Master Your Microbiome to Age Better Age Better with Barbara Hannah Grufferman

Gut health has become such a popular topic for aging and solving many of the mysteries surrounding all kinds of diseases. We’re diving into the gut microbiome to unpack this complex community of bacteria and get a better understanding of how it impacts literally every inch of our body’s function and health. 
Dr. Sean Gibbons is joining us for this episode to share his specialized knowledge and insights of how the gut microbiome impacts our daily activity, what we can do to better care for it, and how we can optimize our microbiomes to age better. His postdoctoral work focused on developing techniques to quantify individual-specific eco-evolutionary dynamics within the human gut microbiome. 
As Dr. Gibbons simplifies these complex systems and functions for us, he reveals how much more unique we actually are thanks to our microbiomes. First, we get a GruffTalk special Masterclass on Gut Microbiome function and connections to overall health, then we answer listener questions that you submitted. 
The Gut Microbiome Masterclass 
Fun Fact: We have more microbes in our gut than we have human cells in our body.  
Dr. Gibbons explains how we are covered in these tiny microorganisms inside and out, and how we literally have over 30 trillion bacterial cells in the first part. The second part is understanding that these bacterial cells impact our health for better or worse and the majority of these bacteria reside in our gut, which is why gut health is such a critical topic to health and better aging. 
“Being an omnivore is okay as long as the vast majority of your diet is plant-based.” -Dr. Sean Gibbons 
When it comes to aging and the gut microbiome, Dr. Gibbons explains the research and implications of some shocking results that were found in a study of a healthy and unhealthy older population. You won’t believe how unique microbiomes correlate to the older healthy population of participants. 
Lastly, this masterclass wouldn’t be complete without Dr. Gibbons breaking down how microbes affect your immune system and the ways you can leverage and manipulate inflammation through your microbiome. 
Listener Questions Dr. Gibbons Answers for You 
Listeners of GruffTalk send in some of the best questions and we’re so thankful for that. If you’d like to send any questions you want to have answered for future episodes you can send an email to grufftalkpodcast@gmail.com. Here are the topics and concerns that Dr. Gibbons gave detailed explanations for: 

Things we can do throughout our lifetimes to manipulate our microbiomes 

How to positively change your gut microbiome later in life 

Are probiotic supplements good for you? 

Which diet is best for your gut? Plant-based? Mediterranean? Carnivore? 

Linking gut microbiome to disease and the impact on cancer 

Should you be concerned about taking statins for gut health 

Weight loss, weight gain and lifestyle choices for a healthy microbiome 

 
Dr. Gibbons 3 Takeaways for Gut Health and Better Aging: 

You’re not alone. We’re made of trillions of bacteria 

Eat a diverse array of whole foods, mostly plant-based 

Turning back the clock may not be best when it comes to your gut microbiome 

 
“If you could do one thing, just exercise. That's probably the one single best intervention you can do for your health.” -Dr. Sean Gibbons 
Connect with Dr. Gibbons 
Website: https://gibbons.isbscience.org/bio/sean-gibbons-phd/  
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ibbological  
Connect with Barbara:  
Love Your Age: The Small-Step Solution to a Better, Longer, Happier Life 
Barbara Hannah Grufferman website 
Instagram @Barbara Hannah Grufferman 
Facebook @BarbaraHannahGruffermanAuthor 
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices