Inside Matters

Episode 021 - Prof. Karen Scott - What is a healthy gut microbiome?

In episode 21 we chat with Professor Karen Scott of the Rowett Institute at the University of Aberdeen.
Watch the podcast on YouTube.
Professor Scott is one of the world's leading researchers for gut health, gut microbiome and all things microbial. 
We had a fascinating and at times humourous chat about all things microbiome and bacterium. We cover questions such as;
Does Professor Scott take probiotics? What are some of the limitations of current microbiome research? What is a healthy microbiome and how can you make yours healthier through diet, nutrition and potentially supplements? We also cover the role of fibre in our diet and whether we really need to be eating 5 pieces of fruit and veg a day to get our fibre intake, or whether we can find good sources of fibre in other foods. And we chat about where Professor Scott sees the research into the gut microbiome heading in the next 5 years.
You can listen to this episode as a professor with a keen interest in the subject matter of the gut microbiome and still learn things. Likewise, this could be your first ever Inside Masters podcast and you'll learn a lot.
00:00:00:00 - Intro
00:01:47:09 - Getting into the field of the microbiome
00:06:38:08 - Detriments to bacteria transfer
00:11:17:05 - The problem of antimicrobial resistance
00:18:23:01 - Restoring the microbiome post-antibiotics
00:20:53:10 - Illegal to refer to “probiotics”?
00:21:51:23 - Is it a viral or bacterial infection?
00:25:21:07 - Discussion on vancomycin
00:30:29:02 - Does the microbiome change from when people are born and as they get older?
00:32:17:23 - Understanding how bacteria “use us”
00:34:58:13 - Why fibre is so important to the gut
00:40:30:01 - The risks of too much protein
00:41:48:08 - Are some fibres better than others?
00:48:40:04 - Does our gut make us “crave” certain foods?
00:50:17:14 - What is a “healthy” gut microbiome?
00:53:02:17 - Bacteria and inflammation
01:01:59:08 - Advancements in culturing bacteria
01:06:42:13 - Taking probiotics
01:08:42:09 - Thoughts on FMT
01:12:31:07 - The importance of feeding our gut bacteria
01:15:33:08 - Where is the field heading? And conclusion

Episode 020 - Kristina Campbell - Do probiotics actually work?

In episode 20 we chat with Kristina Campbell, microbiome science communicator, educator and author.
In this episode, I had a fascinating chat with Kristina Campbell, a science writer who specialises in tiny things. In other words, all the microorganisms that live on and inside of our bodies. It was our first remote podcast with a guest, and I'm really grateful for Kristina joining me and helping me produce such amazing content for all of our listeners.
We talked about what makes a good probiotic “good” and what makes a bad one “bad”. If you're somebody who consumes probiotics or is thinking about taking probiotics, you should tune into this episode because we really dig into where the field is and what are some of the key quality criteria that you should be looking for if you want to embark on a probiotics journey.
We also talked about where we see the field going in the next five years and even further on from that talked about some of the recent drug approvals as well, which we're all really excited about, plus some tips for parents who want their children to health a gut-healthy diet. This was the first remote recording that we did and it went really well.
As always, I would encourage you, if you're enjoying this podcast, to like and subscribe, the best thing you can possibly do to support Inside Matters is to hover your finger over the five-star reviews and kindly give us five stars. This helps bump us up the algorithm, helping the podcast reach more people who will ultimately benefit from the no-cost scientific information that we're delivering to you, the listener.
Timestamps:
00:00:00:00 - Intro
 
00:02:01:20 - Kristina introduces herself and outlines her background
 
00:05:13:09 - Kristina shares some of her own health journey
 
00:07:18:06 - Why the interest in probiotics?
 
00:11:32:01 - What to look for when considering a probiotic
 
00:14:33:24 - Probiotics vs life beneficial microbes
 
00:23:09:21 - Role of microorganisms and our digestion
 
00:32:24:02 - Microorganisms and new drug developments
 
00:35:13:01 - Fecal transplantation derivatives
 
00:37:24:09 - Developing bugs as drugs
 
00:40:10:22 - Should everyone take a probiotic?
 
00:43:00:18 - Kristina’s books
 
00:47:50:08 - What about prebiotics?
 
00:51:58:01 - Can a dead microorganism confer a health benefit
 
00:53:06:15 - The future of microorganism therapeutics
 
00:58:15:23 - Pioneers of the microbiome space
 
01:01:30:15 - Distilling the best information
 
01:08:31:21 - What’s next for Kristina?
 
