.

JUST AS OUR CURRENT AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES TEND TOWARDS MONOCULTURE AND THE ANTECEDENT THREATS ASSOCIATED WITH THAT, THINK ABOUT THE POTENTIAL COLLAPSE OF BANANA PRODUCTION AND YOU CAN SEE WHAT I MEAN.

SO, TOO HAS THE LACK OF VARIETY IN OUR FOODS LED TO STARK DECREASES IN THE NUMBERS AND DIFFERENT SPECIES OF BACTERIA WITHIN OUR GUTS.

THIS DECLINE IN NUMBERS AND TYPES OF BACTERIA ARE DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE INCREASE IN MANY CHRONIC ILLNESSES, CANCERS AND NEUROCOGNITIVE DISORDERS.

WHILE WE MIGHT THINK OF THE GUT AS BEING NOT MORE THAN A STORAGE AREA FOR POOP, IT'S THAT AND A WHOLE LOT MORE.

HELP GET A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THE PORES AND SYMBIOTIC RELATIONSHIP THAT WE HAVE WITH THE BACTERIA IN OUR GUT WE HAVE Dr. SARA POLICE OBTAINED HER B.S.

IN BIOLOGY IN GEORGETOWN COLLEGE GEORGETOWN, KENTUCKY AND Ph.D.

IN NUTRITIONAL SCIENCE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY.

ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR AND DIRECTOR OF PHARMACOLOGY AT THE UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY COLLEGE OF MEDICINE.

DIRECTEDDOR OF NUTRITIONAL SCIENCES EDUCATION AND DIRECTOR OF THE ONLINE GRADUATE CERTIFICATE IN APPLIED NUTRITION AND COLONARY MEDICINE.

Dr. POLICE, SARA, THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US TODAY.

>> HAPPY TO BE HERE.

>> IT'S ALWAYS GREAT TO HAVE YOU ON HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE INTESTINAL MICROBIOME.

>> IT'S FUN.

>> YOU KNOW, MORE BACTERIA THERE, I GUESS THAN THERE ARE CELLS OR IS THAT JUST A MISNOMER NOWADAYS AND NOT REALLY TRUE.

>> IT'S ONE TO ONE.

>> REALLY.

>> FOR EVERY HUMAN CELL IN OUR BODY, THERE IS ONE BACTERIAL CELL.

>> WOW.

WE HAVE TO BE KIND TO OUR GUT AND OUR GUT WILL BE KIND TO US.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

THAT'S RIGHT.

>> SO TELL ME.

WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE INTESTINAL MICROBIOME, WHAT IS IT THAT WE ARE REALLY TALKING ABOUT HERE?

>> SO YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT WITH THE INTESTINAL MICROBIOME, ALL OF THE BACTERIA, FUNGI, EVERY LIVING ORGANISM IN YOUR GUT THAT IS NOT A HUMAN CELL, THAT'S BACTERIAL IN ORIGIN OR OTHERWISE.

AND WE SHOULD LOVE IT.

IT'S IMPORTANT.

IT DOES IMPORTANT WORK, NOT JUST FOR EVACUATION, RIGHT?

>> SO IT'S A GOOD THING.

WHEN WE ARE BORN DO WE HAVE BACTERIA IN OUR INTESTINAL TRACK OR DO WE GET IT AS WE AGE?

>> INTERESTINGLY THERE IS RECENT RESEARCH THAT SOAZ THE WOMB IS NOT COMPLETELY STERILE, NOT COMPLETELY STERILE SO THERE IS A LITTLE BIT OF EXPOSURE THERE.

BUT METHOD OF BIRTH IS INOCULATION.

WHETHER A CHILD IS BORN BY SEA CESAREAN OR VAGINALLY, THAT'S THE FIRST EXPOSURE TO BACTERIA AND IS INOCULATED IN THAT AREA.

AND MOVING FORWARD, WHETHER BABIES, YOU KNOW, BREAST FED OR BOTTLE FED AND COURSES OF ANTIBIOTICS OVER A LIFETIME SHAPES EACH PERSON'S MICROBIOME DURING THE LIFESPAN.

>> WOULD A PERSON WHO LIVES IN SOUTHEAST UNITED STATES HAVE IT THE SAME MICROBIOME AS SOMEONE WHO LIVES IN THE NORTHWEST?

>> NO.

>> REALLY?

>> NO.

SO AS I MENTIONED, LIKE EACH PERSON'S IS UNIQUE AND ALSO GEOGRAPHY IMPACTS IT, TOO.

