Podcast Summary
The Connection between Gut Health and Overall Well-Being with Dr. Will Cole: Gut health is crucial for overall health, as it affects the immune system and is linked to various health issues. Understanding gut health can help prevent and manage inflammation, autoimmune issues, and hormonal imbalances.
Dr. Will Cole is a leading functional medicine expert who provides a functional medicine approach for various health issues, from thyroid issues to brain problems.He is also the host of the Art of Being Well podcast and the bestselling author of several books, including his newest, Gut Feelings, which explores the gut-brain connection.The gut is linked to the brain through the gut-brain axis and is home to 75% of the immune system.Many health problems, including inflammation, autoimmune issues, and hormonal problems, stem from gut health.It's important to understand gut health and not settle for common digestive issues.
Understanding Your Body's Signals for Better Health: Pay attention to your body's signals, especially bowel movements, to gauge your overall health. Mental and physical health are interconnected, so addressing emotions and thoughts can improve wellbeing.
Dr. Will Cole emphasizes the importance of being aware and mindful of how our body works.Bowel movements are a window into our overall health, and having one to two bowel movements a day is normal.Other signs of poor health include ravenous food cravings, trouble losing weight, hair loss, and skin problems.Dr. Cole also discusses the concept of shame formation, where mental health and physical health are interconnected, and our thoughts and emotions can impact inflammation levels in the body.It's important to address these physiological and psychological missing links to improve overall health and wellbeing.
How Our Relationship with Food Affects Our Body: Inflammation caused by gluten-containing grains, industrial seed oils, conventional dairy, added sugar, and alcohol can negatively impact our health. Mindset, gut health, and medication use play important roles in our overall well-being.
Our relationship with food and ourselves can impact the function of our vagus nerve and hormones.Inflammation is a key factor that affects our overall health, and we should pay attention to what we consume.The inflammatory core four are gluten-containing grains, industrial seed oils, conventional dairy, and added sugar.Alcohol can also contribute to inflammation.However, it's not just about what we eat, but also how we approach it with our mindset and intentions.Our gut microbiome plays a crucial role in regulating many pathways in the body, and medications like NSAIDs and antibiotics can affect it negatively.Taking care of our gut health is essential for overall well-being.
The Effects of Medications and Chronic Stress on Gut Health: Certain medications and chronic stress can harm gut health by disrupting the microbiome and causing conditions like leaky gut syndrome. It's important to be mindful of these effects and work with a healthcare professional to maintain gut health.
Taking medications for specific health conditions can have long-term effects on gut health.Antibiotics and certain pain pills can negatively impact gut microbiome and lead to conditions like small intestinal bacterial overgrowth and leaky gut syndrome.Alcohol can also disrupt the balance of gut microbiome and increase intestinal permeability, triggering autoimmune conditions.It's important to be conscious of these effects and work with your doctor to support gut health, especially after taking medications.Chronic stress can also have negative effects on gut health, so finding a balance between sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system responses is crucial for overall health.
Managing Stress and Inflammation for a Healthier Life: Chronic stress and inflammation can lead to health problems, but incorporating healthy habits like sleep, technology boundaries, and self-care practices can help reduce stress. Starting small and not waiting for the "perfect time" is key.
Cortisol and inflammation are not inherently bad; they play crucial roles in our immune system.However, chronic stress and inflammation can lead to health problems.To reduce stress, it's important to practice healthy habits, like getting enough sleep, setting boundaries with technology, and incorporating self-care practices.Starting small and not waiting for the "perfect time" is key.Don't wait for a holiday or a new year to make positive changes in your life.By taking small steps, like incorporating metaphysical meals and finding practical tools to manage stress, you can start feeling better and maintain healthy habits in the long run.
The Importance of Self-Respect and Self-Care in Achieving Wellness: By prioritizing self-respect and self-care, we can view wellness as a positive choice rather than a restrictive regimen. By fueling our bodies appropriately and avoiding toxic relationships with food, we can improve our overall health and feel great.