01:11:30:15 - Tips for parents

Biome Bites Episode 010 - Can Gut Microorganisms Be Used to Treat Cancer?

In this Biome Bite, Dr James McIlroy examines the findings of studies that show the potential role of microorganisms to treat cancer along with looking at the question of whether FMT can play a part.
Be sure to get the Inside Matters Podcast wherever you listen to your podcasts, and as always please leave a positive review.
As always, you can get in touch with Dr McIlroy via insidematters.health, and it would be appreciated if you could leave a positive review wherever you listen to the podcast if you're enjoying it.
If you're enjoying the podcast, please consider leaving a 5-star review wherever you listen to it.

Episode 019 - Dr Megan Eldred - Senior Policy Advisor and Dementia Mission Lead at the Office for Life Sciences

In episode 19 we chat with Dr Megan Eldred, Senior Policy Advisor and Dementia Mission Lead at the Office for Life Sciences.
Megan walked us through her journey from PhD and potential academia, to transition into the UK Civil Service and the work she does with the Office for Life Sciences. She told us about her journey to becoming the senior policy adviser and dementia mission lead on everything that entails.
More generally, the Mission aims to develop novel precision medicine tools that help boost the number and speed of clinical trials in dementia neurodegeneration. This is a much-needed and highly impactful endeavour. We all know somebody who is suffering from or who has suffered from dementia. It is devastating and still has massive unmet clinical needs and is a huge cost and burden to society that is a burden that is getting bigger because of an ageing population.
Megan talked about some interesting scientific and commercial developments in this field, including the approval of two drugs to slow the progression of dementia. We spoke about cures for Alzheimer's disease and how close and how far away we are. We also spoke about psychedelics, exercise, the mind-body connection and burnout.
As always, I would encourage you, if you're enjoying this podcast, to like and subscribe, the best thing you can possibly do to support Inside Matters is to hover your finger over the five star reviews and to kindly give us five stars. This helps bump us up the algorithm, helping the podcast reach more people that will ultimately benefit from the no-cost scientific information that we're delivering to you, the listener.
Timestamps:
00:00:00:00 -Intro
 
00:01:51:04 - Dr McIlroy’s neurodegenerative family history
 
00:04:01:20 - Dutch care home designed for dementia
 
00:04:43:02 - Japanese robotic seal
 
00:06:35:06 - Pet dogs and our microbiome
 
00:07:41:10 - Link between microbiome and depression
 
00:09:17:07 - Mice research
 
00:11:44:02 - Can the microbiome cure depression longterm?
 
00:13:30:01 - How habits are formed
 
00:15:22:27 - Addictions and their cure
 
00:19:15:28 - Fight or flight responses
 
00:25:41:01 - Building resilience
 
00:27:57:24 - Choosing a career path
 
00:30:36:20 - Undertaking a physiology degree
 
00:33:03:02 - Unknown unknowns
 
00:35:50:08 - The cell fate in the retina
 
00:37:55:24 - Intelligent design?
 
00:41:55:10 - Micro-dosing
 
00:49:33:11 - Understanding the retina
 
00:55:10:29 - Starting a career in the civil service
 
00:59:13:24 - Scientists working for the government
 
01:04:59:23 - Centre for Science and Policy
 
01:08:59:15 - Role as lead at Office for Life Sciences
 
01:14:46:09 - Focus on biomarkers
 
01:17:52:04 - Drugs approval for treating dimensia
 
01:20:10:10 - Understanding the disease pathway
 
01:24:51:08 - Funding research
 
01:26:44:21 - Our Future Health
 
01:34:28:01 - Sharing IP with competitors
 
01:39:45:24 - CSF testing
 
01:41:51:12 - Inflammation and the disease pathway
 
01:43:13:15 - Vaccine for cognitive disease?
 
01:46:19:27 - Conclusion
 
 

Biome Bites Episode 009 - Dietary Supplements: Do You Really Need Them?

In episode 9 of Inside Matters, Biome Bites Dr James McIlroy dives into the huge world of dietary supplements. He tackles whether, if your diet is good enough, supplements are really needed, and highlights some instances where supplementing our diet could be essential for good health.
He also points out some caveats and helps us understand how to plan a supplement regimen based on our health and lifestyle goals, and how to identify supplements that will actually work.
As always, you can get in touch with Dr McIlroy via insidematters.health, and it would be appreciated if you could leave a positive review wherever you listen to the podcast if you're enjoying it.

Biome Bites Episode 008 - Is Red Wine Good for Your Gut Health?

What are the potential gut health benefits of drinking red wine? Is it recommended to start drinking red wine based on studies that propose gut health benefits?In this episode of Inside Matter's Biome Bites, Dr. James McIlroy references a study from lead author Professor Tim Spector, which states:
"This is one of the largest ever studies to explore the effects of red wine in the guts of nearly three thousand people in three different countries and provides insights that the high levels of polyphenols in the grape skin could be responsible for much of the controversial health benefits when used in moderation."
But if alcohol is often considered a toxin, where does the balance lie between the potential benefits of red wine in particular for a healthy gut?
If you're enjoying the podcast, please consider leaving a 5-star review wherever you listen to it.

Biome Bites Episode 007 - An Update from Dr James McIlroy

Learn more about this episode's guest and the topics discussed - https://insidematters.health/
As it’s been a few weeks since the last episode of the podcast, Dr James McIlroy gets in front of the microphone again to explain what he’s been up to with EnteroBiotix and what the plans are for the podcast in the coming months, including some inside into the exciting guests who’ll be joining him to discuss all things gut health, fitness and personal improvement.

Biome Bites Episode 006 - Diet Tips that Promote the Gut Microbiome

Listen to Inside Matters: https://insidematters.health/biome-bites
In this episode, Dr James McIlroy discusses diet tips to improve and fortify the gut microbiome. Touching upon topics such as the controversial argument surrounding artificial sugars, fermented foods and whole foods, and why some researchers believe that red wine can help to promote a healthy gut microbiome.
Just as a garden can be populated with weeds if the right conditions exist, so too can your gut microbiome with unhelpful habits and cravings. The broader picture goes back to:
- Reducing the number of harmful organisms in your system.
- Replacing lost microorganisms that are beneficial to your microbiome.
- And continuing to nourish the microbiome with a minimally processed diverse diet.
Timestamps -
00:00:00 Intro
00:00:46 What is the microbiome?
00:02:18 Key Points on Why Diet is Important for Microbiome Diversity
00:04:51 The Broader Picture When it comes to Gut Microbiome and Diet
00:05:40 Avoiding Artificial Sweeteners
00:07:45 Reducing Alcohol Intake
00:10:24 The Gut-Liver Connection
00:11:31 The Impact of Smoking on the Gut Microbiome
00:12:48 Episode Recap and Important Takeaway Points

Biome Bites Episode 005 - Practical Tips for Improving Your Gut Biome

In this episode of Biome Bites, Dr James McIlroy explores some practical tips for improving your microbiome based on 3 specific areas:
Probiotics: what they are, where to find them and whether you should spend money on supplements or not
Prebiotics: what they are, where to find them and how to include them as part of your daily dietary intake
Polyphenols
James delves into how microbial imbalances occur within our bodies and what we can do to address these through diet and lifestyle.
James references David Sinclair’s podcast “Lifespan”, which you can learn more about here - https://www.lifespanpodcast.com/ and also Dr Hyman’s podcast “The Doctor’s Farmacy”, which you can find here - https://drhyman.com/blog/category/podcasts/
00:00:00 Intro
00:00:43 What is the microbiome?
00:01:54 You’re more microbial than human
00:02:12 Body’s microbial composition
00:02:41 How microbial imbalance occurs
00:03:23 How to achieve a healthy microbiome
00:04:56 Role of probiotics
00:05:57 Importance of probiotic foods
00:07:09 Role of prebiotics
00:10:10 You must stay hydrated!
00:10:32 The role of polyphenols

Biome Bites Episode 004 - Lifestyle Tips for Productivity

Dr James McIlroy shares some tips and tricks that keep him consistently productive throughout the day. Stacking up small wins, like pre-booking dentist appointments and haircuts months in advance to reduce stress. Investing in pill boxes for supplements and dried greens for on-the-go. With daily exercise, and the benefits this has on concentration and health that this naturally brings.
 
00:00:00 Introduction and welcome
00:00:21 - Batch Booking and Scheduling
00:01:53 - Buying the Essentials in Bulk
00:02:50 - Systems for Supplements
00:04:04 - Investing in a Pill Pack
00:05:00 - Sachets of Dried Greens
00:05:49 - Exercising Everday
00:08:08 - Episode Recap and Outro