A DRY CLIMATE VERSUS ONE THAT IS ON THE SEA SIDE, SO, YES.

ALL OF THESE ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS COME INTO PLAY.

>> ANY COMMONALITIES THAT WE WOULD EXPECT TO FIND FROM ONE GROUP TO ANOTHER NO MATTER WHERE THEY ARE OR IT CAN BE REALLY AS VARIED AS WHERE THAT PERSON IS?

>> SO FAMILIES THAT LIVE TOGETHER, HAVE A MORE SIMILAR BACTERIAL COMPOSITION, LIKE ROOMMATES, FOR EXAMPLE, MIGHT START TO MIMIC BACTERIAL COMPOSITION BECAUSE YOU ARE EATING THE SAME FOOD, EXPOSED TO THE SAME AIR.

IF YOU HAVE A PET VERSUS NOT HAVE A PET.

SO THOSE CAN HAVE SIMILAR COMPOSITION.

AND THEN COMMUNITIES, LIKE LET'S SAY FARMING COMMUNITIES.

THEY WOULD HAVE MORE SIMILAR BACTERIAL THAN THOSE THAT LIVE IN URBAN AREAS.

>> YOU THINK ONE IN THE FARMING AREAS, WOULD THEY HAVE A BETTER QUALITY OF BACTERIA THAN SAY FOLKS IN AN URBAN AREA?

>> SO BETTER QUALITY?

I DON'T FLOW BUT I WOULD SAY DIVERSE, MORE DIVERSITY, ABSOLUTELY BECAUSE YOU ARE GOING TO BE EXPOSED TO MAYBE FARM ANIMALS.

BUT HOPEFULLY LIVING ON A FARM WOULD YOU EAT MORE VARIETY OF LIKE FRESH FRUITS AND VEGETABLES.

AND SO AT A NUTRITION CONFERENCE I WAS AT A COUPLE YEARS AGO, THERE WAS A COMMON THEME AROUND INCREASING DIVERSITY OF THE MICROBIOME.

IF A PERSON EATS AT LEAST 30 DIFFERENT FRUITS OR VEGETABLES PER MONTH, THEY HAVE A STATISTICALLY SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER LIKE MORE DIVERSE GUT MICROBIOME.

>> 30 DIFFERENT FRUITS AND VEGETABLES?

HOW MANY OF US GET 30 DIFFERENT FRUITS AND VEGETABLES IN.

>> I DON'T KNOW BUT IT WOULD BE FUN TO ASK AND SEE.

YOU EAT A SALAD ON A TUESDAY, MAYBE IT HAS EIGHT DIFFERENT-- IF YOU GET A REALLY VINAIGRETTE DISAL ADD KITCHEN, YOU CAN HAVE ALL KINDS OF DIFFERENT THINGS.

YOU HAVE TO BE INTENTIONAL THOUGH BECAUSE I AGREE WITH YOU.

>> MOST OF US WILL HAVE ROMAINE LETTUCE, GRIET I'M DOING A GREAT JOB, CORN, PEAS, LIMA BEANS, COLLARDS.

IT'S SOMETHING WE HAVE TO ACTUALLY THINK ABOUT GETTING 30.

DOES IT MATTER IF IT IS FRESH FRUITS VERSUS CANNED OR FROZEN?

>> SO GOOD QUESTION.

FOR THE MICROBIOME, I THINK FIBER CONTENT MATTERS AND THAT'S PRESERVED IF IT IS FRESH OR FROZEN VERSUS CANNING.

I THINK THAT MIGHT CHANGE.

WOULD I HAVE TO LOOK AT THE LABEL AND SEA.

>> IT NICE KNOW THAT PEOPLE LIKE YOU LOOK AT THE LABELS.

>> I DO.

>> YOU DO?

ARE YOU THAT PERSON-- I AM, I AM THAT GUY LOOKING AT THE LABELS IN THE STORE TO SEE WHAT IS IN THERE.

>> TO COMPARE BRANDS I MIGHT DO THAT BUT I HAVE MY FAVORITES.

>> WE HEAR ABOUT PROBIOTICS AND HOW IMPORTANT THEY ARE AND PREBIOTICKICS.

WHAT ARE THEY AND ARE THEY THE SAME, DIFFERENT?

THIESH DIFFERENT.

YOGURT WOULD BE A GREAT SOURCE OF PROBIOTIC OR KEFE OR FERMENTED VEGETABLE.

THOSE NATURALLY OCCURRING, HEALTHY BACTERIA IN FOODS.