Dr.Will Cole advocates for a paradigm shift towards self-respect and self-care.He encourages people to see wellness as a form of self-respect, rather than a restrictive diet culture.Eating foods that do not love you back is like staying in a toxic relationship and breeds shame and inflammation.It's important to view ourselves as luxury vehicles and fuel ourselves appropriately.Starting with our headspace is powerful, as stress leads to poor eating habits and inflammation.Through self-respect, people make better choices for their life and feel great.It's not about starving yourself from what you want but acknowledging that your body doesn't actually want that.
Healthy Habits can be Fun with Friends!: Making healthy choices doesn't need to be boring. It's important to indulge in food, but be mindful of how you feel afterwards. Exploring new activities with friends positively impacts both your social life and health. Be a role model and inspire others to make positive changes for a healthier community.
Making healthy choices for your diet and lifestyle doesn't have to be a boring or isolating experience.It's okay to indulge in foods you enjoy, but remember to eat them mindfully and be aware of how they make you feel afterwards.Experimenting with new activities like cold plunges or infrared saunas with friends can be a fun way to socialize and improve your health.Don't be afraid to be a leader in your friend group and encourage healthy habits.It can inspire others to make positive changes and lead to a happier and healthier community.
Hormones - The Biochemical Emails That Impact Our Well-Being: Hormones play a vital role in regulating our body's internal communication system, affecting our mood, gut health, and overall well-being. Maintaining a balance and supporting hormone health is crucial for leading a healthy and balanced life.
Hormones are like biochemical emails that influence how we feel.They are the body's internal communication system, and their balance is essential for homeostasis, which means getting them just right.Hormones can be measured through labs, and chronic stress or other health conditions can impact their levels.Supporting hormones is crucial for improving mood and gut health, among other things.However, getting access to labs for hormone testing can be expensive and challenging, with limited access across the world.Understanding the connection between hormones and overall health is crucial for leading a healthy and balanced life.
Accessing Comprehensive Thyroid and Hormonal Testing: Patients can take control of their health by educating themselves on functional medicine testing and utilizing direct-to-consumer labs. Understanding the potential for food intolerances and bioindividuality can also inform dietary choices.
Dr. Will Cole explains that most thyroid and hormonal tests are conventional and accessible through insurance, but there is still a gap in democratizing access to more comprehensive functional medicine tests.However, there are direct-to-consumer labs, such as Inside Tracker and Base, that can be ordered without the need for a doctor.It is important for patients to understand what tests to ask for and to be educated on their health.In terms of food intolerances, Dr. Cole mentions that healthy foods can also cause reactions, and it is important to consider bioindividuality.
Listen to Your Body: Customizing Your Diet for Optimal Health: Not all diets work for everyone. If you struggle with gut issues or food sensitivities, certain foods may be causing discomfort. It's important to work with a healthcare provider to create a personalized plan for optimal health.
Everyone's body is different, so what works for someone else may not work for you.It's important to listen to your body and find what serves you best.For those struggling with gut issues like small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO), certain foods may be causing bloating and discomfort.These high FODMAP foods, like onions and garlic, are known to cause gastrointestinal upset.Additionally, foods higher in mold and histamines can also be problematic for those with sensitized immune systems.It's important to diagnose the root cause of your symptoms and work with a healthcare provider to develop a personalized plan for optimal health.
The Importance of Identifying Missing Health Links: Dr. Will Cole advises fixing root problems, reframing our relationship with food, and being mindful in our words to achieve wellness. He suggests eating foods that love us back and being curious about what those may be.
Dr. Will Cole emphasizes the importance of identifying and fixing missing links in our health, such as gut health and regulating our nervous system.He advises avoiding certain foods temporarily to fix the root problem, but ultimately reintroducing them into our diet once the issue is resolved.He also highlights the significance of reframing our relationship with our bodies and food in order to achieve wellness.Dr. Will Cole's purpose in life is to bring hope to individuals struggling with silent health problems and he encourages us to be kind and thoughtful with our words, as relationships and social disorders can bring about physical disorders.Finally, he suggests eating foods that love us back and being curious about what those may be.