PREBIOTICS REFER TO CONTENTS IN FOOD THAT FEED GUT BACTERIA LIKE INULIN, STARCHES, FIBERS, THINGS LIKE THAT THAT FEEDBACK TIERRA ONCE YOU-- THAT FEED BACTERIA ONCE YOU INGEST THE FOOD.

IT IS A NATURAL SOURCE.

>> SO WE HAVE TO HAVE THE BACTERIA AND THEN WE HAVE TO, LIKE A GOOD FARMER SHOULD, WE HAVE TO FEED OUR CROP EVERY NOW AND THEN.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

>> HOW MUCH INFLUENCE DOES THE BACTERIA IN OUR INTESTINAL TRACT DRIVE US TO EAT CERTAIN FOODS?

OR TO SEEK OUT CERTAIN THINGS?

SAY, FOR EXAMPLE, I KNOW SOMETIMES YOU WILL FIND THAT IF SOMEONE HAS A DEFICIENCY OF SOMETHING, THEY MAY CRAVE THAT PARTICULAR ITEM BUT THEN WHEN THE DEFICIENCY IS GONE, THEY DON'T.

DO WE FIND A SIMILAR THING WITH BACTERIA IN OUR GUT?

I WAS JUST CURIOUS OR IS IT JUST OUR EATING SOMETHING AFFECTS HOW THE BACK YEAR THAT, I DIDN'T KNOW IF IT WAS A TWO WAY STREET GOING ON.

>> I THINK MORE ABOUT IT AS WE WHAT EAT IMPACTS THE COMPOSITION.

THAT'S PROVEN IN THE LITERATURE TIME AND TIME AGAIN THROUGH CLINICAL TRIALS AND ANIMAL MODELS.

HOW THE GUT BACTERIA DRIVES HUMAN BEHAVIOR AS TO WHICH FOODS TO SELECT?

I'M NOT SURE.

I CAN IMAGINE THAT IT WOULD.

>> LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS WITH THE FLOWER THAT SAYS FEED ME, SEYMOUR, FEED ME.

SO... >> NO, AGREE NOT QUITE, HUH?

>> I THINK IT MIGHT HAVE SOME INFLUENCE BUT I'M NOT SURE ABOUT LITERATURE TO SUPPORT THAT.

>> WHAT IS THE TERM DISBIOSIS.

WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

>> IT REFERS TO AN IMBALANCE IN THE NATURAL BACTERIA IN THE GUT.

SO YOU WANT TO HAVE DIFFERENT LEVELS OF LACTOBACILLUS, BIFIDO BACTERIUM.

IF ONE OUTGROWS MORE THAN IT QUOTE SHOULD BE, THIS CAN LEAD TO A CONDITION CALLED DISBIOSIS AND THAT WOULD BE INFLAMMATORY BOWEL DISEASE, IRRITABLE BOWEL SYNDROME.

MENTAL HEALTH DISORDERS HAVE BEEN LINKED WITH DISBIO SIS OF THE GUT.

THERE IS ALSO A TENDENCY TO HAVE G.I.

DISTURBANCES AND ALSO DIFFICULTIES WITH WEIGHT MANAGEMENT AS WELL.

>> WHEN YOU SAY WEIGHT MANAGEMENT, ARE YOU SUGGESTING THAT WE MAY BE MORE PREDISPOSED TO BECOMING OVERWEIGHT OR UNDERWEIGHT BECAUSE OF THE BACTERIA THAT IS PRESENT?

>> 100%, YES, I'M SUGGESTING THAT, YES.

THAT'S BEEN SHOWN.

SO, YOU KNOW, WE ARE TALKING ABOUT BUT BACTERIA, HAVE YOU TO TALK ABOUT POO A LITTLE BIT.

>> I'M OWE COLORECTAL SURGEON SO YOU ARE IN MY MEDIUM.

>> IN CASES WHERE THEY HAVE DONE FECAL TRANSPLANTS TO TREAT UNTREATABLE CASES, WHAT IS INTERESTING IS THE RECIPIENT TENDS TO TAKE ON THE SET WEIGHT POINT OF THE HOST DONOR.

>> REALLY?

>> YES.

THERE ARE CASE STUDIES AROUND THIS.

WHERE A RECIPIENT, WHO THANKFULLY IT WAS TREATED SUCCESSFULLY AND SHE WENT ON AND WAS CURED FROM THIS TREATMENT WHICH IS VERY DIFFICULT TO TREAT AS YOU KNOW.

UNEXPECTEDLY, STARTED TO GAIN WEIGHT TWO TO THREE MONTHS AFTER HER RECOVERY AND DIDN'T UNDERSTAND WHY.

COME TO FIND OUT, THE DONOR WAS SIGNIFICANTLY HEAVIER THAN THE RECIPIENT.

>> CAN YOU IMAGINE A WORLD IN WHICH SOMEONE WHO IS THIN DONATES THEIR STOOL TO SOMEONE WHO IS OVERWEIGHT AND THEY WOULD LOSE WEIGHT?

>> THIS IS AN AREA OF RESEARCH.

>> IS THAT RIGHT?

>> YES.

>> SO YOU ARE TRYING TO PUT OWE SEM EZEMPIC AND OTHER THOSE INHIBITORS OUT OF BUSINESS.

>> NOT ME BUT THIS IS AN AREA OF RESEARCH FOR SURE.

>> BUT WHEN TALKING ABOUT THAT, HOW DO SOME OF THESE DRUGS THEN, WHICH ARE QUITE USEFUL FOR DIABETES AND HELPFUL FOR WEIGHT LOSS.

I DON'T MEAN TO MINIMIZE THAT BY ANY STRETCH OF THE IMAGINATION.

BUT DO THESE THINGS IMPACT OUR GUT MICROFLORA AT ALL?

>> IT DEPENDS ON THE WEIGHT LOSS DRUG.

SO IT DEPENDS ON THE DRUG.

SO SOMETHING LIKE OLOSTAT WHICH INHIBITS AN INTIME USED IN FAT DIGESTION, SO THEN YOU HAVE EXTRA DIETARY FAT IN THE DIETARY TRACT.

THESE IMPACT THE GUT MICROBIOME BECAUSE YOU HAVE EXCESS FAT IN THE J. G.I.

TRACT FOR A LONGER PERIOD OF TIME AND IMPACTS THE FUEL SOURCE.

BACTERIA BLOOMS ON RECEIVING FUEL THAT THEY NEED SO EXTRA FAT IN THE G.I.

TRACT, IT IMPACTS DIVERSITY IN A NEGATIVE WAY.

BUT SOMETHING LIKE THE G.O.P.

1 ANTAGONIST, OZEMPIC, THE RESEARCH THAT I READ, DOESN'T HAVE A NEGATIVE EFFECT.

>> THAT'S GOOD TO HEAR.

>> SO IT'S NIL OR BENEFICIAL.

>> THAT'S ENCOURAGING.

SO WHAT ABOUT DIETS LIKE THE CEETD OWE DIET-- KETO DIET.

I'M CURIOUS ABOUT A DIET THAT SAYS YOU SHOULD NOT HAVE A CERTAIN THING.

CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, IN THE KETO DIET, IT'S CAN'TS OR CARBOHYDRATES ARE A NO-NO.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

THEY'RE OFF THE TABLE ALMOST COMPLETELY.

KETO DIET IS PREDOMINANTLY FAT.

LIKE 90% FAT.

SO I FEEL LIKE I WANT TO GIVE SOME CONTEXT TO THE KETOGYNIC DIET.

IT WAS USED ORIGINALLY FOR WEIGHT LOSS BUT ORIGINALLY DESIGNED FOR THE TREATMENT OF EPILEPSY.

>> REALLY?

>> SO WHAT IS INTERESTING IS IT WAS NOTICED THAT PATIENTS THAT HADN'T EATEN IN A FEW DAYS TENDED TO HAVE FEWER SEIZURES FOR LESS SEVERE SEIZURES.

SO PHYSICIANS WORKED TO DESIGN A DIET THAT MIMICKED FASTING, HENCE THE KETO GENIC DIET BECAUSE IT MIMICS FASTING.

SO WHAT IS INTERESTING IS DOES IT IMPACT THE GUT MICROBIOME, YES COMPARED TO BASELINE BECAUSE YOU ARE EATING LESS FIBER, LESS VEGETABLES, LESS CARBOHYDRATES, LOAD MORE DIETARY FAT.

IS THE JUICE WORTH THE SQUEEZE?

FOR SOMEONE WITH EPILEPSY, I WOULD SAY MOST LIKELY SO.

FOR SURE.

AND THEN IF YOU ARE WORRIED ABOUT NUTRIENT MALNUTRITION, THAT CAN BE SUPPLEMENTED WITH VARIOUS SUPPLEMENTATION.

BACK TO YOUR QUESTION OF HOW IT IMPACTS THE GUT MICROBIOME.

IT WOULD HAVE AN IMPACT ON DIVERSITY BECAUSE AGAIN THEY BLOOM BASED ON THE FIBERS THAT THEY'RE GIVEN.

SO WITH LESS FIBER, WOULD YOU HAVE LESS DIVERSE COMPOSITION.

>> SO YOU MADE AN INTERESTING POINT.

A LOT OF PEOPLE TAKE SUPPLEMENTS BE THEY MINERALS OR VITAMINS.

I OFTEN WONDER SHOULDN'T WE BE GETTING OUR NUTRIENTS IN THE FORM OF FOOD AS OPPOSED TO IN THIS SUPPLEMENT?

AND IF WE ARE, ARE WE DEPRIVING THE STUFF IN OUR GUT, ARE WE DEPRIVING THEM OF SOMETHING THEY NEED FOR THEIR WELL-BEING?

>> SO I AGREE WITH YOU ABOUT GETTING NUTRIENTS FROM FOOD.

100%.

I'M IN THE SAME CAMP, RIGHT.

WHOLE FOODS CAMP.

DIFFERENT DIETARY SUPPLEMENTS HAVE DIFFERENT EFFECTS ON THE GUT MICROBIOME.

>> OKAY.

>> I'M NOT SURE THAT WAS YOUR QUESTION BUT IF YOU WANT TO KNOW ABOUT IT.

>> PLEASE.

>> SO PROBIOTICS ARE AVAILABLE IN SUPPLEMENT FORM AND THOSE WOULD ADD TO DIVERSITY OF THE GUT BIOME, DEPENDING ON WHAT TYPE OF STRAIN IS IN THE PROBIOTIC.

INTERESTING, IF YOU STOP TAKING THE PROBIOTIC, THE COMPOSITION JUST GOES BACK TO WHAT IT WAS BEFORE YOU TOOK IT SO HAVE YOU TO TAKE PROBIOTICS CHRONICALLY TO HAVE A PERMANENT CHANGE.

>> IS THAT BECAUSE WE ARE NOT TAKING THINGS IN IN THE NATIVE FORMS THAT WE ARE GETTING THE PROBIOTIC IN A MORE NATURAL WAY, IN OTHER WORDS?

IF I'M JUST EATING HIGHLY REFINED FOODS THAT I'M NOT GOING TO GET ANYTHING IN AND I'M TAKING THIS PROBIOTIC SUPPLEMENT.

BUT IF I CHANGE MY DIE TOTE MORE WHOLE FOODS,-- MY DIE TOTE MORE WHOLE FOODS WOULD I HAVE TO KEEP DOING IT?

>> IF YOU WANTED TO, YOU COULD BUT IF YOU CHANGE YOUR DIET TO A MORE WHOLE FOODS BASED DIET WITH MORE DIVERSE COMPOSITION, YOUR GUT MICROBIOME WOULD REFLECT THAT.

>> I'M CONFUSED THOUGH.

WHEN LOOKING AT PROBIOTIC SUPPLEMENTS, YOU MENTIONED VARIETY, AT LEAST I GOT THE IDEA THAT VARIETY IS AN IMPORTANT THING.

HOW DO YOU KNOW WHAT IS A GOOD PROBIOTIC?

BECAUSE HAVE YOU SOME THAT ARE ON THE SHELF, SOME THAT NEED TO BE REFRIGERATED, SOME THAT HAVE X NUMBER, 34 BILLION LIVE BACTERIA.

I'M WONDERING, YOU ARE TAKING IN SOMETHING THROUGH YOUR MOUTH THAT GETS DESTROYED IN THE STOMACH, DOESN'T IT?

>> YEAH, THIS IS A TOUGH QUESTION.

FOR ANY VIEWERS WATCHING, I WOULD SAY ASK NOR PHYSICIAN.

>> I HOPE VIEWERS ARE WATCHING.

>> I WOULD SAY ASK YOUR PHYSICIAN.

THEY MAY HAVE A FAVORITE.

>> WE DON'T KNOW.

MOST DOCS DON'T THOUGH THIS STUFF.

>> WELL, OKAY.

IF YOU SAY SO.

THE REFRIGERATED ONES TEND TO HAVE A LONGER SHELF LIFE, RIGHT?

THEY ARE REFRIGERATED FOR A REASON.

SO THEY TEND TO BE A LITTLE MORE POTENT, IN MY EXPERIENCE AND FROM WHAT I'VE READ.

COLONY FORMING UNITS IS THE DOSE OF THE PROBIOTIC.

SO THE HIGHER THE COLONY FORMING UNITS, THE HIGHER THE DOSE OF PROBIOTICS THAT YOU ARE TAKING SO YOU WANT TO LOOK AT THAT.

SOME OF THEM ARE SO LOW IT WOULD BE LIKE SPINNING IN THE OCEAN.

AND THEN THE MORE STRAINS, I WOULD THINK THE MORE EXPENSIVE THE PRODUCT AND THEORETICALLY THAT WOULD BE... >> WE MIGHT WANT TO LOOK FOR SOMETHING THAT MAY REQUIRE REFRIGERATION AND GREATER NUMBERS AND GREATER VARIETY OF THE THING.

>> YES, AND THEY'RE AVAILABLE IN DIFFERENT FORMS.

YOU CAN GET THEM IN POWDER FORM.

YOU CAN GET CAPSULES.

>> REALLY.

>> EVEN THE CONCENTRATED YOGURT DRINKS NOW.

THERE ARE DIFFERENT FORMS OF PROBIOTIC ARE AVAILABLE NOW.

>> I DIDN'T ALES THAT.

WHEN YOU TALKED ABOUT DISBIOSIS, YOU TALKED ABOUT NEUROCOGNITIVE DISORDERS.

MANY OF US, ARE YOU SUGGESTING THEN THAT WHAT IS GOING ON IN THE INTESTINAL TRACT CAN HAVE SOME IMPACT ON NEW JERSEY LOGICAL DISORDERS-- NEUROLOGICAL DISORDERS AND PSYCHIATRIC THINGS, ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION.

>> YES, I AM SUGGESTING THAT.

AND SO TO ILLUSTRATE THE CONNECTION BETWEEN THE GUT AND I BRAIN, I DON'T KNOW IF LYING MAKES YOU NERVOUS OR IF SOMETHING MAKES YOU NERVOUS, DO YOU FEEL IT IN YOUR STOMACH, THE WHOLE CONNOTATION OF BUTTERFLIES IN THE STOMACH?

OOTS A TWO WAY STREET BETWEEN THE GUT AND BRAIN, THE INTERRIC SYSTEM OF THE GUT AND THE VAGUS NERVE.

SO IF SOMEONE FEELS NERVOUS OR HAS ANXIETY, THEY MIGHT FEEL IT IN THEIR G.I.

TRACT AND THEN IF YOU HAVE AN UPSET STOMACH, IT CAN CREATE ANXIETY.

SO, YES.

AND TO YOUR POINT OR TO YOUR QUESTION, DISBIOSIS IS ASSOCIATED WITH SOME MENTAL HEALTH DISORDERS SUCH AS AUTISM, DEPRESSION, ANXIETY, ATTENTION DEFEND HYPERACTIVITY DISORDER.

THERE IS A CORRELATION BETWEEN GUT HEALTH AND PREVALENCE OF THESE AS WELL.

>> WHAT ABOUT IMMUNE SYSTEM.

I CAN THINK OF A COUPLE OF DISEASES THAT I WOULD SUSPECT BUT IS THERE A RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN GUT HEALTH AND THE IMMUNE FUNCTION?

>> ABSOLUTELY!

YES, BECAUSE YOU KNOW, WITH GUT HEALTH ARE ASSOCIATED WITH AUTOIMMUNE CONDITIONS AS YOU KNOW SUCH AS CROHN'S DISEASE AND , YEAH.

>> WHAT ABOUT JUST IN GENERAL?

YOUR BODY DEVELOPING CERTAIN THINGS, ARTS RIGHTS OR ANY CONDITIONS LIKE THAT OTHER THAN INFLAMMATORY THINGS?

IS THERE SOMETHING GOING ON THERE?

>> THERE ARE SPECIFIC DIETS LIKE THE ELEMENTAL DIET ROLLING BACK TO AN ELEMENTAL DIET OR ANTIINFLAMMATORY DIET HAVE BEEN SHOWN TO ALLEVIATE SYMPTOMS OF AUTOIMMUNE CONDITIONS.

IT'S ALL CONNECTED.

EATING FOODS THAT ARE ANTIINFLAMMATORY IN NATURE, LIKE VEGETABLES, FRUITS, WHOLE GRAINS VERS VERSUS PROCESSED FOODS WHICH CREATE INFLAMMATION.

AND SO, YES.

>> WHERE DO YOU STAND ON THAT BATTLE?

WITH THE PROCESSED FOOD VERSUS THE UNPROCESSED OR NON-PROCESSED FOOD?

I MEAN BECAUSE THAT'S GOT TO BE-- THESE PROCESSED FOODS HAVE TO BE DOING SOMETHING IN OUR INTESTINAL TRACT.

I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S GOOD.

I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S BAD.

MAYBE I'M WRONG AND IT'S NEUTRAL.

BUT WHAT DO YOU FIND?

>> I THINK IT DEPENDS ON THE FOOD.

BUT ALSO I WOULD SAY THE CLEANER THE FOOD THAT YOU EAT WITH THE FEWER INGREDIENTS, THE BETTER.

AND I HAVE BEEN FORTUNATE TO VISIT EITHER COUNTRIES OUTSIDE OF THE U.S., THE FOOD SUPPLY IS COMPLETELY DIFFERENT OVER THERE.

I'M REFERRING TO EUROPE.

AND THE FOOD REGULATION AS ROUND WHAT IS IN THE FOOD SUPPLY ARE DIFFERENT AS WELL.

AND SO YES, I FOUND IT PRETTY REFRESHING, HONESTLY.

BUT THE FEWER INGREDIENTS-- IF YOU ARE LOOKING AT A FOOD LABEL AND THERE ARE THINGS ON THERE THAT YOU CAN'T PRONOWBS PRONOUNCE, THINGS THAT MAKE YOU GO HMM, SHOULD I TAKE THIS INTO MY BODY?

WHAT ARE THE EFFECTS AND SO... CLEAN DIET.

WHOLE FOODS DIET.

>> NOW, THERE IS THIS BIG ARGUMENT-- WE ARE ALL TRYING TO MAINTAIN OUR WEIGHT.

BUT WE ALL HAVE SWEET TOOTHS AND THE QUESTION COMES, IS IT BETTER FOR ME TO TAKE IN SUGAR IF I'M ADDING THAT TO MY COFFEE OR TEA OR SHOULD I USE A SUGAR SUBSTITUTE.

HOW DOES THE SUGAR SUBSTITUTES VERSUS SUGAR IMPACT MY GUT BACTERIA?

>> SO YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT LIKE THE NON-NUTRATIVE SUGARS.

FROM WHAT I'VE READ, THE WORST AMONG ALL OF THE POSSIBILITIES WOULD BE SACCHARIN.

AND WHAT IS INTERESTING IS YOU USE SACCHARIN TO AVOID SUGAR, RIGHT?

>> YES.

>> THE PROBLEM IS SACCHARIN IMPACTS THE GUT MICROBIOME AND HAS BEEN FOUND TO LEAD TO GLUCOSE INTOLERANCE OR PREDIABETES AND A CLINICAL STUDY DONE 10 YEARS AGO.

>> REALLY?

>> YES.

IT'S COUNTERINTUITIVE.

YOU WOULD THINK I'M PREVENTING MY BLOOD SUGAR FROM RAISING, AND IT DOES, BUT IT IMPACTS THE GUT MICROBIOME IN A MORE LONG LASTING WAY THAT IMPACTS METABOLISM AND GLUCOSE NEGATIVELY.

SO PUNCH LINE, WOULD I GO FOR HONEY OR MAPLE SYRUP OR JUST RAW SUGAR VERSUS THE NON-KNEW TRAITIVE SUGARS.

SACCHARIN IS THE WORSE.

THERE ARE A FEW TO CHOOSE FROM.

>> IS THERE REALLY SOMETHING CALLED RAW SUGAR.

I SEE THEM IN THE BROWN PACKAGES.

IS IT RAW?

>> YEAH, YOU KNOW, I WILL BE HONEST.

I DON'T KNOW THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN RAW SUGAR AND WHITE SUGAR.

I WOULD IMAGINE IT WOULD BE SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE PROCESSING.

ONING HEALTHIER THAN THE OTHER OR MORE PROCESSED THAN THE OTHER.

I OPENED UP BY TALKING ABOUT DIABETES AND SOME CORRELATION BETWEEN THAT AND WHAT PEOPLE ARE TAKING IN.

DO YOU FIND THAT STILL TO BE TRUE?

ARE THERE CHANGES IN INCIDENTS OF DIABETES AND PEOPLE BASED ON WHAT THEY'RE EATING BECAUSE OF CHANGES IN THE MICROBIOME.

I KNOW YOU TALKED ABOUT WEIGHT LOSS BUT I DIDN'T KNOW IF THERE WAS A CORRELATION, IF YOU HAVE NOTICED THAT.

>> SO CERTAINLY DISBIOSIS IS-- I DON'T REALLY KNOW IF THAT IS RELATED TO INCREASING PREVALENCE OF GLUCOSE INTOLL INTOLERANCE OR INSULIN RESISTANCE.

CERTAINLY WHAT YOU EAT IMPACTS YOUR WEIGHT AND WITH INCREASING WEIGHT, OVER WEIGHT, OBESITY THERE IS INSULIN RESISTANCE AND INCREASED RISK FOR DEVELOPING TYPE TWO DIABETES BUT I DON'T KNOW HOW THE LINK IS WITH THE MICROBIOME.

>> THERE YOU GO.

WE HAVE SOMETHING TO WORK ON.

>> YES.

>> IF HAD TO TELL ME, WHAT ARE THE THREE BIG THINGS, IF YOU ARE THINKING ABOUT THIS, THAT WE GET WRONG ABOUT OUR MICROBIOME?

RIGHT NOW YOU HEAR ALL THE STUFF, EVERYBODY HAS GOT, YOU KNOW, THE BRAND, THE PHILLIPS GUT MEDITATION-- MEDICATION.

I'M JUST USING THEM AS AN EXAMPLE, NOT SAYING ANYTHING GOOD OR BAD ABOUT THEM.

BUT WHAT ARE THE THINGS WE GET WRONG WITH THE INTESTINAL MICROBIOME AND HOW IT AFFECTS OUR HEALTH?

>> OH MY.

WELL, I WOULD SAY THE MORE SOMEONE TAKES CARE OF THEIR GUT MICROBIOME AND WHEN I SAY CAKE TAKE CARE OF IT I MEAN EATING A VARIETY OF FOODS, NOT BEING AFRAID TO GO OUTSIDE, GET DIRTY, LIKE BEING IN THE ENVIRONMENT, RIGHT, THINGS LIKE THIS, THE MORE YOU TAKE CARE OF YOUR GUT MICROBIOME, I THINK THE BETTER YOU ARE GOING TO FEEL.

THAT'S JUST MY OWN PERSONAL EXPERIENCE AND PROFESSIONAL OPINION.

BACTERIA ARE NOT BAD.

I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING PEOPLE GET WRONG.

BACTERIA ARE BAD THEY THINK.

IF WE DIDN'T HAVE A GUT MICROBIOME, WE WOULD BE IN A WORLD OF-- IT IS REALLY JUST REALLY, REALLY IMPORTANT FUNCTION THAT IT HAS FROM THE IMMUNE SYSTEM TO MENTAL HEALTH, WEIGHT MANAGEMENT, HOLISTICALLY.

BACTERIA ARE NOT BAD.

TAKE CARE OF THE GUT MICROBIOME.

ONE MORE, YOU SAID THREE THINGS WE GET WRONG.

>> I'M GOING GIVE YOU ONE.

EAT 30 DIFFERENT FRUITS AND/OR VEGETABLES A WEEK.

>> VARIETY MATTERS.

>> GET THAT 30 IN THERE.

WELL, SARA Dr. POLICE, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR BEING WITH US.

IT'S ALWAYS A PLEASURE FOR ME TO TALK TO YOU BECAUSE I THINK IT IS ONE OF THE MOST MISUNDERSTOOD AREAS OF OUR BODY BUT ONE OF THE THINGS WE CAN CONTROL TO MAKE OUR LIVES BETTER.

I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US TODAY.

I HOPE YOU HAVE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING THE RELATIONSHIP WE HAVE WITH THE BACTERIA THAT RESIDE IN OUR INTESTINES AND HOW CAN CAN AFFECT OUR OVERALL HEALTH AND WELL-BEING F. YOU WISH TO WATCH THIS SHOW AGAIN OR ARCHIVED VERSE VERSION OF PAST SHOWS GO TO ket.org.

IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION OR COMMENT ABOUT THIS OR OTHER SHOWS WE CAN BE REACHED AT K YRHEALTH@ket.org.

I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU AGAIN ON THE NEXT "KENTUCKY HEALTH" AND ON THE PRODUCE AISLE IN YOUR GROCERY STORE AS YOU ARE SAMPLING ALL KINDS OF DIFFERENT FRUITS AND/OR VEGETABLES.

DO NOT BE AFRAID OF THAT HEAD OF LETTUCE, ROMAINE LETTUCE, THE GREENS, THE BEETS, THE POTATOES, CORNS AND EVERYTHING ELSE.

KEEP HEALTHY.

EAT WELL, GET YOUR 30 DIFFERENT FRUITS AND VEGETABLES IN.

SEE YOU NEXT WEEK.

>> "KENTUCKY HEALTH" IS FUNDED IN PART BY A GRANT FROM THE FOUNDATION FOR A HEALTHY KENTUCKY.